Back in July, after talking to my doctor, I stopped taking my birth control at the recommendation of a friend, who wanted to see the effects on my life without it. The pill (in all its many forms) has been linked to depression in some people, and that seemed to be the case with me (although that isn't positive, while I improved briefly after I ceased taking birth control, I eventually faded back to my "normal").
After stopping the pill I had my period as usual. That was the last time I had it.
Back when I was nineteen I started on birth control because I was having infrequent and irregular periods. At the time I thought it was connected to my antidepressants - which had given me some other hormonal side effects. Looking back, it looks like it was just random coincidence/chance. The birth control helped regulate my cycle, and every month I got my period when expected (until I started on Seasonale, which was awesome).
Back to now - after not having any sign of my period at all in three months I started to get a little concerned. Not much, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't sick or something. I also needed to see the doctor about some issues with sleep, which are still unanswered, and get a flu shot. I figured I may as well do everything at once.
My doctor told me that my symptoms - the lack of a period, some darkened hair growth on my belly and thighs - seemed to align with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and she wanted to test for it. The test she recommended was a blood check to look for androgens.
I tested positive.
Testosterone: 91 ng/dL (normal: 14-76 ng/dL)
So I went back to the doctor a few days later to talk to her about my options for treatment, if any. She gave me some basic information about PCOS, and I've learned some more about it myself since, through research online and some paperwork she gave me. I've currently opted for no treatment. I'll explain why in a bit.
PCOS is likely hereditary, or genetic. My period having issues back when I was 19 was likely not due to my medication, but due to my body producing too much testosterone. The common symptoms are mostly cosmetic: hair darkening on my face, thighs, stomach, etc.; I may experience balding; increased acne (I have experienced some of this, mostly on my head. This could also be because I'm using shampoo again or some other reason); and weight gain around my stomach (rather than my hips - and I am experiencing this. No wonder my pants feel all awkward these days). Medically I don't have a period - I may or may not even ovulate, and becoming pregnant may be difficult or downright impossible for me, if I eventually choose to have children; I may develop cysts on my ovaries, which might hurt but are unlikely to be dangerous to me; and I might develop diabetes, so I need to be on the lookout and protect myself against that (which honestly shouldn't be too hard - I've already cut down on the amount of refined sugars and grains in my diet almost completely).
I was tested for diabetes the day I returned to the doctor for my options. The bloodwork came back very good. I plan on getting tested yearly from now on, when I do other bloodwork. What's one more vial?
I decided against treatment for any of my symptoms. For the most part they're not bad and they don't bother me. I am on a ten-day run of progesterone to (possibly) get my period to start back up, but this isn't quite a treatment - or is a "one time" treatment. There isn't really a "treatment" for the weight gain aside from the typical treatments for weight gain - I'll just have to be aware that I'm going to gain weight, and it will be around my stomach.
The main treatment option is birth control or hormonal. I currently don't want to go back onto birth control, because I'm trying to figure out some of my depression issues, and hormones aren't helpful in that. Other than that there aren't many other options. There are creams that I could use for hair darkening, but again - it doesn't actually bother me.
It's going to be a bit of an adventure, but I'm not too worried. I figured I would let everyone know, though.
