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For sufferers of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) losing weight can be a constant struggle, whereby the symptoms of PCOS makes weight gain more likely and weight loss more difficult. However, it is important that sufferers of PCOS lose weight, both to alleviate the symptoms of PCOS and also to avoid the development of additional serious problems associated with excess weight. Here we explain how phentermine can help PCOS, so you can win the struggle against weight gain with the help of phentermine and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
How PCOS Leads to Weight Gain
PCOS occurs when the ovaries don’t make enough hormones for the eggs to fully mature. Instead of releasing a mature egg during ovulation, some of the follicles in the ovaries turn into fluid-filled sacs called cysts. PCOS produces symptoms in approximately 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age (around 12 to 45 years old), and more than 60% of women with PCOS are overweight.
The link between PCOS and weight gain arises because PCOS makes it more difficult for the body to use the hormone insulin, which normally helps convert sugars and starches from foods into energy. This condition, called insulin resistance, can cause insulin and sugar to build up in the bloodstream. High insulin levels increase the production of male hormones called androgens. High androgen levels lead to symptoms such as body hair growth, acne, irregular periods, and weight gain. Because the weight gain is caused by male hormones, women with PCOS typically have more of an apple shape, as excess weight is stored in the abdomen.
Abdominal fat is the most dangerous type of fat, as it is caused by subcutaneous fat surrounding the vital organs, and can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Women with PCOS are up to seven times more likely to have a heart attack than women of the same age without the condition. Women with PCOS are also more likely to develop other serious health problems such as type II diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. As it is a syndrome rather than a disease, PCOS can be difficult to diagnose, as tests can often show results within the normal range despite patients displaying many of the symptoms, so an ultrasound is often the best way to diagnose PCOS.
How To Lose Weight If You Have PCOS
For women with PCOS, shedding just 10% body weight can bring periods back to normal and relieve some of the other symptoms of PCOS. Weight loss also improves insulin sensitivity, which in turn reduces the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other weight-related complications.
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help keep your weight under control. The food you eat plays an important part in how your body reacts to the effects of PCOS and a healthy nutritious diet can help to keep your blood sugar levels in check. The best diet to follow is one which is high in fiber and low in sugar; aim to fill up on lots of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoid fatty foods and over-processed foods like refined carbohydrates. Eating four to six smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large meals can help maintain steady blood sugar levels, and exercising for at least 30 minutes every day helps boost metabolism and fat-burning.
However, although PCOS causes weight gain and the symptoms become worse the heavier you are, PCOS also makes weight loss especially difficult for sufferers and many women are often unable to achieve and sustain significant weight loss. If you’re having trouble losing weight on your own, your doctor can help advise you on what steps to take to lose weight, and may prescribe medications, both as a means to alleviate the symptoms of PCOS and improve overall health.
PCOS Medical Treatments
Several medications are approved for PCOS, including birth control pills and anti-androgen medications, which block the effects of male hormones. Metformin (Glucophage), primarily a diabetes drug, is also prescribed for PCOS, as it helps the body use insulin more efficiently and it also reduces testosterone production. However, following its approval for treating PCOS in 2004, more recent trials in 2008 and 2009 showed less favorable results. The drugs pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) also help the body to use insulin, but their effect on body weight was inconclusive.
Many doctors now recognize that in the management of PCOS, including the lowering of insulin resistance levels and restoration of menstruation and fertility, treatments that help to reduce weight are the most beneficial for all these aims, as they address what is believed to be the underlying cause. While controlling the symptoms can help in the short-term, weight loss is the key to alleviating these symptoms and helping to avoid additional health problems as a result of excess weight.
