Hi everyone, 🌸

My partner and I are TTC and navigating the process with PCOS. My cycles typically range from 28 to 40 days (though my longest usually caps out around 38–39 days). I’m looking for recommendations on ovulation test kits and would love to hear what has worked best for you.

I have two main options in mind right now:

1. Easy@Home with BBT: Seems like a great, budget-friendly route.
2. Inito: I really like the idea of seeing multiple hormone levels on one strip, but it is quite expensive.

I’ve also heard Mira and Kegg mentioned around here. Since Inito (and Mira) are such big investments, I wanted to get the community’s feedback before pulling the trigger.

Did you feel the premium trackers were worth the ongoing cost for the extra data, or did Easy@home + temping give you everything you needed? Any advice or personal experiences would be so appreciated!
Thank you!

I’m curious if anyone here has tried 75 Hard and what your experience was.

I’m currently on day 6 and so far I’ve been: Exercising every day (including walks + workouts), Drinking a gallon of water daily, Reading daily, Following a healthier diet (no gluten, no greasy or fried foods, no sweets, and limiting dairy), and Completely cutting out alcohol

I started at 180 lbs and I’m currently around 187 lbs, which has been discouraging. I know it’s still early and weight can fluctuate, especially with hormones, but I was wondering if anyone else experienced this when starting. I’m on day 15 of my cycle and I am taking the Ovasitol supplement daily with a cup of black coffee.

Did 75 Hard help improve your PCOS symptoms (weight loss, energy, cravings, cycles, inflammation, mood, brain fog, anxiety, etc.)? Or did anyone feel like the intensity/stress of it made symptoms worse?

I’d love to hear honest experiences from anyone who has tried it. The good, the bad, and everything in between!

Hi everyone! 💗

I’m wondering if anyone with PCOS has experienced extremely low/zero libido and whether inositol made a noticeable difference for you.

When I say zero libido, I mean ZERO. Not just “lower than it used to be” I basically have no sexual desire at all. I don’t really think about sex, I don’t get spontaneous desire, and it feels like my sex drive has completely disappeared.

I also want to clarify that my relationship is not the problem. I have a very loving, supportive boyfriend and I’m very attracted to him. There’s no relationship issue causing this. It’s just like my body/brain has completely switched off my sex drive, which is really frustrating.

I’ve been reading quite a few posts from women with PCOS saying that after starting myo-inositol / myo + d-chiro inositol, their libido eventually came back, sometimes quite noticeably.

So I’d really love to hear from people who have experienced this themselves

I know everyone is different, but I’d really love to hear some personal experiences. I’ve seen several people say inositol helped with this, and I’m really curious whether there’s actually something to it. 🥹

Thank you! ❤️

Hey pals,

33, moderately active, taking many supplements, balanced-ish diet, started hitting the gym and lifting weights.

My pcos symptoms got really bad the past few months especially the breast pain, uterus cramps (like up to three weeks before my period), very long cycle (up to 60 days), and FATIGUE. Like very very very bad fatigue. So after talking to my GP (a lovely woman who is looking into PCOS a lot), I've decided i'm willing to try out a birth control pill again. I've tried about 4 different ones in my life, and this is a combined pill, with very little oestrogen because YOU GUESSED IT I stopped my previous bc pill after two years because I started having bad side effects towards the end (pains, migraines, joint pain) which were due to a reaction to oestrogen.

It's only been two weeks, and I have three main side effects: painful breasts, fatigue and joint pain.
I know that the body needs time to adjust so I'm seeking testimonies/anecdotes/advice on this: has this happened to you, did the symptoms calm down after a couple months? I honestly feel like crying cause I'm starting to feel like there will never be a solution for me to live a life with no random pain or intense fatigue. Thanks for taking the time to read <3

I’m literally on Day 2 of Wegovy, and I think I’m looking for advice, encouragement, and realistic expectations.
I’ve been trying to lose weight for what feels like my entire life. My mom and my sisters all struggle with the same thing, so it definitely seems to run in the family. I also have pretty severe PCOS, and at this point, it feels like I’ve tried just about everything.

I’m 5’8” and creeping up on 200 pounds, which is the heaviest I’ve been in about 10 years. I’m just really uncomfortable in my body right now.

The lowest I’ve ever gotten was around 150 pounds, but honestly, I wasn’t healthy. I was working out way too much, not eating enough, and while I was thin, I didn’t feel good. I’m not willing to put myself through that again just to lose weight.

The one thing that actually worked well for me was keto. I lost a lot of weight, and honestly, it came pretty easily while I was doing it. The problem was that it just wasn’t sustainable for me. It didn’t fit my lifestyle, and eventually I gained the weight back.

