Category: PCOS Treatments

If you’re a woman living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you know the long list of side effects can feel totally overwhelming. Many symptoms affect how your body feels—fatigue, pelvic pain, headaches, painful periods, joint pain, digestive issues… I could go on. However, there are other symptoms that impact the way your body looks, which can be just as challenging.

PCOS can change your appearance in ways that feel out of your control. Weight gain, acne, skin tags, dark patches, hair thinning, and excess facial or body hair can chip away at your confidence and make you feel disconnected from your own beauty and femininity. But here’s the good news: There’s a lot you can do to naturally address these issues!

In this post, I’m focusing specifically on excess facial and body hair growth with PCOS. If you’re looking for tips on the other cosmetic symptoms of PCOS, you’ll find those on the blog too. For now, let’s talk about how to reduce unwanted hair growth with PCOS.

How to Stop Facial Hair Growth Due to PCOS Naturally

First of all, I know you’ve already tried shaving, waxing, and plucking with little success. This dark, coarse hair always comes back with a vengeance. I’ve dealt with it myself! That said, the next step isn’t laser hair removal or hormonal birth control pills. 

Sure, both may give you temporary results. But if you don’t get to the root of the problem, the hair will continue to resurface. Luckily, there are ways you can naturally and permanently stop PCOS facial and body hair growth. 

So before we jump into solutions, let’s talk about why PCOS causes unwanted hair in the first place. Once you understand what’s happening inside your body, you’ll be able to take steps that actually support healing. From this, my hope is that you feel more feminine, confident, and like you again!

How Does PCOS Cause Facial Hair Growth?

Facial hair growth in women with PCOS comes from high androgen levels. Androgens are male sex hormones that our ovaries are supposed to produce in small amounts. We actually need them for things like muscle building, reproductive health, cognitive function, and more! However, it’s not surprising to hear that excess male sex hormones in a female body can cause lots of problems.

When your ovaries produce too many androgens, it can stop ovulation or make it super irregular. And insulin resistance can make the imbalance even worse. About 80% of women with PCOS have this condition, and it’s when your body doesn’t respond properly to glucose. Because of this, you begin producing more insulin to deal with the extra sugar. However, that insulin also binds to receptors in the ovaries, telling them to produce even more androgens.

Okay, but why does that make you grow facial hair, right? Well, androgens stimulate hair follicles on your face, chest, upper lip, jawline, chin, stomach, and sometimes your back. It shifts these hairs into the “active growth” phase, leaving you with thick, dark hair (terminal hair) instead of the usual, basically invisible peach fuzz (vellus hair). 

If all that wasn’t enough, inflammation can also contribute to higher androgen levels. The hormonal imbalances and high insulin levels can signal to your immune system that you’re in a state of emergency. 

This triggers inflammatory activity all over. And if the root issues—high androgens and insulin resistance—aren’t addressed, you end up with chronic inflammation. And chronic inflammation can make your hair follicles more sensitive to androgens and disrupt the normal hair-growth cycle. These are all the ways PCOS can cause unwanted hair growth!

Can Facial Hair Growth From PCOS Be Reversed?

If you want to reverse PCOS facial hair, you have to get to the root issues behind it: inflammation, insulin resistance, and high androgen levels. These three problems all fuel your facial hair growth—and they all feed into each other in a vicious cycle. Here’s how it works:

1. High insulin levels signal your ovaries to pump out more androgens.
2. Those extra androgens throw your hormones off balance and stress your system.
3. This hormonal stress confuses your cortisol rhythm and activates inflammation.
4. Your body stays in a low-grade inflammatory mode even though there’s no real threat.
5. That lingering inflammation makes your cells less responsive to insulin.
6. As insulin resistance gets worse, your body pumps out even more insulin to compensate.
7. The higher insulin levels then trigger excess androgen production, restarting the cycle.

