Questions, because my girlfriend has PCOS. She takes DEPO as a treatment for it.

GuyWithQuestions · 07-07-2004, 12:15 PM

Hey everyone, I was just wondering if you guys could give me some information. My girlfriend, who I am so in love with, has PCOS. She now takes DEPO for it. I didn't really know anything about this...though in my little bit of internet searching, I've read that depo itself is a possible cause of PCOS to begin with. So, I was wondering why she is on this as a treatment for it. I assume its perhaps because it stops ovulation, and thus she won't get painful cysts. I just find it odd because it seems the side effects of depo are similar to the symptoms of PCOS..though I guess the depo stops the painful cysts, which is the important thing.
I'm pretty much one to always question doctors, and she is the opposite. She said she's been on so many things for it, and has now been on depo for 3 mos, and hasn't had any painful cysts.
I was just wondering if anyone could give me any info, perhaps put my mind at ease. I care very much for her health, and want to make sure she's doing the right thing...though I also don't want to pry too much into her personal matters.

Thanks for any advice/info/help!

BeetleGirl · 07-07-2004, 01:07 PM

I just wanted to say that it's nice to see a guy to take interest in his girlfriend's health.
I can't be of much help though.
I am yet to be able to control my PCOS.
I am sure that many of the ladies here will be able to help you out with any questions that you have.

Chastity · 07-07-2004, 05:59 PM

It's great that you have taken an interest in your girlfriend's health. I haven't heard of someone using Depo as a treatment for PCOS. I have only know 2 people that have used it as a form of birth control and both had problems with it..like not having periods at all. Maybe you could refer her to this website and she could talk to some ladies here that have tried different treatments for it. Good Luck!

GuyWithQuestions · 07-07-2004, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by albaos
Wow, what a caring boyfriend you are! That's awesome of you. How right you are: Always question your Dr. and don't just trust blindly.

The Depo shot as a treatment for PCOS?!?! I've never heard of that either. Personally I would stay away from the Depo. Women have reported too many problems on it. And once you want to get pregnant, it can take a couple of years after the last shot.

What she should be looking into is an insulin sensitizer like Glucophage aka Metformin. It works on a woman's natural hormones, whereas the Depo shot is just an overdose of synthetic hormones.

Your girlfriend is welcome to join Soulcysters too. There is also a Metformin board. Check it out.

Thanks everyone for the advice so far.

I would really push her to try other remedies, but she doesn't seem worried at all and doesn't think its a big deal. She said she's been on so many different things, and this is what her doctor has her on now. If she feels fine, and her doc is fine with it, I don't want to come across as a nut and keep harping on the issue with her. I'm really in love with her, and there is a good chance I will marry her, and I want to have kids with her, so thats why the depo had me worried.

Sara2129 · 07-08-2004, 12:13 AM

My doctor said she will put me on Depo later down the road (once we are not trying for a family) since my risk for cancer can increase (uteran cancer I believe) with the lower levels of estrogen. The Depo will help balance that. She never mentioned any other reason though.

nobimbo · 07-08-2004, 08:40 AM

Depo-Provera prevents follicle formation, thus preventing ovarian cysts. If a woman is not seeking pregnancy and develops functional cysts frequently, Depo is sometimes prescribed. It is also prescribed for excessive menstrual bleeding and for endometriosis. As you already have learned, Depo only masks the symptoms. Common side effects include:

Irregular Periods
No Periods
Weight Gain
Mood Swings
Loss of Libido
Lack of Ovulation
Hair Loss
Acne
Lack of Lubrication
Severe Headaches

In fact, I have read numerous accounts of women for whom PCOS symptoms didn't appear until after they went OFF of the depo shots. There have also been class action law suits against the makers of the drug. Here are some links of past threads about this:

Does anyone know of Depo Provera/PCOS relationship?

http://www.soulcysters.net/showthrea...t=depo+provera

Survey: Depo Provera

DepoProvera and PCOS

Did anyone take Depo Provera?

DEPO PROVERA HELP

You're a great guy for trying to help your gf. Maybe if you print out some of this info you can convince her to read it and start to be more proactive in her medical treatment.

Linda

prunepie · 07-08-2004, 05:20 PM

i agree with everything linda said...

in fact i know lots of women who got pcos after depo.. i also know lots of women who were not able to regain their fertility after depo...

good luck and this is very nice of you to care xo jenn

Canadian Kokopelli · 07-08-2004, 06:27 PM

I too agree with Linda.

I was fine when I went on Depo (didnt know about PCOS) but once I started the injections right through til I came off, everything went crazy!!!!

Please ask her to research another form of treatment. So many women on this board have found Metformin (glucophage) to be very effective.

GuyWithQuestions · 07-11-2004, 08:27 PM

Thanks for all the replies everyone. She's promised to ask her doc about alternative treatments at her next appointment on jul 20th. She will ask about other treatments, and mention that she has a family history of diabetes. Also, I realized, she is a vegetarian, meaning she eats a lot of carbs.

She said that she's had this for 10 years, since around age 13. Should I still worry so much since she's had it for so long and seems to be ok? She's still fairly thin, in pretty athletic shape. Seems like its kind of in check. She just takes the depo to prevent the painful cysts and seems to be happy.

