PCOS-ers who've lost weight

nz_deevaa
nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
edited October 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Did it have a positive effect on your symptoms?

And by that I mean, did your cycles become more regular, or did the weird hair growth/loss become less, or did it have a positive impact on your fertility?
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Replies

  • elanaknt
    elanaknt Posts: 40 Member
    bump

    my doc just recently said that it looks like i may have pcos and I am wondering some of these things myself...
  • Lynxie83
    Lynxie83 Posts: 246
    I would be interested to hear this too. I don't know if I have it or not, one Dr said I did, but based that on only some of the symptoms.

    I am hoping that the weight loss will help with fertility anyway :bigsmile:
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    My weight loss has helped with fertility, but not the secondary infertility that I'm also 'blessed' with. (Secondary infertility is when you don't have issues getting pregnant, but don't stay pregnant well).
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I have PCOS. I had lost weight in the past, and it NEVER helped with my symptoms. I still never ovulated and still never had a period that wasn't induced with medication. That, however, is NOT the norm. I'm just special LOL. Nothing worked on my cycles. Nothing except...wait for it....getting OLD LOL. There is a great book called "PCOS the Hidden Epidemic". One of the things it talks about is that sometimes, as you age, your body makes a last ditch effort to get pregnant and may start cycling again, despite the hormone disaster that's going on. For me, that happened around age 35. At first it was a cycle every 60 days, then for quite a while, around 35 days. For almost 2 years like that. Then, once I've lost weight, I'm now right around 28 to 30 days.

    And can I just say...being "normal" SUCKS. Can I go back to no periods? LOL.

    All joking aside, more than 90% of women with PCOS will have some relief of symptoms from weight loss. A few, like me, do not. I have never been pregnant, even with lots of interventions, including 3 rounds of IVF. Again, I'm NOT the norm. Most women with PCOS will be able to get pregnant with assisted reproductive technologies of some sort.

    As for the miscarriages, when I was doing IF treatments (and this was 9+ years ago) there was some new research about Natural Killer cells that theorized someone with elevated NKa would have trouble maintaining a pregnancy because the immune system views the embryo as a foreign invader. Now, this was very new research, so I don't know if it's held up to further scrutiny. But the "treatment" back then was IViG infusions (expensive, but safe). I had them several times, and while it did help my psoriasis, it didn't help me get pregnant.

    But check out the 3 cuties in my profile pic. SO HAPPY I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET PREGNANT. I couldn't have gotten better kids.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    They are pretty cute kids. :)

    We've just had our 4th miscarriage, so we have decided that's it for us. I'm not doing it any more.

    I was more interested in the other symptoms, like the flappin' hair on my chin.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I've never had a big issue with the hair. I'm 'hairy' for someone in my family (aka the hairless wonders) but compared to the average person, I'm normal. I have noticed the hair on my arms seems lessened. The two whiskers I have on my face are still there though LOL.
  • Firephoenix013
    Firephoenix013 Posts: 214
    Omg I know the hair is a bear. My mom had PCOS when she was super skinny. She eventually had to have a uterine ablation and her tubes tied. I'm only 27 and have had the same thing done when I was 25. I was tired of bleeding every day, they said the chances of me having a child were slim to none and I would just pass this one, so I said I'm done. Having Aunt Flo visit every day since I was 13 was a bear. I was glad to be done! But honestly I know doctors preach lose weight with this, but I seriously think its more of a dna thing.
  • pinkpolkadots25
    pinkpolkadots25 Posts: 101 Member
    Yes! I am still taking Metformin but my symptoms have gotten sooo much better. I've lost about 104 pounds (260 to 156.) it took about a year, and I'm 5'6. I don't have crippling pelvic pain anymore, which is awesome. I'm going to try to lose another 20.
  • kacinace
    kacinace Posts: 70 Member
    I lost 50 pounds in the past (currently up 20 from there) and it did help with my symptoms. Not the excessive hair growth, but my cycles became more regular and I became pregnant after 6 months of trying (not charting or anything - just not preventing).
  • munkey418
    munkey418 Posts: 139
    keep in mind ive only lost 26lbs but..... since i started eating healthier and working out i have had 0 period, my cycle was 60-70 days w no ovulation and im currently on day 135 since my last one in Feb. I was on metformin/clomid and all that other jazz and it never did anything for me but make me depressed. :/ hoping with more weight loss itll change but not getting my hopes up :(
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
    I'm sosorry about the miscarriages.

