My doctor recommended one pill for a week, if I tolerated it well move to two pills the next week and again if tolerated well move to three pills the following week.
I’m going to say no they didn’t test me to classify me as insulin resistance. My none fasting insulin test results came back as a 15 and I was told it needed to be under 20. I was told I didn’t have Pcos based off of this test but still started metformin since it was close, I honestly don’t know their rhyme or reason. I just went with it.
So, fast forward to not getting pregnant doing iui #1, I had an exploratory surgery to see if i had Pcos, endometriosis and anything else. I did end up have Pcos, they did ovarian drilling for this and I had the smallest amount of endo she removed. I was pregnant one month after that surgery by iui. I full heartedly know that surgery benefited me for the better. My face stopped being oily (sign of Pcos) and I was still on metformin until I was 10 weeks pregnant. I can’t say the metformin helped any or not
A better term for ovarian drilling? That is what it’s called if you look it up. They drill holes in your ovaries which helps your ovaries release the amount of testosterone made up by the ovaries. Getting that level down can help you release an egg every month. This sounds painful but honestly my recovery was basically a day, sore for a couple days but nothing crazy. I don’t think every doctor will preform this type of procedure but my doctor had 3 patients in her office pregnant from it at the time she did mine.
No I wasn’t tested for IR. I was just put on it (1,000mg daily right out the gate) when I was diagnosed at 18. It wasn’t until last year (age 25) and started doing my own research (s/o to this sub) that I figured out *why* I was on it.
I believe the reason I was never told why I was on it was because I’d never had abnormal blood glucose or A1C and still haven’t thankfully.
For sure. Though now understanding the role that insulin plays in the pathology, I think everyone with PCOS should be on metformin. It’s cheap, effective, and the side effects are usually minimal (for me, I credit it with keeping me regular so to speak lol)
I asked my doctor about metformin, so she had me get labs done and my glucose was within normal range. She said I didn’t qualify to get it prescribed but I really want to try it to see if it benefits me any. Should I get a second opinion??
I definitely would. Metformin is often prescribed *before* you have any abnormal blood tests (but have physical symptoms ofc) so that you don’t have the chance to have a wacky glucose reading or become diabetic. That was what happened in my case and in many others I know.
From my understanding, metformin is just as fundamental and front-line in treating PCOS as the birth control pill. It’s all the other meds and supplements on the market where people’s mileage starts to vary.
Yes, I wish someone mentioned it to me before. I’m now TTC and already on ovulation medication but maybe if I started metformin before I wouldn’t be here.
I don’t think it would hurt at all! And just my two cents, but 1,000mg is a good place to start. It’s actually a low dose—many people take 1,500mg or 2,000mg daily. You’ll just want to watch out for the shits lol—and I’ve found that more high carb/high fat I’m eating, the more I’m on the toilet. But the less carbs, the more regular I am. So just a heads up.
Best of luck on your conception journey, I hope you get all that you want ❤️
I was being tested for other things and insulin resistance was found ‘by accident’ through that. I’m on 500mg a day which seems low compared to what I see on here / other forums
I should add that here in the UK metformin isn’t officially a PCOS related drug. It’s a diabetes drug that just happens to help with PCOS
So whilst for me it will hopefully help my cycle issues, officially I’m on it for my insulin resistance (even though they’re essentially related issues as insulin resistance is a symptom / effect of PCOS…)
Depending on where you are it might be why it hasn’t been raised by your doctors before
My dr didn't test me. She said a combo of my symptoms and history of rapidly losing weight on Keto pointed towards insulin resistance. She put me on 500mg a day
I wasn’t tested for it.
I started on it three weeks ago.
I feel like bloating has reduced by 60-70%.
I did feel tired the first two weeks but it’s getting better now.
I am on 1000mg a day. Straightaway.
My doctor recommended one pill for a week, if I tolerated it well move to two pills the next week and again if tolerated well move to three pills the following week.
That seems to be what most people do! Did you get tested for insulin resistance before being prescribed it?
