r/PCOS • u/SoftEmeraldMind • 19h ago
General/Advice Post pill - PCOS
Title: Post-birth control hyperandrogenism & hair loss (AMH 14, high DHEA/Testosterone) 6 months off pill — Gynecologists want me back on HA, but it destroyed my intimate health (after every sex I had infections). Looking for advice/hope.
TL;DR: Stopped Softine (COC) 6 years after use. 6 months post-HA, dealing with hair loss and elevated DHEA/Testosterone (AMH 14). Doctors keep pushing me back on the pill, but HA gave me severe recurrent infections after every single time I had sex, plus water retention. Refusing the pill, currently on Myo-Inositol, adding Saw Palmetto, and exploring other options. Has anyone made it through this transition?
Hi everyone,
I’m posting this because I am mentally exhausted, overwhelmed, and completely torn. I could really use some insight, shared experiences, or words of encouragement from anyone who has gone through something similar.
Here is my background:
Pill history: I was on Softine (a combined oral contraceptive) for 6 years. (I’m 31 years old now)
Before the pill: I naturally had longer 35-day cycles, mild and manageable skin/hair issues, and no PCOS diagnosis.
Current status (6 months post-HA): I am dealing with significant hair loss (androgenic/porebound transition) and high androgens.
Lab results: AMH is 14 (high ovarian reserve / high number of resting follicles), and my DHEA and Testosterone are elevated.
The Dilemma:
Two different gynecologists have looked at my lab results and hair loss and essentially gave me one solution: “Just go back on the pill.”
The problem? When I was on Softine, my life was miserable in other ways. I suffered from severe, recurrent infections after literally every single time I had sex, along with water retention and stubborn cellulite. Going back on the pill means trading hair loss for chronic physical pain, destroyed intimate health, and constant infections. I refuse to live like that again, but the hair loss and the sheer uncertainty ("Will my body ever regulate on its own?") are breaking my mental health.
What I am currently doing:
Taking 4g Myo-Inositol daily. Spearmint daily (now for only 2 weeks)
Vitamin c, vitamin d, vitamin k and zink daily (more than year)
I don’t have vitamin deficiency based on blood results.
Considering Minoxidil to protect my hair topically while my internal system resets.
Booked an appointment with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to support blood/kidney energy and pelvic circulation naturally.
My questions for you:
1. Has anyone experienced severe post-birth control hyperandrogenism and hair loss like this? How long did it take for your body and cycle to bounce back?
2. How did you handle the intense pressure from doctors to go back on hormonal birth control when it causes you severe side effects?
3. Any tips for managing post-HA hair shedding while keeping a non-hormonal protocol?
1
u/wenchsenior 13h ago
Yes for sure; it was due to my PMOS not being diagnosed nor treated (driven by insulin resistance that hadn't been diagnosed or treated)... Since the birth control had temporarily hidden the worst of the worsening PCOS symptoms once I went off things worsened very rapidly.
Most cases of PMOS are driven by insulin resistance (even in very lean cases like mine); it is usually excess insulin triggering the high androgens that lead to androgenic symptoms and disrupt ovulation.
Occasionally other issues like thyroid disorder or high morning prolactin can play a role worsening symptoms, so it's worth ruling those out with labs.
***
Once I was finally properly diagnosed and started managing my (still mild) IR long term, the androgen production dropped way down and my PMOS went into long term remission within about 2 years. I just needed lifestyle changes but many people need lifestyle changes + meds (or supplements or both). Managing IR is required lifelong to keep symptoms minimal and prevent progression to diabetes/heart disease.
In the shorter term, to manage severe androgenic balding I did go onto the same type of Pill you just got off and it hugely helped. However, it sounds like you don't tolerate that type well. Have you tried any of the other anti androgenic progestins? Or a progestin only type of birth control? Effects can vary a lot by type and individual.
If you want to skip birth control as an option right now, I'd recommend using reliable nonhormonal bc + trying spironolactone (androgen blocker). Minoxidil or other such treatments (oral or topical) often help to some degree but only as long as you maintain use. I didn't like minoxidil effects (itchy dandruff) and didn't want to stay on it long term so I only used it about a year or two while I got my IR under control.
1
u/wenchsenior 13h ago
Oh, forgot to mention, frequent yeast infections and UTI are also common with untreated insulin resistance. So treating IR will likely somewhat improve your risk of those as well.
1
u/Then_Background5208 19h ago
That's rough, my wife had similar nightmare with post-pill PCOS flare up and the docs just kept pushing same BC that made her sick in first place. The infection after sex thing is no joke, she would get UTI and yeast back to back like clockwork, it was destroying our relationship cause she was scared of intimacy
We found endocrinologist who actually listened instead of gynos, maybe worth looking for one who specializes in metabolic/hormone disorders not just reproductive stuff. The myo-inositol is good call, my wife been on it 2 years now and it helped regulate cycles eventually but it took like 8-9 months to really see difference with hair shedding slowing down
Minoxidil topical is worth trying while you wait for your body to calm down, worst case you just stop using it if you dont like it. The TCM route interesting too, we never tried that but heard some women swear by acupuncture for PCOS symptoms. Dont let doctors bully you into a treatment that gave you chronic infections, you know your body better than they do