Bcp vs. Metformin

alger78 · 04-28-2009, 06:06 PM

I'm new to soulcysters and this is my first post: I'm 30 with a BMI of 18.8 and was diagnosed with PCOS in my teens. I've been on and off birth control pill's since then. Mostly on them actually, since I had a cyst burst when I was off them last time and don't EVER want to experience that again. On the pill, I'm PCOS-symptom free, but the pills themselves are taking a toll. My hair is noticeably thinning, and I have melasma spreading all across my face. I'm not ready to ttc (I'm learning all these fancy acronyms on here!) but I'm also tired of taking the pill. Being 30, I want to ttc in the next 5 years so I want my body to be healthy and ready. In your opinions is Metformin or the bcp better for treating PCOS? If I go the Met route, can I stay on it for years at a time, or is it more of something you do only when you are ttc?? Are any of you out there NOT ttc and still treating your PCOS? If so, how? I think going off the pill and not taking some other treatment would be very harmful to my poor ovaries, right? Any help or advice you wonderful girls have to offer would be greatly appreciated!

Jodik · 05-01-2009, 03:58 AM

Hi Alger...welcome to Soulcysters. In all of the recent research I have done, with patients who are not TTC, their Dr. can prescribe metformin AND BCP. I actually just received my scrip today for Met. I'm not actively TTC, but also not preventing. I'm not wanting to track my ovulation and plan sex between my fiance and I.

I have read that Met can do wonders for side effects of PCOS. And when you are ready to TTC, Met can also help you ovulate and hopefully prevent from fertility meds having to be used.

You should read the thread all about Metformin specifically. Their is some great info in there!

Jodik · 05-01-2009, 04:01 AM

Also....you are def. right. You need to treat your PCOS if you do decide to go off BCP. My endo told me today that I was doing the right thing by treating early (I'm 23). So def. talk with your doc. about the other options you could go with.

alger78 · 05-04-2009, 02:31 PM

I mostly want to get OFF BCP b/c my hair is thinning and I think it's from the pill and I also have a good deal of melasma forming on my face. So I am going to try the metformin route. Thanks for the input and keep us soulcysters updated on how yours is working for you. Thanks again!