(Part 2) Best products from r/PCOS

Honestly, my hair is falling out too and the worst thing I ever put on my hair is straight coconut oil, my hair was crunchy after using it and so damaged I had to chop off 3 inches of my already limited hair. I use Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DTIWLWE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CDhQDb2D3R29A you can find it other places cheaper In the ethnic hair section but this is the right product if you can’t find it anywhere nearby)RELIGIOUSLY. It adds softness and manageability while reducing the amount of oil my scalp makes, which lessens the amount I shampoo. I use it overnight once weekly for my hair, but my mom (she has thinner, finer hair) will put it on for like 4 hours once a week and wash it out before bed. My hair is absolutely at its healthiest when I am using it regularly. I even use it between treatments as a regular conditioner.

I also really like the hi-pro-pac hair treatments they sell at Walmart, it’s cheap and more widely available. I have tried a couple of them and they are all great. I mostly use the extremely damaged hair repair (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hi-Pro-Pac-Extremely-Damaged-Hair-Repair-Intense-Protein-Treatment-1-75-Oz/176017051) but I also really like the Maui mango seed butter one (it smells absolutely wonderful, and it’s my go to when I’m having some me time to pamper myself) and the color treated hair defense (I use this one the same day I get new color, and boy it makes a huge difference in how my hair feels after all the abuse)

I feel like an advertisement at this point but I love these products so much I feel like everyone should know about them.

However THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of using it (or really any deep conditioner or oil treatment in my experience) is to make sure you massage it into your scalp. Massaging the scalp helps stimulate blood flow and your hair follicles, but it also allows your scalp to really absorb the treatment. It makes a world of difference. If I have the time and the inclination I’ll rub it in for 20 minutes, it’s a lot of work but it feels nice and I feel like it makes it work better.

I also like using straight olive oil on my hair when I don’t have the time or money to go out and buy a deep conditioner. Sometimes I’ll add some peppermint oil if I’m feeling fancy (it feels really good to me and I have a big bottle of it already but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and can be expensive if you use nicer oils). I warm mine up (warm to the touch but not hot, I keep some cheap olive oil in a squeeze bottle in my bathroom and when I want to use it I heat up some water on the stove and stick it in there for a few minutes. You could also just but the oil in a bowl over the hot water and achieve the same thing, but I like the bottle better because it makes it easier to work with)

TL;DR I use Hollywood Beauty’s Olive Cholesterol, hi pro pacs extremely damaged hair repair packs, and olive oil to keep my scalp happy and my hair moisturized. Make sure that no matter whatever you are using as a conditioning treatment, you massage it into your scalp really well to help keep your scalps oil production under control.

Hello, this is my first time visiting this sub, but I wanted to share with you because I take Chinese herbs :) I started working with a Naturopath and I told him my ongoing problem with ovarian cysts (I have one cycst at time, then rupture then return, also a 21 day cycle instead of 28) he suggested the following, specifically for the cysts:

Myomin: three capsules in the morning and evening
Chi-F: two capsules in the morning and evening taken at the same time as the Myomin because he said they work hand in hand.

Well, this REALLY works for me. I fell off my regimen a few months back due to a death in the family and sure enough, they crept back up and I went back on the herbs.

They are actually available on Amazon and even have reviews posted, believe it or not: Myomin Chi F
I know that the Chi-F's reviews are lackluster but I was only instructed to take it in combination with the Myomin, so I can't speak for it alone.

I'm nowhere close to a doctor, this is just my anecdotal success story. And I am still on my journey.

Also, I have very good success while on a specific diet called The Plan by Lyn-Genet Recitas. It is an elimination diet so it is VERY hard at first, but it works! It helps you to find out what foods are causing inflammation and hormone imbalance. It actually helps weight FALL off, which I know you said is not a problem for your wife, but I wanted to share for anyone else reading.

I just encourage your wife to fight for her health which it sounds like you guys are already doing. You guys sound like a great team! :)

In terms of anti-aging there are really only a few things that are proven to work. Don’t buy into promises by brands or people who rave about products, for the most part it’s BS. Retin-a rebuilds collagen in your skin.
Vitamin C has a short shelf life and needs to be kept out of the light (even lamps/bathroom lighting) but can help brighten your skin over time.
For our dryness I recommend a product with hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. Make sure they are high up on the ingredient list or else they are pretty much useless.
For the occasional breakout, anything with 2% or higher benzoyl peroxide will be golden. Just apply to the area, wait 10min then top with moisturizer.
I mainly do not use cruelty free products which is why I did not recommend anything specifically but wanted to give you some advice when looking for products.

