Metformin...information?

[Beautiful323]

Hi!
I went and saw my doctor today, and she's thinking I have PCOS.
I tried BC patches to regulate AF last year, and it made me VERY sick, so I stopped using them, few months later I started the pill, which made me start bleeding the same day I started it, and I kept bleeding for the next 34 days until I finally had enough and stopped taking it. AF was regular Jan-March, sort of, In March AF came 6th through 13th, and again 27th through 31st, I thought maybe I was pregnant. All the HPTs and tests at the doctors have come back Negative.
So she's sending me for bloodwork to check out my Thyroid and insulin levels, I also have a pelvic ultrasound scheduled for next Friday. She said she's fairly certain that everything going on is due to PCOS, and she went ahead and prescribed me metformin.
She didn't tell me hardly anything about the metformin, other than it's used for people with insulin resistance, and off the label use for PCOS patients to help ovulate and kick start AF.
I did some google searches on it, but didn't really find anything helpful. Is anyone here using metformin? What DOES it do? Did you ever use it to kick start AF? What about metformin related to ovulation?
Sorry for the long post! Thanks in advance though

 

[Gizzyy]

It worked for me and brought back my ovulation after not having a period for 2 years. I had no other symptoms of pcos apart from cysts on each ovaries. I was given a choice between taking Yasmin bc or metformin. I figured why not try met as it sounded like it could fix the cause of the problem. I also wasn't given much info on it and I'm still unsure about how it works lol! So I copied this from WebMD:


Metformin is a diabetes medicine sometimes used for lowering insulin and blood sugar levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This helps regulate menstrual cycles, start ovulation, and lower the risk of miscarriage in women with PCOS. Long-term use also lowers diabetes and heart disease risk related to high insulin levels.

How Well It Works
Metformin lowers insulin, androgen, and cholesterol levels. It also improves metabolism in women who are insulin-resistant.


Functional Ovarian Cysts-Home Treatment
Metformin may help start ovulation in women with PCOS who have not responded to treatment with clomiphene. Some doctors may recommend taking metformin in addition to clomiphene to start ovulation.


All I can say is if you decide to take it, if may give you an upset tummy but you can ask for a slow release version that lessens this effect x

 

[Beautiful323]

My doc was already ahead of me on the extended release thing! I started taking it today, 500mg ER twice a day. She knows that most medications are hard on my tummy as it is, and warned me of the side effects.
I'm really hoping either AF comes within the next 2-4 days, or doesn't come again until the beginning of next month lol.
How long after starting it did you get AF?

 

[Gizzyy]

My doc was already ahead of me on the extended release thing! I started taking it today, 500mg ER twice a day. She knows that most medications are hard on my tummy as it is, and warned me of the side effects.
I'm really hoping either AF comes within the next 2-4 days, or doesn't come again until the beginning of next month lol.
How long after starting it did you get AF?

That's good then as the regular can make you feel a bit yuck. I think it took about a month or two (this was quite awhile back though, a few years) so it's hard to remember. I wasn't actively trying to conceive at the time but I wasn't ovulating at all I had amenorrhea and had to have my periods induced by taking progesterone and then having withdrawing bleeds every few months so it does work to help regulate ovulation and bring cycles back to norm fx it works for you x

 

[Beautiful323]

Thank you!
My doctor doesn't actually know yet if I have PCOS, but she wanted me to start the Metformin anyways. I go for bloodwork in about an hour to check my thyroid levels and insulin levels, and then next Friday I'll have the ultrasound.
As bad as it sounds, I HOPE it's PCOS, just so I can finally know what's been causing all my problems with AF since I was 12!

 

[Gizzyy]

Oh I totally understand! For 2 years I didn't know why my periods dissapeared so it was nice to have some idea on what was the cause.
I also have hashimotos hypothyroid which can also mess with your menstural cycle if not controlled with meds but hopefully you will get some answers and then TTC without these obstacles

 

[Beautiful323]

Oh I totally understand! For 2 years I didn't know why my periods dissapeared so it was nice to have some idea on what was the cause.
I also have hashimotos hypothyroid which can also mess with your menstural cycle if not controlled with meds but hopefully you will get some answers and then TTC without these obstacles

My periods will be regular, 30-33 days in cycle length for up to 4 months, and then suddenly disappear for 2-8 months, and then come back and make me bleed for a month straight, and then go back to normal. It's like a never ending cycle for me. Regular, gone, month of bleeding, regular, etc.. I'm getting so tired of dealing with it! So when we decided to ttc we agreed we would try for a few months on our own, but if AF disappeared again I'd go to the doctors before I lose my insurance. We tried for 4 cycles on our own and then I started having problems again
I was literally EXCITED to start the Metformin this morning! I haven't had any problems yet, and have only experienced a little bit of light headedness, but that could be due to fasting for the blood work.

 

[Gizzyy]

That sounds so frustrating.. It's horrible when you don't feel in control with your own body isn't it? When I found out I had hypothyroid I felt like hell and literally everything went wrong from there, periods stopped found I had cysts on the ovaries ect. I was like urgh! I'm still so young, why is this happening?! lol. I really hope it works for you! Will have to keep me updated on how you get on. Lots of baby dust your way!

 

[Beautiful323]

That sounds so frustrating.. It's horrible when you don't feel in control with your own body isn't it? When I found out I had hypothyroid I felt like hell and literally everything went wrong from there, periods stopped found I had cysts on the ovaries ect. I was like urgh! I'm still so young, why is this happening?! lol. I really hope it works for you! Will have to keep me updated on how you get on. Lots of baby dust your way!

Will do! And congrats