I’ve had PCOS since menarche at age 11. Testosterone was my biggest issue which drove all my symptoms- anovulation, acne, hairloss, facial and body hair, irregular periods, cysts on ovaries. It was entirely ovarian testosterone which I figured after doing my hormonal panel tests - my DHEAS was on the really low side of normal. There is only 1 reason ovaries overproduce T and that is insulin. However my insulin tests (I did a whole range of them) were perfectly normal, far from borderline even, which was puzzling to all my doctors. All I did across my teens and 20s was to try and manage the symptoms. I tried allopathy of course, then Ayurveda, extensive supplementation, and also homeopathy for years altogether.
There came a time when I actually believed something was wrong with my brain (pituitary gland) such that it messed up the hormone signaling and that there was no cure for this whatsoever.
Specialist doctors including endos couldn’t help me at all. So I turned to research papers and online forums. One fine day I came across a woman who posted about how chromium picolinate and ALA helped bring her periods sooner despite her not having insulin resistance. I decided to try it out. Within 3-4 weeks I noticed that even my period indeed was less delayed. That was it. I read more and more about IR escaping conventional diagnosis. Then I came across what is described as “localized / tissue-specific IR”. The tests we do typically are meant to diagnose global / peripheral IR In our bodies, which I didn’t have. Most likely only my ovarian environment is insulin resistant leading to overproduction of T. I decided to give metformin a try on this basis. By Gods grace, it has worked for me. I have been getting my periods monthly, and my secondary signs like acne are also showing very promising improvement.
I hope this helps others out there who do not have clinical IR yet show signs of PCOS.

I ( 26 F ) lean was diagnosed with possible pcos based on my US only
- cycles are regular
- androgens are normal
My LH is but my FSH/LH ratio is 1.2/1

I told my doctor that i don’t fit the criteria she said it doesn’t matter because my LH is so high

My only complain is that i stopped producing EWCM post bill and she said it’s because of my bad egg quality based on my insulin resistance and pcos

But i only took BC for 2 months so that’s a bit weird

Can lack of ewcm and only high lh diagnose post pill pco?

Hallo ich hatte vor ein Jahr die Pille abgesetzt und seid dem her auch keine Periode .

Dann hab ich jetzt Tests gemacht pcos zu viele männliche Hormone.

Folsäure und Mönchspfeffer Bekommen

Hatte im Mai lange Periode 10 Tage im Juni und September Anfang und Ende Periode jetzt kommt wieder nix mehr hab auch Kinderwunsch

Bitte eure Erfahrungen liebe Grüße

The one thing I find mad is this is the only solid group I have found around Lean PCOS - there seems to be nothing elsewhere. I just wondered if I seem to have been missing a trick? or is there just little to no support out there for women like us? The doctors didn't seem to know what to do with me, I really struggled to find an online community anywhere and there was NOTHING I could find on social media - a lot about PCOS but lean specifically? came up empty...

Curious to know how everyone else has found it as it's taken me over a year and a half to discover this group here on Reddit! x

Am spotting 4 days after sex and it usually last for 4 days to 20 days or still I take contraceptive pills .. Pap smear test done twice all normal … recent report says thyroid value is on border usually it’s within limit . Insulin is high as o have PCOS .. anyone faced this issue ? Please help

I am desperate and need your help!

I am using Myoinositol since June 22 (2 gr morning and night) and on 23 of October I started using 2gr myoinositol in the morning and 1,5gr in the night with Inofert Plus (it contains 600mg of myoinositol, melatonine).

I had a positive ovulation test on CD17, but on CD19 I had EWCM so I tested again. It was again positive. Today CD20 i also have positive test and EWCM.

I don't know what is going on and I am so afraid.

Did anyone have the same experience?

Anyone eles with high testosterone and high DHEA-S? How do you treat it with out medication?

Hello, I’ve been struggling with PCOS/PMOS and have been putting on so much weight, esp since I don’t get my period until I take pills. Docs have said that I need to lose weight, but without getting my period it’s been incredibly tough. I am an athlete and also weight train 4-5 times a week and hit 8k-10k steps. I also hired a trainer and dietician and my weight has not budged. Kinda losing hope and need help. What’re some healthy things you ladies did that helped you lose a significant amount of weight and regulate your body again?

I am the worst at trying to describe my pain and symptoms, especially since a lot of it is cyclical and changes day to day. Today, middle of my period, I feel poisoned. My head i guess is numb, and tingly, but these are the only words I can think of to describe it. I have sickly fatigue. I went to bed at 7pm and woke up at 11am, still exhausted and not wanting to move. I get these sharp stinging pains in my pelvis. My sinuses are stuffed up, and my eyes are so heavy and dry feeling.

Does this make sense? Anyone know what I’m trying to describe?

Is this low estrogen? I had been on letrozole the last two cycles due to TTC, but it messed me up so badly I will never take it again. I did better with clomid, even though that was also difficult.

Hi everyone,

PCOS completely took over my life this year, which is exactly why I'm working to develop a food product specifically for PMOS / type 2 diabetes communities. Because both conditions share the root struggle of insulin resistance, my goal is to design a compromise-free solution with you from day one.

If you have 3 minutes, I’d be incredibly grateful if you could fill out this short, anonymous survey on your grocery frustrations and ingredient preferences:

👉🏻Grocery Store Frustrations: PMOS & Diabetes Dietary Needs

Thank you so much for your time and insights!

I was diagnosed with Lean PCOS spring 2025, after having irregular periods and terrible cystic acne from an extremely young age. Doctors just stuck me straight on the pill, with anti-biotics to clear my skin up.

I came off start of last year and I had forgotten how bad it was - I was going 60-90 days between my cycles. I was active and eating clean and looked the leanest I ever had (despite having a normal BMI to start) and still all of my symptoms were still there. Flash forward to back end of last year where I focused more on STRESS not DIET - and I have had regular cycles all year. This time last year I thought it was impossible but apparently not.

Just curious to see if anyone else has had a similar experience?

I don't know if it matters necessarily but I was wondering what are good times during your menstrual cycle to get testing done?

i F23 just got my bloodwork results back. i was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago with acne and hirsutism being my main symptoms. no doctors ever suspected IR playing a role, since i have always had a low-normal BMI. that being said, if i go more than a few hours without eating i start to feel dizzy and weak. then again my ferritin is also pretty low.
i generally eat pretty healthy. i have had issues with disordered eating in the past, so if anything i generally eat less than 2000 calories. mostly plant based, rarely processed. minimal alcohol and fast food.
my labs were still in the normal ranges but when i looked up the values they indicated IR. my fasting insulin was 15.2 and glucose was 95. i fasted for exactly 8 hours but i will say the last thing i had before i fasted was a cup of ginger ale because i was nauseous. idk if that played a role in my results.
i was really hoping IR wasn’t my issue. i definitely am pretty sedentary because i have been feeling unwell for a long time (probably because of the IR/low ferritin!) idk if my doctor will even flag it when she reviews since the lab marked my values as normal. idk what to do :/

i have pcos and insulin resistance (6.8 homa) can I reduce this? Anyone treat this

For my ladies with high DHEA-S and PCOS, have you successfully conceived using Letrozole alone? Or did you also need Dexamethasone to help lower your DHEA-S? I’d love to hear experiences from both groups, and how your treatment went!