Accordingly, many doctors prescribe phentermine to patients with PCOS to help them lose weight and also to learn how to eat healthier, in order to sustain their weight loss in the long term. Women with PCOS find it especially difficult to lose weight and furthermore, PCOS causes distress and emotional eating, so phentermine acts as a means to control mood-related cravings and hunger by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters. Phentermine also works outside the brain to release adrenaline, stimulating the mind and body to be more efficient and alert, increasing energy levels and concentration. Through this, women with PCOS are motivated to incorporate more activity into their lives, which also helps to alleviate the symptoms caused by PCOS and to reduce abdominal fat and the risks associated with it. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle while on phentermine and establishing healthy eating habits for the future, patients will be better equipped to manage their symptoms through diet and exercise once they have reached their goal weight.
Doctors may also prescribe medications such as metformin alongside phentermine, so as to help the patient lose weight while managing insulin levels, but these medications should only be taken together if they have been prescribed together or if the doctor is fully aware of other medications you are taking. Just as with any medications, we would strongly advise that you inform your doctor if you are taking a medication specifically to help with PCOS symptoms when you are discussing the possibility of taking phentermine as harmful interactions could occur if you take several medications together.
As with many conditions that are worsened by excess weight, the symptoms of PCOS and the associated risks it can lead to can be reduced dramatically by losing weight. The difficulty many women with PCOS have is that the condition also makes losing weight particularly difficult, but by taking phentermine to help manage PCOS symptoms with diet and exercise, patients are able to lose weight while they establish a routine of healthy living which is then maintainable in the long term.
Do you suffer with PCOS? If so we would really like to hear from you about your experiences and how you manage your symptoms, so please comment below!
I am now 56 and have suffered from PCOS since I was about 18. No doctor has ever given me the information that I received here. I am overweight, have diabetes, suffer from hair on my lip and chin, and have totally “suffered” for many years. I asked the dr for a rx for phentermine and even though my insurance will not cover it, I am definitely going to take it. I really hope that this rx helps. Thank you for the valid information on this website!
I’ve suffered from PC IS since the time I started puberty. I have taken phentermine in the past to get down to a healthy weight for my height.I went off of it for a year and have been struggling to shed the last 30lbs-Would be the introduction of metformin help increase the likely hood of my weight loss goal to be achieved? -Thanks for the information..It’s nice to know more & more information is becoming easier to access:)
Hey,
I’ve had pcos for the last 10 years. Since being diagnosed I’ve put on a lot of weight! My legs, chest and arms are skinny but my abdomen is huge! It’s the only place I store fat. As you can imagine I always get asked if I’m pregnant and it’s depressing. I tried diabex twice but my body couldn’t handle it. I asked my specialist to start diet pills and was told no. For 2 years I’ve been seeing multiple doctors to try and get them to prescribe duromine. I got so desperate that I started a journal. My journal had 3 months of evidence that I simply can’t lose weight alone. Between the doctor and I we worked out my average daily calorie intake over 3 months was 1270. I exercised an average of 3 times a week and the foods I consumed during these 3 months were fruit, veggies, milk, yoghurt and oats! I did not budge at all! With this evidence along with good blood test results I was told yes!
I started taking duromine 4 days ago. 40mg. Starting weight 85kg and height 171.
I’m having some side effects. Nausea, headaches, gas, ingestion, dry mouth, insomnia and cold tingles in my back but in 4 days I’ve already lost 2kg! I think it will be worth it in the end.
Perhaps you should try a low carb diet, as my doc has advised. I am also overweight with PCOS. All the foods you mention stimulate insulin production. He put me on only 45g of carbs per day. No milk only hard cheese, no gluten or bread. He also prescribed metformin, victosa, and phentermine. Also, my bloodwork showed Vitamin D deficiency and progesterone deficiency. He put me on 5,000 D and 100mg progesterone (compounded) to be taken the last half of my cycle. This just happened yesterday, so we’ll see! I went to soooo many doctors before I found “the one”…don’t give up!!!
Thanks for the comment! To connect with other phentermine users for advice and to share experiences, remember to join our Facebook support group!
