I was on the pill for about 7 years when I last went off of it two years ago, and this past spring I was diagnosed with PCOS. Has there been any evidence of extended use of the pill contributing to the occurance of PCOS? I know it can mask the symptoms, but could it have set me up for the condition?
2006-10-19 03:46:06 · 4 answers · asked by desiderio 5 in Health ➔ Women's Health
My cycles were normal when I went on the pill (Ortho TriCyclen), and it took over a year for them to mess up enough for me to see the doc about it. I know the pill can be used to treat the symptoms, the question was there any evidence of the pill making one prone to PCOS.
2006-10-19 03:53:36 · update #1
I had never heard of oral contraceptives contributing to the development of PCOS. So I searched in PubMed and....nada. I could find no article that related estrogen developing PCOS. The main cause of PCOS is insulin resistance. Generally there are four issues which arise in the management of PCOS patients: regulation of menses, control of hirsutism, fertility issues, and the management of the IR syndrome and its associated risks (type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease). Metformin and lifetsyle modifications are helpful for all 4 of these issues. Oral contraceptives regulate menses and help with the hirsuitism (unwanted hair) and usually fertility agents (such as clomiphene) are used to improve fertility. I have included a good article with general info about PCOS as well as a PCOS website that you might find useful.
2006-10-19 04:09:03 · answer #1 · answered by Jamie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no link. The pill does not cause PCOS. The Pill is the only treatment for PCOS.
You had PCOS when you were put on the pill. Your symptoms were treated by the Pill and were likely masked by it. Now that you have been off the pill, the symptoms came back.
2006-10-19 10:54:38 · answer #2 · answered by Tara662 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Which BCP did you use? It may have just masked the symptoms of PCOS, which you already had. And now you have come off the pill, they have returned with a vengeance. I don't think it could actually have caused the symptoms. PCOS is usually associated with high levels of androgens and low levels of oestrogen. HTH : )
2006-10-19 10:49:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there is no correlation between the use of birth control pills and PCOS. Sometimes BCP's are used to treat PCOS, but more often metformin is prescribed.
2006-10-19 10:50:48 · answer #4 · answered by stingme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