My facial was is indeed vegan after looking closer. It is also ph-balanced for facial skin which is extremely important. It removes my foundation and I only use a dime sized amount. Acure also offers a cleansing Creme which would be great for someone who does not wear makeup.
You can use grapeseed oil to remove your makeup before using your face wash, just be sure to wipe it off with a cotton pad.

Link to face wash:
Acure Brilliantly Brightening Cleansing Gel, 4 Fluid Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Z4UKGM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_MqnFAb10641S9

OP, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I have zero experience with this particular thing, so I don’t have much of any use to add, but I did have two quick thoughts.

The first is that you may want to look into a NaPro doctor. There’s a religious component, which you can choose to ignore, but the benefit is that they don’t believe in birth control, so they won’t suggest it as a treatment. They do use cervical mucus as their basis for understanding where you are hormonally, so they may not be able to help, but I think it’s worth a shot.

The second is that you may want to get a bidet. I have this one that installs right on the existing toilet, and I love it. I have PCOS and rarely get periods, but when I do, it’s an absolute lifesaver. It feels much fresher than using wipes.

Luxe Bidet Neo 320 - Self Cleaning Dual Nozzle - Hot and Cold Water Non-Electric Mechanical Bidet Toilet Attachment (blue and white) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A0RX2UI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_uWl3AAcwzWWiu

Whatever you do, I wish you the very best of luck.

Let's break it down this way instead:

PCOS is an inflammatory condition. This is one of the reasons, in addition to the crazy hormones that will make people think you're nuts, is why your body in general just feels icky.

Every diet is different for people because people are different! For example a lot of PCOS people do Keto. I don't because it makes me feel gross. My doctor actually suggested to do a balance of Whole30 and Paleo or Mediterranean depending on budget.

One of the big things in the U.S. is our food. Processed foods, which include cereals! are just in general really bad for you. Great to have in an emergency but that's where a little bit of meal prep and freezing is really handy. For things like rice, I actually bought myself a giant bag from Costco and I'm just slowly working my way through it. It lives under my sink and I got a rice maker from Bed Bath and Beyond for under $20 with a coupon (this is where Amazon is your friend). One of my fave recipes is Sweet Potato Chicken curry: https://therealfoodrds.com/instant-pot-sweet-potato-chicken-curry/

For now, I would start very simple. Cut out the sugar. Cut out cheese if you're a cheese hound! Move from diet pop to something like La Croix or Bubly -- I did this and was amazed at how much better I felt as I'd always been a Caffeine Free Diet Coke drinker (in addition to tea and water).

Don't. Overthink. Listen to your body and track how your body feels after you eat certain foods. Fried foods and carb heavy meals make my anxiety levels go up and I feel icky afterwards for example.

The important thing is to educate yourself and find what works best for you.

I hope these links help!

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/anti-inflammatory-diet-101#improved-lifestyle

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Anti-Inflammatory-Diet-Beginners-No-Stress/dp/1623159040/ref=asc_df_1623159040/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=311990507415&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7764132437138093433&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015306&hvtargid=pla-564692141916&psc=1

I relied on/r/keto (the reason I started was finding this), /r/xxketo, /r/ketorecipes for support and recipes.

My husband is about as stubborn as they come (I can't say much though, I am the same way). He was sold after watching 'Hungry for Change' on Netflix and The Diet doctors Food Evolution. They are kind of propaganda-ish, but kind of make you think twice about what they call food anymore.

I used myfitnesspal to track my foods and just ate whatever I wanted while trying really hard to stay as close to 20 carbs/day as possible. Lunches were mostly meat/cheese/nuts/packable veggies. Our meals were at least half veggies. I let myself have an occasional roll or something if we were out at a restaurant, but kept my higher-carb times in moderation and still pretty low.

Some of my favorite things (there's meat in most, but maybe can be adapted or at least the veggie side is good):

This thing is beyond awesome: http://www.amazon.com/GEFU-13460-Spirelli-Spiral-Cutter/dp/B0026RMEK4
http://www.reddit.com/r/keto/comments/1acr7x/hibachi_rice_recipe_in_comments/

Cauliflower mashed potatoes

Chicken in cream sauce (omit the flour)

Hibachi Chicken and Cauliflower rice

These are great with some strawberries on top: low carb cheesecake cupcakes

I like this w/o the crust. Have done in lemon too. Kids even really like this one.: Lime Fluff

We make pizzas with low carb tortillas a lot too because they are easy.

I hope that helps...I know that was a ton. Message me if you want to know anything else :)

I just can’t get my ass back on keto again. All my will power has flown out the window.


What is working is intermittent fasting and moderate carbs. Gives me a ton more flexibility.

I’m doing 18:6 which means fasting for 18 hours and eating within a 6 hour window.

I’m trying to get myself to 20:4 or OMAD which is one meal a day. Some people do 4:3 which is every other day fasting all day. So you would fast for 36ish hours.

