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How to address irregular periods and unwanted hair growth?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am experiencing irregular periods, sometimes two times a month (latest before three months) and sometimes it will skip for two or three months. I also noticed that I suddenly have hair growing on my stomach and chest. Also, I do not have hair on my legs before but now I have a few hairs growing on some spots. I also noticed that there are suddenly pimples on my back which never happened before, this occurred last month. I have not done any tests on my thyroid or hormones. I used to also take pills (Diane) to regulate my menstruation but after two months I stopped.

Hello,

Welcome to our portal.

I can understand your concern.

According to your statement, now you are suffering from amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle), hirsutism (hair growth in women in the male pattern), acne (pimples-one type of acne on the back) and having no history of thyroid or hormonal test and issues cause you are on childbearing age suggests that it may be PCOS. PCOS/PMOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome/Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome) can be established by your clinical features with some investigations result.

You should undergo abdominal ultrasound which can detect bilateral polycystic ovaries. You can undergo some blood tests too like blood for testosterone (increased), sex-hormone binding globulin (decreased), LH:FSH ratio (increased) and thyroid test to exclude hormonal diseases. You can start Metformin (Bigunide-therapeutic class) to restore your regular cycle and fertility and supportive management for your other complications and estrogen therapy.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your prompt reply. As we are currently on lockdown, I can't go to the hospitals and get a check-up. However, can I buy this Metformin over the counter without prescription? So I can start my treatment.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to our portal.

How do you do now? Have you undergone the investigations? Are you on Metformin now? Hope you are well. If any complications occur, feel free to inform.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I still have not started on Metformin because I need a prescription. Also, I cannot go to a hospital now because of the lockdown.

Kindly help.

Hello,

Welcome back to our portal.

You can take Metformin as follows: Tablet Glucophage (500 mg) 1+0+0 (after meal) for seven days, then 1+1+0 (after meal) for seven days, then 1+1+1 (after meal) for seven days for six months. If you cannot tolerate the three times daily dose, then you can remain on the twice daily dose.

Again, you can take Clomiphene along with Metformin for anovulatory infertility in PCOS/PMOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome/Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome) as given below dose;

Tablet Clomid (50 mg) 1+0+0 for five days (with or without a meal)

If ovulation does not occur within 5 to 10 days, then a second course of 100 mg Clomiphene may be initiated as below.

Tablet Clomid (50 mg) 2+0+0 for five days; maximum three courses.

Recent studies show that using both Metformin and Clomiphene together is more effective than Metformin or Clomiphene alone. Treatment in a nutshell is as follows:

Tablet Glucophage (500 mg) 1+0+0 (after meal) for seven days. Then 1+1+0 (after meal) for seven days. Then 1+1+1 (after meal) [to be continued] plus Tablet Clomid (50 mg) 1+0+0 for five days (with or without meal). Then repeat after five to ten days, 2+0+0 for five days (maximum three courses)

I hope this helps.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your response. Can you please send me this prescription written on paper and signed by you? Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Of course. I will send you as soon as possible.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

What I need is like an e-prescription so I can buy from the pharmacy.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Sorry for the late reply. You have sent an attachment earlier. It is quite possible. You should just knock me off my consultation time with your query. I will reply, and you can download that easily.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

So maybe just an e-prescription sent through here? So I can show it to the pharmacy.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Thanks for knocking me again. The e-prescription is available in the consultation system.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your response. I will take this medicine first and I will report back to you on what will be the effects on me.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to our portal.

Take tablet Glucophage (Metformin) (500 mg) for seven days and inform me. It is usually well tolerated to all. Do not worry. Hope for the best.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Should I take the tablet Clomid together with the 1+0+0 Glucophage or with the 1+1+1 Glucophage?

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You should take tablet Clomid (Clomiphene citrate) with tablet Glucophage 1+0+0. or you can take tablet Glucophage and only after watching the response for 7 to14 days, you can take tablet Clomid . Recent studies tell that PCOS/PMOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome/Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome) patients will be beneficial by using both tablet Glucophage and tablet Clomid together. But my suggestion is just start tablet Glucophage and watch its action then decide to start tablet Clomid.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

So its Phagophage not Glucophage? Please suggest.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Sorry, it is Glucophage, not Phagophage.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your response.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You are always welcome.

Take care.

Patient's Query

Hello doc,

Should I take the Glucophage at the same time every day?

Thank you

Hello,

Welcome to our portal.

You can take Glucophage at any time of the day. But it is wise to take after breakfast. So you get time to observe its effects whole for the day. Usually, it is well tolerated by all, as I have mentioned earlier.

Take care.

Medically reviewed byDr. Vinodhini J.

Published At March 30, 2020
Reviewed AtMay 29, 2026

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