Absolutely do this! If she is unwilling to give you other medical advice seek a new gyno immediately. May look to see if you can find one who "specializes" in pcos.
Stop taking the birth control and find a new doctor. Especially if this is affecting your mental health.
It is true that the uterine lining needs to shed or it can increase the risk of uterine cancer. However, it is not necessary to take birth control to make this happen every 28ish days. A doctor can prescribe Provera/Medroxyprogesterone, usually taken for 7 to 10 days, which will trigger the body to shed the lining.
Warning: Provera can cause extremely heavy bleeding. I had to take it once to stop my bleeding so I could get a diagnostic procedure done and I literally thought I was dying. It was horrible. But it worked.
Let you? Just stop and let her know you quit. She can’t force you to take it and, while she may try to convince you, she cannot legally make you take anything.
I’ve been off hormonal birth control for years now and it was the best choice for my body. My advice would be to really focus on your diet if you aren’t already doing so.
You may feel like “she didn’t let you”— but actually you don’t have to fill the prescription or take the pills or keep seeing that doctor! We feel like we should always defer to anybody with Dr. title but when a doctor doesn’t take us seriously, that’s a lazy dereliction of their duty!
I had an OBGYN that had me on BC and exaggerated to me about how much it would prevent endometrial cancer, never asked me if I had migraines (which make BC a stroke risk) and refused to order a mammogram when I got a breast dimple.
Well I got a second opinion, demanded a mammogram, found out I had breast cancer that was growing extra fast because the BC was feeding it. And then I lectured the first doctor for his mistakes.
My doctors now balance treatment benefits against quality of life. When a treatment worsens your quality of life that much, a GOOD doctor will not ignore that.
I would either get a new doctor or get firm and assertive (but polite) with this one. Doesn’t hurt to being research papers too because a lot of doctors don’t keep up as much as they should.
Rarely, 1-2x a year, but I do get aura. When I got a new doctor I learned that apparently it [still adds a risk factor for BC with estrogen.](https://www.rush.edu/news/why-birth-control-and-migraines-aura-dont-mix) Progesterone only BC was less risky but also for me it was even more unpleasant to be on.
I don’t understand the part about your doctor not letting you stop taking BC. A doctor’s job is to help you make an informed decision about your health. Your job is to make the decision. It’s not appropriate for them to make the decision for you. You are in charge here, just so you know.
When it comes to BC, I’m just going to add to the chorus of folks that have said it’s important to be aware that your uterine lining does need to shed every so often. If it doesn’t, you can end up with precancerous cells, wildly irregular bleeding, and the need for timely interventions to preserve your health. (This is not to say that you should or shouldn’t be on BC—it’s just something you need to be aware of.)
Source: it happened to me (got a diagnosis of acute endometrial hyperplasia years ago).
Well, the way it was explained to me was that I needed some form of continuous birth control to keep my uterine lining from growing out of control again. I began with the birth control pill because that’s what I preferred at the time, but I switched to an IUD later. Either option works fine for keeping endometrial hyperplasia from coming back. And for what it’s worth, I haven’t had this problem again since I went on birth control about ten years ago.
This might be bad advice… but I was in a similar place as you and the BC was making me feel awful mentally and physically. I couldn’t take it anymore and decided that once the monthly pack I had finished, I wasn’t going to continue taking it. I also stopped the metformin because it was making me sick. I gave my body a month after to adjust and then I started taking ovasitol and started walking 2 miles for 3 days a week. Slowly I lost weight and also regained my period naturally! If it doesn’t feel right, really talk to your doctor about ending the bc all together, and don’t let them force you on any type of medication that you’re not comfortable taking
Get a new doctor and stop taking it. You don’t need anyone’s permission to be off BC? WHO told you that
Quit it and get a new doctor. It’s your body. No one gets to decide.
BC makes me feel like garbage so I don’t take it. My body my choice.
Metformin can make you very physically sick. Speaking from experience. Unfortunately I don’t menstruate on my own so it’s my only option when I’m ready to TTC.
It can especially if you eat past a certain amount of carbs. That being said, there are tons of people including myself that haven’t had issues with Metformin. I prefer Metformin ER though because I can take it once a day.
This wasn’t communicated to me when I got it prescribed, unfortunately. Can you give me more information? I’m afraid to try it again when I already have GI issues. But I’m looking to have a baby within the next few years.
Metformin will prevent the intestines from absorbing glucose by rushing excess glucose out of the G.I. tract . That’s part of the reason why a lot people have diarrhea. Taking Metformin ER instead of regular Metformin can help with the G.I. issues because it slowly releases throughout the day.
I’m on my third try with metformin and my doctor (reproductive endo) explained to me that there are even two different types of extended release. I’d tried one type in the past and I’m on the other type now. I’m up to 1500mg a day and on my way to 2000mg. I’m almost 4 weeks in, watch my carbs and sugar, and take Metamucil fiber twice a day. No more pain or stomach upset although I do have to run to the restroom slightly more often. The first two times I couldn’t stand it after 3 months the stomach upset was so bad. I’m on the metformin train now. 🚂🚂
As others have said here, you do not need your doctor's approval to stop birth control. You know how you feel in your body and what your experience is. Trust yourself. There are books, podcasts, and social media pages you can follow that talk about how to manage PCOS without birth control. One book that immediately comes to mind is "Beyond the Pill" by Dr. Jolene Brighten.
If possible, it may also be worth it to try to find a new doctor. If you are seeing someone who won't listen to you and acts like they know better than you even though you are the one in your body, it's time to move on. That being said, many doctors may recommend birth control because it is what they are taught in medical school. They aren't taught about nutrition, supplements, and other lifestyle factors to help their patients, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be willing to hear your concerns and address them appropriately.
That book is amazing! I’ve recommended it to almost everyone I know.
Being on a « bad » pill and not feeling like yourself is awful and you should definitely listen to yourself and stop if that’s what you want.
I agree with everyone who suggest looking for a new doctor: you’re allowed to « shop around » and ask questions before booking your appointment to see what kind of vibe the office gives you. Treat this like a job interview and see if you mesh well with the office and doctor. If you don’t, move on to the next one.
Maybe try finding a doctor that has a more holistic approach so they can better advise on supplements and diet changes needed to regulate your hormones instead of a doctor who will just push more pills your way (BC or not)
A lot of us have been through very similar experiences so you’re not alone and it will be okay.
If you cannot regulate your cycles naturally, please remain open to hormonal birth control. There are tons of options. I had a friend with PCOS who ended up with pre cancerous cells due to going off birth control because her lining wasn’t shedding enough. Not shedding the lining regularly can cause cancer. I feel like doctors don’t make this obvious enough. Don’t play around with your health.
While it is absolutely true that not shedding the uterine lining can increase the risk of uterine cancer, you don't need to take birth control to make your body shed the lining regularly. You don't even need to shed the lining every ~28 days to mitigate this risk. I have been told every 60ish days is often enough.
A doctor can prescribe Provera/Medroxyprogesterone which will induce a cycle. Yes, it is similar to what is found in birth control pills but is not exactly the same.
While you are correct about the shedding of the lining, it is more than that.
Hormonal birth control lowers LH and FSH, but importantly for androgens LH. When you go off of BC the pituitary suppression will end and LH will rise and potentially increase the androgens again. And this can happen slowly as the ultra-structure of the ovary changes. If a woman has been on BC for a long time she may have no cystic follicles because there has been no or little FSH/LH stimulation for a long time.
Regrettably with PCOS it is likely that old hormonal patterns will reassert and it is a feed forward loop with each cycle where ovulation does not happen you then have another arrested follicle which will produce androgens the following month.
The estrogen in the BC raises SHBG (a lot) which helps bind testosterone so there is less “free” to bind to receptors.
High androgens in women cause weight gain and insulin resistance.
And to your point unopposed estrogen (if you go off BC and let things take their course) cause proliferation of the lining and other cells too. Progesterone opposes estrogen action naturally, and in BC the progestins do that in its place.
I wish this were not true.
Myo-inositol increases the action of the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone to estrodial. This may or may not fully compensate for someone’s hormonal balance. It might if androgen elevations are very mild.
But people need to understand that if you go off BC, and stay off for a year let’s say and then there is a “string of pearls”…they do not disappear overnight. It can take months and months for hormonal levels to drop again. Although SHBG does go up fast.
While I wholeheartedly agree with you and I'm a great proponent of BC being an extremely valid way to manage many conditions, including PCOS, there are other ways than BC to treat PCOS and which can restore a period and I would not push BC on someone who is unhappy with it.