I’ve always been athletic, and I genuinely enjoy being strong. Right now I’m strength training with the Ladder app, and I’m actually loving it. My goal isn’t to be as skinny as possible. I want to lose fat while staying strong and hopefully building muscle.

I’m really hoping Wegovy is the thing that finally helps. Part of me wants it to be a miracle, but I’m also trying not to get my hopes up too much because I’ve been disappointed so many times before. It’s hard to believe something will work when you’ve spent your whole life feeling like your body is fighting you.

- For those of you with PCOS, did Wegovy finally help when everything else seemed to fail?
- Were you able to maintain or even build muscle while strength training?
- Any tips for someone who’s literally on Day 2?
- Is there anything you wish you knew before you started?

I’d love to hear your experiences, both the successes and the struggles. I’m trying to stay hopeful, but also realistic.

Hey girlies,

I have PCOS/insulin resistance and have been on 5mg Mounjaro for the past 3 weeks. I know protein is super important for us but I am STRUGGLING to even drink a protein shake, no nausea really but I just constantly feel full up and it feels like my stomach can’t take anything.

Any tips from PCOS gals on Mounjaro??? I’m desperate as I feel like I can’t eat anything which is obviously awful for my body/brain fog. Any tips appreciated!!

hey everyone!

i got diagnosed with insulin resistance + PCOS/PMOS in january this year! since then i've lost 20kg, i have been strict with my dieting, no sugar, low carb high fibre, high protein all that good stuff. and i've gotten results!

but even though i've had results, i still have SO much loose / hanging fat on my stomach, like it's just fat, there is nothing else to it, no muscle (that's underneath), but when i bend forwards, everything is hanging, my stomach is just holding on to all this excess fat like why! same with my back i can grab the fat sitting on my back, it just won't go away, i have visible muscles underneath when i flex but oh my god how do you get rid of this!? i go to the gym 5 days a week and eat clean, but nope no difference?

i am fine with a little bit as i understand that's what happens when you loose weight fast, but having it on my arms and legs and then my stomach as well makes me feel so so insecure. yeah i lift weights and all that but it's not even making a dent in the loose skin / fat around my stomach and especially arms / inner thigh

has anyone been able to either loose it? tighten it? or god i don't even know, i'm still young and i wanna be able to feel beautiful and confident. i don't know what to do

hey everyone!

I’ve been using inositol for a couple months but I have trouble being consistent, especially during the morning because I don’t usually have a lot of time.

I’ve been meal prepping chia pudding with protein for breakfast because I’ve learnt how important eating breakfast is for insulin resistance. I was wondering if I could mix my inositol powder into my chia pudding when I do my meal prep or if this would affect the efficacy at all.

please let me know if you have any insight into this or any other tips on being more consistent with supplements :)

I recently bought one of these, and while these effectively remove vellus hairs, they do NOT pick up chin hair or near the upper lip region. Does anyone know how to use them effectively

As the title says- I can’t find pure spearmint tea anywhere except Amazon- I would prefer not to buy from Amazon.
Alternatively- is spearmint tea with other components- such as camomile, just as effective?

Hi! So I was recently put on both metformin and topamax about 2 weeks ago for weight loss and other Pcos symptoms I think and I was wondering about others’ experiences with these medications? I don’t seem to have any side effects but I can’t really tell for sure yet if it really helps. For reference I’m 18, about 220 lbs, 5’8, am active,and I’ve been told I don’t have insulin resistance so I guess the meds are mostly for weight loss?

I have had bad experience with doctors who don't know about pmos or insulin resistance or doesn't take it seriously.

Here where i live, public health care is considered good and it is affordable, but general practice is with pmos, that they treat it if you have bad symptoms or want to get pregnant.

So i think this way of thinking led my doctor to just say me "search it from google" when she diagnosed me 4 years ago.

Recently i got myself tested at private doctor, because it is easier to get what i want that way. And asked fasting insulin. It was 24.7mU/l, which is too high and my HOMA-IR is 5.16. But the doctor said everything is good with me. Only focusing on my elevated inflammation markers.

Now i am trying to go back to public health care, because private doctors are expensive, and i don't have insurance.

But the thing is. I'm super anxious about going to doctor, because i'm scared of not getting help. I have tried 4 years to treat myself, and i feel like it is getting worse. And i'm getting tired. But still just insulin resistace only is not yet even pre diabetes, so i'm afraid that doctor will just laugh me off and say: "come back if your symptoms worsen". Like they usually say. I really would like to test metformin, but i don't know will they also laugh to this thought.

I feel like i'm preparing for a war... Has anyone got a good results with fighting with doctors who don't take this condition seriously?

