Bad side effect to birth control pills + Thinking about supplements/vitamins, help

[alyab]

Greetings everyone, I need your help and input if you will
My friend has PCOS and has to use birth control pills to handle her problem with her period (if she stop taking the pills she won't have her period), she have a healthy diet and exercise yet the side effect of the pills are just so not right, border on depression, she doesn't feel like talking with anyone and the mere though of engaging in a conversion saps here energy, not always but it is there for long periods of time

So what we're doing is looking into the whole supplements/vitamins thing, surprisingly none of her doctors mentioned the possibility that supplements/vitamins may help her control some symptoms

I have to say we're a bit overwhelmed with the our google results and don't know where to begin, so here is why i'm posting this:

Would you please and out of your own experience answer the following:

1- Is there way for PCOS patients to control their period through supplements? if yes please elaborate
2- The two types of birth control she used are (Diane 35 + Yasmin) can you recommend another brand that wouldn't have that side effect?
3- Has anyone tried (Inositol) and noticed an improvement? if yes, can you provide the symptoms eased and the brand?
4- any advice?

Sorry for the hassle and thanks

[Beebeck]

Hello! So, I basically have the same experience as your friend. I am not surprised none of the doctors have mentioned vitamins or natural supplements... A lot of doctors, surprisingly, aren't too familiar with the condition. Is your friend also on metformin? Some people have been able to regulate their cycles by taking metformin. In terms of a natural supplement, I have tried "Vitex",chaste berry- a "natural supplement"  after reading great reviews. I did not have a good experience, I suffered horrible, realistic nightmares and had to stop after two weeks. There's a website called "PCOS Diva" and she lists a lot of natural supplements that can help with a lot of PCOS symptoms, check her out.

For the second question, I haven't been on BC in about 3 years, so I can't remember. Sorry!

Third.. No I haven't.

My advice really is to watch her diet. It can be hard to give advice because I don't know all of her symptoms... But for me, changing my diet has helped me lose weight, clear my face of pimples, and regulate my cycle to where I will naturally get it about every two months. I am vegetarian and avoid most dairy. Also try to lay off sugar. This is really the only thing that has help subside a lot of my symptoms. Also, stress can cause more missed periods. The sooner she realizes that unfortunately this is the hand we were dealt, the better.  The medicine I take is metformin and spironolactone. Hope this helps a little?