This is going to sound weird… I think. But here goes… I have noticed that my symptoms worsen or get better corresponding to how active my sex life is. I’ve had PCOS for 18 years. I’m 35 now. I didn’t start having sex until well into my 20’s. I was a late bloomer. Before this I rarely had periods maybe once or twice a year…(and this was only if I took a ton of progesterone) I was a bit over weight for my height, I had weird bumps on my arms, I would have gnarly back aches and after I became sexually active I started having with just taking two days of progesterone and once I even had a period without taking anything. The bumps went away, I lost weight, the backaches were gone…Yay! BUT, my periods were horrible with the cramping and intense bloodflow. I also started having panic attacks around this time.
I used to think that having sex made my PCOS better. I mean, sure, I was having panic attacks which I didn’t realize where related… I was also having trouble with IBS, a lot of cramping and constipation, horrible morning sickness that was sometimes all day (without being pregnant, though I checked often enough)… I also would develop cysts that would rupture and my ovaries hurt most of the time, especially my right (Mildred I call her) … but hey! I was having periods! At certain points in my cycle I’d get super agitated and would only feel better if I had sex. Sex seemed to really mellow me out.
But then I had a dry spell. I didn’t have a boyfriend for a year and a half and my periods really settled down. I barely spotted during my periods and had only minimal cramping. And the most AMAZING thing… most of my physical symptoms went away! And the greatest thing of all… I didn’t have PANIC ATTACKS! Yaaaaaaaaay! I didn’t think much about it at the time… I just figured that with the other things I have going on… Diabetes I and a stomach disease called Gastroparesis, my PCOS had mercifully settled down…
BUT! As all things do, my dry spell came to an end. I met this lovely man with whom I have incredible chemistry. He was going to be moving across the country for work in six weeks, so in the mean time he and I made like bunnies! Sex all the time. It was amazing but about three weeks in I started having increased anxiety and the panic attacks came back with a vengeance. He has since moved and we are having a bit of a long distance thing. But this last month my period was AWFUL! And my IBS is back and I’m getting those weird bumps on my arms and legs again… more zits too! What is the deal?! Can’t I have a boyfriend AND feel good at the same time? It might be easier if he were here more often... the sex would be worth it. But he's been gone for two months and I'm climbing the walls. Anyhow...
Sorry this is so long, I just wanted to fit all my symptoms in.
Right now I don’t do anything for the PCOS other than Calcium, B Vitamins, and Evening Primrose, also, plenty of exercise and meditation. I can’t be on Met because I have an insulin pump.
I was just wondering if anyone had noticed a difference in their symptoms in relation to their sex lives or if I was just a freak. Again, sorry for the long post.
__________________ Pauline
15 years with PCOS Dx at 17
10 years with Type I diabetes.
2 years with Panic Disorder
6 months with Gastroparesis
"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans"
I thought I was just imagining this myself, but I had noticed something similiar, I think, except that it could just be changes that happen through time with no relation. I just don't know, but oddly enough I was recently quite sexually active for several months after not having been for about 18 months or so prior and my PCOS symptoms which had been somewhat in check for YEARS at least are worse! Just like that. It wasn't particularly gradual and I am still considering other things that it might be due to, but have yet to come up with anything.
I read once somewhere that being in love causes testosterone levels to rise in women and estrogen levels to rise in men. These hormone levels do eventually decline. I don't remember how long it takes. I have been mulling over whether it is related to that. Right now I can tell my T is higher as my sex drive is making me climb the walls a bit. And this is after many years of a relatively low sex drive. And like I said I can see an increase in symptoms such as a little more hair, some acne, etc.
I'm going to join you women in this pondering I think...
It wasn't until I became sexually active that I really began to notice the sysmptoms more-so. They were always there (abdominal pain, acne, some hair-growth on my face, the ocassionally long period, some weight-gain), but not as bad as they have been afterwards.
After my partner and I became intimate, I began to gain more weight, and really have break-outs and hair-growth. I have noticed it settling down now, my acne is clearing up (Yay yay yay), and thanks to the BCP, my cycles are regular. But it was really freaky for us, because I would miss a period, and we'd suddenly worry that I was pregnant. Definately not something I want to worry about, as we're not TTC.
The increased testosterone thing is interesting though, thanks for telling us that stace!
__________________ Hi! I'm Tori! Taking: Tri-cyclen*lo - BCP
Cinnamon, Iron, Vitamins I'm a bit of a geek... "Do or do not, there is no try" -Yoda
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Well i never thought about it but mine are just the opposite. I had preiods about 8 times a year when i had very infrequent sex and now I dont have sex with a person (havent in a year) but i do things by myself alomst every day(i know geesh) but now NO periods. I never thought about it but it could be related.
With me, some things got better and some worse. Like before I was sexually active I couldn't MAKE a period happen to save my life. (Even with 10 or more days of progesterone) And then after I became sexually active I could get them to come with just two days of progesterone and then I had them on my own without help from pills. But like I said, other symptoms got worse, the hair growth, the morning sickness, the anxiety. (I can deal with the other things, it's just the anxiety that is so miserable!)
I struggled for YEARS with anxiety (I had two long term relationships that lasted a total of 4 years) and then after I was celebate for 18 months, the anxiety really subsided. I would go months without a panic attack.
It is interesting about this love=higher testosterone. I love my extra testosterone. It makes my arms so tone and strong looking and I don't get celullite. But maybe I should look into something that makes my testosterone lower? I was on spironolactone (sp) but went off of it when I got cellulite, and also it did nothing for hair.
As far as the effect and how long it lasts... the unfortunate thing is that my fella and I are doing this long distant thing. He is in Chicago and I'm in California. He's going to be here in 9 days (yes, we're doing the countdown ~ yay the countdown to sex!) and then we'll go at each other like bunnies... he'll be here for 5 days and then we probably won't see each other for three months or more. So I won't get this regular influx of his presense to make this testosterone effect go away like it did with my second long term beau. I don't know... I was thinking of trying Vitex or Saw Palmetto.
Whatever the cause or effect... it was making me feel like I was being punished for having a relationship. Like... why can millions of people have relationships yet I get into one and fall apart?
__________________ Pauline
15 years with PCOS Dx at 17
10 years with Type I diabetes.
2 years with Panic Disorder
6 months with Gastroparesis
"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans"
Sex Life and PCOS Symptom Severity... 
