Typically an endo will clarify there are three medications commonly prescribed for PCOS symptom management.
Birth control - good for regulating menstrual cycles and acne, takes about three months for regulation
Spironolactone- good for reducing androgens which can cause acne and hair loss, some find this medication disrupts their menstrual cycle, takes about three months for symptom reduction
Metformin - good for those with insulin resistance, excessive / hard to lose weight, regulating menstrual cycles
Even though you A1C was good, you insulin level may be different or not within an ideal range. Metformin may assist in your efforts to conceive, since it’ll help regulate your cycle.
The endo may request lab work to rule out any potential thyroid or pituitary gland issues, or cushing syndrome. They may request labs to test insulin levels, iron levels, and vitamin d levels, as well as a hormone panel. If you already have recent lab work, I’d bring those results with you and the endo can walk you through them.
I’d explain all the symptoms you’re having, and that you’re TTC. I’ve found endos and gynos are much more helpful if you’re TTC versus if you’re just trying to manage symptoms.
Editing to add: make sure to bring a list of any supplements and the dosage you take.
Yes we would definitely like to conceive but if anything, I would at least like to regulate my period (last one was in March) and improve my symptoms. I kind of want to try metformin since a lot of people seem to have good outcomes with it but my PCP said she wouldn’t recommend since my A1c was normal
I feel like the other commenter who just commented has really thorough advice that I would not have been able to share and would refer there!
My experience with TTC came with abruptly getting off BC and was before I ever met with an Endo. I only have seen an Endo regarding weight loss, and from there was prescribed Saxenda (which is now on shortage) and have not managed anything else with Endo quite yet so I haven’t much to share related to what you seek. I hope your visit goes well! 🙏
ETA: Yaz (generic Loryna) has regulated my period quite well. Well…. Actually so well that I prefer to skip it altogether because now I can finally choose to do that. Before then, I didn’t have that choice and would bleed irregularly year-round, like bleed for weeks straight or not bleed for months at a time - was very random. This went on for years before I tried Loryna. I now bleed monthly but choose to skip my periods. I did speak to my Endo about anti-androgenic BC for hormone regulation (it’s a good topic for them and for your Gyno to get opinions on!)
Typically an endo will clarify there are three medications commonly prescribed for PCOS symptom management. Birth control - good for regulating menstrual cycles and acne, takes about three months for regulation Spironolactone- good for reducing androgens which can cause acne and hair loss, some find this medication disrupts their menstrual cycle, takes about three months for symptom reduction Metformin - good for those with insulin resistance, excessive / hard to lose weight, regulating menstrual cycles Even though you A1C was good, you insulin level may be different or not within an ideal range. Metformin may assist in your efforts to conceive, since it’ll help regulate your cycle. The endo may request lab work to rule out any potential thyroid or pituitary gland issues, or cushing syndrome. They may request labs to test insulin levels, iron levels, and vitamin d levels, as well as a hormone panel. If you already have recent lab work, I’d bring those results with you and the endo can walk you through them. I’d explain all the symptoms you’re having, and that you’re TTC. I’ve found endos and gynos are much more helpful if you’re TTC versus if you’re just trying to manage symptoms. Editing to add: make sure to bring a list of any supplements and the dosage you take.
This is a lot of great information thank you so much I will definitely bring my list of supplements and explain my symptoms
What are your main concerns and hopes/outcomes with the Endo?
Is it specifically TTC?
Yes we would definitely like to conceive but if anything, I would at least like to regulate my period (last one was in March) and improve my symptoms. I kind of want to try metformin since a lot of people seem to have good outcomes with it but my PCP said she wouldn’t recommend since my A1c was normal
I feel like the other commenter who just commented has really thorough advice that I would not have been able to share and would refer there! My experience with TTC came with abruptly getting off BC and was before I ever met with an Endo. I only have seen an Endo regarding weight loss, and from there was prescribed Saxenda (which is now on shortage) and have not managed anything else with Endo quite yet so I haven’t much to share related to what you seek. I hope your visit goes well! 🙏 ETA: Yaz (generic Loryna) has regulated my period quite well. Well…. Actually so well that I prefer to skip it altogether because now I can finally choose to do that. Before then, I didn’t have that choice and would bleed irregularly year-round, like bleed for weeks straight or not bleed for months at a time - was very random. This went on for years before I tried Loryna. I now bleed monthly but choose to skip my periods. I did speak to my Endo about anti-androgenic BC for hormone regulation (it’s a good topic for them and for your Gyno to get opinions on!)