Hello, I haven't been exactly diagnosed with PCOS but I think I may have it. I say this because I have most of the symptoms. It all began when I became pregnant in 2001 and broke out with servere acne and started having this unusual hair growth on my neck. Prior to the pregnancy I didn't have acne and I wasn't that hairy. Well sadly I decided to abort my baby because I was 17 yrs old and felt it was the best decision for me at that time, and I thought the acne and hair will go away there after. However, it didn't as time progressed and even until now, the acne became worse and is leaving dark spots all over my face. The hair growth is out of control and is also leaving spots everywhere the hair is growing (neck, chest, and breast) because I am prone to ingrown hairs and unfortunately I have bad habit of trying to pull the hair out. I have also gained a significant amount of weight (but I know I've contributed to this), my cycle is irregular, and lastly I have been with my fiancé for 31/2 years and have not gotten pregnant. I'm not trying but we're not using any type of contraception either and this is beginning to worry me. When I had insurance I seen a couple of doctors but I honestly feel they were a waste of time. They didn't answer any of questions esp. about me not be able to become pregnant and I had been previously. All they say is maybe it's not time. My finance had his sperm count checked and was told they're swimming fine, so it must be me... This issue has really affected me and caused me to be depressed and insecure, can anyone offer any advice that the so called doctors couldn't? Is there anything I can do at home and sort of treat myself? Thanks.

It sounds like a hormonal imbalance since it began during your pregnancy. I would contact an endocronologist to check your hormone levels. Sorry I do not believe that you can trest this problem at home. If it were to be pcos, I highly doubt it since symptoms began during pregnancy, you woud need to change your diet comletly. Live as if you are diabetic and increase you activity level, i.e. excersise. That is the only natural way I know to help pcos.

Thank you danielnoahsmommy.

The cause of the issues you're describing is probably at least insulin resistance, which means that your body is not as sensitive to your insulin as it should be. As someone else has already said, the best way to deal with it would be to eat like you're a diabetic (and not like an ADA diabetic, you need to think more low carb than that, maybe South Beach diet or something similar).

It could be PCOS too. You'd look at blood work like high testosterone and DHEA, cysts on your ovaries as well as the symptoms like acne, weight gain, not conceiving... there are some nice websites you can look at to help you decide if you do have PCOS or just some insulin resistance. One is http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-an and another very informative site is the PCOSA website for the US PCOS association,

Also, you'll have to make sure you're exercising! Toned muscles help your body handle blood sugar better by helping you be less insulin resistant.

Thank you April K!