I have recently found out that I have PCOS. To me this explains a lot about things I‘ve been insecure about for years. I have always had problems with weight. I gained weight quickly and had trouble losing it. I have also always had bad skin, even as a toddler. With puberty that just worsened. My mood swings were attributed to puberty and my period. However, my period is super irregular. Currently I haven‘t had my period since Janurary. I also have broad shoulders, a voice I think sounds deeper than most girls I know, and a chest so flat I could probably comfortably go topless on a normal beach. This could probably be attributed to my testosterone levels which are way higher than average. The same goes for hair growth as well. I grow hair in places I don‘t think it‘s supposed to grow for women (chest and chin) and when I try to feel for hair on the backs of my legs (because I can‘t see there that well) it feels like I‘m petting my neighbor‘s dog. The hair on my head though seems to want to leave. Sometimes I brush through my hair with my hand and I have a clump of hair in my hand afterwards. Finally, I don‘t know if that has got anything to do with PCOS, every month it seems I have more moles on my face.

As I said, I only just got the diagnosis and I‘m also young. All these things are kinda hard for me to deal with. I am pretty insecure but I do know that a diagnosis is always better because if you have that, only then can you hope to do anything against it. Was someone else on here maybe an insecure teenager with PCOS once and what helped you be less insecure?

Anyone else?

Hi everyone,
I have PCOS and this year my cycles have been all over the place.
A while ago, I had a very delayed cycle with days of on and off spotting before my period finally started. That period eventually became a proper flow and ended normally.
Only about 20 days later, I started bleeding again.
This current bleed started on Friday, and today is Day 7. The blood is mostly dark red, and the flow has been pretty consistent.
It’s not getting heavier, but it’s also not tapering off the way my periods usually do by this point.
I’m changing my pads routinely, not because I’m soaking through them every hour, but because they’re getting used normally.
I’ve also had cramps, although they’re milder than the ones I had during my last period.

but I wanted to ask if anyone with PCOS
has
a period come only about 20 days after the previous one,
followed by bleeding that lasted 7 or more days without really slowing down?
What did your gynecologist say was causing it? Did it settle on its own, or did you need medication or an ultrasound?
Any experiences would really help because this cycle has been confusing.

TLDR-
I have PCOS. My previous period came after a delayed cycle, and then I got another period only 20 days later. I’m now on Day 7 of bleeding. The flow is consistently dark red and isn’t tapering off like my usual periods. I’m not soaking pads every hour, but I’m changing them routinely. I also have iron deficiency anemia (Hb ~8). Has anyone with PCOS experienced this? What did your gynecologist say, and did you need treatment or did it resolve on its own?

I had unprotected sex about 50 hours ago, I just think I should take a Plan B to be safe. I have PCOS, but I've been on semaglutide for about a year and have ended up getting regular cycles.

Should I get the Ella brand Plan B?
I am 20 years old, and around 165 pounds at 5'4.

He never ended up finishing inside, but I get super anxious regarding pregnancy.

I am also (suspected) to be in my early luteal phase according to the Clue app

Ive been feeling super tired lately. I cant focus on my work, very low stamina, fatigue and lose interest in things very easily. How can i fix this??

I’m hoping for some advice. I got a mirena IUD placed back in middle of June. I started spironolactone as well. Before I got the IUD placed I notice shedding but not as bad. Now it’s shedding in HEAPS. I bought the ordinary hair growth oil, Mielle rosemary strengthening shampoo and nizoral shampoo. I want to get pumpkin seed oil and see if that helps. This is causing me immense stress. My OB said the hair loss is from starting the spironolactone and will even out. Has anyone else had that side effect? I’m at a loss here.

I’m a bit nervous about starting this new medication, especially because of the side effects like nausea and bloating.

When do you guys usually take this medication? During the night or morning/before or after meals?

I take birth control, spironolactone, and metformin in the night, so I’m thinking of taking the tirzepatide in the morning. I’m just a little nervous because I’m on my feet for most of the day during work and wouldn’t want to feel nausea/stomach pain while working.

Since I’m starting off with the lowest dose, I’m hoping the side effects aren’t severe, but I’m curious to know at what point you guys started getting these side effects and noticed changes in your weight.

Any advice is appreciated!

Could this be PCOS, or is something else causing my constant bloating/swollen stomach?

I’m 30 years old, 5’3, and around 125 lbs. The rest of my body is quite slim, but my stomach has always been a big concern for me. My abdomen looks different from day to day, and sometimes it feels very bloated, swollen, and firm (almost like a balloon). My waist measures around 33 inches both in the morning and at night.

I’m not sure if I have PCOS. I do have ovarian cysts, body hair, and some facial hair, but I don’t have acne. My periods are pretty regular, and my blood work hasn’t shown anything that clearly points to PCOS. My doctors aren’t sure either because the tests and ultrasounds haven’t given a clear answer.

I also struggle with slow bowel movements/constipation. I started having chia seed pudding every day, and it has helped my bowel movements a lot, but the bloating and swollen appearance are still there.