Yesterday I was hungry at hour 18 (3pm) and I was at the grocery store. I got three tiny cookies. Then I went to dinner with my husband and had a pre-dinner of ice cream and then went to our favorite pub. Turkey and gravy with mashed potatoes and open faced sourdough were on special. Oh my god yes. And I had a cranberry cider.

It was so effing delicious. One of my favorite meals.

I’m still down .8lbs today from yesterday. In the past if I had eaten like this I would have gained.

I don’t eat like this every day. Most of the time I try to stick to meat and veggies for dinner. But I feel like I have so much more freedom. Not worried about higher carb veggies like store bought cauliflower mashed potatoes or sweet potato fries.

This feels way more sustainable. I love sweets. I’m trying not to but I do.


Another thing that is keeping me in check is using a cheap glucose meter. Depending on the scale used my blood sugar is normal or prediabtetic but lower is always better if you’re not Type 1.

My post meal numbers are normal but my morning fasting numbers are almost always in the prediabtes range or sometimes diabetic.

Last night I went to bed with a blood sugar of 109. Pretty good for potatoes and cider and ice cream.

Woke up to 122. Thats 3 points away from diabetic and I’ve been fasting since 7:30pm.

What this is saying is my liver is kicking out a bunch of glucose overnight.

I’m taking the full dose of Berberine at night before bed and a blood sugar support supplement a few times a day.


Taking my glucose readings reminds me that my food choices have impacts. It’s also taught me at a full sugar coke on an empty stomach doesn’t send me nearly as high as lentils. Who knew?


Anyway. Probably way more than you wanted to know but I just wanted to share in case it helped.

Hi there I really liked the combo of reading the Period Repair Manual (to understand medicine/ diet/ factors p.s. this is my favorite one) and Woman Code (for diet and lifestyle) and taking and Taking Charge of Your Fertility (to understand how your hormones work and what you can notice about hormone and body relationships) . I feel like all three give you a really good complete health picture. Im not "fixed" yet but I feel like it has been a great work in progress.

I was vegetarian for 4 years and decided to eat meat again. I have seen my health improve from my changes. I do not recommend a diet that makes you miserable. I think eating butter (butter is more of a fat than dairy product) helps keep me sane after being more stict with sugar. I do not eat processed sugar and dairy except maybe 1-3 times a month ( i quit four years ago for my acne) I also quit meat since I thought it caused acne but after reintroducing it I have found that to not be true.

cutting processed sugar out was really hard, but not impossible ( and i still enjoy in moderation :)

Are you able to see a nutritionist or dietician maybe to help you?

Hi, I also have testosterone and the opposite of your libido so I can't help you out from experience, but you might like to read "Come As You Are" by Emily Nagoski. She talks about low sex drives in a very helpful way. Here is a quick TL;DR of what most of the book is about in comic form.

In general it's a really good book about sexuality (especially women's sexuality), talks about having a low libido very positively and affirmingly, easy to read through, has some exercises/quizzes to make you think about yourself, and has real life examples of couples that agreed to be part of the book. I'd recommend it to anyone, but sounds like it could really help with your predicament :) Also IMO it couldn't hurt to see a therapist again even if your worked through everything about your assault - even if it's just once and you confirm that's a chapter you've closed.

I'm sorry you're going through that, I feel your pain.

Have you had your insulin levels tested / do you have an idea if you might be insulin resistant? Insulin resistance can happen to anyone, regardless of your weight. When excess insulin is floating around in the body, usually excess androgenic hormones are produced, too — so it might be worth testing out your testosterone & other hormones too, if you haven't already (it sounds like you might have, if you're already on Spiro).

I've seen stuff like this posted around this sub lately:
https://thepcosnutritionist.com/resources/pcos-hair-loss/

With hair loss, it can be pretty difficult to pinpoint the root cause (I'm right with you, my hair has been shedding aggressively for over 4 years and I keep reaching new lows!). But maybe trying to determine what type of PCOS you have could be a good place to start. That's at least what I'm trying, so I'm not just continuing to throw a bunch of random treatments at it!

I think carbs, if they're coming from plant-based sources, are fine — but it's probably worth cutting back on sugar (I think pretty much everyone, PCOS or not, benefits from this!

If you're looking for more immediate cover-up solutions, keeping your hair short can definitely help with the illusion of thicker hair — that's what I've been doing. Also, Toppik seems to be a great product for filling in gaps on the scalp with keratin fibers that match the color of your hair. I'm also looking into this serum, to see if it will do anything: https://www.amazon.com/LOreal-Professional-Serioxyl-Denser-Treatment/dp/B00NU4LW00

Sorry for the info dump! You're definitely not alone — starting with lab work to try to pin down the root cause will hopefully save you time (and hair!).