Sally, Phentermine.com
You can do it. Change your diet and eat less carbs. I have type 2 diabetes and pcos, and I lost weight about 60 lbs in 5 months. I did skim milk in Cheerios, small salad with no or little salad dressing. Eggs and turkey sausage every now and then whole grain wheat bread only. I dance at home to music at times for 1 hour and only drunk water. I was on a diabetes medicine called jaument, it has metformon and another medicine. It made it easy to lose the weight and control my sugar.
I was just diagnosed with PCOS yesterday. After reading this I am definitely going to ask for a prescription for Phentermine. I have tried diet and exercise to lose weight naturally since my daughter was born in Sept. 2010 and I have instead gained 35lbs!!! So Since healthy eating and exercising alone doesn’t work I will definitely try to take this alongside my diet and exercise regimen and will update when I have/don’t have results! Thanks for all the information!!!
Hi Jamie, Thanks for the comment! Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I know these conditions can be very troubling! You should definitely speak with your doctor about a possible prescription for phentermine, it may be very helpful for you! If you are unable to get a prescription for phentermine, which could be due to it not being suitable for you, then we recommend trying Phen Caps. Phen Caps are a non-prescription phentermine alternative that act similarly to phentermine, and have no side effects! You can find out exactly how it helps you lose weight by checking out this 2-minute video:
https://www.phen.com/how-phen-works?utm_source=phentermine-blog&utm_medium=blog-comment&utm_campaign=how-it-works
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions, we are happy to help! Good luck and have a great day!
Sally, Phentermine.com
I have pcos and have been struggling to conceive what helped you if you don’t mind me asking
I was diagnosed with PCOS in my late twenties (4yrs ago) as I was taking a break from the pill after 14yrs on it – I hadn’t realised that I had a problem until that point. After 18 months off the pill and only 1 cycle, I went back on the pill (Yaz) and with diet + exercise I managed to lose almost 80lb (36kg) in 18 months. Unfortunately I developed DVT (blood clots) and was taken off Yaz and put onto blood thinners. I recovered and ceased the thinners 11 months ago. I have since gained back exactly half of the weight I had lost, even though I workout 5-6 days per week and I eat a balanced healthy diet (low carb for my PCOS though). I’m at a loss… The only explanation my Dr could find was the PCOS – it’s inly in my midsection!
Today was day 1 on Phentermine and I was not hungry at all, but still forced in some small meals (1100 calories) and I went for a 40 minute jog today. Hoping to at least see a difference in my weight loss on this medication as I’m not allowed back on any pill again, due to the increased risk of DVT.
Any tips or advice is very welcome!
Hi Dom!
Thanks for your message. Phentermine is a great way to manage your weight if you have PCOS, but we would urge that you inform your doctor if you have any problems or experience any side effects etc as it can affect people in different ways, and with your medical history we think you should be super careful. It’s a good idea to continue eating healthy meals and aim for at least 1200 calories each day, even if at the start you don’t have much appetite. Jogging is a great exercise to do, especially if you enjoy it! But, we would also recommend some weight-bearing to build muscle as this will help you to maintain any weight you lose. Pilates, yoga, and light weight-lifting are all great for building lean muscle. Our blog offers lots of advice and news on phentermine every week so make sure to like us on facebook for regular updates: https://www.facebook.com/phenterminecom?utm_source=phentermine-blog&utm_medium=reply&utm_campaign=phentermine-facebook
Good luck!
Sally, phentermine.com
I been diagnosed with pcos since I was 15.. 35 now.. and phentermine is the only medicine that is helping me..
the facial hair takes longer to grow..and I’m losing weight.. and I’m having regular periods..
now the problem is how to live without the pill
🙂
I would like to know also if is there a website that I can get it cheaper? Or does any insurance cover some part of the cost?
Hi Mayra, it’s great to hear how well you’re doing on phentermine but unfortunately you can’t get phentermine online any more. There are, however, insurance plans that cover at least part of the cost of prescribed phentermine. The best way to find out this information would be to post a question in the Facebook support group so that you can link up to lots of people in similar situations who would be able to recommend a particular company or plan to you.
