Diet, Exercise and Diane-35 - Success!!

by Casey Trew
(Sydney, NSW, Australia)

8 months old

After suffering from horrible periods my whole life, finally, at the age of 25 I was diagnosed with PCOS.

My gyno placed me on Diane-35 and informed me that weight loss would also help. I started walking every morning as I didn't have time to get to the gym. I wasn't losing a great deal of weight but I was feeling much healthier for doing so.

After 4 months on Diane-35, my partner and I decided that we would like to start trying for a family. As we were told that this might end up being a lengthy and possibly expensive process, we put off getting married thinking that a family was a far more important expense than a wedding.

We went to see my gyno who told me that the first step was to stop taking Diane-35. He told me that it would take about 4 months to come out of my system and that we would try some hormone treatments at the end of that period. He told us to have fun trying to conceive in the meantime, but the chances we not the best.

I wasn't surprised when I got my period the following month. About 3 weeks after that period I started feeling very tired and my breasts hurt. I just thought it was effects from coming off the Diane-35. When I was a week late for my next period, I was still thinking that it's just more side effects but a friend convinced me to buy a pregnancy test. I was hesitant at taking the test as I'd been disappointed so many times before.

I bought a test on my way home from work that night and took it as soon as I got home, thinking I should just get it over and done with so I wouldn't start getting my hopes up. The test came back positive. I took the other test in the 2-pack. Positive again.

Half not believing it, half not wanting to be crushed if it was wrong, I bought another test in the morning. A different brand this time. Third times the charm....positive again. There are no words for the emotion I was feeling at that point.

Apart from the usual ailments, I had a very smooth pregnancy and in June 2007 (11 months after ceasing the Diane-35) I gave birth to a beautiful healthy girl that we named Hunter Jordan. She is our little miracle.

As we are unsure if we will have the same luck again, we have started trying again straight away for the next addition to our family. If we don't have any luck the old fashion way, I will definitely be going back on Diane-35 again.

Comments for Diet, Exercise and Diane-35 - Success!!

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Rating

ovarian normalization
by: PCOS Editor

Birth control pills create a monthly bleed, not a natural ovulation cycle. How soon that happens depends on the individual and the dosage level of the particular pill. Could be 1-4 months??

Rating

Daine35
by: Anonymous

How many months/ packs does Diane 35 take to make ovaries normal ?

Rating

primolut - ask your doctor
by: PCOS Editor

That's a question you should ask your doctor. The effect of any medication differs among individuals.

Rating

seeking answer
by: Anonymous

Good evening.. I was diagnosed pcos last feb. then last april i took the prescribed meds. Of my Dr. W/c is primolut for 5 days then she said i'll wait for 4-14 days to get menstruated then until now i'm not Yet menstruating.. What should i do next? tnx

Rating

not sure
by: PCOS Editor

Taking birth control pills puts your ovaries "to sleep". No one knows how soon they will "wake up", or to what extent they will "wake up".

So yes, it's possible to become pregnant. But we could speculate that it is not very likely. It may take some months for your ovaries to normalize after taking a hormone-altering medication.

Rating

Elijah19
by: Anonymous

I was diagnosed with PCOS last month. I'm taking a 2nd box of Diane pills...my Ob-Gyn prescribed me to take Diane for 3 months...after 3 months, is there a chance to get pregnant?

Rating

resume normal treatment
by: PCOS Editor

In the long run, it won't make any difference. Resume your normal schedule tomorrow.

Rating

Dianne 35
by: Anonymous

Hi today i had my dianne 35 earlier by mistake .. usually i have it at 5pm today i had it at 11am what should i do,please help me out

Rating

Here are some ideas
by: PCOS Editor

Hi A,

The long-term solution is to greatly improve your diet and increase your level of exercise and increase daily physical activity. This is the primary way by which you can control your hormones.

For ideas on diet, you can visit the "Diet for PCOS" section of our site or purchase one of our ebooks on the subject. Mainly, you want eat more veggies and avoid all processed foods. You can also increase healthy fats such as fish, avocados and coconut oil -- and greatly reduce saturated fat from land animals.