    It took about 20kg for me to start ovulating again. Currently on a 34 day cycle. It's kinda weird having periods every month!

    Hair is slightly less but not sure if that's from losing weight or the waxing. I wax every two weeks (though I'm about to go to every 3 weeks!) My mum and grandma have the same issues so I've decided to accept this is a lifelong problem for me.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    *sigh*

    I seem to be ovulating much more regularly now too, which is both good and bad. (LOL).

    I must admit though I'd hoped that the hair would lessen.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    Did it have a positive effect on your symptoms?

    And by that I mean, did your cycles become more regular, or did the weird hair growth/loss become less, or did it have a positive impact on your fertility?

    Yes although I still don't get it monthly but I now have lighter & short duration periods & less cramps whereas before it take more than a month for me. As for hair growth, I still have those facial hairs but I think it is because of our above average testosterone levels for a woman.
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
    Yes since I have lost some weight, my cycles are now regulated (every 28-29 days) and periods are shorter and a lot less painful. I used to be on BC to have regular periods because I would literally go months on end with no period. And then when I finally did have one, it was the period from hell. I no longer need the BC to regulate. I also noticed that the dark patches of skin I had on my inner thighs have gone away! And i haven't had any more skin tags.

    However, it has done nothing for the excessive hair growth :angry: At least not yet. I'm a 33 year old woman. I shouldn't have to worry about shaving my chin hair and mustache!!! gaaaaah. I hate it. Anybody have suggestions for that??
  • kazzsjourney
    kazzsjourney Posts: 674 Member
    ive got PCOS m lost 184 pounds.....it has made my cycle very regular (every 28-32 days) but it hasnt really helped with other symptoms :)
  • Bexyf
    Bexyf Posts: 42 Member
    I have gone (so far) from 207 to 161.8 and i went from having NO cycle at all to having an abnormal cycle (71, 41, 42, 39,31,69, and now on about cd120!) I don't know which one is harder but Ihave every belief between continued weight loss and metformin I WILL be a lot healthier xx
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    83kgs lost? What an amazing accomplishment!

    From these responses, my guess is other than more regular periods (which I've already achieved), I'm not going to get any joy with the other symptoms.

    ive got PCOS m lost 184 pounds.....it has made my cycle very regular (every 28-32 days) but it hasnt really helped with other symptoms :)
  • threeohtwo
    threeohtwo Posts: 153 Member
    I'm kind of a PCOS guru. Lol. Ok, so I originally had lost close to 50 pounds before I gained 30 back during my divorce but I do consider myself successful at weight loss. I noticed a huge reduction in unwanted hair growth. I also noticed much more energy and a big improvement in my mood. My anxiety also decreased. Many PCOSers hold weight around the middle and I lost a lot of weight around my middle.

    Please let me know if you have any other questions.
  • Nataliaho
    Nataliaho Posts: 878 Member
    There is an Aussie blogger who I have been following for ages who went from overweight and PCOS, to competing in fitness modelling. She's pretty inspirational, her blog is here http://mevsthebulge.com/my-story/ but she mostly uses facebook now which is http://mevsthebulge.com/my-story/...
  • threeohtwo
    threeohtwo Posts: 153 Member
    My weight loss has helped with fertility, but not the secondary infertility that I'm also 'blessed' with. (Secondary infertility is when you don't have issues getting pregnant, but don't stay pregnant well).

    Be careful using the wordage "secondary infertility". Secondary infertility actually refers to women who have a child and cannot get pregnant or experience infertility on the second go round.

