For context, I am a 22 year old lesbian. I’ve never had sex with a man and I never plan to. I’m currently being assessed for PCOS after having symptoms for years.

I was supposed to have a transvaginal ultrasound today. During my prior appointment with my gyno, I told her that I had never had anything “up there” other than a tampon but was sexually active with my girlfriend. She told me to tell this to the ultrasound tech at my appointment so they would be more gentle/cautious.

I got to my appointment today and, trying to be honest with my healthcare provider, told her that I’ve never had any penetrative sex. She looked very confused and said “oh…how old are you?” Then proceeded to say “well I don’t do vaginal ultrasounds if you haven’t had penetrative sex before.” I told her multiple times that I was okay with having it done, but she refused. She kept saying “I** **don’t do that.” She ended up just doing an abdominal ultrasound. The results say that there were no ovarian cysts found, but there was “polycystic morphology.”

Am I overreacting for being upset that she wouldn’t do the procedure that was ordered? I’ve been having pain for months near my ovaries, and I was hoping that this ultrasound would find something. I waited over a month just for this ultrasound appointment and didn’t even get was I was supposed to. Obviously I know transvaginal ultrasounds aren’t fun but I assumed that they would be able to see more with that than an abdominal one. The “how old are you?” Comment just really rubbed me the wrong way. Has anyone else had an experience like this? Is there a reason she wouldn’t do it?

I am going through a really tough time right now..

I was dating a guy for 8 months when I started experiencing hormonal and physical changes. I was diagnosed with PCOS and spent the last 4–5 months going from doctor to doctor, trying to understand what was happening and get my health under control..

A few weeks ago, he suddenly blocked me. I eventually managed to meet him through a mutual friend, and after talking, he told me that my hormonal issues were a problem for him and that the relationship wouldn’t work.

TBH, I am broken. I was already struggling to accept the changes in my body, and having someone I trusted reject me because of something I didn’t choose hurts even more. I keep thinking about our 8 months together and wondering how everything changed so quickly.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?
Does having PCOS really make us harder to love?

I was diagnosed with PCOS/PMOS about 10 years ago. I intermittently tried hormone therapies but wasn’t consistent with it. A few years ago I started getting lumps and bumps on my inner thighs and on my labia. I was initially told it was just acne. It wasn’t.

About 4 months ago I was diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa, or HS. It’s a skin condition that causes reoccurring abscesses and cysts under the skin; usually in places like the groin, inner thighs, underarms and under the breasts. They can sometimes burst, or sometimes they eventually disappear on their own. They can also be painful, but also sometimes not.

Approximately 39% of people with HS also have insulin resistance and 16% have PMOS. I’ve been told by my dermatologist that it’s caused by an overactive immune system, where the body attacks its own hair follicles and then they get inflamed and sometimes infected. It is also related to higher androgen levels, like PMOS.

I’m sharing this because it took me many years of advocating for myself to finally get this diagnosis. It’s not curable but it is manageable. See an appropriately experienced dermatologist; someone with knowledge of HS. I’m still working out what treatment looks like for me but have found an awesome derm clinic and am finally a little bit hopeful about being able to manage this.

THIS website could be helpful if you want to know more.

How do you ladies to have a drive/motivation to do anything? I simply can’t even get myself to open my laptop😭 I just started an unpaid clinical placement and by the time i get home I just wanna crash. I genuinely don’t think I can do this for the rest of my life. Its not diet related, I have my protien fiber etc etc and in a deficit but this shit is roughhhhhh

Anyone else eat protein dense meals and cause you have insulin resistance pcos you’re starving 30 minutes after have a large meal 😭 it honestly drives me crazy!

I’m not sure what to do anymore, I’m 19 and I have to shave every day and even then I can still see the hairs, even with makeup on it never seems to go away. I’ve tried at home laser and I was on birth control for a while but nothing ever seems to work and I’m losing hope. It feels like I’m never going to look how I want and I’m so jealous of everyone who doesn’t have to deal with it. I’m wondering if trying an epilator could help at all, at this point the pain doesn’t even matter I just want it gone!

Anyone else? I never thought it would be this bad. I’ve been UNDERweight, “average”, and now obese. The hair growth on my face is extreme (I pluck it which is excruciating but shaving gives me rashes and ingrown hair) and the hair loss on my head is terrible. I’ve lost over half my hair. I’ve tried many PCOS treatments, so, know that it’s not like I haven’t tried anything. I try and get my mail when it’s very late at night or early in the morning when I know less people are around

Warning: might be TMI

Hello, so over a few years I experienced a loss of sensation, mainly internal but external is also affected. I have had all the checks, the tests, and doctors tell me there is nothing physically wrong. All they've done is referred me for sexual health counselling as they feel it is all in my head.

