Suggest Treatment For Weight Gain Caused By POCS

Hi and thanks for sharing your question with HCM. Polycsytic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder seen in ladies of reproductive age. Ladies with PCOS suffer irregular, prolonged periods, acne, excess hair growth, infertility, and sometimes obesity. PCOS is can lead to diabetes and heart disease unless proper treatment and management is undertaken. Diane-35 is an oral contraceptive pill which contains cyproterone (anti-androgen) and ethyl estradiol (synthetic estrogen). While it temporarily solves the problem by regulating your periods and blocking the excess androgen that causes acne and excess hair growth such as on the face, it does NOT treat the underlying hormonal imbalance. This medicine can cause you to gain weight. The approach to properly treating PCOS needs to be holistic. Weight loss is a sure way of treating this problem. Start eating clean by cutting out sweetened beverages, processed foods, junk food and excess carbohydrates from your diet. Carbohydrates are the real problem in the diet of most people, not the good fats. Cutting these into half will definitely increase your weight loss efforts. Try to engage in moderate intensity exercise 4 times a week at least. Your BMI is about 24.5 kg/m2 - you are overweight, but not obese. Also you are very young - there is much you can do for yourself without relying too much on medication. Some doctors use medication to help patients with PCOS combat insulin resistance that causes weight gain and leads to diabetes - at your age, though, I highly recommend a 3 month period of therapeutic dietary and lifestyle changes first. PCOS is a hormonal imbalance fueled by excess weight. I suspect the Diane-35 has compounded your problem and hence the significant weight gain. Discuss with your doctor and see if you can stop this medicine - meanwhile make an effort to start losing weight. The other problem to rule out is an under-active thyroid. Cold hands and feet, feeling exhausted in the morning after a good night s sleep, irregular periods, weight gain despite dietary restriction and difficulty losing weight are all symptoms suggestive of an under-active thyroid. If you do experience these symptoms, have a blood test done. Weight loss can also help your thyroid function improve. As you lose enough weight, your periods will gradually become more regular. As you are probably not planning to start a family yet, I suggest that you do not worry too much about the menstrual cycle. Stay calm and focus on losing weight. I hope this answers your question - thank you.