PCOS - anyone experienced this? What helped?

[staroftrackandfield8]

Asking here as GP and endocrinology department don't seem to have any answers for me...

I've had PCOS all my adolescent and adult life. After coming off the pill 5 years ago my periods 'settled' into a pattern of appearing every 5-7 weeks or so. In recent months, I've visited my GP as my periods seem to be disappearing. They're increasingly less regular, with longer breaks between bleeds, and I lose a lower volume of blood with each cycle. The last two cycles I've barely lost any blood.

Investigations identified a raised prolactin level, but endocrinology said this was related to my PCOS and had no answers for the changes to my period and no plans to investigate further as this is apparently just the way it is with PCOS.

I'm frustrated because I don't understand what could be causing these changes and if I should be worrying. And when I go for very long breaks without a period (think 8+ weeks) I inevitably start panicking that I'm pregnant.

I'm early 30s, non smoker, not overweight (fight very hard to keep my weight down), exercise regularly. The same round of investigations found no issues with thyroid, not in early menopause and normal hormones levels except slightly raised prolactin.

Why would my cycle suddenly change after a few years of relative regularity? Has anyone else experienced this? Did you ever get answers or find anything that helped? 🤞 thank you in advance!

I have PCOS too, I’ve never found the doctors that helpful to be honest. All I’ve been told is - Go on the pill. I take Rheal Superfoods Balance Tonic and find that very good. How it works I have no idea but it’s given me monthly periods back. I was getting around 3 a year. I’m 36 and this is the best year I’ve had with them after taking this product. It also helped a lot with mood swings for me x

Thank you! I've never heard of it - I'll certainly give it a try. Glad you found something that works for you. I agree with you on the doctors, it's all a bit rubbish 😞. My mood swings seem to be getting worse too 😬

You can order it online but they also do it in Holland and Barrett. They usually do better prices / deals on their website but you could always get one from H & B to try first? My husband told me he noticed a big difference in my moods 🤣🤣🤣. I just feel overall calmer, less snappy and a bit more relaxed. I do have anxiety which plays its part I’m sure. I mix mine with apple juice and frozen smoothie blends from Tesco. I personally couldn’t have it with water but others do, apparently you can mix it with yoghurt too x

Haha! Well the mood swings are no joke to me once I'm in them so I'll give anything a go. Think yoghurt might be the way forward, looking at the reviews the taste sounds like it takes some getting used to. Thanks so much, I massively appreciate the recommendation x

I got diagnosed age 20. Went on the pill for 10 yrs. Then came off it in my 30s, took 1 yr to get a period, then i became regular. This stayed the same for 3yrs, then i went really long inbetween periods . So i started taking inositol power twice a day and went back regular. I got mine from "my protein"

Inositol for me too. Made periods completely regular and helps make weight maintenance easier (not effortless, but better)!

Magnesium and zinc for me (ZMA it's called) got my periods back then got me pregnant after 9 years of secondary infertility and back to regular periods again now.

Thanks so much everyone I've been reading up today, this was extremely helpful. Going to give some of this a shot.