    I went through a lot of fertility treatment and weight loss +femara are what eventually got me pregnant.
  • ThisisMiss
    ThisisMiss Posts: 187 Member
    For me, weight loss helps significantly with my symptoms. I am able to ovulate and get AF on my own once I hit a certain weight. I also don't grow facial hair as fast and even my dark spots look lighter. I was also able to conceive on my own. I know not a lot of women experience such a change with their weight loss. My theory is that it really depends on how insulin resistant you are. From what I've noticed, women who are more insulin resistant have a harder time losing the weight in the first place and have worse symptoms that tend to not go away as easily. (I am not insulin resistant) I have nothing to back this up though - just a theory.
  • EYee13
    EYee13 Posts: 1
    With some help and adjustments, I've been able to lose weight on/off with PCOS. Doc prescribed metformin, which helps regulate insulin and raise metabolism (that's my short answer - get the medical one from a doc). The issue for me is staying on track. Still trying...best of luck!
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    My weight loss has helped with fertility, but not the secondary infertility that I'm also 'blessed' with. (Secondary infertility is when you don't have issues getting pregnant, but don't stay pregnant well).

    Be careful using the wordage "secondary infertility". Secondary infertility actually refers to women who have a child and cannot get pregnant or experience infertility on the second go round.

    I went through a lot of fertility treatment and weight loss +femara are what eventually got me pregnant.

    I have a 14yr old.

    I have been diagnosed as someone with 'Secondary Infertility'.

    We do not have any issues with conceiving. I have been able to become pregnant in 1 - 2 cycles every time we have tired.
  • kadins_momma07
    kadins_momma07 Posts: 328 Member
    bump

    my doc just recently said that it looks like i may have pcos and I am wondering some of these things myself...

    Same here, those are my doctor's words too "Sounds like you may have PCOS"...I'm curious too!
  • TheFlamingWolf
    TheFlamingWolf Posts: 6
    I've not has a lot of luck with losing weight for it, myself, unfortunately.

    It's not easy to lose weight with that disease. What I managed to do was find a medication to regulate it, then I began losing weight. So if I had to recommend anything, I'd recommend talking to your doctor about ordering an ultrasound, have them examine your cysts, then have your doctor put you on a medication that will work for you (if you haven't already) :)

    I can say the medication has helped me to lose a bit of weight. The reason I'm not right now, though, is possibly due to an underlying thyroid problem, but that's another story.

    Good luck with your PCOS!
  • miranda_mom
    miranda_mom Posts: 873 Member
    I've only lost 14 lbs. No luck so far with regulating my cycles but I have noticed that my hair seems to be falling out much less than it was. Hallelujah! The hair loss is so upsetting to me, I can't even tell you. I've been on Metformin for about 2 1/2 months. I did read somewhere that any change involving hair takes about three months because that's how long it takes hair to mature, etc. so this makes sense for me.
  • melani75
    melani75 Posts: 14 Member
    If you're not trying to conceive, spironolactone can help a lot with the hair growth. It's actually a mild diuretic but also reduces androgens. It takes a couple of months to see results but now I only have to wax my upper lip/chin once or twice a year. If you stop taking it, the hair comes right back though.
  • jella74
    jella74 Posts: 106 Member
    I have noticed my PCOS symptoms have lessened a lot since I lost 22 pounds. I'm still losing and so far what I noticed was that my hair stopped falling out, the male pattern hair growth is less, and my blood pressure is much lower. I have more energy and NO sugar cravings!!

    My cycles started to regulate at 34 days apart after I had my 4th son in Aug 2011. So I can't say the weight loss helped with that. Though I'm now regulated, I do have adenomyosis and extremely excessive bleeding so I will be getting a uterine removal on July 24th.

    I've had 4 miscarriages, also due to low progesterone. My 4 viable pregnancies were the result of the first 2 from clomid and the last 2 from femara and all done with progesterone gel.

    GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!
  • nangel4u
    nangel4u Posts: 119
    Gradually my symptoms have been going away, my cycles were always 32-34 days and now they are 28-29 days and my hair on my face, legs, really just everywhere grows back more slowly than it used to lol!!! I used to have pelvic pains almost everyday throughout my cycle but now my pains lessen and would only come on about 2 days before AF was due and when she arrived!!! I think that it has helped little to none on my fertility and I think I only ovulated once this year but my cycles are regular?!?! I was told this year that I have pcos so maybe next year I may have to go back to the fertility doctor to help me O!!!
  • fayelein
    fayelein Posts: 51 Member
    Bump, no time to read or reply now but want to save for later.

    Short answer though is no, hair growth symptoms have not got better after 40lb loss. Still got some way to go though so hopefully after a bigger loss I will see some improvement. Have next appointment in October and will see what the doctor says.
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