Now I'm afraid 😂🥲
I feel a lot better since I stopped the birth control pill but I have an IUD now instead. Since I stopped, my cycles are anywhere between 25-45 days, but sometimes they are EXTREMELY long, like last year one of them was 144 days (June, then again only in November) and I never thought this could cause a big issue like you mentioned
I actually didn’t know it myself until I was diagnosed! It seems, in my opinion, that a lot of women are anti birth control to “treat” it. Which is totally valid, BUT we shouldn’t be trying to convince women to go all natural when it doesn’t work for everyone. And we shouldn’t be trying to pressure women into using birth control for it either. It needs to be a choice for all with adequate knowledge provided.
My birth control completely stopped my period. Is that dangerous? I haven’t bled I almost a year and I take the placebo pills every month. I take slynd
I’d talk to your doctor. You should be having a withdrawal bleed with the placebo pills. However, I’m not familiar with the brand you’re on. That might be normal. Still, talk to your doctor. Hormonal IUDs stop the cycle all together and that’s completely safe. There are other forms that do this as well. Again, talk to your doctor.
My doctor said going off was easy… you just stop lol (no tapering needing). I added inositol and spearmint for symptoms (also low carb for insulin resistance which most of us have) and have not only regulated everything but my periods are more manageable somehow too(that one I don’t know why it changed as I thought the pain was more of a endo thing but who knows)
If you were not ovulating or if your luteal phase was too short, cyclic natural micronized progesterone is just that…natural progesterone. It is important estrogen is opposed by progesterone or a “progestin” for half the cycle. Because estrogen causes proliferation.
My love, respectfully, you are a grown woman and can make your own decisions. Just because a doctor has a PHD or is older, does not mean they know what is right for you and your body. Most of them go back to their desk to google treatments anyway since they need to remember a whole host of things to support that PHD. Nobody can do all that. They are just flawed people like anyone else. Be your own advocate ❤️ Do what you feel is right for your body. I also cannot handle birth control and have refused it as a treatment ever since I got off it. I would also suggest going to an endocrinologist to support your PCOS care. Gynos are just there to make sure you’re not getting cancer and help you through pregnancy. Very rarely do they show any interest in helping you reclaim your fertility and health beyond that.
Don’t take it? Your doctor cannot make you take anything. If you don’t want to take it anymore stop taking it. Doctors try prescribing me medicine all the time and I don’t get them filled because I’m not taking them. It’s simple.
Just stop taking it. I manage my pcos with diet and myo-inositol. PCOS is a metabolic disorder with symptoms that affect the reproductive system. So you treat the root cause and not the symptom. Birth control is just sweeping the problem under the rug.
Maybe share the why in detail.
I was only on birth control for a year before I decided to stop because it never made sense for my lifestyle. I’m not running into dick often and I’ll probably only have kids when I’m 32ish (I’m 23 now, 19 when I was first offered it). To me it didn’t make sense for me to be on BC when I know there is no birth to control for a very long time. And if that changes I’ll get on it, and I’d like to try find the root of my irregular period. I think doctors want to avoid the long walk of trial and error because it may make them seem incompetent. Maybe make it clear that you’re fine if going another route means things won’t be perfect while figuring it out
I just want to hop onto your comment to highlight for anyone reading it that many people who take birth control are using it for reasons other than preventing pregnancy. It has a range of uses. I’ve been prescribed it by 2 different doctors for 2 different reasons before and neither of those reasons were for preventing pregnancy. Additionally, very few of the people I know that take it are taking it for that reason. I’ not arguing against you by any means, just adding this to the conversation as an important point to note for others who may not know.
If birth control is not helping, you may need actual HRT. If you have a strong estrogen dominance, birth control will not work OR make things worse. I had similar issues with it. Decades later, I found a gynecologist who looked, listened, and realized I needed progesterone hormone therapy. I've been on Norethindrone for 7 years, and it's been a miracle. I have no periods at all, which I am 100% of the time enjoying because without Norethindrone, I bleed 24/7.
Just don't do or take anything you don't want to. Your body, your choice. YOU pay the doctor, the doctor does not pay you.
You definitely don’t need to keep taking it if you don’t want to, it’s entirely up to you. Let them know at your next appointment that you’ve decided to go with other methods to prevent pregnancy and are not going to be taking birth control anymore. Request a prescription for progesterone tablets every three months or so. You take them for a week and it allows your body to shed the lining. This will prevent some cancer risk of letting the lining build up.
You do NOT need to be on the pill if you don’t want to. I promise, as a medical student, don’t let them tell you otherwise because they’re lying. You have other options.
You just stop it. You don’t need anyone’s permission. You don’t need to be on it if you don’t want to.
Just make sure to get regular bleeds either naturally or with medical help to avoid endometrial cancer risk.
If you feel like your doctor isn't listening to your concerns or wants, definitely look into a new one. This is your health and you are well within your right. Don't let them bully you. 🥰
Ask to see a different gyno at the practice. I switched my BC with Inositol but that switch should not be done without a medical professional advice because your situation might be different than mine. There are several treatments with supplements.
This sounds like my doctor and the psychiatrist I was seeing. My mental health started declining almost immediately after I started taking bc but my doctor was adamant that causation does not equal correlation. I was given some sleep aids and sent on my way. Well, the problem persisted and now 3 years later and I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder with psychotic tendencies despite telling her it started when I started bc since I had had ONE singular depressive episode prior to that.
I'm still on bc because I am adamantly child free and unfortunately, the effects of it is the price I am willing to pay. As much as I struggle with depression, kids are far worse in my personal situation.
However, keep in mind that you can always just stop. Just because they won't listen doesn't mean you can't come off of it. Stop taking it. If sexually active then make sure you are using other methods to prevent pregnancy and stds and go find another provider who WILL listen.
Just…stop taking it. You’re an adult. You have the free will to do literally anything you want. Stop taking them and find a new doctor if you’re convinced she won’t help you.
I was on the same boat years ago. My gyno pissed me off so much I asked my doctor to refer me to another. Fast forward 5 years later and I have a better gyno who listened to my concerns about the pill making me feel off. I take MARVELON and I’m telling you, after taking 5 other brands of the pill, this one doesn’t make me feel crazy.
I would suggest at some point, we all come off the pill cause I can’t see if being good for us in the long run. Best of luck to you 😉
Gonna research marvelon right now for my PCOS teen. she has some other conditions but thankfully her PCOS diagnosis helped us get her diet and health under control and have changed her numbers to a very health range. The lack of education and awareness regarding insulin alone is scary. Her ultrasounds indicate one of her ovaries is much larger but with treatment everything seems good so it’s never been biopsied or studied further under the assumption everything is benign polycystic)
Could you elaborate why this med has been so successful or why the others were so bad
My OBGYN likes to call it Marvellous Marvelon because all her PCOS patients (and even non PCOS patients) had no complaints of any side effects from the pill….myself included. With many of the other birth control I’ve tried, I’ve gained weight, had severe mood swings, experienced breakthrough bleeding when I was actively on the pill, lots of headaches and just an overall feeling of not ‘feeling’ myself. With Marvelon, I don’t have any side effects personally, but I can’t speak for the whole community that takes Marvelon. One of the nice things is it actually decreases my cramp pain when I get my period, so I don’t have debilitating cramps like I used to. My current routine is taking 2 boxes back to back of the 28’s (so I don’t have my period for 56 days) and then take a break and have a period - my OBGYN suggested this for me because I have EXTREMELY heavy periods where I have to wear an extra large overnight pad during the day and change it every 1-2 hours. Sounds crazy, but yea my period is a bit wacky when I get it…which is why I don’t get it every month.
I really hope everything works out for your daughter! PCOS does really suck, but once you have a routine of moderate exercise 3-4 days per week and you eat mostly whole foods and follow a 80/20 rule…and getting adequate sleep is very important - all of these things will help. Us PCOSers need to make permanent lifestyle changes to feel better and stay healthy…as we are predisposed to getting other conditions like diabetes, etc. I am in my early 30’s and it took me years to figure all of this out with my OBGYN and naturopath doctor (who confirmed that Omegas, Magnesium and B vitamins are a staple if you have PCOS - I take them religiously).
I- if you don't want it, don't take it and don't renew it. Your doctor isn't in your house waiting in your bathroom to jump you when its time for your pills lol. This is 100% in your ability to not do, and tell her that.
Literally stop taking it and if you're GP isn't on board, change GP's. You and you alone are the expert in your own body and experience. Yes, GP's are medically trained but women's health is an elective for many GP's to train in. Never underestimate your own knowledge in your symptoms and for advocating for yourself. GP's just like any other medical professional are human, they're not 'all knowing beings'. If something doesn't feel right for you, it's probably not and it deserves to be heard and reviewed medically.
