Can weight reduction, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and using birth control pills help manage irregular periods caused by PCOD?

Hello,

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There is no chance of pregnancy after so many negative tests. Based on your medical history, I presume you have PCOD (polycystic ovarian disorder). This is a congenital condition, meaning it is genetically programmed, and you inherit it from your parents. When you suddenly gain weight, cholesterol is converted into the estrogen hormone. (If I may simplify: obese men developing breast tissue, or young obese girls starting their periods at a younger age, all have high levels of estrogen or female hormones.) In your body, when excess fat, which is essentially stored for future use, accumulates beyond normal levels, it gets converted into hormones. This disrupts the balance between FSH (released from the brain) and ovarian hormones. FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone, as the name suggests, stimulates follicle growth in the ovaries. However, once the follicle becomes large enough to ovulate, it is suppressed by the same estrogen hormone produced by the ovaries. But when this estrogen hormone comes from fat tissue, the brain becomes confused, and follicle growth is halted prematurely at a smaller size, preventing it from rupturing. In the next scan, you will observe multiple small follicles, which is why they are referred to as polycystic ovaries.

This condition is typically associated with obesity, irregular menstrual cycles, the absence of periods for several months followed by heavy periods with clots and fleshy masses, or intermittent spotting. It can also be indirectly linked to thyroid abnormalities and prolactin issues. One of the visible signs is the accumulation of excess fat around the midsection of the body, particularly in the waist, thighs, and breasts, with little fat deposition beyond the elbows and knees. Other common symptoms include excessive body hair growth, hair loss, darkening of the skin on the lower half of the face, acne, oily facial skin, and darkened skin on the back of the neck, inner thighs, and beneath the breasts. There may also be a family history of diabetes, particularly in the father or his family. This condition prevents ovulation from occurring at the appropriate times, making it difficult to conceive until it is treated. It also increases the risk of early pregnancy losses. However, there is a solution. Once you reduce your weight to a normal range, you will not require any medication to induce menstruation or aid in getting pregnant, and your pregnancy is more likely to be healthy.

To reduce weight, avoid fasting, junk food, fast food, and red meat. Reduce snacking between meals and opt for low-calorie, high-protein foods. Incorporate regular exercise, especially targeting the waist and hip area, such as aerobics, yoga, and brisk walking (swing your arms while walking). Aim to lose 4 to 8 pounds per month; avoid rushing the weight reduction process, as it can be challenging to maintain. You should start to notice changes once you have lost at least 11 pounds. I understand that you may have received this advice many times before. However, even a modest reduction in weight can help correct your hormone balance and regulate your periods. To induce your periods, you can consider taking one of the birth control pills, such as tablet Ethinyl estradiol and Desogestrel. Take one tablet twice a day for 10 days, omitting the 21st pill. Regardless of the underlying cause, you should experience your period within seven to 10 days after the last pill.

Hope I have clarified your query. Feel free to reach out if you have any further queries.

Thank you.