I've been taking 1tsp of each every morning for a year and a half. I've seen huge improvements with ovary/menstrual pain, and it has shorten the length of my periods (from 10-12 days to now 5!) Moods are much better as well. I add it to my morning smoothie but i can be mixed with water, it has a light sweet taste.
I also use Vitex which is suppose to help with Ovary health. It helps with pain for me.
I used to add NAC with it, but I don't use it as often. It has a very strong sulfur odor/taste. It was difficult for me to take because of that.

Myo-Inositol
https://www.amazon.com/Protocol-Life-Balance-Myo-Inositol-Emotional/dp/B00ABMAIIG/ref=sr_1_11_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518575914&sr=8-11&keywords=myo-inositol

D-Chiro-Inositol
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7JSTLW/ref=sxr_rr_xsim_2_s_it?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3008523062&pd_rd_wg=Ieh0c&pf_rd_r=96VF3PTSX34DK6CCWAJD&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00E7JSTLW&pd_rd_w=VO2Wg&pf_rd_i=d-chiro+inositol&pd_rd_r=b2a2045c-7d6e-4821-974e-7b610c592506&ie=UTF8&qid=1518575971&sr=2

Vitex
https://www.amazon.com/Vitex-Chasteberry-Chaste-Extract-Powder/dp/B01G1Y1YN0/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1518576010&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=vitex+powder&psc=1

Hope this helps!

I have The Ultimate PCOS Handbook by Colette Harris and Theresa Cheung, and it is awesome! Highly recommend it. Here's an amazon link if you'd like :)

It's cheaper to just get a straight razor. It works better too.

Edit: I said straight razor but I meant safety razor. here is a link to a cheap one on amazon if you have prime!

http://www.amazon.com/Magnus-Heavy-Double-Safety-Handled/dp/B00ZJAY96W/ref=sr_1_11?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1453748238&sr=1-11&keywords=safety+razor

I think that PCOS is one of those "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" disorders. The actual causes are somewhat of a mystery right now. I've gone back and forth on what I want to blame for why I developed PCOS, but the important thing is understanding how our hormones function (or dysfunction lol) and how we can have a bit of control over them. What we eat is definitely as important as how much we eat.

I don't know of readings specific to PCOS but a book on hormones in general is really helpful. One that helped me was "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom." The author is a doctor but also has a down to earth/motherly approach to understanding our bodies.

https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Bodies-Wisdom-Revised-Emotional/dp/0553386735

this is probably a sign of your cycle regulating. the natural/lifestyle route is a great way to get your body on track, but it takes time!

since you're off metformin, I suggest adding berberine to your supplement routine (start at 500mg and work up to 1000-1500) since it will amplify the insulin-lowering effects of IF/keto and move things along a little faster for you. it's very similar to metformin, without the gastrointestinal side effects. the one thing to know about berberine, though, is that since supplements are unregulated in the US you have to be mindful of the brand. a few organizations have done independent tests that have shown that many brands, especially cheaper ones, contain far less berberine than is advertised. personally, I recommend Thorne research brand (on amazon)

My doctor said that less than 1000mg won’t do anything. But, I’m not a doctor, so, if I were you, I would find a new doctor if possible. If not, there are definitely ways to manage pcos without Metformin or BC. Here is some info worth reading. (On pcos supplements and inositol) hope it helps.

https://www.metaboliceffect.com/pcos-supplements-infertility/
https://www.pcosdietsupport.com/supplements/inositol-and-pcos/
https://www.amazon.com/Ovasitol-Inositol-Powder-D-Chiro-packets/dp/B01BT92C24/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1523649085&sr=8-3&keywords=pcos+diva

I use deep sea mask through Amazon order.

https://www.amazon.com/Aria-Starr-Dead-Mask-Blackheads/dp/B00Z75ZDAU/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=deep+ask+mask&qid=1567989330&s=gateway&sr=8-2

I use it and helps a lot. It's safe for sensitive skin, but not meant for dry skin because the mask will dry on your face. If you have really sensitive skin, then this is not meant for those groups. Afterwards you will need to wash the mask off with warm water. Reduce pores, reduce scars, and put oily in check a bit. I used it once or twice a week.

They recommend taking it together. I've found this one on Amazon where they are both present. I cant order it unfortunately since Europe... www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01BT92C24/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Inositol in a 40:1 ratio of myo to D-chiro.

I couldn't tolerate metformin and started taking 2 g of that a day and have been having regular periods with no side effects, it's awesome!

I've found this one to be the least expensive and is what I've been using:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DBX6NG2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's actually from a book I have, I bought it on amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Ultimate-Pcos-Handbook-Colette-Cheung/dp/157324371X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486847650&sr=8-2&keywords=pcos