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Help!

by Becky
(UK)

I'm so glad I've found your helpful and informative site. Problem is I'm now more confused than ever! I am 32 and was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 19 and my periods started to become very eratic. I then started to experience symptoms including acne, and slightly excess hair growth.

I was then pretty much permanantly on the contraceptive pill (dianette) until about two 1/2 years ago when I decided that having a child was something I wanted to do. Since then my symptoms have become extreme (to me anyway!) lack of regular periods again, dry skin, lack of concentration, totally inability to think straight, hair thinning, tiredness, insomnia, no libido whatsoever, and depression and mood swings like you would not believe. I am always on the verge of tears and feel like I cannot cope with life. I have had an extremely stressful last 4 years and it was not until the stress abated (slightly) that I really started to notice something was wrong as I had put everything down to the stress I was under. Until I stumbled onto a progesterone site I was beginnig to think I had Bi-polar syndrome or was just plain going mad! Anyway, I am really at a loss about the best way to proceed with the Natpro treatment and any extra advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Nov 02, 2010
 Help!
by: Wray

Hi Becky Your symptoms are so like mine were, apart from the irregular periods and dry skin, but mine were all experienced in peri-menopause! So I know exactly how you feel. It is stress related, mine was too, and not entirely due to the PCOS, although that does compound the problem. Stress plays havoc with us, neurotransmitters drop, hormone levels drop, digestion slows or comes to a standstill, the adrenals taking the brunt of it. They are trying to keep up with the demand for the stress hormones, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. Cortisol is made from progesterone, so the adrenals first have to make this before converting it. If stressed, they will rob other sources, the main production in women being the ovaries. This of course upsets the reproductive cycle, yours is already upset. We do have a page on PCOS, please read through it. So no, you are not going mad or have bi-polar, just a lack of progesterone! But you probably lack vitamin D too. For instance insulin resistance is often found in PCOS, but IR is caused by a lack of vitamin D. In fact many studies are finding oxidative stress behind PCOS, ie a lack of antioxidants. Please have a vitamin D test done, more info on the Vitamin D council website. Contraceptives play havoc with us too. They can result in temporary infertility after stopping them. They're designed to stop ovulation, but once stopped the ovaries can start up again. Initially making oestrogen and testosterone, it can be many cycles later before ovulation takes place. This initial surge of oestrogen and testosterone causes a severe imbalance in the ovaries and anovulation results. I recommend 100-200mg/day progesterone, but PCOS generally requires more. We do have a page on Pregnancy too, please read through this. And please consider taking the following nutrients, all needed by a growing foetus, see taurine here and here. and vitamin D here, here, here and here. And omega 3 here. Take care Wray
Nov 04, 2010
 VITAMIN D CAPSULES
by: Connie

Hi Wray, I am interested in taking some Vit D supplements. I am not in a position to have the test done. My question is if I went to my local health food store (I currently use Bio Health Extra Magnesium and Vit B Complex) and bought some how many mg should I be taking per day.

Also are they safe to take even if you don't really need them (obv without the test I can't be sure) or is it a case of any extra help can do no harm?

Your advice greatly appreciated.

PS I live in the UK so not much sun here!
Nov 09, 2010
 VITAMIN D CAPSULES
by: Wray

Hi Connie No there's not much sun in the UK, having lived there! In fact it's only now coming to light that many there have a serious lack of vitamin D, see here. But it's not just the UK, see here and here. It's best to have a test, then you'll know how much to take, but if you can't have one, there's no harm in taking 5000iu's per day. This is the minimum suggested by the boffins. I know this works, as my level was very low and has increased on this amount. I do know of others who have had the test done via the NHS, can you not pursue this route too? For more info on vitamin D please see the Vitamin D council website. It's remarkably un-toxic, see here. Dr Cannell recommends taking magnesium, but not calcium, so continue taking it plus the B complex. Take care Wray

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