Birth control pills are not a high-risk medication, although they do virtually nothing to improve your health.

It would be smart to get a vitamin D lab test, since optimal vitamin D is required to control PCOS. If test value below 50, consider supplementation.

There are also nutritional supplements you could take to provide some help. Click the "Vitamin List" in the left menu for more information.

Also take a look at our "Acne" and "Unwanted Hair" sections of our site.

Go to the bottom of Emily's story for some additional guidance.

Rating

Please I would be so grateful if you could help me
by: A

Hi,

I am so happy that I came across this website today. I am a 21 year old and I have been diagnosed with PCOS last month.

Since I can remember my periods have always been irregular (I don't fully miss one, just that they aren't normal- unpredictable every 40 or more days and I don't know if I ovulate).

Then I started getting back acne, also hirsutism on my chest and other areas. My gynecologist put me on Diane-35. I took the first 21 package already but I really don't want to use artificial drugs.

I'm scared about the side effects and I would love to cure myself naturally as I'm very passionate to have children and a family one day.

Please if you can advise me for a long-term solution, so I can regulate my periods and the esthetic side now, but also conceive one day?

Rating

Hard to predict what happens upon Diane 35 withdrawal
by: PCOS Editor

Birth control pills put your ovaries to sleep. No one knows how fast they will wake up and act normally. Birth control pills contain powerful artificial hormones. When those artificial hormones are removed, it's hard to know whether your ovaries will be normal or return to an abnormal hormonal pattern.

You may want to consider additional things you might do. This article has some information that may help you with becoming pregnant. Scroll down to the page for links to additional articles.

Rating

Diane 35
by: Priyanka

Am suffering from pcod.

Am on diane 35 and it's my 4th month of taking it. My doctor advised me to stop after 4th month.

Is there any hope of me conceiving after taking it? We have ben trying from a long time.

Rating

I stop taking my Diane 35
by: Sophia

I was diagnosed pcos my doctor put me on Diane 35 for 3 months, I have taken it for 2 months. My husband asked me to stop and let's try and know if I can take it. Please, how is it possible or what can I do to make it work? Thanks.

Rating

When will your ovaries "wake up"?
by: PCOS Editor

Well, taking birth control pills is like putting your ovaries to sleep, since they don't have much work to do because you've been providing hormones to your body in a pill. How fast your ovaries will "wake up" is anyone's guess.

Metformin has a pretty strong track record for helping to reduce insulin dysfunction, which is a big problem with PCOSers. So it is a good option if you can tolerate it, and if you have an insulin disorder.

Taking birth control pills for years and years does not provide any permanent health improvement that I know of.

There's a lot of research evidence to indicate that an optimal diet + increased exercise + stress reduction + adequate sleep + selected nutritional supplements is as effective as either birth control pills or metformin.

If you intend to become pregnant, I would suggest you get a vitamin D blood test. If your vitamin D is on the low side, you may have some difficulty ovulating or becoming pregnant.

And, of course, your thyroid function should be optimal for better fertility.

Rating

Question on Pcos
by: Anonymous

Hi,
I've been diagnosed with PCOS since I was 13 years of age and now I am 22. I've been prescribed Diane 35 since then and I was also prescribed Metformin 1 year ago. I was asked to stop Diane 35 to see if my periods were okay. I stopped and I did not get periods for the whole month. So I started taking it again with Metformin. I'm getting married soon. How long before marriage should I stop using Diane 35?and I want to know if the already taken amount of Diane for all these years would hinder my chances of getting pregnant.

Rating

Consider all the options
by: PCOS Editor

Well, you don't have to depend 100% on a pharmaceutical to solve your hirsutism problems. Why not expand your thinking and consider additional options?

We have quite a few web pages that discuss unwanted hair growth. Why not read those pages and learn about other things you can do, such as drinking spearmint tea?

This is not to say you shouldn't take any pharmaceutical drugs -- that's a personal judgment call where you have to compare the benefits to the risks. We always recommend a comprehensive approach to hirsutism, including diet, exercise, and lifestyle improvements.

