PCOS - helpless with all treatments

by Z

I am 27 years old and I weigh about 105 so I am not even overweight due to PCOS.

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16. I was on Birth control pills for about 7 years.

Then I decided to go for natural treatment after researching online about this syndrome.

I am taking supplements which my naturopathic told me to, since I was deficient in them, also taking vitex along with progesterone cream and diet.

Unfortunately I don't have any success story so far!

Nothing has showed any positive effects.

I am not even overweight so I really don't know what else to do to reduce hirsutism, facial hair.

I have tried everything possible to reduce hirsutism, facial hair but nothing has worked.

I am just devastated and have given up!

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Editor's comments: Hi Everyone, do you have any words of encouragement you can offer to Z? Or something you can suggest she do? She really needs your help!

Meanwhile, I'll make a few comments.

Hi Z, PCOS is devastating for thousands (if not millions!) of women who suffer from PCOS.

Not only is it devastating, but most doctors don't have any truly effective treatments to offer. We all know that taking birth control pills does not make your PCOS go away.

So what does?

That is what you -- and every woman -- will have to figure out. No one has the final answer, the final solution to PCOS for all women. Each woman is different. You can only keep looking and exploring for solutions that work for YOU.

I suggest you start a daily journal. Record your symptoms. Record the medications or supplements you're taking. Also keep track of what you're eating, and how much you're exercising. This is your historical record of how well you're progressing. A historical journal will enable you to notice changes. For example, let's say you start taking saw palmetto for your hirsutism today. Four months later, did your hirsutism get better or not? A journal can tell you that.

What you need is a PLAN. Consult with a licensed naturopathic physician -- if there is one in your area. These professionals are generally very good at developing customized, detailed treatment plans for their patients. Unfortunately, most MDs don't have time to develop in-depth detailed plans. So they prescribe birth control pills or metformin. But hat's not much of a plan.

Vitex is only an herb and is exceedingly unlikely to have such a dramatic effect quickly. One purpose of vitex is to gradually help the body to produce more progesterone.

On the other hand, progesterone cream can have a direct and dramatic effect. I'm not a fan of using "off the shelf" progesterone cream because you can't be certain as to how much progesterone is in it. I prefer that bio-identical ("natural") progesterone be prescribed by a physician and the cream be created by a licensed compounding pharmacist. That is the only way to know for sure how much progesterone you're applying to your body.

Click here for some basic info on progesterone cream. Also here.

Correction of hair loss and hirsutism takes a long time. Each hair goes through its own growth and rest cycle. Hair loss recovery in particular can take a very long time. Many women take saw palmetto for hirsutism. Spearmint tea may also be helpful. You might also try Vaniqa.

It's possible that you have accumulated environmental toxins in your body that are throwing your hormones off balance. I'll be writing about this in our newsletter very soon.

Get a vitamin D test if you have not gotten one already. Your vitamin D level should be in the mid-range of normal; if it's low and you can increase it, some problems are likely to go away.

The problem with PCOS is that it is very complex. Plus, there is a lot of variability among women who have the disorder in terms of their symptoms, how they respond to therapy, etc.

You may need to do many things to gain the upper hand. Improved diet is always the place to start.
PCOS is something you were born with. It's a genetic predisposition toward certain problems. By changing your actions, you can influence how your genes behave. But you have to be relentless. There is no such thing as quick results...that's not how the body works.

The truth is, you'll likely have to work harder and longer than other women in order to have the degree of normalcy that other women have.

Learn as much as you can about PCOS. Apply what you learn. That's all you or anyone can do.

Of course it's frustrating, distressing, painful, expensive etc. Each person has to accept these feelings and simply go ahead and do what needs to be done, no matter how difficult it is. Life goes on. Life is short. You still have your life ahead of you. You don't have time to just give up.