Introduction/ BCP & Spironolactone

Hello everyone,

I was recently diagnosed with PCOS by my gynecologist (two weeks ago to be exact) and I am pleased to have found this group and look forward to interacting with you ladies.

Here's my story.
I have suffered from cystic acne, oily skin, hirsutism, high cholesterol , weight gain and heavy menstrual cycles for as long as I could remember, I will be 30 in a couple of weeks. I've gont to several dermatologists to treat my acne and had laser hair removal and electrolosysis treatments for the facial hair. I never really thought of these as abnormal as I assumed that I just had hairy skin and the acne was something I would "eventually" grow out of, the high cholesterol runs in my family as well.

During a routine check up with my primary care physician in 2010 my Dr advised that my results came back showing that I had hypothyroidism, to me, that explained many of the "symptoms I had been experiencing. I followed up with an endocrinologist who tested me two more times only to tell me that my levels were normal. Although I was happy for the news, I knew something else had to be wrong.

Last summer, I changed dermatologists as my acne was becoming unbearable and I just was desperate to get it under control. My new dermatologist had me using topical and oral medication. My acne cleared up temporarily but within a few months flared up uncontrollably. My dermatologist at that point suggested that I have a conversation with my gynecologist before going on to something like Accutane just to rule out any other issues that could be causing the acne.

I went to my gynocologiest a few weeks ago and had a transvaginal ultrasound and blood work. The results came back and confirmed that I have pcos and a small fibroid. My doctor gave me a script for Spironolactone and Yasmin (I received the generic Zarah). I have been taking spironolactone for the past couple of weeks and just started taking the bcp on Sunday.

I wanted to find out if any of you have taken the Spironolactone and bcp combination and how it has worked for your pcos symptoms. I also want to know what other treatments you have had or changes to your lifestyle that have helped with PCOS symptoms.

I would like to start trying to conceive within the next couple of years or so. My DR has advised that this combination should help with my PCOS symptoms now while I am not trying to conceive and when the time comes and I am ready to start planning we will evaluate my levels and the treatments I will need.

Replies

  • kneal82
    kneal82 Posts: 2
    I've been on Spironolactone since last June, and have notice that it does help with the hair growth, it doesn't stop it completely but the hair does come in a lot lighter and I can go longer between waxing visits. BCP hasn't done a lot for me besides lightening my periods some.
  • Hi there! I just wanted to share a little of my experience and opinions... I have PCOS, my doctor put me on a low hormone BCP and I was on it for a while, until my husband and I decided to try to have children. We have been trying for 5 years now, with no luck. We have gone to different specialists etc, and I have been told that the BCP made everything worse for me. I was totally confused and did some research my self.... before starting any kind of medication I would do some research. I am 100% against the BCP! It does more harm than good. The same with the ring etc.... as for Yasmin... there are more and more studies out about that particular BCP.... all I can say is do your research and if your doctor tries to argue, then get a new one, because that shows they are in it for the money and not your well being.
  • fashionista954
    fashionista954 Posts: 98 Member
    Thank you so much ladies for your feedback! Jwoods, I will take your advice and do some more research on the bcp. I have always been skeptical about taking them to begin with especially since they can sometimes do more harm than good.
  • Lyric82
    Lyric82 Posts: 119
    I am on both spironolactone and Yasmin. I have had wonderful results in the past. For me, one of my most severe PCOS symptoms is hair loss. Due to stress my hair loss is out of control again, so I just upped my spironolactone. It also helped with the facial hair as well. I cannot say enough good things about this drug. As far as my periods lately, they have been SUPER light and the cramps have not been as bad at all..

    I love this combo! I hope it works for you :flowerforyou:
  • fashionista954
    fashionista954 Posts: 98 Member
    I am on both spironolactone and Yasmin. I have had wonderful results in the past. For me, one of my most severe PCOS symptoms is hair loss. Due to stress my hair loss is out of control again, so I just upped my spironolactone. It also helped with the facial hair as well. I cannot say enough good things about this drug. As far as my periods lately, they have been SUPER light and the cramps have not been as bad at all..

    I love this combo! I hope it works for you :flowerforyou:

    Thank you Lyric:flowerforyou:

    I'm really glad to know of your postive results and appreciate you sharing! I haven't had any negative side effects (not sure if it's too soon to tell), but you keep me hopeful while i figure out what works best.
  • Hi--I'm 35 and was just prescribed Spironolactone; Ive done some online research and read Dr. Redmonds take on it too. PCOs blog reviews over half the women say their hair fell out quicker when on Spiro, and the other half had great results. Dr. Redmond says it is the drug of choice for PCOS hair loss, if indeed the diagnosis of PCOS is accurate. He says some women notice more hair loss with spiro because that's the natural symptom of PCOS not Spiro...yet its meant for facial/body hair aka terminal hairs from PCOs.

    I am concerned about Spiro but am trying it with 25 mg...I can't afford to lose much more hair or worry about tumor development (in lab animals, increased tumors were a side effect and if breast cancer is strong in the family it is not recommended).

