Other than the previous treatments mentioned (Birth Control Pills and Metformin to control the Insulin Resistance) there are a few other prescription medications that doctors use to help control or treat the symptoms of PCOS.

If your main goal is to have a child, an OB/GYN or Reproductive Endocrinologist will most likely prescribe infertility medications, those include Clomid, Femara, Provera and possibly some injectable medications. The sole purpose of these medications is to stimulate your body to have a period, and ovulate making it possible for you to conceive a child. We will discuss this protocol in upcoming posts…

However, if your goal is to control the symptoms of PCOS (excess facial hair, male pattern hair loss or thinning hair, acne/oily skin, etc) these are a few medications most commonly used by women with PCOS, if prescribed by a doctor:

Spironolactone (Aldactone) - this medication is often used along with Birth Control Pills to help reduce high testosterone levels; reducing excess facial/body hair, acne/oily skin, and male pattern hair loss (or thinning hair), as well as regulating your your cycles. This medication is considered safe when used in small doses.

About 70-80% of women see a significant improvement in their PCOS symptoms while taking Aldactone, however it may take up to 6 months for full effectiveness.

Side affects:

• Irregular menstrual periods with higher doses of the medicine.
• Rash
• Scalp hair loss
• Nausea or fatigue with higher doses of the medicine
• Cramping, diarrhea
• Drowsiness, lack of energy
• Headache, confusion

Avandia - This is most often used to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which helps control blood sugar levels. For women with PCOS, it can help control insulin resistance, similar to Metformin.

However, Avandia and related medications (thiazolidinediones) have some potentially serious health risks including swelling, weight gain (that can lead to, or possibly worsen heart problems such as heart attacks, and increased risk of death from heart related issues) Avandia also has been known to create problems with your liver (it is strongly recommended that your liver enzymes are checked before you start treatment, and they are checked regularly during treatment with Avandia) and increase your chance of bone fractures.

Side affects:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Back pain
• Anemia
• Swelling
• Upper Respiratory Infections
• Diarrhea

If you are not interested in taking prescription medication, there are some cosmetic things you can do to control the excess facial hair (tweezing, waxing, dipilatory creams, electrolosis, and laser treatments) and acne (face cleansers, creams and/or herbal treatments)

As for the hair loss, or thinning hair, many women have experienced great benefits from using Rogaine for Women (Minoxidil). However, as the directions note, it may take up to 6 months to see positive results, and the treatment must continue, long term, as hair loss may return once treatments are stopped.

Stop the minoxidil treatment and call your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Faintness, dizziness
• Sudden unexplained weight gain, or swelling of the extremities

Any breakage of the skin will cause Rogaine (Minoxidil) to be absorbed faster. Do not use this product if your scalp is inflamed, infected, painful or irritated. (this includes scalp abrasions, psoriasis, and sunburns). One can also utilize herbal remedies mention in the other posts, remedies that reduce the overall testosterone level, or natural hair loss treatments.

As always, following a low-carb diet (eating GOOD carbs like Whole grains) has been proven to help women with PCOS immsensly! There are various types of diets that are used to help control insulin resistance, of which we will review in our next article, including the most popular among PCOS’ers, the Glycemic Index