Hope that helps!
Sally, phentermine.com
I recently was diagnosed with pcos without cysts in the beginning of the year. I was with a different ob dr who sent me to an endocrinologist who put me on four doses a day of metformin. That just made me go to the bathroom so much and feel sick and then she informed me she couldnt help me beyond perscription with metformin so i decided to find a second opinion and dr. I went to a womens health clinic and found another ob and explained my situation and he took a look st my blood work and my previous xray that was over my uterus so he went inside instead to look at my ovaries and i was able to look at them on the screen he explained pcos to me and how he could help. I got married in 2006 and iam 5\’2 was 120 started taking birth control and in all honesty i would say the two weeks within taking it my periods stared going off balance i went into my then ob a few months later she switched birth controls i ended up still having issues and we ended up moving outbof state being college students and from then on being in college out of state i never gotnto see another ob about it but also didnt realise that over time the issues became worse iam not sure if it was due to birth control but my periods were perfect right before. Anyways over time i gained weight and got up to 175 within 7 years and i started slowly noticing facial hair and it grew and got worse to the point i had to shave my entire face twice a day we moved and were able to afford to see a dr so after the endocrinologist and the switch to the new dr iam seeing he put me on phentermine- topiramate which has been the biggest blessing and help. I am so happy i found him and that he knew how to help me and is working with me on eventually my goal on a having children. When i went on phentermine-topiramate i cut out everything i use to eat bad like soda, fast food, bread, pasta. Only drink water now and i increased my veggies and started trying healthier options and it wasnt hard on phentermine seeing that it suppressed alot of craving. So it became very easy to eat healthy and adapt that life style. Opppse to when i tried before the medifast plan and i did lose 10lbs on that but it was extremely difficult and i had cravings. I was on phentermine for only 4 months and with diet and exercise i got to my goal weight 130 i followed 21 day fix migled with cleaned eating and pyio work outs, easy guidelines and tried to think super positive. iam still working on it. Ill be going in for another check up to take a look at my ovaries. He did perscibe me metformin along side phentermine but i chose not to take it. He would also have me on one dose oppose to four a day. I guess iam just hoping in some way changing my eating habits and excercise would somehow reverse whatever went wrong in the first place. And it wohld all just adjust back. Is what i kept hoping for. And still do. Ill never go back to eating the way i did. Plus i feel so much better and learned alot. But the facial hair has been the biggest burden so far with pcos iam a 28 year old female and can grow a beard? iam trying to figure out how to permanently get rid of it. But its been difficult to find solutions. Aside from that if your dr think its right for you and you dont have anxiety and you follow a plan phentermine was amazing for me. It did give me a dry mouth but you should be drinking lots of water anyways.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Marie! Well done and the best of luck to you!
Sally, phentermine.com
Marie,
I would like to share info about what helped me. I also have PCOS and struggled with facial hair growth as well as acne. I started seeing a hormone specialist about a year ago and he put me on spirinolactone. It may not be an option for you, but you could discuss it with your current physician. It has truly changed my life. I don’t grow the dark manly facial hair and my acne has improved drastically. Best of luck to you!
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15 I\’m now 21..
I\’ve always been on the heavier side though Ive been playing sport and very active through my teens and a balanced diet also taking the pill at the time.. Unable to lose any weight I stopped the pill and stopped eating, living only off multivitamins and cordial. I became very depressed and I dropped from 85kg to 66kg.. Til I was hospitalized and decided that I can\’t keep harming myself and to love myself so I changed my life around it\’s been 3years I\’m eating well and i go to gym 5days and work fulltime. Today I weigh 88kg and Im back at square one struggling too lose weight to sit in a healthy weight range. Ive trained with personal trainers and have spoken to a nutritionist and with the hard work I put in it\’s really disheartening that my body wont shed all the effort I put in day to day. I\’ve been wanting to visit my doctor for a couple of months now but I\’m worried he will tell me to continue what I usually do. Sorry if this is too deep.. But I keep my thoughts to myself, I don\’t talk about this to family or friends. Likely why I\’m so uncomfortable speaking to a dr.
