Hi all! This is long, but I’m hoping for some feedback and advice. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 19 after a few years of issues with my periods and increasingly obvious symptoms. I’m now in my 30’s and several months postpartum. Typically, my brand of PCOS looks like high androgens, insulin resistance, and lack of ovulation/absent periods. In the past, I’ve gone months without a period and have needed medication to force a bleed. I take metformin and inositol, but I’m not on any other medication for PCOS.
Over the course of the last 6 weeks, I have had 3 periods. All have begun with a day or two of light spotting, followed by 3-5 days of full flow. The first time it hit, I just assumed my period was returning after giving birth. The second time was only 21 days later, so somewhat shorter than typical but nothing too concerning. Now it’s been only 2 weeks and I’m bleeding again.
I’m taking bioidentical progesterone every day because I have been dealing with PPD and my doctor suggested it could help. About 6 weeks ago, I had blood work done that showed I have low DHEAS, which is the opposite of what I usually see. It was also an unexpected result because I was then and still am dealing with symptoms of high androgens, including facial hair and acne. I took a DHEAS supplement for a few weeks but it made my symptoms so much worse that I stopped.
The frequent bleeding is a new issue for me, and I really don’t want it to get worse. I have an appointment with my doctor in a couple weeks to address these things, but does anybody have any insight as to what might be going on?
P.S. I realize that this might just be chalked up to “postpartum hormones are wack”, but I’m hoping there’s something I can do. I’m not breastfeeding. I also take thyroid medication and my TSH is optimal. I also can’t afford a GLP-1.
Edit to add: No clue if this is relevant but I’ve had continuous pain in the left area of my pubic bone since before giving birth. I’ve been going to a physical therapist and it helps, but when I’m bleeding the pain returns with a vengeance and makes it hard to even move. My PT thinks it’s lingering round ligament pain. I have a small ovarian cyst on that side which has been there for years. I got an ultrasound on it and it is entirely unchanged so my doctor thinks it is not causing the pain.