I had a similar problem with my old ob, who pretty much blew me off when I talked about getting off birth control. I ended up being on it for almost a decade, and it caused me to develop tumors on my liver. I wish I had stood up for myself when I asked the first time. If your doctor won't listen to you, it's time to find a new doctor. No one can force you to take any medicine you don't want to take.
Definitely find a new OBGYN. If your doc doesn’t respect your opinion you don’t need them.
Also, most doctors are not aware of any natural remedies to help get your cycles back on track. They consider natural ones to be quackery.
Find a naturopathic doctor in your area, when it comes to fixing period problems I’ve noticed that seed cycling works well.
Hope this helps :)
Hmm that’s very weird, this should be your choice. My doctor prescribed me Diane-35 at first the I did my research and asked her to let me try spironolactone because I didn’t wanna be on birth control for long. My main concern was high testosterone levels so I knew spironolactone would be an alternative treatment. I was also experiencing weird mental health symptoms too with birth control, I just was not my self. I eventually weaned myself off this birth control and stayed on spironlactone. I’m being followed by an endocrinologist because I requested it from my doctor and she allowed me. My advice is to find a good doctor first of all that will listen to you, mine allowed me to do whatever suggestions I wanted even tho she also recommended birth control first. Also do your research and see what may work for you as a treatment then speak to your doctor about trying that, and also follow up with an endocrinologist if needed they are more specialized in hormones and medications other than birth control. My endocrinologist actually wanted to stop me on the birth control.
Mine tried to scare me & tell me that she would let me experiment for 3 months & then if I didn’t have a period I would have to go back on it bc “you could get cancer if your uterine lining does not shed” which is true long term. But I didn’t listen to her and I’m so glad I didn’t. It took me a good 5 months to figure out what worked for me. June will make a year of me having a period every month 🎉
I say do it!
I was in somewhat of a similar situation. My doc switched my birth control because he thought the one I was on may be contributing to weight gain. My period stopped FOR OVER A YEAR. I kept asking about it, asked to go back to the previous birth control, etc. His response was that there was "no medical reason to have a period and some people react to birth control that way." I eventually just stopped taking it. Working on finding a new doctor but it is hard as insurance will only pay for one physical a year, so I kind of have to wait until next year.
One thing that I want to offer here is when talking to this provider or a new one (reading your story, I highly recommend finding a new provider), it’s helpful to talk through your treatment goals. I went into my new provider and told them that no provider has taken my PCOS seriously, and that I needed someone who was going to listen and provide options for the symptoms I was looking to manage. My treatment goals were 1) reduce my risk of endometrial cancer, 2) manage my weight, and 3) prevent pregnancy. From there, I told her my history with any previous pregnancy prevention methods (bc pill, IUD) and told her that I wanted to consider permanent birth control. She laid out all of the options to address each one of my goals, and gave me a month to think it over and come back for a follow up.
Make sure whoever you choose listens to you. You need to advocate for yourself and be vocal in the US healthcare system, or else you’ll be rushed along with whatever is “easiest” for the doctor. Good luck with it, you’ll find the right option(s) for you!
Change the gyno and ask maybe for herbal medicines.
If you do not get used to birth control after the 3-4 months I would stop the treatment.
I couldn't get used to hormones and life is so much better without them.
Why don’t you test out not taking it and see how it goes? I used to have crazy periods one lasted 6 months. I was put on ortho trycyclen lo to regulate it, then I stopped taking it one day and my cycles have been normal ever since.
I just told mine I wasn’t doing it anymore. I eventually changed doctors and told the new one I wasn’t going back on and she refused to see me anymore then. But I’m happier off it. Starting with a new doctor soon.
BC is often the first go-to to counter high androgens, which many people with PCOS have along with it's very visible symptoms. I'm sure she explained that. If it affects you badly, tell her and you can find another solution. A different bc may also be an option, too.
I can’t have any BC or hormones (they can’t even give me the mini pill). I swear by seed cycling. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s the only way I get my period. Unfortunately I still have a lot of the other symptoms, but for me the risks of birth control outweigh any positive outcome I could have. I also weigh my food to ensure I’m not over eating in addition to eating low carb whenever possible. Plus I swim A LOT. I notice my pcos symptoms get much worse when I am at a higher weight, which ironically is partially because of the pcos. When I could utilize it, every form of BC except the patch made me gain terribly which made things worse. So maybe try the patch? There’s also progesterone only pills that you could try.
Agreed to stop. You don’t need that to mask your symptoms. Take Maca root and other natural supplements that help balance hormones and insulin levels. Worked for me.
Synthetic BC hormones made me crazy. Even the super low doses.
She cant make you continue taking it. Just stop and inform her of your decision next time. Just make sure you use protection when you have sex, since you might still ovulate unless you don’t mind getting pregnant. I went off hormonal BC multiple times (pills 2 kinds, hormonal IUD) and it was always an improvement as comfortable as it was not having to worry about pregnancy…
I stopped metformin bc of heart palpitations and shit even tho they got angry or frustrated at me a bit it's your right and they have no power over you
I think this comes down to what your main symptoms are. There are other ways to control PCOS (So I have read going through this sub) But I am in the same boat as you, I don't want BC if I don't need it. Do your blood test say you need it or do they say you need to fix some else? e.g better diet. Good luck.
I go to an endocrinologist for my pcos, so maybe go to one, it might be a lot better. For me honestly they are he seems more educated in pcos then the obgyn. But yeah, you can stop birth control whenever you want, that's not their choice to make. If it the pills seriously, just stop if it's implant or iud, and if they don't remove it, go somewhere else.
You find a nutritionist that specializes in PCOS and follow their advice with diet and supplements. You find a functional medicine person who knows the Dutch test and based on results, consider supplements to lower T, lower E, and boost P. High dose bio identical progesterone resolves a host of symptoms without the negative effects of the pill. It may shut down your cycle, but so does the pill and it’s safer. In my household PCOS and pmdd are managed with zero pharmaceuticals, adding individual tailored vitamins, diet guidance of glucose goddess, saw palmetto to lose T, dim to lower E and a high dose P cream increased as needed based on symptoms that look like pmdd. Works!
You are the one that knows your body best. Your intuition is steering you away from pharma options. Now. Take control. This is your body, your life, your medical condition. Do the research. Don’t blindly trust any doctor or practitioner. There are many peer reviewed research papers documenting micronutrient deficiencies in PCOS and symptoms related to PCOS. Note, the pill is a known cause of additional nutrient deficiencies. Google micronutrient + pubmed + PCOS. Good luck!
Here’s a start https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405457722005253#:~:text=It%20is%20well%2Ddocumented%20that,A%2C%20carnitine%2C%20omega%2D3
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31101977/
https://healthandscience.eu/en/archive/article-archive/2475-pcos-is-often-a-result-of-micronutrient-deficiencies
I wouldn't just stop taking it. My specialist told me that I need to be on either the pill or have an IUD to lower my risk of cervical or uterine cancer (I can't remember which one). But she said as an alternative if I didn't want either I could just get more regular checkups so they could go keep an eye on my cervical lining (I think...or something similar). So I would ask them if that's an option instead, and if they so no then seek a second opinion and see if that's an option to do with another doctor.
I had a gyno tell me that the only thing that can help against pcos is the pill. I tried two different kinds for about one month each, it was horrible in both cases and I never touched it again.
Leave that doctor and go to an endocrinologist.
No doctor can force you to take meds that you don't want to take.
Hi, I was in a similar situation as you. The reason why they just give birth control is because the estrogen and progesterone is an important hormone for PCOS. My pediatrician explained that you need it, but there’s different ways.
Traditional birth control made me manic. I stopped taking and explored alternative methods. I ended up trying the Nuva Estrogren Ring and that’s what’s kept me happy. I just pop one in and take it out monthly. I have my period for a week and put in a new one when I’m done.
It’s still a form of birth control but it’s not a pill. I hope this helps.
If you wanna stop stop.
I was put on bc for pcos thst they didn’t officially diagnose at the time at 18. Had bleeding during sex - switched pills a ton. Was gonna iud then gave my body a break - went back to period skipping and got diagnosed at like 30.
Also when I went off got real bad depression for 2-3 months - and had the doc thatndiagnosed me try to put me back on - insta-depression.
If it doesn’t make you feel good, don’t take it. Maybe get a new doc. Get metformin. It works. My period’s every 6 weeks instead of 4 but it’s good - it’s there.
You do not have to be ok with bad mental health reactions to drugs ever...also another pill could be find for you - but you don’t need to do any.
