I would look into trying spironolactone. I'm 19 and my doctor recently put me on it and its done wonders. It acts as an androgen blocker (male hormones produced by a glands on your kidneys) and if the hair loss is due to excess testosterone it can help with that. Also, it is supposed to help with acne and excessive hair growth. I've been taking it for just over a month and already I've noticed I can go longer without shaving. I would DEFINITELY ask my doctor about this.
There is also a herbal supplement called biotin (its a type of vitamin B) that is really helpful for the hair loss. I take 5000 MCG a day and it does wonders. Also there is shampoo and conditioner with biotin in it for hair loss. Its a bit pricier than like your regular drugstore stuff, but I think its worth it too. You can check them out here: http://www.jason-natural.com/products/thin_to_thick.php
I hope that maybe this has helped. Good luck!
For the first couple of weeks as my body adjusted to the medications I did have some trouble with nausea and diarrhea. I was advised to try to eat a lower carb/high protein diet to avoid many of the greasier foods to help it. So far so good and I have lost about 50-65 lbs within a year. After those first couple of weeks the side effects seemed to go away and I was more tolerable to be around. My husband said I was less moody and he can notice when I miss a dose or go off of it for any length of time. It really seems to help and will more then likely be with me the rest of my life. Good luck!!!
thank you for this information, i will be looking for a specialist in our area. She has seen many many doctors and was told she did have PCOS. but all he told us was she would never have children because she has too many cysts on her overies to remove and that was it. nothing about what to do or where we go from here. She has tried every kind of birth control that has ever been made but it never helps. I am glad to here there are other types of drugs to help her.
birdiewebb: did you have any problems on your Metformin. are there side effects?
It does sound like PCOS. I have it as well. I have to shave almost every day to deal with the facial hair and as far as the hair loss goes. I totally understand. My hair falls out all the time. I have lost all my beautiful long hair but to a wonderful stylist I now have a very cute summer bob hairstyle and I love it. It is a lot cooler then the long hair. I am 25 and have been dealing with PCOS diagnosed for 8 years. We started Metformin on a high dose of 1700mg per day and Birth Control at the start. We were able to regulate those three month periods to every month with those medications and when we started trying to get pregnant we were placed on Provera to help with the continued process of regulating the cycles. Luckily I only had to be on that for 2 months and within a month after that we got pregnant :D. She does need to see a gyn or maybe even a specialist. That was how my PCOS got diagnosed finally at the age of 17. You still have to shave but not as often and the hair just thins but you are constantly growing more to replace what you have lost. Good luck to you both!!
Please have her see a new GYN asap. These symptoms do sound like pcos and she needs to start treatment asap. My picks would most likely be Metformin and a type of birth control pill.
She can have PCOS. I have it and I too have to shave everyday. What I dont kow about the loosing hair. Mine has only gotten thinner but I am not loosing it. I know that the cyst can turn into cancer. I think you should go see a specialist.
this sounds like PCOS. She needs to see a gyn and let him advise her from there.