Does laser hair removal work with having PCOS?
490922
I have PCOS, and have had laser hair removal.  It took 4-5 treatments over the course of a year.  The hair grew back, much thinner, finer, and it is actually white now.  I had my forearms and upper lip done.  Note: Hair on the face is harder to remove and may take more treatments.
397066
the cost varies from place to place. It seems to be cheaper getting it done at a doctor's office than it does at a laser center. You do have to have more than one treatment because the hair can only be destroyed when it's in the the growth stage. The hair has to have some color to it as well. The results are great!\nI would think the bikini area would be in the $800 to $1000 range
1094125
Treatment of Polycystic Ovary (PCO) depends on the patient's desires. If she want to become pregnant then drugs are prescribed to induce ovulation. If she wants to regulate her periods and control facial hair, birth control pills are usually given either alone or in combination with another drug called spironolactone. Spironolactone acts directly on the hair follicle to inhibit growth of new hair. Existing hair will need to be removed by some physical means such as electrolysis. It takes at least 6 months to notice any benefit of medical therapy for facial hair growth. In time, however, patients can decrease or even eliminate their need for electrolysis. Birth control pills obviously preclude pregnancy and spironolactone is contraindicated during pregnancy. Therefore women wanting to become pregnant will have to forego the medical treatment of their facial hair.\n\nIf pregnancy is desired ovulation is induced with medication. Clomiphene citrate (trade names Clomid , Serophene) is the first-line drug. Approximately 80% of women with PCO will ovulate when given clomiphene, but only one-half of those that ovulate will get pregnant. The reason(s) why the other one-half do not conceive is not known with certainty. Women who do not ovulate with clomiphene have two options. The traditional approach is to give another class of drugs called "gonadotropins". These drugs are given as either a subcutaneous injection or intramuscular injection (Gonal-F, Follistim, Repronex). Although the subcutaneous route of administration is easier and less painful, there is no evidence that any one of these drugs is better than the other when pregnancy is the endpoint. Close monitoring with frequent vaginal ultrasounds and blood tests is mandatory when taking these drugs. There often is a very fine line between not enough and too much of these drugs. Gonadotropins are potentially very dangerous drugs and should be administered only by physicians with extensive experience in their usage. Gonadotropin therapy is a reasonable option in those women who have not ovulated with clomiphene. \n\nAnother treatment for PCO is the use of an "insulin sensitizing" drug. The drug most commonly used is metformin (trade name Glucophage). There are other similar drugs and more are sure to come in the next few years. By lowering insulin levels the ovary appears to be able to ovulate either on its own or in response to clomiphene therapy. Not all PCO patients will respond to this therapy. Ideally, only those patients who have documented insulin resistance should be tried on this drug. However, some research studies have given this drug to all PCO patients, without regard to their insulin levels. Most of the studies to date have not looked at pregnancy as the end point when metformin was given. How metformin will fit in to our overall treatment of PCO related infertility remains to be determined. In our practice we screen PCO patients for insulin resistance and offer metformin therapy to those found to be resistant.
1079461
HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS MAY BE PCOS The most common symptoms of PCOS are an irregular period, infertility, increased hair growth and unusual weight gain, even with dieting or increased exercise. Women with PCOS will often go for months without a period and then start bleeding heavily for days. This occurs when the uterine lining has gotten too thick and the body must naturally shed it. Because PCOS disrupts ovulation it can be very difficult to become pregnant. \n\nOther signs of PCOS include acne, high blood pressure, obesity,loss of hair  and abnormal facial and body hair growth (due to too much testosterone). One of the less recognizable symptoms of PCOS is depression, which can be misread as a bipolar illness. While depression stems from many factors, we think it is always a good idea to consider PCOS if patients have other symptoms. In some medical practices antidepressants are prescribed which do not alleviate the underlying issues and therefore are not very helpful.
