Verity - sharing the truth about PCOS

Do you have a question about PCOS?  Put it directly to Verity’s expert medical panel.  Responses are provided by:

• Adam Balen, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at Leeds General Infirmary
• Stephen Franks, Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College, London
• Helen Mason, Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Endocrinology at St George’s Medical School, London

Additional advice is provided by Graham White, medical herbalist Theresa Cheung, health journalist and author.

You can submit your question by emailing Alison at intouch@verity-pcos.org.uk.  We can't promise that all letters will be published or answered, however we will do our best.

Below are some of the most recent questions that our medical experts have answered for In Touch.  If you are a Verity member, you can download the latest issue of In Touch from our website.  If you are not yet a Verity member you can join online and have immediate access to members only content, including current and past issues of In Touch.

Q: I have very irregular periods. Sometimes I won’t have a period for four months, but then I will get one regularly every month for a number of months. It stresses me out, and I would like to understand why this happens. Does my lifestyle/diet impact on how regular my cycle is (or isn’t)?
A: It is very common for women with PCOS to experience fluctuations in symptoms and, in particular, variations in menstrual cycle regularity, which can vary quite significantly in nature – with spells of greater regularity.... (Continued)

Q: I have PCOS and have read a fair bit about how it affects me, but there is one thing which is unclear: is it the hormone imbalance that messes up the metabolism, or is it a metabolic problem that messes up the hormones?
A: While there is some evidence that women with PCOS may have a tendency to have a less efficient metabolism than the general population – on the whole it appears that... (Continued)

Q: The main thing that gets me down is the fact I have facial hair. I currently use facial hair-removing cream, but I am having to use it every other day, and it is really getting to me. It doesn’t help that it is dark hair. What can I do?
A: The contraceptive pill Dianette contains cyproterone acetate (an anti-androgen) and is an effective therapy for acne and unwanted hair growth... (Continued)

Q: I have had polycystic ovaries for the past 12 years and I would like to start a family. I am overweight, and at my local hospital they have said that they will not give me any medication until I lose more weight, which I am currently doing.  However, I am getting older and the weight is increasingly difficult to lose. My GP has prescribed metformin, which makes me very ill. Is there any medication that I can use to stimulate ovulation?
A: This is a very common problem and a difficult dilemma, as there is no doubt that being overweight significantly reduces the chance of conceiving naturally or with drug treatment, and also of having a safe pregnancy... (Continued)