I was diagnosed with PCOS a month ago after a year of trying to get pregnant. I already have one child so my doctor didn\’t check for it when I went before we started trying. She gave me metformin but oh my gosh does it make me have to go to the bathroom! I cannot take it if I have to leave the house. I had to stop taking it and now I feel hopeless because she said that is the only thing that will help me. I have taken phentermine before and it did not work for me. I\’m wondering if I take metformin and phentermine together will it work and also what could I take to stop myself going to the bathroom so often when I am on it?
I’ve suffered from pcos since I was 14. I was diagnosed with depression, manic depression, bi-polar and spent so much time suffering with fluctuating weight and horrifying facial hair! No doctor has ever offered me any real help with any of this nightmare! I have gone through hell with this disease and the only thing that has got me through it is my ability to obtain phentermine from a weight loss doctor that I must drive 2 and a half hrs one way to another state! I’ve switched from one doctor to another. They always want to treat me for depression! Prozac…lithium…really! I just want to be able to get off the couch and live my life. I am so happy to read that there are actual doctors out there who want to help my fellow sufferers in the only way that I have ever found any relief! Also laser surgery has been a God send.
I was finally diagnosed with PCOS a few months ago. I’ve been so frustrated with my inability to lose weight. As a dancer, being this much overweight was a major depressor. My Dr put me on Metformin, but I only continued to gain weight. She started me on Phentermine as of yesterday. I didn’t notice much other than a lack of appetite yesterday, but today is the first day in forever that I haven’t needed a nap. I’m finally feeling a glimmer of hope. I will continue to update!
I was diagnosed with pcos when I was 18. I went from a healthy 115 lb 16 yr old to morbidly obese in less than a year. I ballooned to 265 lbs by the time I started college and after test after test after test, my doctor finally said I had pcos. She had to Google what it was because she had never heard of it. Where I live, doctors have no idea how to treat it besides prescribing Metformin. Over the years I’d lose 15 lbs one month then gain back 20 the next. But since December 2014, I’ve lost 30 lbs by eating healthy and exercising. But it’s so hard to lose the weight. Instead of relying on doctors who are basically oblivious to pcos, I’m going to start taking Phentermine to see if it helps, because nothing else has. Especially Metformin, which has done nothing to help my symptoms in the last 6 years, only given me massive diarrhea which is disgusting, I know, but it’s the truth. Maybe the Phentermine will help…
I was diagnosed with PCOS in about 2003 after years of struggling with infertility, weight gain, and difficult weight loss. We went through failed fertility treatments. Finally, after much research on my own, I brought my findings to my doctor. Boom! It all fit. Still didn’t get much for treatment until 2005. I was put on metformin initially. It helped restore regular periods, but I can’t say I ovulated. In 2006, phentermine was added. I lost weight easily and then became pregnant. After the birth of our 2nd child, I resumed the metformin. But it didn’t stop the weight gain like it does with some people. Slowly, I gained weight until I reached 275 lbs and had gastric bypass in 2010 and they took me off the metformin. Even after surgery, I continue to struggle with weight loss and maintenance.
Just last week, I went to a new doctor well versed it seems in weight loss and PCOS. He read me like a road map and asked about PCOS before I mentioned it. He stated I should have never been taken off the metformin after surgery and will likely need to take it all my life because of the PCOS. He added phentermine as well. I’m only about 5 days in on taking the met, 2 with the phentermine. Positive results so far mainly in cravings reduced and more on an even keel with emotions (no emotional eating so far). I forgot how beneficial phentermine can be as part of the tool box for gaining control and maintenance.