    I've been told I have PCOS since I was 15. I have to say BCP (took it from 15-24ish), I feel made my PCOS worse and quite possibly my fertility issues worse....though Dr. Redmond says BCPs work to protect the endo lining because less ovulation/periods increases chances of endo cancer. BCPs that are progestrone heavy are important according to him. I haven't taken BCPs for 10 years because I've wanted a children; still no luck in that depart.

    Every person's PCOS is unique from my research and talking with others about it. @Fashionista95, are you also on Metformin?
  • fashionista954
    fashionista954 Posts: 98 Member
    Hi GardenKat, the thought that bcp can cause more harm than good does make me nervous. I haven't been prescribed Metformin, but have read on many different forums of the great results women with pcos have had taking this drug. I plan on talking with my doctor about my concerns regarding bcp during my follow up appointment in a few months, not sure if Metformin is an option for me, but I will inquire.
  • tdj819
    tdj819 Posts: 41
    Good Morning From Georgia,

    I was married when I was told I had PCOS after a couple of years trying to get pregnant. Saw a fertility doctor and he told it was PCOS. I had heard of it, but wasn't 100% sure of it. The more I read that day the more depressed I got. I was heavy then, and he told me to lose weight, it would help my chances of getting pregnant. In the past I had been on BCP and they made me crazy. I had always suffered horrible painful long periods and everyone around said, "oh that's normal, you're young." Even I knew something was wrong. After a couple of years of fertility treatment, my eggs never matured enough for me to get pregnant. I was in the gym, I was losing the weight. But never got pregnant. Everyone around me was though and it just put a knife in heart. Rather than my husband wrapping me in a hug that I needed so bad, he would scream and yell at me and tell me to get over it. ONE DOES NOT YELL AT A HORMONAL, WEEPING, BABY CRAVING MOODY WOMAN W/O PAYING FOR IT! We've been divorced now for 8 years. He remarried 7 months after our divorce and rubs in my face every chance he gets that he has a 6 year old daughter. Went as far as taking her to my parents' house after she was born! THAT STARTED AN ALL OUT WAR FOR ME!

    He has since apologized to me, and understands being on both sides of the knife, wanting a child so bad but can't, to finally having a baby and watching it grow. I put on a brave face and tell people daily I didn't want children, cos I do not want to get into the whole PCOS story.

    Today I am
    CHUBBY
    CAN GROW A BEARD IF I WANTED
    THINNING HAIR ON TOP
    DID I MENTION CHUBBY
    SKIN TAGS
    DISCOLORATION UNDER ARMS AND IN THE INNER THIGH AREA

    October of 2011, I saw a new GYN who wasn't taking new patients but my cousin begged him to see me. The 4 periods I had for 2011 all lasted 12-19 days. And I missed a lot of those days from work due to the heavy bleeding and lets not for the cramps. He wanted to put me on birthcontrol. By this point I wanted a hysterectomy! I was sick of the misery. I wasn't having kids. Not at 39 yrs old. Just SPAY ME NOW. I told him I was around guns all day at work BCP were not an option. They made me crazy! NO KIDDING! ! ! I had a Hydro Thermal Ablation done. http://www.hcfw.com/767/Hydro-thermal_Ablation_(HTA).aspx I had it done on a Friday I was off from work, and went back to work on Sunday. I have not had a period since Sept. I am HAPPPY! But I still have the lovely side effects of PCOS!

    When I come back in my next life, I am going to be man! My bff's boyfriend made a snide comment about women's mood swings being in our heads, and hormones were not real....i replied,,,in your next life, the devil is going to see to it you get my non working ovaries and uterus and you're going to be so miserable with periods, cramps, bloating, hormones, you're gonna wanna hang yourself! He gave me a worried look! :-)

    Thank the good Lord, I do have any signs of heart disease or diabetes.

    Terri....the cranky dispatcher!
  • ChelseyDesaray
    ChelseyDesaray Posts: 13 Member
    hey so i was just wondering when you were on birth control did you experience headaches, fatigue, fogginess, and other crazy symptoms? That is what happened to me before i was diagnosed with PCOS. We just came to the conclusion that i can't handle the hormones and that i may have an allergy. I swear you learn something new everyday about PCOS. I just started spironalactone about a week ago to help with hair loss, hair growth, and acne and then on Monday I started metformin. The doctor is confident it will help with energy levels and weight loss. I sure hope so.
  • ChelseyDesaray
    ChelseyDesaray Posts: 13 Member
    aslo....has anyone taken metformin and lost weight. My doctor thinks it will help?
  • fashionista954
    fashionista954 Posts: 98 Member
    Hi Chelsey!
    I'm on my 2nd pack of bcp and one of the few symptpms I feal nasepous a couple hours after taking it. I take it at bed time and sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night feeling the symptom. I haven't been prescribed metformin but heard from others who have taken it that they have experienced weight loss from it...i've heard the same thing abaout the spironolactone as well. As far as my experiences, I lost more weight prior to starting bcp and spironolactone not sure if there is a correlation or if I am just not as aggressive with my diet now as I was back when I first started. My main reason for taking the spironolactone is for the hirsutism and cystic acne...I was told it could take up to six months to start seeing results so at this point I have to be very patient.