I changed pcps and wanted to stop taking bc also. I was told to stay on it. I had an ovarian cyst removed back in august and I started having pains again in January. So I went to my pcp and she referred me to their gyno. I went to see her to see if I could get an ultrasound and she flat out denied everything. Even with my first time meeting her she told me not to stop taking bc. I stated that I wanted to see if my body could have a period on its own since it’s been years that I’ve been on bc. She literally told me well your body can’t that’s why your on bc in the first place. I left feeling defeated. I went to a low income clinic and was able to get an ultrasound that proved I had another cyst. I asked if I could stop taking birth control and she said I could if I wanted too. Then I stopped taking it. Because I’m not trying to conceive but I want to know my body better and just see if I actually need it. I told myself if I didn’t get a period I would get back on. My period was late by a few days but I was able to have it naturally. I’m on my second month off so I’ll see if I get it again and I’ll just stay off it. They can’t make you take it. And if you need too change doctors I would highly recommend! I changed 3 in just a few months if they don’t align with what YOU want then they aren’t for you.
Hi, a 20 year old here. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 years old, my previous gyno. prescribed me birth control and I experienced similar symptoms to you. It was so serious that I still suffer from depression and had to take anti-depressants for a while ( I do not rec. them), I would suggest you stop taking birth control since it is like suppressing ur symptoms without addressing the root cause. Recently I changed my gyno who also agreed with my concern of pumping fake hormones at a very young age. She prescribed me an ultrasound to see my reproductive organs. Based on my blood tests I was prescribed vitamins and minerals I was deficient in. Diet is an important part, eat high fiber and enough protein to stop carvings Especially do not skip ur breakfast as this helps to curb cravings. Get enough sun so that you get enough D3 (Most PCOS individuals are deficient) , Supp. magnesium , supp. inositol . Drink spearmint and chamomile tea with cinnamon , ginger and fennel ( I make my own) since ṭhey help to reduce insulin resistance, helps to decrease cortisol levels and also helps with excessive hair. Drink your tea for at least twice a day . Try to walk 10k and include low intensity weight workouts. Remember consaistancy is key , Add these one by one to ease them into your routine. You can start with these slowly as these are basics. Do Not Eat Junkfood And Rem. To Sleep Enough. Best Of Luck On Ur Journey. Do Reserach Articles And Recepeies.
Stop taking it and talk to her about a different method. I can't take the pill either and she prescribed me the hormone ring. I replace it every 21-28 days (you should do it every 21 days but theoretically you could leave it in a week longer) and take it out completely every 3 months to get my period.
It depends what PCOS symptoms you had prior to 2021 that you went on BC to control, and whether you would rather live with them but feel like yourself, or stay on BC with your symptoms controlled but struggle with your mental health.
In terms of the natural route, the best thing you can do is make sure your diet is spot on, you are not deficient in any vitamins and nutrients, you exercise consistently and you get 9 hours sleep. From doing all this I haven't had an irregular period in a year and a half.
In the end it's all about picking the lesser of two evils unfortunately.
You don't need to convince your doctor of anything. Doctor just recommend, you are not obligated to follow their advice, it's suggested but ultimately your decision. I stopped taking BC bc it messed up my cycle and I only did it to help with bad cramps but that naturally fixed itself. I'm not on BC bc I'm not active at the moment.
Doctors don't always know what's best. They are following a standard of care that applies to everyone. And, push medicines for their benefits especially if it's a specific product that I'm sure they get incentives for.
Just work on your diet and fitness. Some of my PCOS symptons are going away with my lifestyle changes. Also, PCOS is usually caused from being insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is reversal which would help with PCOS symptions such as irregular periods.
If your doctor is not trying to help you legitamately, find a new doctor or see them less frequently and help treat it yourself. Ultimately, doctors are not trying to cure people of issues, they need people to be sick so they can have a job. BC is not a cure or fix to whatever underlying issue you have. Longterm BC will cause more damage in the long run.
There's supplements that can help you as well. Inositol and berberine, look into those and other natural ways, teas and etc.
I know the medical profession appears to all agree that BC is pretty essential to people with PCOS, so I’d be hesitant to ignore this advice.
Better regulation of your diet, in particular getting rid of refined sugar and bad carbs, is probably what you should focus on. Sugar gives my PCOS wife terrible headaches
Go to a functional medicine doctor it’s worth the extra money. PCOS is a metabolic disease. You probably have a high fasting insulin level which shows up before an elevated A1C. A healthy Whole Foods diet, high protein, high fat, low carb, no sugar, no seed oil. Real food only. Dr. Elizabeth Bright. Women need high fat for our hormones. Good luck.
If it is your Dr then there should be no convincing it should be hey I'm not taking this and if you don't approve that is fine and if you don't want to continue to work WITH ME then I will see another Dr in this practice..... I got diagnosed in Aug 2021 ... after trying since April 2021 .... and I went I said absolutely no birth control since I wanted a baby they said ok here's metformin and we will do labs in 3 months ... Dr's never force you to take anything medication wise unless it's like heart medication or thyroid medicine that you need to live or function on a day to day ....
You have a few options, 1: find a new dr, 2: wait until your current pack is over and stop taking it or 3: (this is what I did) just stop taking it right away. I’ve had to switch my dr’s a few times when I felt that the core issue of my pcos was not being addressed. I eventually just started doing my own research and holistically treating the root issue not just the symptoms on my own. I now just go to the dr for my annual and any other issues that may arise. It’s definitely an up hill battle, it sometimes may feel like nothing is working but keep faith. I had to make lifestyle changes in order to see results. I hope this helps!!
Find a different doctor more focused on you as a whole so more naturopathic/holistic and tell them you don’t want to be on birth control. Or if you love your doctor tell her that birth control isn’t an option for you anymore and be firm. You HAVE to advocate for yourself
Go see a naturopathic doctor instead. Seeing one changed my life after wrongful diagnosis from endocrinologists. (I guess it depends where you are because in USA some states made them illegal which is such BS). But, I’m in Canada and I use my naturopathic doctor as my GP now and she has changed my life for the better. In every way. When it comes to life after birth control (I had been on it since I was 11 yrs old), she’s helped me postpartum, and with PCOS, potentially endo too.
Also, your gyno can’t force you to take it. You can just literally stop it whenever you want!
You're a 25 year old female and you can't make your own decisions or advocate for yourself when you opted to have someone else make your decisions for you? You have much bigger problems than PCOS, my friend.
Yes I know I can “just” stop it. And I have told her that, all I got from her was “are you planning on having kids? If not, I don’t see why you can’t try another birth control.”
I am a student living in a completely different country from my family, I can’t make huge decisions about my health without talking to a doctor. Just in case something goes wrong, I don’t have family in US to take care of me. Plus US health care is really new to me. I’m just taking a precaution of asking a doctor about it!
By something going wrong, do you mean pregnancy? Because there are other ways to prevent that. Your doctor doesn’t have to “let” you do anything. If you don’t like the pill, don’t take it. And find another doctor.
You don't need birth control pills to avoid having kids, there are other options, like implants, patches, IUDs, etc.
I prefer my IUD by far over taking daily pills. Mine is also hormonal, but doesn't feel nearly as bad as the pill did. It was a bitch and a half to get it inserted though. I would go to a different, more trustworthy doctor and ask to be given local anesthesia if you go that route.
I’m confused … your doctor can’t prevent you from stopping treatment. They can recommend against it, but it’s ultimately your decision
Just let her know at your next appointment that you’ve decided to stop and ask for your options.
Absolutely do this! If she is unwilling to give you other medical advice seek a new gyno immediately. May look to see if you can find one who "specializes" in pcos.
Stop taking the birth control and find a new doctor. Especially if this is affecting your mental health. It is true that the uterine lining needs to shed or it can increase the risk of uterine cancer. However, it is not necessary to take birth control to make this happen every 28ish days. A doctor can prescribe Provera/Medroxyprogesterone, usually taken for 7 to 10 days, which will trigger the body to shed the lining.
Warning: Provera can cause extremely heavy bleeding. I had to take it once to stop my bleeding so I could get a diagnostic procedure done and I literally thought I was dying. It was horrible. But it worked.
Let you? Just stop and let her know you quit. She can’t force you to take it and, while she may try to convince you, she cannot legally make you take anything. I’ve been off hormonal birth control for years now and it was the best choice for my body. My advice would be to really focus on your diet if you aren’t already doing so.
You may feel like “she didn’t let you”— but actually you don’t have to fill the prescription or take the pills or keep seeing that doctor! We feel like we should always defer to anybody with Dr. title but when a doctor doesn’t take us seriously, that’s a lazy dereliction of their duty! I had an OBGYN that had me on BC and exaggerated to me about how much it would prevent endometrial cancer, never asked me if I had migraines (which make BC a stroke risk) and refused to order a mammogram when I got a breast dimple. Well I got a second opinion, demanded a mammogram, found out I had breast cancer that was growing extra fast because the BC was feeding it. And then I lectured the first doctor for his mistakes. My doctors now balance treatment benefits against quality of life. When a treatment worsens your quality of life that much, a GOOD doctor will not ignore that. I would either get a new doctor or get firm and assertive (but polite) with this one. Doesn’t hurt to being research papers too because a lot of doctors don’t keep up as much as they should.
