Temporary PCOS? Explaining Pill-Induced PCOS

Guestpost by Dr. Shawna Darou, ND

A very common time for women to be diagnosed with PCOS is after coming off the birth control pill. The pill suppresses the communication between the brain and your ovaries which stops ovulation. When most women stop the pill, this communication will come back right away along with regular ovulation and regular periods. Some women however, will experience ovulation suppression for months or even years after the pill, meaning they won’t have a period at all. In these cases, we need an accurate diagnosis in order to treat each case appropriately.

For women with absent periods after the pill, there are three more likely diagnoses:

1. Hypothalamic amenorrhea – meaning the communication between the hypothalamus – pituitary – ovaries is disrupted causing a lack of ovulation and menstruation. This is most common with women who are underweight, extremely stressed or over-exercising.
2. Pill-induced PCOS – where periods were regular before starting the birth control pill, but absent afterwards along with some signs of PCOS such as acne, a high LH to FSH ration and possibly cysts on the ovaries.
3. True PCOS – where periods were irregular before starting the birth control pill, and other signs of PCOS such as insulin resistance, hirsutism, acne and ovarian cysts are likely present. (Remember that many women with PCOS do not have all of the symptoms!)

Chart to diagnose the cause of absent menstruation after stopping oral contraceptives:

*In cases of PCOS, women may not present with all symptoms.

How to Diagnose Pill-Induced PCOS

In a woman with absent periods after stopping the pill, lasting at least 3-4 months, here is how to diagnose pill-induced PCOS:

Clinical features:

• No menstruation for at least 3 months after stopping oral contraceptives.
• Acne – mild to moderate.

Lab testing:

• High LH to FSH ratio – typically 3:1 ratio or more (although the diagnosis is still considered in any case of LH > FSH).
• Fasting insulin level is normal, meaning < 60 pmol/L or < 10 uIU/mL.
• Possibly polycystic ovaries seen on pelvic ultrasound.

Treatment of Pill-Induced PCOS

The good news with a diagnosis of pill-induced PCOS, is that once your menstrual cycle returns and you start to ovulate regularly, the other signs and symptoms of PCOS are likely to resolve for good.

In my own practice, and for many of my colleagues the supplement that works best to bring back ovulation and regular menstruation with pill-induced PCOS is a herbal combination of licorice root and white peony. This is particularly helpful in cases of high LH levels (luteinizing hormone). Licorice and peony supplements are typically continued for 3-4 months, until periods are regular and then the herbs can be stopped. One important note is that licorice root is contraindicated if you have high blood pressure. Also, do not use the popular herb Vitex if LH is high, as it may aggravate your symptoms rather than help to bring back menstruation (Vitex is very helpful for hypothalamic amenorrhea).

Additional factors to consider:

• Stress: Chronically high stress levels tend to amplify any hormone imbalance, including pill-induced PCOS. This is often an obstacle that will stall your progress.
• Nutrition: Eating sufficient calories is essential for regular ovulation and menstruation, as is a balanced nutrition plan. Remember that any type of crash dieting can stop ovulation and will prevent your period from returning too.
• Exercise: Regular, moderate exercise is optimal for hormone balance. Over-exercising can affect ovulation and hormone balance, so use caution with taking on an overly aggressive exercise plan while you are working on getting your period back on track.

I truly hope that this short article has been helpful to clarify the diagnosis of this ‘temporary’ form of PCOS – it can be a very rewarding condition to treat.

Dr. Shawna Darou is a licensed and registered Naturopathic Doctor, who graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (www.ccnm.edu) at the top of her class and was the recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Medal of Excellence. Naturopathic medicine is her second career, her first being Engineering Chemistry from Queen’s University. She now uses her analytical brain and problem solving skills especially in the complicated arena of hormonal health, and in solving health puzzles.