PS: A recent diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome and feeling out of control of your body is often scary at first. But this problem will be around for a good long while. So be patient and educate yourself so that you can feel more confident about what you need to do to correct the problem and recover your optimum health.

Rating

Hairtisum and PCOS
by: Anonymous

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 months ago. My menstruation cycle is normal but I have abnormal hair growth all over the body from past few months and they are growing rapidly.

My gynae suggested me to take diane 35 but I am afraid about the side effects so i haven't started taking pills. Can anyone guide me please what to do as I'm really scared. :(

Rating

metformin might help
by: PCOS Editor

Ask your doctor about metformin. It can help you to better manage your weight.

Rating

My weight is increasing
by: Anonymous

Hi. I am taking diane 35 for PCOS. But I'm overweight. My doctor didn't tell me about metformin.

My weight is just increasing, about which I am really tensed. Please advise me.

Rating

metformin
by: PCOS Editor

No one has the answer to that question. In general, metformin is likely to improve chances of conception.

Rating

Pregnancy
by: JSM

The pills prescribed to me by my OB was successful. I am using dianne35 along with metformin. I now have my period after 2 months of waiting. Will I successfuly be pregnant after my pcos has been treated?

Rating

work on your diet
by: PCOS Editor

Nobody knows the answer to that question. Every person is a unique individual, so what is effective for one person is not necessarily effective for another person.

One of the goals of Diane-35 is to suppress your production of male hormones, called androgens. Well, what happens when you stop it? What's to stop androgen production for increasing again? Keep in mind that excessively high androgen levels can make it difficult become pregnant.

The place to start is with your diet, which we discuss on many pages of this website.

Second, why not get your vitamin D level checked? Women with PCOS typically have low vitamin D levels, which makes conception more unlikely.

Rating

need answer
by: Anonymous

Hi everyone. I too was diagnosed with PCOS for a couple of years now. Visited my ob gyne, my first pregnancy was nine years ago and it was natural but I have been trying for past three years now but no success yet.

My doc gave me a series of glucophage and diane 35 for a total of six months, now on 3x a day(500) and it is not the best feeling, but I'm keeping faith.

How soon should I stop taking the Diane 35 to conceive? Need help.

Rating

Ovulation
by: PCOS Editor

If you are actually ovulating, it's possible to become pregnant. If you're not ovulating, it's not possible to become pregnant.

I would guess that it's unlikely you would be ovulating within 24 hours of finishing a course of contraceptives.

Rating

Will i get pregnant after taking dianne35?
by: JSM

I'm on medication for 21 days now with dianne35 and metformin. My last pill of dianne35 was last night. My boyfriend and I had sex and we went all the way. Will I get pregnant? I wanted to but I have PCOS.

Rating

you'll have to take responsibility
by: PCOS Editor

I'm sorry but you will have to educate yourself about what PCOS is and what you can do about it. If you wish to start a family, you obviously can't be on birth control. When you go off of birth control, there is no assurance whatever that you will resume ovulation.

If you have insulin resistance or are overweight, ask your doctor about metformin. This is a pharmaceutical drug. It can improve fertility in some cases.

You cannot depend entirely on your doctor to solve your problems related to polycystic ovary syndrome.

I suggest you improve your diet, get more exercise, and get a vitamin D test. Have a look around this website -- there is a lot of information that will help you.

Rating

PCOS - how do I start as family?
by: Rupa

Hi. I'm suffering from PCOS since Feb 2015. I got married December 2015. Now I'm worried about pregnancy. I'm using Diane 35 since 4 months and the doctor suggested that I use it until June of 2016. So I'm worried about my pregnancy. I want a baby. What should I do?

Rating

metformin
by: PCOS Editor

Metformin is worth a try. If you experience intolerable GI distress, you can switch to a couple of nutritional supplements which appear to have effects similar to metformin.

They are NAC and berberine.