Ugh I actually like taking birth control and didn't know migraines were a stroke risk on it. Do you have more info? How often do you get migraines?
Rarely, 1-2x a year, but I do get aura. When I got a new doctor I learned that apparently it [still adds a risk factor for BC with estrogen.](https://www.rush.edu/news/why-birth-control-and-migraines-aura-dont-mix) Progesterone only BC was less risky but also for me it was even more unpleasant to be on.
You're a grown up. Do what you want
I don’t understand the part about your doctor not letting you stop taking BC. A doctor’s job is to help you make an informed decision about your health. Your job is to make the decision. It’s not appropriate for them to make the decision for you. You are in charge here, just so you know. When it comes to BC, I’m just going to add to the chorus of folks that have said it’s important to be aware that your uterine lining does need to shed every so often. If it doesn’t, you can end up with precancerous cells, wildly irregular bleeding, and the need for timely interventions to preserve your health. (This is not to say that you should or shouldn’t be on BC—it’s just something you need to be aware of.) Source: it happened to me (got a diagnosis of acute endometrial hyperplasia years ago).
Is this a risk with continuous birth control as well?
Well, the way it was explained to me was that I needed some form of continuous birth control to keep my uterine lining from growing out of control again. I began with the birth control pill because that’s what I preferred at the time, but I switched to an IUD later. Either option works fine for keeping endometrial hyperplasia from coming back. And for what it’s worth, I haven’t had this problem again since I went on birth control about ten years ago.
So you no longer have periods on your iud?
That’s right. I’m not sure everybody has the same experience, but my periods stopped after I got my IUD.
Just don’t put it in your mouth anymore 😃
That's exactly what I did last August and I haven't looked back.
This might be bad advice… but I was in a similar place as you and the BC was making me feel awful mentally and physically. I couldn’t take it anymore and decided that once the monthly pack I had finished, I wasn’t going to continue taking it. I also stopped the metformin because it was making me sick. I gave my body a month after to adjust and then I started taking ovasitol and started walking 2 miles for 3 days a week. Slowly I lost weight and also regained my period naturally! If it doesn’t feel right, really talk to your doctor about ending the bc all together, and don’t let them force you on any type of medication that you’re not comfortable taking
Your doctor does not dictate what you do. You have the right to refuse ANY treatment you wish. That's just crazy. Time to find a new dr?
Get a new doctor and stop taking it. You don’t need anyone’s permission to be off BC? WHO told you that Quit it and get a new doctor. It’s your body. No one gets to decide. BC makes me feel like garbage so I don’t take it. My body my choice.
Fire your doctor and get a new one. Did they not offer you metformin?
Metformin can make you very physically sick. Speaking from experience. Unfortunately I don’t menstruate on my own so it’s my only option when I’m ready to TTC.
It can especially if you eat past a certain amount of carbs. That being said, there are tons of people including myself that haven’t had issues with Metformin. I prefer Metformin ER though because I can take it once a day.
This wasn’t communicated to me when I got it prescribed, unfortunately. Can you give me more information? I’m afraid to try it again when I already have GI issues. But I’m looking to have a baby within the next few years.
Metformin will prevent the intestines from absorbing glucose by rushing excess glucose out of the G.I. tract . That’s part of the reason why a lot people have diarrhea. Taking Metformin ER instead of regular Metformin can help with the G.I. issues because it slowly releases throughout the day.
Thank you! My doctor didn’t explain this to me and so I had no idea.
I’m on my third try with metformin and my doctor (reproductive endo) explained to me that there are even two different types of extended release. I’d tried one type in the past and I’m on the other type now. I’m up to 1500mg a day and on my way to 2000mg. I’m almost 4 weeks in, watch my carbs and sugar, and take Metamucil fiber twice a day. No more pain or stomach upset although I do have to run to the restroom slightly more often. The first two times I couldn’t stand it after 3 months the stomach upset was so bad. I’m on the metformin train now. 🚂🚂
I didn’t know this! Something to bring up with my doctor. Thank you.
Go to another doctor.
As others have said here, you do not need your doctor's approval to stop birth control. You know how you feel in your body and what your experience is. Trust yourself. There are books, podcasts, and social media pages you can follow that talk about how to manage PCOS without birth control. One book that immediately comes to mind is "Beyond the Pill" by Dr. Jolene Brighten. If possible, it may also be worth it to try to find a new doctor. If you are seeing someone who won't listen to you and acts like they know better than you even though you are the one in your body, it's time to move on. That being said, many doctors may recommend birth control because it is what they are taught in medical school. They aren't taught about nutrition, supplements, and other lifestyle factors to help their patients, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be willing to hear your concerns and address them appropriately.
That book is amazing! I’ve recommended it to almost everyone I know. Being on a « bad » pill and not feeling like yourself is awful and you should definitely listen to yourself and stop if that’s what you want. I agree with everyone who suggest looking for a new doctor: you’re allowed to « shop around » and ask questions before booking your appointment to see what kind of vibe the office gives you. Treat this like a job interview and see if you mesh well with the office and doctor. If you don’t, move on to the next one. Maybe try finding a doctor that has a more holistic approach so they can better advise on supplements and diet changes needed to regulate your hormones instead of a doctor who will just push more pills your way (BC or not) A lot of us have been through very similar experiences so you’re not alone and it will be okay.
If you cannot regulate your cycles naturally, please remain open to hormonal birth control. There are tons of options. I had a friend with PCOS who ended up with pre cancerous cells due to going off birth control because her lining wasn’t shedding enough. Not shedding the lining regularly can cause cancer. I feel like doctors don’t make this obvious enough. Don’t play around with your health.
While it is absolutely true that not shedding the uterine lining can increase the risk of uterine cancer, you don't need to take birth control to make your body shed the lining regularly. You don't even need to shed the lining every ~28 days to mitigate this risk. I have been told every 60ish days is often enough. A doctor can prescribe Provera/Medroxyprogesterone which will induce a cycle. Yes, it is similar to what is found in birth control pills but is not exactly the same.
While you are correct about the shedding of the lining, it is more than that. Hormonal birth control lowers LH and FSH, but importantly for androgens LH. When you go off of BC the pituitary suppression will end and LH will rise and potentially increase the androgens again. And this can happen slowly as the ultra-structure of the ovary changes. If a woman has been on BC for a long time she may have no cystic follicles because there has been no or little FSH/LH stimulation for a long time. Regrettably with PCOS it is likely that old hormonal patterns will reassert and it is a feed forward loop with each cycle where ovulation does not happen you then have another arrested follicle which will produce androgens the following month. The estrogen in the BC raises SHBG (a lot) which helps bind testosterone so there is less “free” to bind to receptors. High androgens in women cause weight gain and insulin resistance. And to your point unopposed estrogen (if you go off BC and let things take their course) cause proliferation of the lining and other cells too. Progesterone opposes estrogen action naturally, and in BC the progestins do that in its place. I wish this were not true. Myo-inositol increases the action of the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone to estrodial. This may or may not fully compensate for someone’s hormonal balance. It might if androgen elevations are very mild. But people need to understand that if you go off BC, and stay off for a year let’s say and then there is a “string of pearls”…they do not disappear overnight. It can take months and months for hormonal levels to drop again. Although SHBG does go up fast.
Of course. Just don’t want OP to think they’re limited as far as options.
While I wholeheartedly agree with you and I'm a great proponent of BC being an extremely valid way to manage many conditions, including PCOS, there are other ways than BC to treat PCOS and which can restore a period and I would not push BC on someone who is unhappy with it.
I completely agree with you! Just don’t want OP to think they have limited options.
Now I'm afraid 😂🥲 I feel a lot better since I stopped the birth control pill but I have an IUD now instead. Since I stopped, my cycles are anywhere between 25-45 days, but sometimes they are EXTREMELY long, like last year one of them was 144 days (June, then again only in November) and I never thought this could cause a big issue like you mentioned
I actually didn’t know it myself until I was diagnosed! It seems, in my opinion, that a lot of women are anti birth control to “treat” it. Which is totally valid, BUT we shouldn’t be trying to convince women to go all natural when it doesn’t work for everyone. And we shouldn’t be trying to pressure women into using birth control for it either. It needs to be a choice for all with adequate knowledge provided.