Anyway, she will ask about eveything I've told her, so I guess I've done all I can.

GuyWithQuestions · 07-11-2004, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by albaos
You sure have done all you can! That's so sweet of you!

Don't worry about how long she's had PCOS. Most of us have had it since puberty started....

I'm glad she is going to ask about other treatments at her next appointment.

Take care

Thanks....the fact that she's had it for so long and seems to be ok is actually something that helps me worry less. Seems she started treatment early, so its been "under control" I suppose.

After reading everything on here, I also was worried about weight gain...as I know she has a family history of diabetes and weight gain is no good for that. But, she looks great now, even after having this for like 10 years, so I don't think thats going to happen. (Though, even if she did gain weight, I'd feel the same about her)

StaceyB · 07-12-2004, 08:47 PM

I don't have anything really to add, but do agree with the above posts. I just wanted to ditto what my other cysters said... you are such a sweetie. My DH could take some lessons from you.

Your gf is lucky to have a guy that is concerned about her health and is truly interested in things affecting her.

VivC · 07-13-2004, 07:29 PM

I wish my hubby had taken as much interest in my health before it got serious! Your GF's lucky to have you.

1)Birth control pills made my insulin resistance, and my PCOS symptoms, a thousand times worse. I will NEVER take them again. My main problem with them is that doctors tend to prescribe them (and DEPO) to mask symptoms. They do NOT treat the underlying problem, PCOS. And if your girlfriend insists on birth control for birth control reasons, there are definitely better alternatives - Yasmin pills, for instance.

PCOS treatments:
1)Metformin/Glucophage, as someone already mentioned. If her doctor won't prescribe it (if her insulin's not high enough), Alpha Lipoic Acid did wonders for me. I also did essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and a B-complex.
2)Low-carb diet. Carbs trigger insulin to be made by your body. If your body is already insulin-resistant (most of us cysters are this way, even if it's not measurable in tests), this means lots of extra insulin swims around your body, wreaking havoc with other hormones. Not just reproductive hormones, but hormones that stimulate the brain, etc. So before you know it, you've got out-of-control symptoms, and you're miserable. Also, if your pancreas is producing this much insulin, eventually it may wear out and put out little or no insulin. Then, you're diabetic. And you're even more miserable. There are lots of low-carb diets out there, and they tend to get a bad rap. I didn't use a traditional diet - the closest to what I did was Sugar Busters. Basically, I cut out the refined crap - no white flour, no sugar. I cut out artificial everything, and ate organic wherever possible. It did wonders - I lost 42 pounds, regulated my menstrual cycle (which you know is a big concern for us cysters), had tons more energy, and got my blood pressure, insulin and cholesterol under control.
3)There are herbs out there that help, but they do only help individual symptoms. And I'd definitely recommend seeing an herbalist before using them.

When I was starting out, I read The PCOS Diet Book by Collette Harris. It lays out possible triggers of PCOS in plain language, and it helped me get started. I would definitely recommend you guys reading it.

Also, there's a board on this site for guys who love us cysters. If you ever need to vent, you can go there. I've heard they're as good for each other as we cysters are. But if you just need advice from the horses' mouths, feel free to ask us!

Good luck!

MariXe · 07-14-2004, 12:09 AM

Guywithquestions- I should add that I agree with everyone on this thread about PCOS and Depo/the pill, and about what a great boyfriend you must be. How caring of you to get so involved in this!
About PCOS and weight-- being slender does not necessarily mean that PCOS is under control; there are a number of women on this board who are thin and dealing with PCOS and its symptoms, and like your gf, I have had PCOS since I was a pre-teen, and have always been thin, even underweight at times. Anyway, I'm glad she is going to bring this up to her doctor, and I'm happy to hear that she seems to be doing well. I wish the best for both of you.

adriley · 07-14-2004, 02:21 PM

about 10 years ago Depo was one of the standard treatments for PCOS, from experience, I've found out that it is also one of the WORST.

After my pregnancy last year, they put me on Depo for BC, after a year, my symptoms have gotten 10% worse, and AF just WON'T go away. It was find for the first 3-6 months, but after that, things started going bad.

I have since found out that doctors who are familiar with PCOS don't even offer Depo as an option to women with PCOS, because it can make everything so much worse.

Please, please, please, have her speak to her doctor again, and depending on the area you are in, try to find someone who is familiar with PCOS, apparently this doctor ISN'T, and she needs someone who knows what they are doing.

durhamfed · 07-20-2004, 12:32 PM

Its nice to see a guy that's interested in learning this. More women than you think suffer from this, they just don't know it. For one thing, what I've learned and what's been told to me is that when a woman doesn't have a period she doesn't ovulate. The absence of ovulation is what causes the cysts to come up. The ovaries don't release the egg to be fertilized so they just stay in the ovary. That's how the cysts form. My pcos is coming from my adrenal gland not my ovaries. I figure that she should've been on something that would regulate her periods instead of trying to stop them. Keeping her from having a period won't help her problem, it could only worsen it. But don't take my advice to heart because I only know what my doctor explained to me. Her's could be different all together. She might want to go to another gynocologist for another opinion.