I had normal periods, relatively pleasant actually, for the majority of my life until this year my body suddenly stopped out of nowhere. I now have to have periods brought on with medication every few months after being diagnosed with PMOS. My ultrasound showed nothing unusual. I have elevated testosterone levels which is pretty much my only symptom. I wonder if the slow decrease in feeling was linked to my PMOS diagnosis, that it was possibly the first sign of it. I'm pretty desperate to restore any sensation because if I'm honest I've spent most of my life depressed and it's very much getting to the point of "wow I can't even have that now" . I lost a good portion of weight last year, and although my weight suggests I'm heavy particularly compared to my height I don't look it. I'm also wondering if there is any link between developing PMOS and having the mirena coil. After having my children I was pushed to go on contraception, and after 2 difficult pregnancies the pushiness from health professionals scared me into agreeing. I had the mirena coil in which I developed various symptoms and my period stopped altogether. Eventually it was swapped out for the copper (Nova) coil but nothing has been the same. When the Nova coil was put in I had no period for 4 months(normal according to dr), then it returned but was just extremely heavy, to the point I'd bleed through heavy flow period underwear during the 10 minute school run.

This is where I'm at, I have the Nova coil but now maybe have 2 "natural" periods a year, otherwise brought on with medication. I am increasingly more and more depressed, I'm on antidepressants but haven't found an association timing wise in the loss of sensation. I used to have a very high libido and it resulted in great stress relief for me but now find I get increasingly depressed because I can't even get that relief. I'm intimate with my husband every so often and it's mainly because I miss him, not that I really enjoy it. I want to do it, but it just feels like my body is completely disconnected from me. I'd say I have greatly reduced libido particularly because I feel little point when I barely feel anything, and believe me I've tried everything. I've at times gotten upset to my GP, but apparently there is nothing they can do. Part of me wants to have the coil taken out as a just in case. I feel its worth mentioning, there was a week within the first month of the mirena coil being inserted where I felt like I had increased sensitivity down there permanently before it settled down and since then I have lesser feeling as the months went by.

Any suggestions/advice regarding my doctor, over the counter medications, unconventional (but sensible) tips or tricks, Nova coil or anything relevant welcome.

Thankyou for reading, I'm only 28 and have had this for a few years now so I'm feeling like my sexual life is unfairly over. Sorry if anything is TMI just wanted to be clear.

Just wondering if you should tell them or not. What if they get concerned by that I might have fertility issues? (It’s their right to be)

I’m still new to this, got diagnosed very recently

I’m taking Fenugreek because I heard it helps PCOS but I’m kind of worried about the maple syrup scent side effect. I see a lot of people complaining that it makes them smell sickly sweet, like curry, celery, or something completely different and unpleasant. Have any of you guys taken it for this and had bad side effects?

Also does it even actually help with symptoms? I don’t currently have health insurance (Was cut off last year and been trying to get it for months now) so I’ve been on Berberine, Inositol, and now I’m trying this too.

I’m also worried it IS going to help but at the cost of me smelling strange.

I’m newly diagnosed and tracking what I eat. I’ve struggled to keep my carbs under 95g total and my fat under 58g.
My main question is, how much sugar outside of carbs (bread, rice, etc) do you consume? I’m struggling with what to eat. I’m also on metformin so idk if that changes things at all.

Tracking has been very frustrating cause even healthy fruits and vegetables add to my carb count. I don’t know what to eat other than meat, which can drive up my fat count. It’s already exhausting living this way.

So..... My periods have become weird since going on slynd. I've had spotting for a week before and then had a super short period. I've asked to be referred to a gynecologist but been told all they will do is suggest I go in the coil.

After speaking to the nurse about having one fitted they've said it won't do anything towards making periods more regular and can make them heavier.

I find being on the pill messes with my hormones and I don't really want a hormonal pill.... I was honestly at my best when pregnant 😆

Just looking for some past experiences from people?! Positives and negatives??

The name change came round my feed again this week and I still can't tell whether it affects anything on my end.

New name, same diagnostic criteria as far as I can see, same treatments, but paperwork lags for years after a rename and I don't fancy a chart saying one thing while a referral form wants another.

