There is currently no cure for PCOS. However, treatments are available to manage symptoms, such as hair loss. This may involve using medications such as birth control, antiandrogens, metformin, and minoxidil. Some natural treatments, such as chasteberry, may also show some benefit for managing symptoms.
Your doctor may also prescribe metformin to help control your insulin and sugar levels. This in turn can alleviate some of the symptoms in women with PCOS, such as hair loss and brittle, dry or damaged hair.
PCOS Treatment
The clinical team should include endocrinologists, gynecologists, fertility experts, primary care providers, cardiologists, weight loss experts, dermatologists, mental health providers and nutritionists as they are needed.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing PCOS-related hair loss. Consuming a balanced diet rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, E, and C, biotin, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids promotes healthy hair growth and reduces hair fall.
Electrolysis is the only type of hair removal approved by the FDA as a permanent way of removing hair. 1 For the thousands of women with PCOS electrolysis is a great option to permanently get rid of thick hair that often grows on their face, chest, and back.
Most insurance providers classify laser hair removal as a cosmetic procedure, which typically leads to a lack of coverage. However, exceptions exist, particularly when such treatments are deemed medically necessary—for instance, in severe cases of hirsutism caused by polycystic ovary syndrome.
The easiest way of controlling PCOS is to go on the combined pill (such as Yasmin or Zoely) which prevents recruitment of new egg-follicles and stops the problem from getting worse.
Symptoms of PCOS Hair Thinning and Hair Loss
Hair loss in the front and side areas of the scalp. Hair strands appear thinner or smaller. The hair part begins to widen. The hairline above the temples begins to recede.
Usually, the combined pill is recommended for managing PCOS symptoms. However, if you cannot tolerate the combined pill or cannot take oestrogen, your doctor may advise taking a mini pill containing desogestrel. This is because desogestrel mini pills have less male hormone effects, which can make PCOS worse..
Endocrinologists specialize in diagnosing and managing hormonal disorders like PCOS. They can perform a comprehensive evaluation, including a review of medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests to confirm a diagnosis of PCOS.
Grant Information
The grants are awarded in amounts up to $500 per individual to assist with the costs associated with dermatology treatments, laser hair removal or electrolysis.
The combined oral contraceptive pill is usually used to treat excessive hair growth (hirsutism) and hair loss (alopecia). A cream called eflornithine can also be used to slow down the growth of unwanted facial hair.
The most common side effects of topical minoxidil application are redness and irritation of the skin. Rarely, patients have reported headaches, palpitations, and dizziness. Oral minoxidil side effects include palpitations, dizziness, low blood pressure, chest pain, headaches, and swelling of the legs.
At present, there is no cure for PCOS. However, it is possible to manage and improve symptoms. As such, it is possible to reverse hair loss due to PCOS, but it may not be possible to completely restore hair to its original state.
It's usually large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genes and other factors. It involves visceral fat accumulation in the lower abdomen and typically feels hard to touch. A PCOS belly is also characterized by a high waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87 (apple body shape).
To reduce excessive hair growth or improve acne, your health care provider might recommend: Birth control pills. These pills decrease androgen production that can cause excessive hair growth and acne. Spironolactone (Aldactone).
Symptoms: there are no noticeable symptoms in around half of women with the condition, and there is usually no vaginal soreness or itching. Symptoms may include a greyish-white, thin and watery vaginal discharge with a strong fishy smell, especially after sex.
Unlike hair loss caused by chemotherapy or autoimmune disorders, hormonal hair loss is gradual. You might not notice it until your hairline has visibly receded, your ponytail has grown thinner, or your scalp has become visible.
Supplements can be a powerful addition to lifestyle changes like diet and exercise in the management of PCOS. Inositol, omega-3 fatty acids, NAC, vitamin D, berberine, magnesium, and zinc are all supported by evidence for their potential to alleviate symptoms and improve overall health in women with PCOS.
Also called birth control pills or “the pill,” oral contraceptives containing the hormones estrogen and progestin are the primary long-term treatment option for women with intact ovaries who have PCOS but do not wish to become pregnant. In women with PCOS, these hormones: Make menstrual periods more regular.