Natural remedies/diets/help/tips PCOS

[Rmad6716]

Does anybody have any tips or diet advice for PCOS? Anything that's induced ovulation etc?

I've recently started using inositol 2 x daily and only change has been a lot of CM.

Read a lot about spearmint tea and its potential testosterone reducing properties too. I had started drinking a few cups a day but unfortunately the doctor has asked for cd 1-4 and 19-21 tests to confirm my raised androgens so I've stopped it for a bit.

I'm on cd 50 and have never wanted AF more in my life . Just want diagnosis 100% confirmed before I start 'treating' it in whatever ways I can.

Another question I have is, if I am TTC and not ovulating (99% sure I'm not) can I ask my doctor for clomid straight away? August will be month 8 of TTC.

Hi I am new to this too, and I have PCOS, and August will be our 8th month of ttc. I went for 4 loads of blood tests and only 1 set came back to show that I had ovulated (4th set) and the doctor said we should wait until 12 months as 80% of ppl conceive within a year, if no BFPs by then I should go back and they will give me Metformin I think which is supposed to help? Xxx

P.s I’d never heard of inositol so I am now going to buy some of that! Xx

P.p.s I am also on day 53 - I haven’t met anyone in such a similar position as me before. Xx

A low carb diet is very helpful with PCOS. Not sure about if it helps with ovulation though.

@Em171988

Sounds like we are in exactly the same boat! It's so frustrating .

One of the doctors I seen said that she would refer me to the fertility specialist after 6 months TTC if it turned out I had PCOS...she subsequently did the wrong blood tests and told me I didn't have PCOS. Fast forward 3 months and the correct ones are now done indicating PCOS! So I'm not sure if it's maybe different where I am (Scotland).

It's a bit silly for doc to say wait 12 months if we aren't ovulating. Don't think I can wait another 4 months of nothingness lol!

Thanks @BIWI . I will look into it. I'll do anything to feel 'normal' again. I'm growing a better beard than my husband at the moment! If I don't laugh I'll cry

Hi, when trying for my second I used this book https://www.worldofbooks.com/how-to-get-pregnant-the-zhai-programme-for-successful-conception-by-dr-xiao-ping-zhai-gor004671721.html?keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjw4avaBRBPEiwAZetYpuCPbVFrIshasaqzpeHnYFP0AjI4GS-06yUHAJG5xTfU-Qd0BDEJxoCTs0QAvDD_BwE

Helped with my PCOS and my diet etc.

I know the feeling re: the beard, my husband gently told me yesterday I could do with plucking a few of my chin whiskers as he calls them!

I am going to go back to the doctors in a couple of weeks if AF doesn’t arrive and perhaps they will speed things up then as was having fairly regular periods until this random month!

What is the next step for you? Are you going back to docs? Xx

I just wanted to let you know you shouldn't have to wait 12 months for help if you aren't ovulating. I think the 12 months is for people with no obvious issues! I've been given Clomid after 9 months due to confirmed pcos with no/very infrequent ovulation & extremely irregular periods (100+ days)

I've been taking inositol too - no idea if it's helped! But does no harm trying

Inositol is AMAZING stuff! I started using it last cycle which was 56 days and this cycle I ovulated on cd18 instead of cd43! So it looks like this cycle is going to be 30 days - my shortest ever.
Just make sure you take the right amount, more than the pack will say. 4g a day, just start with less and slowly increase and otherwise it may cause nausea/bloating.

I got the powder from myprotein as it works out cheaper.

m.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/inositol/10530319.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiPWX26yk3AIVJ7XtCh0apQ5pEAAYASAAEgKhevD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJ716dyspNwCFcYi0wodwb8BXg

Thanks both, I am definitely going to get some inositol now! And also make another appointment with my doctor and follow up on this - I always thought I would have to wait 12 months to 2 years for any help but good to know I should go back xx

The only thing that worked for me was going on a low GI diet, I went from cycles lasting anything from 40 to 170 days to a regular 28 day cycle within 3 months of making diet changes. I also lost about 5 stone in a year and a half. Put it all back on after having DD 4 years ago really need to start again.

At 10dpo I have got a visible pink line on a FRER this AM!