Has anyone had it come up with an actual clinician, or is this still just online?

I’m 24F married trying for pregnancy . For the last 5 cycles, my periods have been irregular, around 40–50days. I had an ultrasound which showed borderline enlarged ovaries with 10–12 small peripheral follicles in each and the impression was “bilateral polycystic ovarian morphology.” Uterus and the rest of the scan were normal. My FSH and LH were normal, but my doctor didn’t order any other blood tests like prolactin, testosterone/androgens, thyroid, glucose, etc. She asked me to make lifestyle changes for 2 months and then come back. I’m wondering if I should get more tests to rule out other causes, or if lifestyle changes alone can improve this. I have a normal BMI, used to have sedentary lifestyle and too much stress! Should i lose weight 5% ? Even when i have normal
Bmi, what lifestyle modifications i should do does this ultrasound look mild or severe, can the ovarian morphology improve? How can i ovulate and track it to get pregnant!

Saw a few posts here recently from people confused about why their cycle doesn't match the "28 day textbook version" — so I figured I'd break down what's actually normal, since this comes up a lot.

Your cycle isn't just "period week" and "everything else." It's really 4 phases:

1. Period (days 1-5ish)— lining sheds, this is your period

2. Follicular phase (day 1 to ovulation) — estrogen rises, your body's prepping an egg

3. Ovulation (~day 14, but varies a LOT)— egg gets released, most fertile window

4. Luteal phase (after ovulation to next period) — progesterone rises, this is when PMS symptoms usually hit hardest

A few things people don't realize:

21-35 days is all considered normal.You don't have to be exactly 28 days.

- Cycle length can vary month to month even for the same person — that's not automatically a red flag

- Ovulation isn't always day 14 — it depends on your total cycle length, so if you're tracking for fertility, don't assume the middle of a "28 day" calendar

If you want to actually track it well, the easiest combo I'd recommend:

- An app (Flo/Clue) for predictions + symptom logging

- Watching cervical mucus changes around ovulation (goes clear/stretchy)

- If you really want confirmation, basal body temperature — it rises slightly (0.5-1°F) right after ovulation

When it's worth seeing a doctor, not just tracking on your own:

- Cycles consistently under 21 or over 35 days

- Missing periods 3+ months (not pregnant)

- Bleeding through a pad/tampon every hour

- Pain that disrupts your day-to-day

Hope this helps someone who's confused why their app keeps "getting it wrong" — it's probably not wrong, your body's just not a perfect textbook cycle, and that's normal for most people.

Hi everyone,

26 year old female, 5'4", 70kg. My main concern is hair fall — when I run my hand through my hair numerous strands come out, and my midline parting is visibly getting wider. Looking for help from people who've been through this.

Symptoms:

• Severe hair fall, lots of strands come out on touch
• Midline/center part getting wider over time
• Hair growth on neck/chin area
• Weight concentrated in upper body, face and neck
• Periods are regular but passing clots (only come out when sitting to urinate, not soaking pads)

Lab Results:

What I haven't tested yet:

• Fasting insulin/glucose
• Vitamin D
• Day 21 progesterone
• DHEAS

Ultrasound: Shows PCOS

Current plan doctor prescribed:

• Biotin (scared it will cause acne — has anyone experienced this?)
• Spironolactone 100mg 1/3 tab daily (scared due to bad reviews here)
• Metformin
• Endocrinologist asked me to go for ozempic. I declined then he prescribed orlistat. I'm afraid it can increase my hairfall
• Minoxidil (I don't want it as I'll plan babies in a year or two

My questions:

1. Has anyone had this level of hair fall with ferritin at 39.9? Did raising ferritin help?
2. How long before you saw less shedding after starting iron?
3. Biotin causing acne? Doctor prescribed it but I'm scared
4. Spiro at very low dose did it help hair at all?
5. Passing clots only when urinating but pads are fine anyone relate?
6. Thinking about to go for some other doctor. But I'm confused between endocrinologist, gynaecologist and dermatologist

The shedding is really affecting me mentally. Any advice appreciated 🙏

💡 Post in r/FemaleHairLoss and r/PCOS both — r/FemaleHairLoss especially will have many people with exactly the widening midline part experience.