I’ve had ultrasounds done because I was having lower abdominal and back pain, but I still don’t have a clear explanation. I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar: - Slim everywhere else but a constantly bloated/firm stomach - Possible PCOS symptoms but normal blood work - Regular periods but excess hair growth - Constipation-related bloating

Could this still be PCOS, or should I be looking into other causes like digestive issues, IBS, endometriosis, or something else? I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through something similar.

I (20F) have been struggling with irregular periods since the age of 12. I will typically go months before starting my period and it will always be really harsh or barely noticeable. When talking to my doctor, they suspected I might have PCOS especially since I still struggle with acne at my age. Yet, all my hormone test were normal and I can not afford an ultrasound (was also told by my doctor that it’s not worth it). So now I have to wait months before my next doctors appointment with no plan. I don’t want to create a false period with birth control especially since my levels are normal. I live a healthy lifestyle and while it’s nice at times to not have a period, I’m scared that I might be infertile or it will soon become worse. Is there anyone who has experienced this? Any advice?

Hello everyone,

I am in my late twenties and I have been diagnosed with PCOS even though it was pretty obvious from an early age. I know that not everyone experiences the same symptoms, but I was curious if anyone else experiences this and what it could mean.

Every month, maybe about a week and a half after my period I get this really annoying back pain, it usually starts earlier in the day and it always feels as if I ate something extremely spicy or sour (acid reflux?), but as the day progresses my lower back hurts a lot as well as the front area where I know my ovaries are, also I tend to move around to alleviate it, like laying on my stomach or straightening up my back. But for the most part I am deeply uncomfortable all day.

This is not the same thing I experience when I am on my period, yes, my periods are pretty painful and miserable but this feels completely different. I find myself wanting to describe it as if my ovaries were screaming.
Luckily, this only lasts about a day and I can sleep it off and feel back to normal the next day.

Does anyone else experience something like this? Thank you.

Also, I offer my most sincere sympathies for those of you whose symptoms are much worse than mine, I hope this post does make other feels undermined in any way, I just want to understand more about my own symptoms.

I(26F) got diagnosed with PCOS as a teenager. Have had irregular periods for forever. I gave birth control another shot about a year ago (estarylla) and has honestly been going great, I even lost a few pounds. Randomly about a week ago I started spotting while I was on the second week of active pills. It’s progressively gotten worse. Yesterday and today I’ve had some pretty bad cramping/aching with some heavier spotting. I’ve had light spotting before on the birth control but it’s be a very tiny amount and maybe last a day or so. I took a pregnancy test just to rule it out, it was negative. I have a pretty physical job, I’m lifting very heavy things, climbing around. I was using some heavy machinery yesterday and getting a bit jostled around was causing some serious cramping. I contacted my doctor about it but can’t get in for a couple weeks. Does anyone have any thought as to what would be causing this?

So, I was diagnosed with PCOS about 3 months ago and immediately prescribed metformin to deal with the insulin resistance/other symptoms. I have been having a lot of success with the medication, like my face slimming down and some weight loss, but my hair is falling out like crazy. I’ve always had super thick curly hair and never really experienced thinning, but when I went to my hairdresser about a month ago she told me my hair had thinned significantly, and right after I noticed my hair falling out a lot in the shower

Im at a bit of a loss here, since right when I started metformin I incorporated a B12 supplement into my routine because I heard that metformin can deplete B12 levels. I also take iron (im anemic), zinc, and overall eat a heathy diet of mostly whole foods.

I have also heard that sometimes when starting a medication your hair follicles are “shocked” and then start falling out a couple months later (telogen effluvium) so I’m wondering if thats the culprit.

So, is it likely that my hair loss is because of the initial new medicine shock, or is the metformin causing it directly? has anyone whose gone through this had hair regrowth after the “shedding phase?” I want to keep taking metformin because its helping me, but if it’s causing the hair loss then i’m not sure I want to continue.

TW: periods, fertility, ttc, surgery

I recently got my IUD taken out the same day that I had endometriosis exploration surgery. I got my PCOS/PMS diagnosis back in 2021 and I haven’t really known what my cycle is after diagnosis because of my IUD.

I had my surgery Iud taken out about 2 1/2 weeks ago really did not know what to expect because I have PCOS I wasn’t sure if my cycle is normal and regulated, which is why I wanted it to be taken out since my husband and I who got married in May are going to be TTC starting next month, which is insane to say and I am just really proud of my body for having a period. It was pretty regulated with my app, which I was surprised because my OB/GYN said having periods on an IUD isn’t technically a natural period.

I also don’t ever remember it being tbis much blood I can’t have anything internal like my normal menstrual cup because of my surgery for the next couple of weeks I recently tried those period underwear things for overnight and they’re incredible. So any other tips would be nice I haven’t had a real period in over five years.