Rating

Diagnosed PCOS
by: Anonymous

Hi I'm a 19yr old female.I wasn't having periods for 2months then I was told by my gyne to take a ultrasound test. I was diagnosed with PCOS, and doc prescribed me medicines like metformin, ginette35 and norgap N.

I'm just afraid about the metformin tablet. Please suggest me what should I do. From tomorrow onwards I'm going to start my prescribed medicines.

Rating

types of vaginal discharge
by: PCOS Editor

This website describes the various types of vaginal discharge and what they mean.

Rating

Little brown discharge while taking diane35
by: Anonymous

I am 31 years old and diagnosed with PCOS last sept23. I immediately started Diane 35 and Glucophage xr 500 twice a day.

My cycle got improved and I am now on 4th month of my medication. Before I used to have a minimum of 10 days bleeding, now only max a week.

12 DEC got my first day of period and 16 DEC started my Diane. Now is 18 DEC but having brown discharge. Is that still part of my period? I'm bit worried as before diagnosed with PCOS I'm having heavy bleedings 10 days and 10 days more for this brown discharge.

Thanks

Rating

Diane 35
by: PCOS Editor

Diane 35 is taken in 28-day cycles, 3 weeks on and 1 week off. So presumably you would have a "monthly bleed" by day 28. However, since you just started this medication, it's hard to know what is effect will be. Especially during the first month of use, a condom should be used to help make sure you do not become pregnant.

Rating

How many days to wait until my period?
by: Sandra

Hi, good morning. I'm worried because me and my boyfriend are having unsafe sex 3 days after I took diane 35. When I got diane 35 I immediately took 3 tablets of diane in the afternoon around 12...but my boyfriend said he didn't release any sperm in me. I just want to ask when will I get my period because diane is only 21 tablets?

Rating

ask your doctor
by: PCOS Editor

HI RC,

Call your doctor and get his/her opinion.

A sudden change in hormones caused by the Pill could cause symptoms.

An alternative may be metformin, but it has its own side effects, such as GI upset in some cases.

Rating

Single with pcos
by: RC

25 y.o...Recently I've been diagnosed with pcos...I started taking diane 35. I felt little weird. I'm always nauseated. Should I stop??

Rating

Just Diagnosed with PCOS
by: Anonymous

Hi Maam me too was just diagnosed with this syndrome. My ob gyne gave me provera, diane 35 and metformin after 6 months I am going to meet her again to give me new medicine something to do with regulating my menstruation. She also informed the thick lining of my womb so exercise is really needed, advised me to lose weight. I gained weight since I started working. I really have an irregular menstruation ever since and I am 27 yr-old now but I am still positive to have a baby someday. Like you said it is a lifestyle problem not a medical problem.. :)

Rating

ovulation
by: PCOS Editor

Lack of ovulation is caused by many factors. One of those factors is an imbalance of multiple hormones, including too much testosterone, insulin and estrogen on the one hand, and too little progesterone on the other.

The metformin (Glucophage) should be helpful. I'm not so sure about the Primulot and Diane 35. Ask your doctor.

Since you work in Saudi Arabia, I assume you don't go outside very much or expose your bare skin to the sun. Therefore, you may have a vitamin D deficiency. Get a blood test and find out. If the vitamin D value is below 50, I would suggest you take supplemental vitamin D. It is very difficult to ovulate if your vitamin D is too low.

Are you exercising? You must find a way to get more exercise. This will help normalize your hormones.

What are you eating? Are you overweight? If so, I recommend you avoid all white rice and all foods containing wheat for at least 2 months and see what happens. Have at least five servings of vegetables per day. Eat some nuts and seeds. Absolutely no soft drinks! If lose as little as 5% of your body fat, you might be able to ovulate.

Rating

I want to get pregnant
by: S

Hi, I am a Filipina, and I am diagnosed PCOS, Before I got married, I already had irregular periods. But now that I am married, I am trying to conceive. I've went to different doctors and they give me the same medication. My friend in the Philippines told me I should take Provera so that I can induce my period, then, take Diane 35 on the first day. Since Provera is not available here in Saudi Arabia, I took Primulot N 1 tab 2x a day for 5 days and Glucophage 500mg 1 tab 2x a day. Then take Diane 35 on the first day of menses.