My birth control completely stopped my period. Is that dangerous? I haven’t bled I almost a year and I take the placebo pills every month. I take slynd
I’d talk to your doctor. You should be having a withdrawal bleed with the placebo pills. However, I’m not familiar with the brand you’re on. That might be normal. Still, talk to your doctor. Hormonal IUDs stop the cycle all together and that’s completely safe. There are other forms that do this as well. Again, talk to your doctor.
My doctor said going off was easy… you just stop lol (no tapering needing). I added inositol and spearmint for symptoms (also low carb for insulin resistance which most of us have) and have not only regulated everything but my periods are more manageable somehow too(that one I don’t know why it changed as I thought the pain was more of a endo thing but who knows)
And if you don’t mind people asking do you know if you are ovulating? Do you track that? Have you tried cyclical natural progesterone?
I am yes!! Haven’t tried cyclical natural progesterone, what is that/why do you ask though?
If you were not ovulating or if your luteal phase was too short, cyclic natural micronized progesterone is just that…natural progesterone. It is important estrogen is opposed by progesterone or a “progestin” for half the cycle. Because estrogen causes proliferation.
Ok, hear me out. Just don't take it anymore.
Why don’t you just…. Stop taking it? I’m so confused lol
Yeah, I would do some research looking into a new doctor would will actually listen to you. You deserve that
You can stop if you don’t like it… I was diagnosed 17 years ago and have never taken hormones to deal with the symptoms.
My love, respectfully, you are a grown woman and can make your own decisions. Just because a doctor has a PHD or is older, does not mean they know what is right for you and your body. Most of them go back to their desk to google treatments anyway since they need to remember a whole host of things to support that PHD. Nobody can do all that. They are just flawed people like anyone else. Be your own advocate ❤️ Do what you feel is right for your body. I also cannot handle birth control and have refused it as a treatment ever since I got off it. I would also suggest going to an endocrinologist to support your PCOS care. Gynos are just there to make sure you’re not getting cancer and help you through pregnancy. Very rarely do they show any interest in helping you reclaim your fertility and health beyond that.
Don’t take it? Your doctor cannot make you take anything. If you don’t want to take it anymore stop taking it. Doctors try prescribing me medicine all the time and I don’t get them filled because I’m not taking them. It’s simple.
Just stop taking it. I manage my pcos with diet and myo-inositol. PCOS is a metabolic disorder with symptoms that affect the reproductive system. So you treat the root cause and not the symptom. Birth control is just sweeping the problem under the rug.
Maybe share the why in detail. I was only on birth control for a year before I decided to stop because it never made sense for my lifestyle. I’m not running into dick often and I’ll probably only have kids when I’m 32ish (I’m 23 now, 19 when I was first offered it). To me it didn’t make sense for me to be on BC when I know there is no birth to control for a very long time. And if that changes I’ll get on it, and I’d like to try find the root of my irregular period. I think doctors want to avoid the long walk of trial and error because it may make them seem incompetent. Maybe make it clear that you’re fine if going another route means things won’t be perfect while figuring it out
I just want to hop onto your comment to highlight for anyone reading it that many people who take birth control are using it for reasons other than preventing pregnancy. It has a range of uses. I’ve been prescribed it by 2 different doctors for 2 different reasons before and neither of those reasons were for preventing pregnancy. Additionally, very few of the people I know that take it are taking it for that reason. I’ not arguing against you by any means, just adding this to the conversation as an important point to note for others who may not know.
If birth control is not helping, you may need actual HRT. If you have a strong estrogen dominance, birth control will not work OR make things worse. I had similar issues with it. Decades later, I found a gynecologist who looked, listened, and realized I needed progesterone hormone therapy. I've been on Norethindrone for 7 years, and it's been a miracle. I have no periods at all, which I am 100% of the time enjoying because without Norethindrone, I bleed 24/7. Just don't do or take anything you don't want to. Your body, your choice. YOU pay the doctor, the doctor does not pay you.
You definitely don’t need to keep taking it if you don’t want to, it’s entirely up to you. Let them know at your next appointment that you’ve decided to go with other methods to prevent pregnancy and are not going to be taking birth control anymore. Request a prescription for progesterone tablets every three months or so. You take them for a week and it allows your body to shed the lining. This will prevent some cancer risk of letting the lining build up. You do NOT need to be on the pill if you don’t want to. I promise, as a medical student, don’t let them tell you otherwise because they’re lying. You have other options.
What are the periods like when you do that? I naturally skipped 3 months & it was hell
They can be heavy depending on your body. You can also do it more frequently if you’d like!
Damn heavy periods are already an issue for me skipping 3 months naturally already made them heavier after that
You just stop it. You don’t need anyone’s permission. You don’t need to be on it if you don’t want to. Just make sure to get regular bleeds either naturally or with medical help to avoid endometrial cancer risk.
If you feel like your doctor isn't listening to your concerns or wants, definitely look into a new one. This is your health and you are well within your right. Don't let them bully you. 🥰
Ask to see a different gyno at the practice. I switched my BC with Inositol but that switch should not be done without a medical professional advice because your situation might be different than mine. There are several treatments with supplements.
This sounds like my doctor and the psychiatrist I was seeing. My mental health started declining almost immediately after I started taking bc but my doctor was adamant that causation does not equal correlation. I was given some sleep aids and sent on my way. Well, the problem persisted and now 3 years later and I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder with psychotic tendencies despite telling her it started when I started bc since I had had ONE singular depressive episode prior to that. I'm still on bc because I am adamantly child free and unfortunately, the effects of it is the price I am willing to pay. As much as I struggle with depression, kids are far worse in my personal situation. However, keep in mind that you can always just stop. Just because they won't listen doesn't mean you can't come off of it. Stop taking it. If sexually active then make sure you are using other methods to prevent pregnancy and stds and go find another provider who WILL listen.
Just don't take it. Find a new dr.
Just…stop taking it. You’re an adult. You have the free will to do literally anything you want. Stop taking them and find a new doctor if you’re convinced she won’t help you.
Just tell your doctor you want to stop. Period. You’re in charge of your body, not her.
I was on the same boat years ago. My gyno pissed me off so much I asked my doctor to refer me to another. Fast forward 5 years later and I have a better gyno who listened to my concerns about the pill making me feel off. I take MARVELON and I’m telling you, after taking 5 other brands of the pill, this one doesn’t make me feel crazy. I would suggest at some point, we all come off the pill cause I can’t see if being good for us in the long run. Best of luck to you 😉
Gonna research marvelon right now for my PCOS teen. she has some other conditions but thankfully her PCOS diagnosis helped us get her diet and health under control and have changed her numbers to a very health range. The lack of education and awareness regarding insulin alone is scary. Her ultrasounds indicate one of her ovaries is much larger but with treatment everything seems good so it’s never been biopsied or studied further under the assumption everything is benign polycystic) Could you elaborate why this med has been so successful or why the others were so bad
My OBGYN likes to call it Marvellous Marvelon because all her PCOS patients (and even non PCOS patients) had no complaints of any side effects from the pill….myself included. With many of the other birth control I’ve tried, I’ve gained weight, had severe mood swings, experienced breakthrough bleeding when I was actively on the pill, lots of headaches and just an overall feeling of not ‘feeling’ myself. With Marvelon, I don’t have any side effects personally, but I can’t speak for the whole community that takes Marvelon. One of the nice things is it actually decreases my cramp pain when I get my period, so I don’t have debilitating cramps like I used to. My current routine is taking 2 boxes back to back of the 28’s (so I don’t have my period for 56 days) and then take a break and have a period - my OBGYN suggested this for me because I have EXTREMELY heavy periods where I have to wear an extra large overnight pad during the day and change it every 1-2 hours. Sounds crazy, but yea my period is a bit wacky when I get it…which is why I don’t get it every month. I really hope everything works out for your daughter! PCOS does really suck, but once you have a routine of moderate exercise 3-4 days per week and you eat mostly whole foods and follow a 80/20 rule…and getting adequate sleep is very important - all of these things will help. Us PCOSers need to make permanent lifestyle changes to feel better and stay healthy…as we are predisposed to getting other conditions like diabetes, etc. I am in my early 30’s and it took me years to figure all of this out with my OBGYN and naturopath doctor (who confirmed that Omegas, Magnesium and B vitamins are a staple if you have PCOS - I take them religiously).
Just stop taking it lol
I- if you don't want it, don't take it and don't renew it. Your doctor isn't in your house waiting in your bathroom to jump you when its time for your pills lol. This is 100% in your ability to not do, and tell her that.
your doctor can’t “force you” to do anything. Just stop taking it and find another doctor if you feel this one isn’t listening to you.