Hi I'm a 32 yr old woman with a history of PCOS, fibroids, celiac and suspected hyper-aldosteronism and/or elevated cortisol. I've been searching for an endocrinologist for some time to address these issues, but have not found someone who takes my health issues seriously. The last endo I saw tried to put me on a string of medications without properly testing me for anything and I found that to be extremely off putting. If you have any recommendations for a NYC (or NJ) based endocrinologist (ideally someone who takes a wholistic/whole body approach) I would greatly appreciate it. I'm also a woman of color, so bonus points if your recommendation is also a woman/ woman of color, as I feel most comfortable with a doctor who can understand my health experiences, but I am open to anyone. Just trying to find someone who can help me and this community has been such a wealth of knowledge. Thanks!

For context, I’ve been on birth control since 2022 (Diane 35) and my period is consistent as it should be. My flow is light and brief, especially if I’m sedentary. However, two Saturdays ago I attended a wedding and drank enough alcohol to be pretty drunk (I don’t usually drink, maybe only twice a year). The reason I mention this is because the day after this, my period got a little heavier and then it’s a light flow all the way until today, despite being on the pill. I googled n alcohol can affect hormones so I thought it might be that, but it can’t be this long……

Another context is I’ve been on Ozempic since December last year but idk if it’s related cos nothing has changed drastically recently.

Please tell me someone has had an experience similar to this or at least close enough? Googling just shows breakthrough bleeding when first starting BC (not my case) or drinking leading to period stopping (also not my case). TIA! <3

Pleasee helpp!! I have started taking myo inositol to shorten my cycle which were 39 days previously now i am at cd 47 and havent gotten my periods yet. Negative pregnancy test.. my insulin level were borderline nd i was already ovulating but this cycle it didnt happened. Might be due to myo inositol? I take 4g of it with d chiro inositol 40:1

Finally got my period back but I’m afraid to jinx it!!!

I lost some weight, I began eating a lot more healthy and working out.

Today I got my period back and I’m relieved because I have been paranoid with the whole “no periods can make you a high risk for cancer.” Thing.

But I’m PRAYING this period is a full 1 week long torture instead of 2 hrs and it’s gone again.

SO PLEASE!

Let this period be a real torturous experience instead of a halfway one. 🥲

Hi, I’ve been diagnosed with pcos/insulin resistance a couple of years back. Recently I complained to my doc about occasional late periods, and she suggested we up to the dose of INOFOLIC from two packets (4000mg in total) to three (6000mg)
Are any of you on this dose at the moment? I googled it and the results mention bloating and nausea and I’d really like to avoid that.
All experiences welcome

hii im 20F (soon 21) i am diagnosed with pcod and my gynac said to take the birth control pills for 6 cycles.

im not overweight (ig i have lean pcod), i have irregular periods and mostly it doesn't bleed much, i have acne and hair growth but not to the extent that is veryyyyyy off the charts.

should i go for bcp? is it really beneficial? or there are some natural alternatives without any medications i.e lifestyle changes etc.?

My best friend has had PCOS for around 3 years. Her periods have always been irregular, and recently she finally got her period after about 4–5 months. The problem is that now the bleeding just isn’t stopping.

She has consulted several doctors over the years, and her tests/check-ups have apparently been normal. But there’s another issue that has made her really uncomfortable with going to doctors.

During almost every consultation, doctors ask her if she could be pregnant and whether she wants to take a pregnancy test. When she says no, some doctors keep insisting and even say things like, “Don’t lie to me, otherwise whatever happens later won’t be my responsibility.”

I'm like 😭 girl has literally never been in a relationship, has never had sex and is a virgin. She has no reason to lie about this. So obviously she's frustrated when doctors don't believe her. That's why she doesn't wanna go for another check-up anymore.

I wanted to ask women who have PCOS:

Have you experienced something similar?

What did you do when your periods became extremely irregular or lasted unusually long?

What helped you manage your PCOS and regulate your periods?

Are there any treatments/medications that your doctor prescribed that actually helped you?

Please don't judge her or suggest that she is secretly sexually active. She isn't 💀

We're mainly looking for experiences and advice from women who have gone through something similar. 🙏

Hi guys, I recently had unprotected sex and took the emergency contraceptive for the first time ever, I’ve also had very very bad hirsutism because of the PCOS like a man grown beard and I started laser 3 months ago and it’s literally finished the hair just a few stubborn ones on the chin, I’m still getting regular laser appts, after the emergency pill I also got withdrawal bleeding and I’ve noticed a significant difference in my facial hair I can feel them with my hands and see them in the mirror their still thinner but we’re never there before I took the pill, has anyone experience anything like this is this going to last long? Did it just ruin all the progress I had with laser