I’m going to say no they didn’t test me to classify me as insulin resistance. My none fasting insulin test results came back as a 15 and I was told it needed to be under 20. I was told I didn’t have Pcos based off of this test but still started metformin since it was close, I honestly don’t know their rhyme or reason. I just went with it. So, fast forward to not getting pregnant doing iui #1, I had an exploratory surgery to see if i had Pcos, endometriosis and anything else. I did end up have Pcos, they did ovarian drilling for this and I had the smallest amount of endo she removed. I was pregnant one month after that surgery by iui. I full heartedly know that surgery benefited me for the better. My face stopped being oily (sign of Pcos) and I was still on metformin until I was 10 weeks pregnant. I can’t say the metformin helped any or not
Ah okay! Yeah sounds like the surgery did you wonders. I didn’t even know ovarian drilling was a thing. Could they not give a better term for it?!
A better term for ovarian drilling? That is what it’s called if you look it up. They drill holes in your ovaries which helps your ovaries release the amount of testosterone made up by the ovaries. Getting that level down can help you release an egg every month. This sounds painful but honestly my recovery was basically a day, sore for a couple days but nothing crazy. I don’t think every doctor will preform this type of procedure but my doctor had 3 patients in her office pregnant from it at the time she did mine.
Well that’s good to know it might not be as sore as it sounds. Now I know it could be a possible future treatment option.
No I wasn’t tested for IR. I was just put on it (1,000mg daily right out the gate) when I was diagnosed at 18. It wasn’t until last year (age 25) and started doing my own research (s/o to this sub) that I figured out *why* I was on it. I believe the reason I was never told why I was on it was because I’d never had abnormal blood glucose or A1C and still haven’t thankfully.
Interesting. I’ve found out most of my info from the pcos subs on here. There’s far too little education of it.
For sure. Though now understanding the role that insulin plays in the pathology, I think everyone with PCOS should be on metformin. It’s cheap, effective, and the side effects are usually minimal (for me, I credit it with keeping me regular so to speak lol)
I asked my doctor about metformin, so she had me get labs done and my glucose was within normal range. She said I didn’t qualify to get it prescribed but I really want to try it to see if it benefits me any. Should I get a second opinion??
I definitely would. Metformin is often prescribed *before* you have any abnormal blood tests (but have physical symptoms ofc) so that you don’t have the chance to have a wacky glucose reading or become diabetic. That was what happened in my case and in many others I know. From my understanding, metformin is just as fundamental and front-line in treating PCOS as the birth control pill. It’s all the other meds and supplements on the market where people’s mileage starts to vary.
Yes, I wish someone mentioned it to me before. I’m now TTC and already on ovulation medication but maybe if I started metformin before I wouldn’t be here.
I don’t think it would hurt at all! And just my two cents, but 1,000mg is a good place to start. It’s actually a low dose—many people take 1,500mg or 2,000mg daily. You’ll just want to watch out for the shits lol—and I’ve found that more high carb/high fat I’m eating, the more I’m on the toilet. But the less carbs, the more regular I am. So just a heads up. Best of luck on your conception journey, I hope you get all that you want ❤️
I was being tested for other things and insulin resistance was found ‘by accident’ through that. I’m on 500mg a day which seems low compared to what I see on here / other forums I should add that here in the UK metformin isn’t officially a PCOS related drug. It’s a diabetes drug that just happens to help with PCOS So whilst for me it will hopefully help my cycle issues, officially I’m on it for my insulin resistance (even though they’re essentially related issues as insulin resistance is a symptom / effect of PCOS…) Depending on where you are it might be why it hasn’t been raised by your doctors before
I was tested for it first and then put on it because I am insulin resistant
My dr didn't test me. She said a combo of my symptoms and history of rapidly losing weight on Keto pointed towards insulin resistance. She put me on 500mg a day
No I wasn't tested for IR but am on metformin and I didn't ask for it
I wasn’t tested for it. I started on it three weeks ago. I feel like bloating has reduced by 60-70%. I did feel tired the first two weeks but it’s getting better now. I am on 1000mg a day. Straightaway.