How do I speak to my doctor about my PCOS?

[Hotdog11]

I’ve been taking the mini pill as my “treatment” for PCOS for a long time now and it’s not working for me. I am in a dark place mental health wise, and the side effect of low sex drive is having an impact on my relationship (not just intimately, but I’m also becoming completely averse to physical touch including hugs!). I still get my heavy irregular periods, my hair growth is horrendous (have to remove facial hair twice a day and this is AFTER having laser hair removal, which clearly didn’t work). I want to speak to my doctor about additional treatments but I don’t know how to get them to take my complaints seriously, it seems any time I talk to them they shrug me off and I’m completely losing hope.

[GamerGirlRuns]

Firstly I'm sorry you're feeling this way at the moment - low sex drive definitely won't help! Like you, I also struggling with excessive facial hair and that in itself is enough to make my mental health plummet and not want to leave the house. I told my doctor how much this affected me and I made sure to say it prevents me from going about my daily life. I have been prescribed a cream called Eflornithine 11.5% cream to use twice a day. I have noticed changes in the speed and thickness it is growing back after one day! Instead of spending 20 mins (at least) plucking per day I now spend 5 mins every couple of days or so. It's a repeat prescription too so hope to get some more when I run out.

I think it best to come of the pill if your mental health is really suffering. Mine was too when I was on it but I was lucky enough that I felt in a place to tell my doctor about the way it was affecting me. There are other options and its needs to be an open discussion between you and your doctor, not your doctor telling you. You will need to find strength and courage to do it, but just think about how a small change may positively impact your mental health and your outlook on everything. Even if you just come off it initially and see what it's like again without it.

Also, talk to your partner. Tell him how everything is making you feel at the moment and how you feel it is affecting your sex drive. You may both find comfort in an open discussion. He may well think that you don't find him physically attractive - I went through a similar thing but reassurance is key!

All the best, you've got to stand up for yourself - I know you can do it!

[PCOSer]

I found the best way to get my doctors attention was to send them pictures of what I was going through on the appointment request forms during covid. I would send them pictures of just how heavy my bleeding was and plead in my request about how I was feeling, how debilitating it was, and the impact on my day-to-day life (I was literally flooding through massive pads repeatedly through the day at work). I would go from getting a text response a few days later from my GP to getting a phone call and appointment with them same day nine times out of ten. Make them aware of how crappy this illness is and they'll listen