Glucophage and PCOS

I have just started taking glucophage, not for diabetes but to combat the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome. It is a last-ditch effort to try and help me lose weight. I have cut back on chowing down, doing things that most people would have responded to such as no longer snacking on candy from the vending machine at night and watching how many calories I consume at meals. I do exercise, not anything over the top but yoga three times a week, walking at least an hour a day plus extra walking on the treadmill twice a week. I wouldn't expect to be skinny because I do like to eat and sometimes I don't eat as well as I should, but I also wouldn't expect to weigh 240 pounds.

Stubborn weight gain is but one of the joys of PCOS. Many women who suffer from this condition have irregular periods. I have regular periods but they are extremely heavy. I have very thick hair on my head, which I'm glad of because some women who suffer from PCOS start losing their hair due to elevated androgen levels. However, I also have extremely thick hair on my arms and legs. I have to shave my arms as well as my legs and the hair is so thick that I go through a razor every time I shave, if I let the hair grow at all. The hair is extremely dark. Not very becoming, to say the least. I also have some trouble with facial hair growth but fortunately it is easily controlled with one of those small ladies' razors (Finishing Touch) and doesn't grow back as quickly as a man's beard would. My mother told me about one of my great aunts who had to shave daily or she would grow a beard like a man. I'm sure this poor woman must have had PCOS. My great grandmother was five feet tall and weighed 300 pounds. I'm 5'5" tall and currently weigh 240. I don't want to follow in her footsteps.

My mother has PCOS, as does my aunt. It does run in families.

I did have trouble with infertility and for all I know I still might if I tried to conceive a child again. My (now ex) husband and I were together for six years and never used any kind of birth control before my son was conceived. Interestingly enough, we had been planning to try adopting. My son was a surprise for us.

Ladies, if you are trying to conceive a child and having trouble, and if you are also experiencing any of the above symptoms, have your doctor check you out for PCOS.

Read this informative Article from IVF.com

I hope that the glucophage therapy works for me. So far the only side effects I've experienced were a very mild headache within ten minutes of taking it that went away on its own, and mild dry mouth. I would be thrilled if my weight loss efforts finally started working. I have been frustrated by a weight gain of 5-10 pounds every year and as I currently need to lose 90 pounds to get to a weight I find acceptable, I certainly don't need to gain more!

Keeping my fingers crossed...