I started taking Met (500mg x2/day) on Dec. 1, 2005. I had a period within 3 weeks. From what I've been reading, most women with PCOS take longer to have periods on Met. My question is, when you had your blood work done, did it come back abnormal? The second doctor I went to (and the one who put me on the Met) said that the blood work he did came back normal with the exception of high insulin. My previous doctor said that my symptoms indicated PCOS, but when my blood work came back from him, no one ever said anything. I'm glad that I'm getting a second opinion (because I moved and had to get a new doctor!lol) but now I'm wondering if maybe I'm NOT PCOS.
What's the normal time frame with Met? Is it normal to a period so soon after starting?
Any and all info would be greatly appreciated. I've tried posting on other message boards, but just get ignored.
I have read where some start right off the bat like that and then some don't.It all depends on how easy your hormones move. My hormones are still as a rock!!! I have been taking Met for 6 months and no AFs!
I started met 2 weeks ago. The side effects were horrible, but looks like I'm over most of those now. My original blood work was abnormal which is why I saw the endo and got put on met to begin with. I won't know how it's helped lower hormone levels and other things until I go back in 4 months. I was told that it takes 3 days for met to get started in your system and 3 weeks to start seeing any effects at all and then it can take up to 9 months to really get all parts of your body responding to it. So, your periods could remain abnormal for several more months. One thing that my dr told me that I am grateful for is not to expect a miracle cure, that this is a long haul, but he is very optimistic that I will see a lot of changes for the better over months rather than just a few weeks. So it's making me think long term goal rather than looking for immediate results. Me personally, my periods are about every 2 weeks for several months, then not at all for several months. I'm in my 2 week round, but I will say, 2 weeks have come and gone and no AF, so I'm waiting to see if I have an actual once a month AF this time around, if I do then the met will have worked quickly for me, or if I don't get one, I could be moving into that phase of going without one for months now. It's a time will tell matter. I have have very positive improvement in the body acne area though. I use to get that cystic like acne, especially on my back, but it's all cleared up now and haven't had a new one, so that's a great thing that I didn't expect to happen so quick and since it was such a constant in my life, I know for a fact that it's the met that helped that in short order. My advise is just to remember that meds affect eveyone's body differently, so what works for one quickly might take time in another. It's quite possible that it worked that fast for you. I would start making sure you chart your AF so you can get a real idea of if the met is regulating it. If over the next couple of months it comes with regularity and you ovulate, then you know the met did it's job =) It's just the unfortunate curse of PCOS...all the waiting and charting and blood tests to see if there are in fact results...it's enough to make you crazy.
Last edited by GlitterStar; 01-04-2006 at 11:07 AM.
I got AF in about 6 wks. I've not had any new labs done yet, so I'm not sure how well my insulin is now, but when they put me on Met my insulin was pretty high. I have read several other posts in the past on here that said that they had got AF within the first 1-2 months as well. From what I understand, its just how easy your insulin is to come down, not how high it was to begin with. Some people are on it for months and months with no AF yet. There are also several things you can do to help the Met lower your insulin, so I think that plays a big part too. If you eat right and exercise, your insulin will do alot better alot faster. I do see a HUGE differance when I eat right and exercise, just in how much better I feel and how much more success I have within that week losing weight.
__________________ Brandee (27) Mommy to 2 wonderful little girls and wife to an amazing man. Diagnosed Sept. 05 Currently on Met XR (1500mg) and Yasmin
Well, I never got AF. I just got pg!!! My last period was Nov. 24th. I was started on Met the first week in Dec. I was set to get my period on the 24th and then start Clomid on cycle days 5-9. But my period never came!!!! I finally found out for 100% sure (after 3 positive hpt's ) that I'm pg!!!! I couldn't believe it worked so FAAAAAAST!!!! There's a few others I've seen on here that had it happen the same way. If you go into the Pregnant Cysters forum and look at the thread "Anyone get pregnant on Metformin only?" you'll see it. I started the thread, and there's already alot of responses!!! It's a great drug, and I've already lost 4 pounds on it. It just effects everyone differently. My hormones were all within the normal range except that my testosterone and insuline were a little high and I had a TON of cysts on both ovaries. So I was put on birthcontrol for 3 months (Ovcon 35) and then on Dec. 2nd my follow up u/s came back normal looking. So I went on 1000mg of Met for a week, then upped it to 1500mg daily. I was told....as I said....that once my period started, I was to take 50mg of Clomid on cycle days 5-9. But it never started (because I got pg!!!) and so I never took the Clomid. It's just sitting in my medicine cabinet!!! LOL!!! So you see, you really shouldn't worry. It just affects everyone differently. It depends on the condition of your hormones and ovaries. So be patient. Just wait and see how things go. Good luck!!!!
There is no normal..that's the frustrating part about the drug. Our hormones are all so different and we all have different factors effecting them: diety, exercise, genes, etc.
I had a period after 10 weeks on 1500 mg and then it took me another 18 months to get them regular....they were 28-60+ day cycles. Diet was the biggest factor for me in getting my hormones and periods regular.
If you click on the FAQ thread (FAQ About Metformin) and scroll to Question #4 "How long will it take to get my period?"
there is a study on metformin and the onset of menses and it might encourage you.
Good luck!
__________________ Christy
33 yrs, 1 precious hubby, 2 miracle kids, At Goal Wt for 4 yrs, Trygly's down 445 pts, Free Androgen down from 20 to 2, 3 half 'thons ran, 2 mtns hiked, 1 crazy run in the Rockies, 4 forest trail races, profiled in 2 magazines...1 woman determined to kick PCOS butt!
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