Hi Doc. I suffer from polycystic ovaries as well as low BP and bad bowel movements. My gynae recommended I use the Pill, but it has made me terribly fat, especially my thighs and hips. I went from a size 28 to 37. This has been terribly depressing. What can I do?
Dr Graham Duncombe from Skin, Body & Health Renewal responds:
“Hi there and thank you for your question! Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is quite often suffered by women in their young hormonal phases of life. The monthly cycles are disrupted due to follicles in the ovaries which do not completely rupture and disappear after each cycle. This leaves a continuous hormonal stimulation from these follicles causing elevated estrogen levels which in turn affect the other hormones as well as the metabolism and is associated with elevated testosterone levels and insulin resistance.
The pill that your doctor placed you on was the combined oral contraceptive pill which aims to modulate the hormone imbalances. Unfortunately it doesn’t tackle the insulin resistance problem and as a result, the body stores more energy in the form of fat deposits and there is a resultant weight gain. It is important to follow a low glycemic diet and one may even include the medication known as Metformin to reduce insulin resistance further. Diuretics such as spironolactone, when used carefully, can be very beneficial too. Your bowel movements may even be due to an imbalance in your intestinal flora. Ask your doctor about perhaps including these therapies, weight loss advice, quality probiotics and maybe even trying a different combined contraceptive pill next. Wishing you a full recovery.”
Do you have a health-related question for Dr Duncombe? Ask him here.
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3 Responses
This happens to so many women. I’ve stopped using it, but have recently read about a contraceptive that is put under the skin in the arm which sounds much healthier.
I’m so fortunate that the pill hasn’t affected me in terms of weight, I can still eat as much as I want and my metabolism takes care of everything.
I have noticed that the Pill does put flab on the body, what a shame.