409707
Because there is no cure for PCOS, it needs to be managed to prevent problems. Treatments are based on the symptoms each person is having and whether she wants to conceive or needs contraception. Birth control pills, diabetes medications, fertility medications, and medicine for increased hair growth or extra male hormones are usually the treatment of choice.  Maintaining a healthy weight is another way women can help manage PCOS. Although it is not recommended as the first course of treatment, surgery called ovarian drilling is available to induce ovulation. You can read about PCOS and the treatments here http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm
72807
I too have pcos. Luckily i have now had 2 children.\nI recommend you going to a website where i get all my information & is very informative on everything from doctor's to infertility, birth control pills, & treatments. I wish you much luck! And i truly hope that you find all the info you need!
925355
Worry about what?\n\nPCOS refers to multiple cysts on the ovaries and a host of other problems that go along with them, including anovulation (lack of ovulation) and menstrual abnormalities, hirsutism (facial hair), male pattern baldness, acne, and often obesity. Such women may also have varying degrees of insulin resistance and an increased incidence of Type II diabetes, unfavorable lipid patterns (usually high triglycerides), and a low bone density. Laboratory tests often show higher than normal circulating androgens, especially testosterone.\n\nPCOS occurs when a woman doesn't ovulate, which causes a disruption in the normal, cyclical interrelationship among her hormones, brain and ovaries. \n\nFor example, if the follicle migrates to the outside of the ovary, but does not "pop" the egg and release it, the follicle becomes a cyst, and the normal progesterone surge does not occur. The lack of progesterone is detected by the hypothalamus, which continues to try to stimulate the ovary by increasing its production of GnRH, which increases the pituitary production of FSH and LH. This stimulates the ovary to make more estrogen and androgens, which stimulates more follicles toward ovulation. If these additional follicles are also unable to produce a matured ovum or make progesterone, the menstrual cycle is dominated by increased estrogen and androgen production without progesterone. This is the fundamental abnormality that creates PCOS.\n\nIt can be remedied by a natural progesterone cream. This will add progesteron back into the cycle, and allow for normal hormonal cycles to return.\n\n\n\nThe Diet Connection to PCOS\n\nBy far the biggest lifestyle contributor to PCOS is poor diet. Young women with PCOS tend to eat far too much sugar and highly refined carbohydrates. These foods cause an unhealthy rise in insulin levels. According to Jerilyn Prior, M.D., insulin stimulates androgen receptors on the outside of the\novary, causing the typical PCOS symptoms of excess hair (on the face, arms, legs), thin hair (on the head), and acne. \n\nEventually, this type of diet will cause obesity, this will cause insulin resistance (the inability of the cells to take in insulin), which will aggravate the PCOS even more. The androgens\nalso play a role in blocking the release of the egg from the follicle.\n\nWomen, who have a high number of dysfunctional follicles to begin with, due to xenobiotic exposure in the womb, will have worse problems if their diets are high in sugary foods and low in nutrition. Since this is exactly the type of diet favored by teens and young women, it's easy to understand why there is so much PCOS in that age group. Fifty years ago, the average person\nate one pound of sugar a year. Today the average teenager today eats one pound a week! Potato chips, corn chips, pasta and white rice are all highly refined carbohydrates that also act on the body much the same as sugars do.\n\nWhen you look at the whole picture of PCOS, you can understand why the hormone-blocking and insulin-lowering drugs don't work for very long. These approaches don't address the underlying cause of the problem. They only suppress symptoms. Improvement is only temporary and both types of drugs have terribly unpleasant side effects.\n\nBy the same token, you can't just take progesterone, and you can't just cut out the sugar. You usually need to do both. Exercise and good nutrition are also very important in maintaining hormone balance.
470822
Laser! This will deaden the vien and reduce any future flares, remove the visibility of the vien, and help prevent any in the future.\n\nMost medical spas will do this or Laser surgery centers that also do hair removal etc.