My story...DS is 5.5yrs (18months ttc - 7lb off with WW & took Agnus Castus) - we haven't used contraception since having him. Moved house 15 months ago so upped the ante but nothing. Was with consultant in March internal ultrasound looked good. Had HSG in May and tubes all clear. We are still waiting for DH SA appointment- he will be so delighted.
Also first month of SMEP highly recommend!!
Used PreSeed just as a lube not internally.
We are both on a preconception multivitamin, probiotics and DH taking an extra zinc supplement.
I took Vit B6 April May June stopped it this month as it had lengthened my LP to 12 days!
I went to SW in April - I always thought it wouldn't work but gave it a good go and lost 1 stone have much more to lose though. I went to a kinesiologist 2 weeks ago who said I have the milk allergy so I cut out milk, cream, yogurt, ice cream, milk chocolate etc.

I'm praying this is our time AF would be due Thurs.
Good luck to all of you ☘

Thanks @MrsBartlettforthewin - I will defo purchase that book !

@Em171988 The beard is the worst! I got fed up and spent a good hour the other day plucking out each one by one, I had been shaving them but i think its making my acne so much worse so I'm thinking if i exfoliate regularly then it should stop that.

I can't wait to get AF - its now CD 55 and no sign, although i do have a bit of nipple sensitivity :O so maybe something will happen soon, felt mild sickness the last couple of days and as much as i would like to be preggo im really sure im not and its just this horrible PCOS messing me up! argh.

I have my ultrasound tomorrow morning to confirm cysts - at least that saves me POAS hahah!

You should defo go back to the docs, I don't think they understand how upsetting and frustrating the waiting is. It feels like years not months. I'm getting more and more anxious the more i've read about how long it takes some women to get pregnant with PCOS and then there is the staying pregnant part :(. Why us?!

@tinyradish i'm going to be more stubborn with my GP once im 100% confirmed diagnosis. I've had 3 periods since jan, thought it was getting better as well (last was 32 days!).

@flapjackered I've just been taking regular inositol from amazon and the first couple of weeks i had more CM then just over 2 weeks ago i had LOADS extra CM when i went away for my first anniversary and didn't use OPKS or anything so i may have actually ovulated. We DTD once lol so maybe just that one time may have worked but who knows! fingers crossed but i'll not be surprised if AF shows. I ran out of PG tests last week which is probs a good thing :D. I will defo buy the powdered form - I love myproteins stuff, used to buy loads when i went to the gym etc.

@Katescurios I have heard a lot about the Keto diet! It does seem so hard at this point though :(. I know i will really need to do it if i want to help myself. The other thing about me is im borderline overweight and have more excess androstenedione than testosterone so i'm not sure if i have the insulin resistance. I have managed to steady my weight at around 71kg for most of the year. Still a stone up since last july but i was on a wedding diet and then came off pill in jan.

How are you ladies on the scale? I'm trying to learn about PCOS and the different types etc...

So i have the excess hair quite bad and a lot of acne as well as slight weight gain and severe bloating coupled with lack of periods.

More androgens than anything else - testosterone was't too high i don't think (2.8 should be

@Angelmiracle praying this is Your time!! Everything is crossed!

How are you getting on? Is SMEP sperm meets egg?

I have the dairy and gluten allergy but I'm struggling being the only one in the house that has to be careful about what i eat. I suppose im only making myself suffer!

Hoping its good news for you! xxx

@Rmad6716 - Hi doing great! Lines are getting darker everyday on FRER so that's reassuring. I seen GP yesterday she is referring me for booking in appointment and hospital of choice for birth- so surreal!! We have only told my mum and dad so far!

Yes cutting everything out is awful! I done 1 week of pure clean eating in March- - no carbohydrates at all! It was horrendous but I def wasn't signing up for 3 months of it!!

Yeah Sperm Meets Egg Plan- need to make sure you're regularly dtd!

Sorry I can’t seem to tag people in my response I should download the app really!

I’m not sure where I am on the scale but I am really hairy, legs arms face and tummy and bum 🙈 for me that is the worst, it is so embarrassing, I’m glad my husband is ok with it but I have had many a horrible experience at beauty salons where they literally make me feel like I should be in a freak show!