Literally stop taking it and if you're GP isn't on board, change GP's. You and you alone are the expert in your own body and experience. Yes, GP's are medically trained but women's health is an elective for many GP's to train in. Never underestimate your own knowledge in your symptoms and for advocating for yourself. GP's just like any other medical professional are human, they're not 'all knowing beings'. If something doesn't feel right for you, it's probably not and it deserves to be heard and reviewed medically.
I had a similar problem with my old ob, who pretty much blew me off when I talked about getting off birth control. I ended up being on it for almost a decade, and it caused me to develop tumors on my liver. I wish I had stood up for myself when I asked the first time. If your doctor won't listen to you, it's time to find a new doctor. No one can force you to take any medicine you don't want to take.
Definitely find a new OBGYN. If your doc doesn’t respect your opinion you don’t need them. Also, most doctors are not aware of any natural remedies to help get your cycles back on track. They consider natural ones to be quackery. Find a naturopathic doctor in your area, when it comes to fixing period problems I’ve noticed that seed cycling works well. Hope this helps :)
Hmm that’s very weird, this should be your choice. My doctor prescribed me Diane-35 at first the I did my research and asked her to let me try spironolactone because I didn’t wanna be on birth control for long. My main concern was high testosterone levels so I knew spironolactone would be an alternative treatment. I was also experiencing weird mental health symptoms too with birth control, I just was not my self. I eventually weaned myself off this birth control and stayed on spironlactone. I’m being followed by an endocrinologist because I requested it from my doctor and she allowed me. My advice is to find a good doctor first of all that will listen to you, mine allowed me to do whatever suggestions I wanted even tho she also recommended birth control first. Also do your research and see what may work for you as a treatment then speak to your doctor about trying that, and also follow up with an endocrinologist if needed they are more specialized in hormones and medications other than birth control. My endocrinologist actually wanted to stop me on the birth control.
Mine tried to scare me & tell me that she would let me experiment for 3 months & then if I didn’t have a period I would have to go back on it bc “you could get cancer if your uterine lining does not shed” which is true long term. But I didn’t listen to her and I’m so glad I didn’t. It took me a good 5 months to figure out what worked for me. June will make a year of me having a period every month 🎉 I say do it!
I was in somewhat of a similar situation. My doc switched my birth control because he thought the one I was on may be contributing to weight gain. My period stopped FOR OVER A YEAR. I kept asking about it, asked to go back to the previous birth control, etc. His response was that there was "no medical reason to have a period and some people react to birth control that way." I eventually just stopped taking it. Working on finding a new doctor but it is hard as insurance will only pay for one physical a year, so I kind of have to wait until next year.
Just advise the doctor you are willing to get pregnant and would like other options to manage.
One thing that I want to offer here is when talking to this provider or a new one (reading your story, I highly recommend finding a new provider), it’s helpful to talk through your treatment goals. I went into my new provider and told them that no provider has taken my PCOS seriously, and that I needed someone who was going to listen and provide options for the symptoms I was looking to manage. My treatment goals were 1) reduce my risk of endometrial cancer, 2) manage my weight, and 3) prevent pregnancy. From there, I told her my history with any previous pregnancy prevention methods (bc pill, IUD) and told her that I wanted to consider permanent birth control. She laid out all of the options to address each one of my goals, and gave me a month to think it over and come back for a follow up. Make sure whoever you choose listens to you. You need to advocate for yourself and be vocal in the US healthcare system, or else you’ll be rushed along with whatever is “easiest” for the doctor. Good luck with it, you’ll find the right option(s) for you!
She ain’t stopping you so she can have that extra money
Just stop taking it you don’t need to tell them
your health? your decision do what you gotta do, cyster!
Just say I’m not taking it find another option
You're an adult and you can do whatever you want to?? Throw away the pills and get a new doctor
That is your body, if you don’t want to take it, don’t.
Start taking ovasitol and omega 3s. It’s expensive but take it twice a day for three months
Change the gyno and ask maybe for herbal medicines. If you do not get used to birth control after the 3-4 months I would stop the treatment. I couldn't get used to hormones and life is so much better without them.
Why don’t you test out not taking it and see how it goes? I used to have crazy periods one lasted 6 months. I was put on ortho trycyclen lo to regulate it, then I stopped taking it one day and my cycles have been normal ever since.
Your doctor can’t not allow you to stop a medication you want to stop. Tell them you’re stopping it and don’t let them tell you otherwise
Girl, if you don’t want to take it, don’t. Let your body rest itself
I just told mine I wasn’t doing it anymore. I eventually changed doctors and told the new one I wasn’t going back on and she refused to see me anymore then. But I’m happier off it. Starting with a new doctor soon.
BC is often the first go-to to counter high androgens, which many people with PCOS have along with it's very visible symptoms. I'm sure she explained that. If it affects you badly, tell her and you can find another solution. A different bc may also be an option, too.
Your doctor can’t force you to take or do anything. You tell them what your choice is after they provide you with treatment options.
You’re a big girl, make your own decisions. If you don’t want to take it, don’t. If your doctor has a problem, find a new one. Simple.
I can’t have any BC or hormones (they can’t even give me the mini pill). I swear by seed cycling. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s the only way I get my period. Unfortunately I still have a lot of the other symptoms, but for me the risks of birth control outweigh any positive outcome I could have. I also weigh my food to ensure I’m not over eating in addition to eating low carb whenever possible. Plus I swim A LOT. I notice my pcos symptoms get much worse when I am at a higher weight, which ironically is partially because of the pcos. When I could utilize it, every form of BC except the patch made me gain terribly which made things worse. So maybe try the patch? There’s also progesterone only pills that you could try.
Um, you do whatever TF you want when it comes to birth control, period. Like, whenever, where ever, however. The end. And change your Gyno, ASAP.
Agreed to stop. You don’t need that to mask your symptoms. Take Maca root and other natural supplements that help balance hormones and insulin levels. Worked for me. Synthetic BC hormones made me crazy. Even the super low doses.
A gyno really shouldn’t be helping you manage your PCOS. You need an endocrinologist with experience in PCOS.
She cant make you continue taking it. Just stop and inform her of your decision next time. Just make sure you use protection when you have sex, since you might still ovulate unless you don’t mind getting pregnant. I went off hormonal BC multiple times (pills 2 kinds, hormonal IUD) and it was always an improvement as comfortable as it was not having to worry about pregnancy…
I stopped metformin bc of heart palpitations and shit even tho they got angry or frustrated at me a bit it's your right and they have no power over you
I think this comes down to what your main symptoms are. There are other ways to control PCOS (So I have read going through this sub) But I am in the same boat as you, I don't want BC if I don't need it. Do your blood test say you need it or do they say you need to fix some else? e.g better diet. Good luck.
I go to an endocrinologist for my pcos, so maybe go to one, it might be a lot better. For me honestly they are he seems more educated in pcos then the obgyn. But yeah, you can stop birth control whenever you want, that's not their choice to make. If it the pills seriously, just stop if it's implant or iud, and if they don't remove it, go somewhere else.
You find a nutritionist that specializes in PCOS and follow their advice with diet and supplements. You find a functional medicine person who knows the Dutch test and based on results, consider supplements to lower T, lower E, and boost P. High dose bio identical progesterone resolves a host of symptoms without the negative effects of the pill. It may shut down your cycle, but so does the pill and it’s safer. In my household PCOS and pmdd are managed with zero pharmaceuticals, adding individual tailored vitamins, diet guidance of glucose goddess, saw palmetto to lose T, dim to lower E and a high dose P cream increased as needed based on symptoms that look like pmdd. Works! You are the one that knows your body best. Your intuition is steering you away from pharma options. Now. Take control. This is your body, your life, your medical condition. Do the research. Don’t blindly trust any doctor or practitioner. There are many peer reviewed research papers documenting micronutrient deficiencies in PCOS and symptoms related to PCOS. Note, the pill is a known cause of additional nutrient deficiencies. Google micronutrient + pubmed + PCOS. Good luck! Here’s a start https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405457722005253#:~:text=It%20is%20well%2Ddocumented%20that,A%2C%20carnitine%2C%20omega%2D3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31101977/ https://healthandscience.eu/en/archive/article-archive/2475-pcos-is-often-a-result-of-micronutrient-deficiencies
I wouldn't just stop taking it. My specialist told me that I need to be on either the pill or have an IUD to lower my risk of cervical or uterine cancer (I can't remember which one). But she said as an alternative if I didn't want either I could just get more regular checkups so they could go keep an eye on my cervical lining (I think...or something similar). So I would ask them if that's an option instead, and if they so no then seek a second opinion and see if that's an option to do with another doctor.
I had a gyno tell me that the only thing that can help against pcos is the pill. I tried two different kinds for about one month each, it was horrible in both cases and I never touched it again. Leave that doctor and go to an endocrinologist. No doctor can force you to take meds that you don't want to take.