    Good luck with the metformin and keep us updated on your progress with it.
  • ChelseyDesaray
    ChelseyDesaray Posts: 13 Member
    i ended up calling me doctor today because i noticed the metformin is causing major hunger pains..I am not having any of the normal side effects the dr said i would have such as upset stomach, diarrhea, etc. I am just starving. I am wondering if the spironolactone and metformin taken together is what is making me hungry. ahhh so over this pcos bull**** ahhhhhhhhhhhh
  • my experience is similar to yours and i am wondering how the spiro and yas worked for you?
    i developed pcos after having my first child, i had always had cysts on my ovaries but i was never diagnosed with pcos i was put on MIRENA 5yr- i went crazy on it , my body began absorbing the progestirin from the mirena at an elevated rate and in turn it put my pcos on a highway to hell, i developed severe acne, i gained 80lbs (i too have always been a little hairier from the arms and legs, but then i started getting a darker colored upper lip hair, my acne turned into cystic acne and it was horrible, i developed skin allergy to everything i changed all my soaps to frangrance free but even then i would get huge liquid fille welts on my back it looked as though i had been whipped with a leather horse whip) my moods were crazy,
    i had an abnormal pap in 2008 and because of the severity of the dysplasia i went off of the mirena i lost 20lbs immediately and skin allergies were subsiding. reason i went off of mirena was because the doctor was saying if the dysplasia didnt begin to subside they would have to cut a piece of the cervix out making it harder conceive at all. so she suggested if i wanted more kids naturally now was the time. 2 months after removing mirena i got pregnant (i didnt give my body enough time to adjust to life without mirena)
    i had a rough pregnancy, i had preclamsia, and gestational diabetes i went into threatened miscarriage at 11weeks and preterm labor at 20 weeks, 28 weeks and finalyl delivered at 33.5 weeks a 9lb 15oz baby (yes i had a close to 10lbs premie, he gained lot of weight due to the gestational -which is also a high risk for pregnant women with pcos)
    i didnt recieve my pcos diagnosis until my son was about a year old
    after my 40 days of recovery (maternity leave) i started my preiods and they were all extremely heavy i went to the er several times because i was hemerging, i would soak a tampon and pad within the hour. i had a few scraps to ease the heavy bleeding it was horrible.
    needless to say i was put on the ring, the patch, and several bcps i wasnt losing weight and i was dieting and exersizing, skin allergies were gone but the acne wasnt and i still wanted to lose weight.
    so ive done it i went to a weight loss clinic, i was so against these places because well they push the drugs on you.
    but i really needed them, the PCOS was preventing me from losing any weight no matter how much i diet and exercise. the OB pointed out that the more i work out the high my testosteron levels went which ofcourse only made me gain weight (most muscle then fat) and also made my acne and facial hair worse.
    so she put me on a bcp, and on spiro this worked for a year.
    i had done accutane - only did 4month it helped with the cystic acne which was heart wrenchingly painful so the 4month round was enough to settle down the deep embeded vessels that when they popped they looked like blood spatters from zombie movies
    anyway so after the accutane the derm put me on spiro which was helping and the ob put me on Lo-Ogestrel (which is the generic of LO-Estrin) it worked wonders i was able to lose about 10lbs in a year more then i had lost in 4 years since i had my son.
    but then i started gaining weight again.
    in november 2013 i finally gave in and went to see a weight loss doc,
    he put me on
    phentermine 37.5
    hydrochlorithiazine (water pill)
    and chromium (supplement)
    in combination with the spiro and bcp i was taking from november 17th to january 17th i went from tiping the scales at 259.9 to 237!!!
    just under 20lbs
    i was estatic!!!
    but then i missed my period in january and (i although i have pcos i did get pregnant with my first born at 17 while on a bcp) my weight loss was at a standstill and my period wasnt coming i figured i should stop because if i am pregnant i dont know what effect that could have on the fetus
    so i stopped all the drugs, i am back at 244 mainly because i have also gone back to eating crap. but that stops today!
    my ob has changed up my bcp to Yasmin (she thinks that the LO-ogestrel stunt the weight loss maybe my body had gotten used to is and she believes that changing it will help
    the yasmin like the spiro is progesterin binding and decreses testosteron. so that will help me lose weight as well she recommended i go back to the phentermine but change my diet so i get used to the new diet and continue it once im off the phentermine.
    i do wish to have more children but i already have 2 and if having one more will put me back out of whack in the hormone department then maybe i should stop with the 2 plus i can afford the 2 i have and i wouldnt want to have a 3rd if i would have to ask for god assistance.
    how has your experience with YAS and spiro gone?
    a lot of problems conceiving stems from taking the wrong type of birthcontrol i am so against mirena what ever you do do not take mirena!
    the doctor said skipping periods is also dangerous because the lining gets thicker- so when you do menstruate your utuerus works double time (which is when i get my period it feels like contractions from birth)