My pcos has disappeared!

by Fiona
(Ireland)

I came off BC pills about two years ago. I always had perfect cycles beforehand. After BC I experienced spotting from ovulation right up to my period. When I was finally referred to a gynae they diagnosed pcos.

However, my bloods were normal and I didn't fit the diagnostic profile except for cystic appearing ovaries. My progesterone bloods were low and I was prescribed progesterone suppositories which I have taken for the past 4 months.

I had a laparoscopy last week and surprisingly, the surgeon said my ovaries were clear of cysts and did not have a polycystic appearance. He feels my main issue is low progesterone. I also had some mild endometriosis.

Comments for
My pcos has disappeared!

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Oct 19, 2011
 Question...
by: Amy

So what were the side effects of the progesterone suppositories? There had to be SOME!!! Im in a similar situation and am to the point of not even wanting to Doctor anymore! Thanks, Amy
Oct 19, 2011
 dose
by: Anonymous

What dose of supp were you taking and how often?
Oct 21, 2011
 My pcos has disappeared!
by: Wray

Hi Fiona I'm delighted to hear this, but not surprised! I do doubt that you had PCOS, it seems more likely you had cystic ovaries. PCOS requires far more than progesterone only to reverse it, whereas both breast and ovarian cysts normally respond very quickly. I had an assistant once who when she joined me had a 5cm cyst on one ovary. Her doctor had done a scan and wanted to operate. I persuaded her to try the progesterone. Well one month later a further scan showed no cyst. All drug based Contraceptives have the potential to cause harm, not least they lower progesterone levels. Please have a vitamin D test done, you live in Ireland with little sun. Too many people in the UK and Ireland have low levels, see here, here, here, here, here and here. A lack of vitamin D is implicated in all inflammatory disorders, one being Endometriosis, PCOS too. For more info on testing etc, see the Birmingham Hospital, Vitamin D Links, Vitamin D Council and GrassrootsHealth websites. BH now do test kits for £20, and Jo of Vitamin D Links is very helpful, she lives in London. A lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. Take care Wray
Oct 21, 2011
 Question...
by: Wray

Hi Amy I'm not sure if you have PCOS, but please look through this page. It needs a large amount of antioxidants to reverse it, the most important being vitamin D. Plus progesterone, which is always low as anovulation is often a problem. There are no direct adverse effects to using progesterone. But often Oestrogen Dominance occurs when first using it. This is due to progesterone stimulating oestrogen, until it becomes the dominant hormone. This is essential if wellness is to be achieved. Please have a vitamin D test done. I've given Fiona the links to various websites with info. I'm not sure where you live, in the UK BH can assist, in the USA ZRT labs do the test kits. A link to them can be found on the Vitamin D Council website. Take care Wray
Oct 28, 2011
 My pcos has disappeared
by: Anonymous

Thanks wray for your comments and hi Amy!

I am still taking cyclogest 400 mg vaginal suppositories from 3 days after ovulation for ten nights. I then usually get my period a day or so after I stop the suppositories. I had absolutely no side effects. They are supposed to cause constipation and this has always been a problem for me. Weirdly, when I take the progesterone I feel great, have more energy and my bowels are regular!

Wray, I took a vit d test and was deficient. I take 4000 dose of vit d daily. I take 1000 Mgs vit c, Zinc, Magnesium and fertility plus by Marilyn Glenville. I also changed my diet and cut out dairy. It may be a combination of all these things that have helped.

I really hope I don't have pcos but am confused as to why I was told I had polycystic ovaries. I am sure the laparscopy is the best diagnostic tool?
Oct 31, 2011
 My pcos has disappeared
by: Wray

Hi Fiona I'm puzzled too why you were told you had PCOS, as the laproscopy would have shown cystic ovaries. I'm delighted you are using 400mg/day progesterone, but puzzled why you are only given it for only 10 days. A normal luteal phase lasts 12-14 days, 10 days would be regarded as a defective luteal phase. It should be used from ovulation, evidently your doctor thinks otherwise! You should start bleeding within a day or two of stopping the suppositories, as it's the drop in progesterone levels that allow MMP's to break down the lining of the uterus. I'm also puzzled why you've been told to use them at night only, as progesterone levels drop after about 13hrs. It should be used a minimum of twice a day, although suppositories do tend to leak out if used in the morning. One reason why I prefer a cream! And progesterone doesn't cause constipation, the reverse in fact. It's oestrogen which causes it, by drawing water from the intestines. Progesterone is such an excellent diuretic it's now given to TBI victims via IV transfusion to stop the oedema forming. Incidentally over 70% are men. And funnily enough it's not weird you should feel so good on the progesterone, it suppresses excess oestrogen which causes all our troubles, particularly PMS. We do have more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. You have been given such a good amount of progesterone, you have not experienced the Oestrogen Dominance which afflicts so many women when starting progesterone. All caused by using the recommended amount of 20-40mg/day. Whatever you do don't come off the progesterone cold turkey, certainly not using that level. Please reduce it very slowly, by cutting a suppository in half. I.e. reduce down to 350mg/day and stay on that level until things settle down. Continue reducing in this way until you reach the optimum. Going cold turkey from 400mg/day will give you severe oestrogen dominance symptoms. I'm so happy you're taking a relatively good dose of vitamin D. 5000iu's would be better, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. And I'm concerned your vitamin D was actually lower than should be, blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml and not the 30ng/ml labs and doctors regard as adequate. Magnesium is a co-factor for vitamin D, so it's good you're taking that too. Take care Wray
Nov 13, 2011
 My pcos has disappeared
by: Anonymous

Hi wray,
Thanks for your advice and interesting comments. I'm fascinated by the effects of nutrition, diet, hormones etc on body systems and am learning so much since I started on thus 'trying to conceive' journey!

I take the prog for 10 days but I chart my cycle and I'm not meant to start it until 3 days after my peak/ovulation day. I'm not sure why it's 3 days after, maybe in case the peak day is inaccurate?

Since my lap, I haven't had any premenstrual spotting. However, my progesterone despite supplementation was still a little below what's optimal for pregnancy. I have got my vit d rechecked so am waiting on tge results. I don't know why I only have to take the prog at night. If I get pregnant, the prescription changes to 400 morning and night.

I am just curious as to whether there is any natural way of boosting my progesterone eg with supplements. Also, why my progesterone is lower than normal, what causes that??

Many thanks for your advice.
Nov 16, 2011
 My pcos has disappeared
by: Wray

Hi Fiona The complexities of the body are huge, and cannot be looked at piece meal. In fact this paper here starts off by saying "It is said that when students enter medical school, they care about the whole person, and by the time they graduate, all they care about is the hole in the person." It's essential to look at the whole person. I had no idea you were trying to conceive, as I would have given you our page on Pregnancy. If you're using a mini microscope you can tell when ovulation takes place, there's info about this on the link above. One study found that "Compared with non-conception cycles, conception cycles had a steeper early luteal rise in progesterone and higher mid-luteal oestrogen and progesterone concentrations." See Hum Reprod. 1997 Dec;12(12):2607-13 This is why I suggest using progesterone from ovulation and not waiting. Interestingly there's a small peak of progesterone immediately prior to ovulation. This surge comes from the brain, understandably, as ovulation hasn't taken place, see here. It's believed this surge initiates the LH surge, which in turn initiates ovulation. Complex! It's a pity you're only using the progesterone once a day, as levels drop after about 13 hrs. There's no other way of boosting progesterone, other than using it as you're doing. I believe the cystic ovaries would be responsible for the lower than normal progesterone. Ovarian cysts don't ovulate, it's only once this has occurred will progesterone be produced. Take care Wray

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