I am on Diane 35 right now (I am living in Italy) and it is OK for me in that I don't have awful side effects. I was being monitored because my gyno here found a cyst on my ovary. This had nothing to do with PCOS, but I had to have an operation to have that cyst removed. After surgery I was put on the pill which was supposed to help with acne that I had. She put me on a very light pill called Lucille.
In my follow up appt., after almost three months of Lucille, my gyno did an ultrasound and saw my ovaries still had many cysts. My acne had also not gone away. This was when she prescribed Diane 35 and told me I officially had PCOS.
I am midway into my second month of Diane. The first month I had spotting, which my doctor warned me I would, since I finished Lucille and started Diane right away with no break. I am only disappointed in it in that I still have acne, and extra hair growth on my chin. I hope that sticking with Diane will pay off and it will help cure these symptoms!
I used to be on Diane 35 for Acne, and you are only supposed to be on it for about 1 1/2 years total, otherwise it can lead to problems. While I was on it I thought it worked great though, no side effects at all. I live in Calgary, AB.
Has anyone experienced reduced hair growth with the Diane 35? Also, I'm concerned about the effect of herbal supplements taken with Diane 35. Will I mess up the birth control by taking saw palmetto and spearmint tea at the same time? Has anyone had experience combining these? I don't want to mess up the functioning of the Diane with the herbals.
I was originally put on Diane 35 by my dermatologist for Acne. Then I was kept on it by my OB/GYN for my PCOS. I was on it for 6 years with no problems. I'm not sure that it really worked for my acne as I still got breakouts on my face. But as my GP said, I wouldn't really know for sure until I went off it. I went of it to TTC. I am in debates what to do now. The online info is scary, but there are other pills out there by different names with similar make ups.
__________________ Me-29, DH-31
Dx PCOS 1996
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I was on it for about 2 years or so, primarily for birth control but also because it was best for hair/acne. Its called Estelle-35 in NZ but its the same thing. It was fantastic for my (minimal) facial hair and acne but I started getting really heavy periods so now I'm on Norimin and I think my facial hair (although still pale) is getting thicker.
My doc said there was the usual risk of blood clots etc, but she monitored my blood pressure and still has with every pill I've tried.
__________________
Diagnosed Aug 2005. Symptoms: No periods, obese, excessive hair
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In 2001 I participated in a study for acne which required me to take Diane-35. It worked for me although it wasn't instant. I can't comment on hair growth as mine didn't start until a year ago.
I was on Diane-35 for 4 years - stopped this past June. It was fantastic on my skin - I hardly ever broke out, and my skin "glowed" from all those hormones. People would comment on my skin all the time, which was nice after the years of acne!
However, Diane-35 didn't help my facial hair or the hair on my head one iota - in fact, the hair on my head got worse AND I packed on 30 pounds over the 4 years...which I am now in the process of losing. I am 4"11 so 30 pounds is quite a lot! I think the hair on my head got worse also because I was eating badly and super stressed...basically not treating my body right.
Also, I was on Ortho-Tricyclen and Alesse before that, and those definitely did not help my acne or hair issues.
All in all, Diane-35 was great for my skin and regulated my cycles. But I decided to come off of it because I want to treat the underlying cause through natural means - and because of my hair issues. I'm now seeing a naturopathic doctor, so I hope that will go well!
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Dx'd Oct 2008 & started alternative medicine route after stopping bc pill in June.
Current regimen:
ADHS Dietary Supplement
Testo Quench (w/ Saw Palmetto)
Spearmint tea - 2-3 cups/day
Cinnamon in unsweetened soy milk
No grains, dairy, alcohol, sugar & salt
30 min. cardio & strength training every other day
Yoga once a week
1 week in: acne clearing up, chronic dandruff GONE!, and ovulated for the first time in I don't remember.
i've gained some weight and have awful mood swings. sometimes i feel like i'm going to go on a rampage. sometimes i am very uncomfortable. i've also had headaches for the first couple weeks of the cycle and days when i have no energy
i've been away for a while. getting things sorted.
so i finally started my medication - diane 35.
i have to say, i'm only on my 4th pill and i feel great. i'm horny all the time and kinda happy the only negative (although it's not that bad) thing is that i have this hot flashes. i burn up. very weird. but other than that, i'm not dizzy or feel like i'm going to throw up.
is it too early for these negative symptoms to come out?
i'm interested in seeing how things will work out with this pill, since most of the users of diane are not pleased...
i'm starting yasmin and going off diane today. i just gained way too much weight on diane. right now, only one pair of jeans fit me. my legs expanded massively. my upper body stayed exactly the same (i mean, if my boobs weren't going to grow with the additional weight, i'm not persuaded)
Diane 35 
the only negative (although it's not that bad) thing is that i have this hot flashes. i burn up. very weird. but other than that, i'm not dizzy or feel like i'm going to throw up.