846698
I have PCOS too. The underlying cause of PCOS is insulin resistance. It is most important to treat this. The best way is a low carb diet, exercise, and adding an insulin sensitizing drug, such as metformin (1500-2550mg per day). Birth control pills are not really good for PCOS. It masks the symptoms of PCOS without really helping anything. PCOS symptoms tend to get worse after going off birth control pills. I recommend seeing a reproductive endocrinologist. Also, visit http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhpcos?redirCnt=1. It's a great message board where you can ask all of your PCOS questions. Think hard about going on any birth control pill to treat PCOS. Also, if you have PCOS you are at higher risk of certain things that are also negative side effects of any birth control pill (blood clots, liver issues). \n\nFrom http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-Guidelines.php  "Some doctors will prescribe birth control pills to assist in regulating or restoring irregular or absent periods. But there is growing controversy over using pills because it is now thought they may actually worsen Insulin Resistance. While it is true that introducing the female hormone can counteract some of the effects of over-active testosterone production, the short-term benefits of restoring a period may be offset by the long-term effects of worsening the underlying root cause of the condition. Think long and hard before you begin taking birth control pills if you have PCOS"
168034
I'm sorry, but there is no cure for PCOS.  There are several ways to manage it though.  Diet, exercise, birth control, on so forth.  \n\nYou should talk to your doctor about your options.
1174869
Yes there are amny treatments like Rogain, or hair transplants. There are also other medications you may want to talk to your doc about.
1183649
I do, and it is horrible for me!\n\nFor those who don't have it, PCOS is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.  It is when a woman does not ovulate properly.  The egg remains trapped in the ovary, causing a "pearl necklace" appearance on her ovaries.  It is not contagious nor anything to be freaked out by.  Other symptoms of PCOS include: being prone to diabetes later in life, overweight, underweight, excessive body hair, thinning hair on head, mood swings, depression, fertility issues, skin tags, discoloration of skin (neck), irregular periods. Researchers have hinted that it may be entirely genetic.\n\nI am trying to have a baby, but can't seem to conceive.  This causes depression.  I'm in a slump.  (It's only been 3 years!)\n\nJust be sure to follow your doctor's directions.  Many prescribe birth control pills to straighten out your hormones.  Some also prescribe Metformin, a diabetic drug, to help regulate the ovaries.
789055
The website www.soulcysters.com is great for PCOS and the forum has a recipe area...hope that helps.
265921
Laser hair removal can be very effective, but you will most likely need to go back in every once in a while for touch-ups.\n\nI recently interviewed a person who has had multiple laser hair removal treatments. You can take a look at the interview here: http://laserhairportal.com/blog/case-study-with-osh/\n\n\nIf you have dark hair with light skin, then you are probably a very good candidate. \n\nHere are a few things to look for when you are comparing different laser hair removal clinics. \n\n1. Make sure that the equipment being used is actually owned by the facility and not just being rented. \n\n2. Find a clinic with a staff that is friendly and highly-trained. You’ll want to invest your money into people that are dedicated to getting you the best possible results. \n\n3. Don’t be fooled by discount laser hair removal clinics. Established medical centers with excellent reputations do not discount their fees. As with all medical procedures, you should look \nfor a clinic with the highest quality, rather than the lowest cost. Laser hair removal requires an experienced and professional staff that provide individual attention and care.
721063
Yes I have PCOS and I have 2 children 11 and 6.  I had to take fertility pills for both and it took 2 years to get pregnant for each one.  My Advise:  Pray Hard!!
300440
If you are willing to invest some money to save yourself a lot of time, there is always laser hair removal. It is painless and is permanant, but whether it completely removes the hair, or just significantly reduces the amount of hair depends on several factors including skin and hair color. Compared to other alternatives like electrolysis it is also relatively inexpensive.
274839
I too have PCOS. I've talked to my OBGYN and she said that Im very fertile. They put me on birth control pills which really seemed to help