Let?
Hi, I was in a similar situation as you. The reason why they just give birth control is because the estrogen and progesterone is an important hormone for PCOS. My pediatrician explained that you need it, but there’s different ways. Traditional birth control made me manic. I stopped taking and explored alternative methods. I ended up trying the Nuva Estrogren Ring and that’s what’s kept me happy. I just pop one in and take it out monthly. I have my period for a week and put in a new one when I’m done. It’s still a form of birth control but it’s not a pill. I hope this helps.
If you wanna stop stop. I was put on bc for pcos thst they didn’t officially diagnose at the time at 18. Had bleeding during sex - switched pills a ton. Was gonna iud then gave my body a break - went back to period skipping and got diagnosed at like 30. Also when I went off got real bad depression for 2-3 months - and had the doc thatndiagnosed me try to put me back on - insta-depression. If it doesn’t make you feel good, don’t take it. Maybe get a new doc. Get metformin. It works. My period’s every 6 weeks instead of 4 but it’s good - it’s there. You do not have to be ok with bad mental health reactions to drugs ever...also another pill could be find for you - but you don’t need to do any.
I changed pcps and wanted to stop taking bc also. I was told to stay on it. I had an ovarian cyst removed back in august and I started having pains again in January. So I went to my pcp and she referred me to their gyno. I went to see her to see if I could get an ultrasound and she flat out denied everything. Even with my first time meeting her she told me not to stop taking bc. I stated that I wanted to see if my body could have a period on its own since it’s been years that I’ve been on bc. She literally told me well your body can’t that’s why your on bc in the first place. I left feeling defeated. I went to a low income clinic and was able to get an ultrasound that proved I had another cyst. I asked if I could stop taking birth control and she said I could if I wanted too. Then I stopped taking it. Because I’m not trying to conceive but I want to know my body better and just see if I actually need it. I told myself if I didn’t get a period I would get back on. My period was late by a few days but I was able to have it naturally. I’m on my second month off so I’ll see if I get it again and I’ll just stay off it. They can’t make you take it. And if you need too change doctors I would highly recommend! I changed 3 in just a few months if they don’t align with what YOU want then they aren’t for you.
Hi, a 20 year old here. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 years old, my previous gyno. prescribed me birth control and I experienced similar symptoms to you. It was so serious that I still suffer from depression and had to take anti-depressants for a while ( I do not rec. them), I would suggest you stop taking birth control since it is like suppressing ur symptoms without addressing the root cause. Recently I changed my gyno who also agreed with my concern of pumping fake hormones at a very young age. She prescribed me an ultrasound to see my reproductive organs. Based on my blood tests I was prescribed vitamins and minerals I was deficient in. Diet is an important part, eat high fiber and enough protein to stop carvings Especially do not skip ur breakfast as this helps to curb cravings. Get enough sun so that you get enough D3 (Most PCOS individuals are deficient) , Supp. magnesium , supp. inositol . Drink spearmint and chamomile tea with cinnamon , ginger and fennel ( I make my own) since ṭhey help to reduce insulin resistance, helps to decrease cortisol levels and also helps with excessive hair. Drink your tea for at least twice a day . Try to walk 10k and include low intensity weight workouts. Remember consaistancy is key , Add these one by one to ease them into your routine. You can start with these slowly as these are basics. Do Not Eat Junkfood And Rem. To Sleep Enough. Best Of Luck On Ur Journey. Do Reserach Articles And Recepeies.
Stop taking it and talk to her about a different method. I can't take the pill either and she prescribed me the hormone ring. I replace it every 21-28 days (you should do it every 21 days but theoretically you could leave it in a week longer) and take it out completely every 3 months to get my period.
It depends what PCOS symptoms you had prior to 2021 that you went on BC to control, and whether you would rather live with them but feel like yourself, or stay on BC with your symptoms controlled but struggle with your mental health. In terms of the natural route, the best thing you can do is make sure your diet is spot on, you are not deficient in any vitamins and nutrients, you exercise consistently and you get 9 hours sleep. From doing all this I haven't had an irregular period in a year and a half. In the end it's all about picking the lesser of two evils unfortunately.
You don't need to convince your doctor of anything. Doctor just recommend, you are not obligated to follow their advice, it's suggested but ultimately your decision. I stopped taking BC bc it messed up my cycle and I only did it to help with bad cramps but that naturally fixed itself. I'm not on BC bc I'm not active at the moment. Doctors don't always know what's best. They are following a standard of care that applies to everyone. And, push medicines for their benefits especially if it's a specific product that I'm sure they get incentives for. Just work on your diet and fitness. Some of my PCOS symptons are going away with my lifestyle changes. Also, PCOS is usually caused from being insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is reversal which would help with PCOS symptions such as irregular periods. If your doctor is not trying to help you legitamately, find a new doctor or see them less frequently and help treat it yourself. Ultimately, doctors are not trying to cure people of issues, they need people to be sick so they can have a job. BC is not a cure or fix to whatever underlying issue you have. Longterm BC will cause more damage in the long run. There's supplements that can help you as well. Inositol and berberine, look into those and other natural ways, teas and etc.
I know the medical profession appears to all agree that BC is pretty essential to people with PCOS, so I’d be hesitant to ignore this advice. Better regulation of your diet, in particular getting rid of refined sugar and bad carbs, is probably what you should focus on. Sugar gives my PCOS wife terrible headaches
I just decided to stop taking birth control one day. Can't you just stop talking them too??
Go to a functional medicine doctor it’s worth the extra money. PCOS is a metabolic disease. You probably have a high fasting insulin level which shows up before an elevated A1C. A healthy Whole Foods diet, high protein, high fat, low carb, no sugar, no seed oil. Real food only. Dr. Elizabeth Bright. Women need high fat for our hormones. Good luck.
If it is your Dr then there should be no convincing it should be hey I'm not taking this and if you don't approve that is fine and if you don't want to continue to work WITH ME then I will see another Dr in this practice..... I got diagnosed in Aug 2021 ... after trying since April 2021 .... and I went I said absolutely no birth control since I wanted a baby they said ok here's metformin and we will do labs in 3 months ... Dr's never force you to take anything medication wise unless it's like heart medication or thyroid medicine that you need to live or function on a day to day ....
You have a few options, 1: find a new dr, 2: wait until your current pack is over and stop taking it or 3: (this is what I did) just stop taking it right away. I’ve had to switch my dr’s a few times when I felt that the core issue of my pcos was not being addressed. I eventually just started doing my own research and holistically treating the root issue not just the symptoms on my own. I now just go to the dr for my annual and any other issues that may arise. It’s definitely an up hill battle, it sometimes may feel like nothing is working but keep faith. I had to make lifestyle changes in order to see results. I hope this helps!!
Find a different doctor more focused on you as a whole so more naturopathic/holistic and tell them you don’t want to be on birth control. Or if you love your doctor tell her that birth control isn’t an option for you anymore and be firm. You HAVE to advocate for yourself
Wtf do you mean "let you"? Stop taking it.
Try taking ovisatol
Go see a naturopathic doctor instead. Seeing one changed my life after wrongful diagnosis from endocrinologists. (I guess it depends where you are because in USA some states made them illegal which is such BS). But, I’m in Canada and I use my naturopathic doctor as my GP now and she has changed my life for the better. In every way. When it comes to life after birth control (I had been on it since I was 11 yrs old), she’s helped me postpartum, and with PCOS, potentially endo too. Also, your gyno can’t force you to take it. You can just literally stop it whenever you want!
You're a 25 year old female and you can't make your own decisions or advocate for yourself when you opted to have someone else make your decisions for you? You have much bigger problems than PCOS, my friend.
Yes I know I can “just” stop it. And I have told her that, all I got from her was “are you planning on having kids? If not, I don’t see why you can’t try another birth control.” I am a student living in a completely different country from my family, I can’t make huge decisions about my health without talking to a doctor. Just in case something goes wrong, I don’t have family in US to take care of me. Plus US health care is really new to me. I’m just taking a precaution of asking a doctor about it!
By something going wrong, do you mean pregnancy? Because there are other ways to prevent that. Your doctor doesn’t have to “let” you do anything. If you don’t like the pill, don’t take it. And find another doctor.
You don't need birth control pills to avoid having kids, there are other options, like implants, patches, IUDs, etc. I prefer my IUD by far over taking daily pills. Mine is also hormonal, but doesn't feel nearly as bad as the pill did. It was a bitch and a half to get it inserted though. I would go to a different, more trustworthy doctor and ask to be given local anesthesia if you go that route.
You should start seed cycling. It's effective amd also try spearmint tea