PCOS and Metformin

[broccoliandchips]

Diagnosed with PCOS a fortnight ago. Have taken one metformin a day for the first week and now taking two a day for this week. The dose will go up to four a day from next week. Does anyone know if this will actually help with PCOS symptons? Does it always 'work'

[TigersChick]

I was diagnosed with PCOS a couple of years ago, when we first started TTC no2.
I was taking Metformin for a while in conjunction with Clomid. As the combination wasn't working, I was taken off both ... so I don't know if Metformin on its own would have made any difference - sorry.

In what way are you hoping for it to work? (ie, are you TTC or are you wanting to manage symptoms?)

[broccoliandchips]

Not TTC. Really want to manage symptons - mainly hair growth on face but not on head!

[TigersChick]

I know that there are lots of people on here who have PCOS and I'm pretty certain that a fair few have been given Metformin, so hopefully, someone will be a bit more helpful soon!!

[brimfull]

great web site here

I have pcos but have not been on metformin.It should help with your symptoms but I am unsure how it affects the male hormone levels tht cause the hair problems

[broccoliandchips]

Thanks TigersChick. Did you conceive in the end?

[broccoliandchips]

Thanks ggirl

[broccoliandchips]

Ggirl - out of interest - why have you not had metformin? I thought it was what you 'had' to have to sort PCOS out?

[broccoliandchips]

.

[brimfull]

well I'm not sure if I should be on it or not really

I am 47 so not ttc,metformin wasn't used for pcos when I was ttc

i now have regular periods which quite often happens when pcos patients get older...just when you don't need them eh?

i do however have the other symptoms of pcos that we are at high risk of;
high cholesterol and raised BP

I am waiting to get the latest blood results

[TigersChick]

Hi B&C - sorry to be so abrupt the other day; RL intervened - so rude

No, I haven't been successful. We tried 3 different drugs - tablets and 2 different injectables - without success and IVF is not available to us as we already have DD. We were entitled to a couple more courses on the second injectable but we were finding it all very stressful. We conceived DD naturally so we decided to 'step back' and just see what happens for the time being.

Are you on Dianette (sp?)?? If you're not ttc then I've heard it's a good pill to take for managing symptoms.

[ShrinkingViolet]

metformin can help with insulin resistance (ie if you're overweight with PCOS you're probably IR), but doesn't do anythign for the excess etstosterone (the skin and hair symptoms). However, if you are overweight, losing 5-10% of your body weight can help minimise the other symptoms, so in some cases, metformin might help deal with acne/excess hair.
Metformin isn't the wonder drug we were all hoping it was ; currently there's nothing that deals with the ondition as a whole, just stuff that can be done for the different symptoms.
Dianette is quite good for hair and skin (but obviously not if also ttc).

[bumblingalong]

have to agree with shrinkingviolet - was on metformin when ttc & all i got was weightloss (i know this is can a gd thing but not in my case!) The best my symptoms have been with clear skin & no excess hair was when on dianette pill.

[broccoliandchips]

Thanks everyone. Sorry to hear about everything TigersChick. Haven't thought about Dianette (a contraceptive pill?) as husband has had a vasectomy and therefore don't use anything - mind you too knackered to get up to much anyway! Feel a bit crushed - was hoping the Metformin would sort out 'everything'. Quick question - will the Metformin just help me 'lose weight' or do I have to watch what I eat as well. Or, does the Metformin surpress your appetite a bit?

[broccoliandchips]

Will go and see my GP as well to get my cholesterol and blood pressure checked. Will ask him about Dianette too.

[ShrinkingViolet]

metformin helps the insulin receptors work more efficiently, so your body processes carbs in particular more efficiently (rather than trying to store everything as fat). So you need the sensible diet and moderate exercise as well .
(Note - am not a medical person, so scientific explanation possibly not technically accurate - it's the general gist though)

[broccoliandchips]

Thanks ShrinkingViolet - this has helped. So much to learn so quickly!