Question:
How long will I take Diane 35? And when will I take clomid to induce ovulation?

I am loosing hope! I want to have a baby early this year. Please help me.

Rating

Clomid
by: PCOS Editor

How soon you should take Clomid after stopping Diane-35 is a question you should ask of the doctor who is prescribing either one of these medications. Clomid is a synthetic anti-estrogen. Make sure you understand the benefits and risks of Clomid before starting.

Rating

Congrats and help
by: Anonymous

Hi. Congratulation for your success. I'm too TTC. On Diane for 5 months. Should I take Clomid right after stopping Diane. What to do. Am very confused and anxious. Have pcos since I was 15. Now I am 28.

Rating

Diane-35 Risks
by: PCOS Editor

Diane-35 was originally designed as a treatment for acne, not PCOS, nor was it intended for long-term use. It is an anti-androgen, meaning that it suppresses production of male hormones. Since women with polycystic ovary syndrome typically have excess production of androgens, Diane-35 is sometimes prescribed.

However, while this medication can reduce androgens, it appears to do nothing to reduce insulin dysfunction, which is believed to be the number one cause of PCOS. A better choice might be metformin, if it can be tolerated. Metformin has a good track record for helping to normalize insulin function.

Another problem with Diane-35 is that it appears to modestly increase blood pressure. Also, one of its adverse effects is thromboembolism (formation of blood clots), thus causing problems such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke or heart attack. Consumption of fish oil concentrate may help to reduce this risk.

Rating

diane 35
by: Anonymous

I'm taking Diane 35 one box only. Can I get pregnant? I'm really worried. Please tell me.

Rating

Help me!
by: Anonymous

I too have had bad periods all my life. I had been on diane 35 for four months and just came off it. The first month i stopped on 24th March and my period came normal and stopped normal. However the second month now, which i'm supposed to have gotten my period on the 28th of April, it got delayed until today.

I know I'm not pregnant because, 14 days after my period in March, I had an ultrasound done. Also i did a recent test of LH and it showed negative. Infact I was trying to get pregnant right after I came off the pill, by monitoring my ovulation. I'm afraid all the OKP showed negative although the lines grew darker and darker at one point and lighter after that but never darker than the control line.

What am I to do now ? Just wait for my period to take its own time to come out ?

I am anxiously waiting for my period to come out because, the doctor has given me clomid to ovulate this time. He had asked me to take it on the second day of my natural period. However, since the period has still not showed any signs, I'm not sure what to do.

Kindly assist me if you can, would be very greatfull.

Thank you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor's comments: If you've had irregular periods all your life, I'm afraid you will have to dig a little deeper than just medications.

Think about changing your health habits. PCOS-related infertility is not a medical problem; it is a lifestyle problem.

If you ate the correct diet and got plenty of exercise, you might be pleasantly surprised at the results. Dozens of medical research studies have shown that correct lifestyle improves most PCOS symptoms, including a higher probably of regaining a more normal cycle.

This book provides an in-depth guide for dealing with polycystic ovary syndrome in a healthy way.

Rating

thanx
by: jamileh

thank u my dear you gave me the i hope i need i was afraid. am from jordan- amman, am 23yrs old am on diane 35 because i have an ovarain cyst and my doctor told me not to worry about it it's very small but i kept asking her about pregnancy is there any fear (troubels) to get pregnant?and she always saying nooooooooooo and once she told me (my doctor) that she had it once and she didn't fear and she get pregnant 3 times. am still taking diane 35 and she told me when you want to get preganant am gonna give another drug to active ovulation or maybe you'll get pregnant without any interference (just like u). thank u my dear because you made me happy and positive about life thank u.
i just want to wish the best and to bear more children because they r the light of life. thank u. if u want to send me anything send it to the my e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].

am very gratfull to u my dear for keeping my hopes up

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to PCOS Success Story.