What improved your PCOS?

[user63214]

Just recently been diagnosed with PCOS which I have suspected for years.

Doctors have said the best option is to lose weight (I'm about two stone over weight). I really want to do that for health reasons anyway. However I still had symptoms when I was a healthier weight so I know I need to do more.

Can anyone recommend anything that helped them improve symptoms?

interested in this! I used to have pcos and having a few spoons of chia seeds every day has helped to regulate my period and helped massively with energy levels. is this the sort of thing you were after?

I struggle with weight gain too. It's almost impossible to lose.

Also following with interest

Eating more whole foods (so more eggs, beans, bananas, lentils, vegetables etc) have all really helped me.

I was able to regulate my periods through:
Weight loss
Reduced carb/sugar intake
Myo-insotol supplements

Can't tell you which of the 3 was the most effective but the combination led to periods gong from once or twice a year to every 28-30 days. Nothing seems to tackle the chin hair though 😂

It was weight loss for me, although I was much more overweight than you

Weight loss is not the be all and end all of managing PCOS. As you point out symptoms can persist even at lower body weights. However exercise can help reduce insulin resistance which is often part of the picture.
Two things I would suggest:
-If you can afford it, consider finding a dietician with an interest in PCOS. Not for weight management but for guidance about food choices. For example https://pcosnutritionistalyssa.com/1-1-nutrition-intensive/. If financially that isn’t an option, research PCOS dietiary advice and try to slowly incorporate as much as you can into your life. But look for information that includes what evidence to support the advice it gives.
The NHS has some resources online that give basic advice but there is more stuff out there.
-Be clear in your mind what symptoms trouble you most eg facial hair growth or concerns about fertility and push your GP to discuss medications available to address those particular concerns.
if they don’t seem particularly helpful, ask for a referral to either gynaecology (particularly if the issues are periods/fertility) or endocrinology (potentially more helpful with other aspects)

Thank you everyone this is really helpful! It does sound like diet/weight is a big factor. I definitely need to cut down my sugar intake and currently adding Chai seeds to the food shop

Going to have a good research tonight eggs, lentils, beans are already a big part of my diet. It's probably more foods I need to reduce that's having the impact.

It sounds like the chin hairs are here to stay. I actually remember after having my DD I had hair loss literally everywhere except my chin and moustache 🙄

Eliminating gluten and dairy. Doing so has also regulated my periods as well

I know it's not the answer for everyone but for me, the right sort of pill - Marvelon until I turned 50 and had to stop. My symptoms were bad acne and very irregular periods/subfertility (clomid for that) - not too much overweight fortunately. The latter obviously a non issue after the menopause and the acne finally gave up too.

The big thing for me has been fewer to no carbs. Carbs crash my energy and mood.