I also get really bad fatigue from time to time - I thought it was just me being over sensitive and due to my job being quite stressful (I am a solicitor) but some mornings I literally cannot get out of bed!!! I’d be so interested if that is a symptom of PCOS, I always thought I was just a bit of a snowflake and a wuss haha

I am on holiday at the moment so it has been really good reading these messages, gives me motivation to follow things up when I get back.

In terms of weight I’m not really sure what I weigh, I don’t have a bad diet, but could do better and do more exercise... I am 5ft and I think I probably weigh about 10-10.5 stone so I am considered overweight, I am usually between 8st11 and 9st3 so I have put on about a stone lately, which I need to shift!

Xx

Hi there, does anyone know if its worth cutting down on carbs if you have lean pcos? I eat quite a lot of (good) carbs & don't really want to cut down unless necessary LOL Nothings been mentioned to me about diet by the fertility clinic & I don't need to lose weight really? (bmi 21.)

Also interested in the fatigue issue. It's something I've suffered with for a long time, with investigations into autoimmune diseases & all sorts. If it's caused by pcos, that would explain a lot!

& congratulations angel!

@tinyradish thank you so much!
🤞 for you all x

Hi all. I don't know if I can help but about 10 years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS and told I would have trouble conceiving. Since then, and not totally related to that, I have lost a couple of stone, stuck to a low sugar/carb regime and taken evening primrose oil every day. I found that over two years my cycles went from up to 60 days each with no regular pattern to 28-33 day which was a huge improvement. Maybe a coincidence but also doing 3 x runs/swims per week have all seemed to help me conceive each of my three on my first cycle. I'm still a hairy beast though ! Hope you all manage to find something that works for you.

How is everyone getting on? I went to doctors and had a test which was negative so had to make another appointment for the end of the month and just told to wait it out - apparently the doctor said as long as women have 4 periods a year this is considered ok and so I have to wait until the end of the month (ie won’t have had a period for 3 months) before they take it any further? My husband has made an appointment to have semen analysis just in case but that is not until October. Day 74 of cycle today, I feel so bloated and fat and my boobs feel huge and feel tired but all negative tests so don’t know if I have just eaten too much (just come back from two week holiday) and it is hot - feel like I am the size of a house yet hardly eaten anything today! Xx

Update! I'm literally so happy as I've been talking all my supplements, walking regularly. Cut out the gluten and dairy, been drinking my herbal teas (especially spearmint 🙌🏼).... I just had A 31 DAY CYCLE!!! Didn't even feel AF coming 😅. I know you will all understand how this feels! My last cycle was 55 days. Acne is getting better also. I've started using only natural, makeup/skincare/household products. Eating organic (hormone free) chicken and cut out most red meat.

I read a lot about the symptoms of iodine deficiency and it resonates a lot with my symptoms. I've been supplementing with it for two weeks and my severe fatigue has lifted. I feel more upbeat.

I've been taking
Selenium,
Zinc
Magnesium
Folic acid
Inositol
Flower remedies (like rescue remedy).
Trying to stop stressing over stuff I can't control/doesn't affect me.

I know all this sounds like a lot and yes it is expensive at first but I've just waited until all my regular products have run out and replaced with more natural shizz 🧘‍♀️. Basically I've been researching everything I can find about this bastard syndrome.

You all probably think I'm crazy but I feel on cloud nine right now. Long may it continue.

Wow good effort Rmad, pleased to hear its totally paid off. I have lean PCOS, CD76 at the moment, you’ve tempted me to make
more effort with a low GI/low sugar diet. Hopefully it will help with my energy levels too. I think feeling tired and episodes of low energy makes me feel like I need to reach for the sugar which is just making things worse. You must be over the moon with such a shorter cycle there, well done!

My sincere advice with trying to conceive with PCOS (which worked for myself and many others I know with PCOS) was to go on a low carb diet. Cut all bread/pasta/rice/potatoes and sugar from your diet. Have salads, meats, eggs, fish, fruit. Women with PCOS have insulin resistance which is fed by eating carbohydrates.

I started to ovulate properly after 4 months of being on this diet and conceived about 5/6 months after starting. I had been TTC for 5 years prior xx