I am 33 years old and I started have issues with pcos when I was 20. I was 117 pounds and within 5 years I went to 200 pounds. At age 28 I was 230 pounds and had not menstruated in over 4 years. I was given metformin by my doctor, and after 8 months of taking metformin I had an issue with my gallbladder and had it removed. I went back on metformin and then started having issues with my liver. So I can\’t take metformin. My doctor than then put me on Phentermine and I went from 230 pounds to 148 pounds. My skin cleared, hair growth on my face, back, chest, and arms thinned it seemed the growth slowed. My periods came back and I had a 28 day cycle. When I was 32 I became pregnant and had my first child with no complications. Pcos is very serious. And should not be ignored. My mother suffered with pcos and had type II diebeties, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and carried all of her weight in her mid section. She had a massive heart attack and died at her work when she was 48.
This is my Story Martha Mother Passed away from PCOS. Had high Blood Pressure @ age 50. I have Pcos Diabetes type 11, and recently high blood pressure. My doc is going to prescribe phentermine. I really want a baby 2nd marriage i`m 31 years old. I been battling pcos for over 15 years
I\’m 22 and I was never able to afford going to the doctor often now that I work in a hospital I get insurance! Finally lol. So I realized I was two weeks late on my period and took a pregnancy test and nothing. Then I started my cycle and it lasted two weeks. Well I was on a trip at the time so when I got back I went to a gyno and found out I had Pcos. I started on phen about mid July and I\’m not down 8 pounds. I struggled with weight all my life and there was a time when I was a gym rat and lost 80 pounds. I\’ve always had a history of binge eating and this has finally curbed it. Lots of my weight is in my abdomen so does anyone have any tips on how to maybe shed some weight there? Phen has helped me so far and gives me the energy I need. When I did start taking it I was in the bathroom a lot.. then was constipated but now I\’m good. I lost sleep the first night I took it but I\’m good now aswell!
I had my daughter at 27 and my weight gain began. I have struggled with my weight for years (my daughter is 10 now). I have facial hair, tag moles, and all the ugliness that comes with pcos. I avoided the DR for years and was found to have extremely high blood pressure. After getting my blood pressure to a healthy range my Dr proscribed me phentermine. I am on day 2. Drinking tons of water and eating well. I pray this is the resolution to my struggles with weight loss.
I was just prescribed phenamine 15 mg almost a month ago. It worked for 9 days. That was it. I\’m right back to emotional eating and have almost gained back half of what I lost that first week. Why isn\’t it working? I try to eat right and exercise, but even my better days I only maintain. But when I gain I just see the number on the scale and get even more depressed so I eat. Phentermine stopped my emotional eating those first 9 days but now its not even touching my apitite.
Hi Carrie, we’re sorry to hear that the phentermine isn’t working anymore. Your doctor is the best person to talk to about the medication’s lack of effectiveness. He or she is best able to assess why the phentermine isn’t working anymore and make adjustments as necessary (e.g. changing the dose, medication, schedule, etc.). In the meantime, if the number on the scale is triggering your depression & binges, would it maybe be helpful to weigh yourself a little less frequently, such as once a week? Best wishes!!
Rachel, phentermine.com
Hi all, I was sort of diagnosed with PCOS last January. And all the pieces came together. I always struggled with my weight and i gained so much weight in the past 2 years that I barely even left the house. I still can’t look at myself in the mirror, I went to from 135 to 215. My doctor suggested that I take birth control, but after doing some research, I decided not too. The side effects long term were much worse. So after a year of dieting and trying to get healthy, I found out about Phentermine. This is my 5th day of taking it and I am now down to 208. My cravings for sugar are gone and I’m just not hungry in general. I’ve been eating much better and I feel so much more energy. Please note that there are side affects to this medication. Such as nausea and dry mouth and constipation. I was also feeling cold for the first day I would say. But honestly, the struggles that I’ve had with pcos are much worse than this. The hair growth – it’s everywhere. And the missed periods. The mood swings. Hopefully, this medication will fix the situation.