See the problem? And insulin resistance, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances don’t just trigger PCOS facial hair. These are the issues behind pretty much all of your chronic symptoms. So when you get these three things under control, you can achieve all-around symptom relief and actually reverse your PCOS. Pretty amazing, right?

But… easier said than done. You’ve got to break that cycle to stop the domino effect. There’s no single pill or quick procedure that fixes it overnight. However, healing is totally possible! In fact, I have an essential guide to naturally managing your PCOS on the blog. But for now, I’m sharing steps that can specifically help with PCOS facial hair growth.

How to Stop PCOS Hair Growth Naturally

Adopt a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet. 

A gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet is one of the best ways to support your body and improve all three root issues of PCOS. First, as the name suggests, it cuts out inflammatory foods like refined carbs, processed foods, gluten, and dairy. This is extremely helpful for keeping inflammation low, which naturally improves hormone levels!

And without inflammation making insulin resistance worse, you can use the diet to target that, too. By managing your sugar and carb intake—and increasing your fiber and protein—you stabilize your blood sugar. Combine that with nutrient-dense, delicious meals, and you’re well on your way to reversing PCOS symptoms, including facial and body hair growth.

I know this diet might sound restrictive or difficult to stick to, but I promise it’s not. It’s less about what you stop eating and more about what you start eating. You can find all my PCOS-friendly recipes and a built-in meal planner inside The Cysterhood app. And don’t worry—there’s no boring, bland “health food” in sight. You’ll find hundreds of tasty, satisfying recipes that curb cravings and support healing—at the same time.

Here are just a few PCOS-friendly recipes you’ll find on the app:

• Chocolate Waffles
• Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
• California Roll Bowl
• Chicken Alfredo
• Buffalo Chicken Pizza
• Beef Taco Soup
• Pumpkin Pie Fudge 
• Funfetti Cupcakes 

Take supplements to support proper functioning.

Even if you follow the suggested diet perfectly, it’s still hard to get all the daily vitamins and minerals your body needs. That’s where supplements come in! These natural remedies help fill in the gaps and give your body exactly what it needs to balance hormones, reduce inflammation, and lower androgen levels. You just need to take the right ones.

Talk to your doctor about starting this PCOS supplement routine. Also, don’t jump into everything at once—slowly work your way up. This way, your body gets well-rounded support from the essential vitamins and minerals it needs. Below are the supplements included in the routine, along with the ways they support facial-hair management and other PCOS symptoms:  

• Multivitamin: Inflammation and Insulin Sensitivity 
• Omega-3: Inflammation, Insulin Sensitivity, and Androgen Levels
• Curcumin: Inflammation, Insulin Sensitivity, and Androgen Levels
• CoQ10: Inflammation and Insulin Sensitivity 
• Inositol: Androgen Levels and Insulin Sensitivity 
• Berberine: Inflammation, Insulin Sensitivity, and Androgen Levels 
• Probiotics: Inflammation, Insulin Sensitivity, and Androgen Levels 

Reduce stress and cortisol levels.

Cortisol is your stress hormone. When your body experiences stress externally or internally, cortisol rises to trigger your emergency response system. We all know where external stressors come from: a big work project, relationship conflicts, financial struggles… The list is endless.

But internal stressors are just as damaging. Things like nutrient deficiencies, lack of sleep, hormonal imbalances, and more can all send cortisol through the roof. Basically, anything in your body that isn’t going “right” can activate your stress response. 

When cortisol spikes, your body goes into survival mode. (Yes, our bodies can be a little dramatic.) To keep you “safe,” your system increases insulin resistance to store more fat and ramps up inflammation to fight off perceived threats. See the problem?

On top of that, high cortisol pushes reproductive processes to the back burner, delaying ovulation and creating more hormonal imbalance. This includes elevated androgens, which fuel facial and body hair growth along with other PCOS symptoms.

All that to say: keeping stress in check is essential if you want to break the cycle and stop excess hair growth. Internally, you can support your body by following the other tips on this list. Externally, you can help by reducing caffeine intake (AKA liquid stress), practicing meditation and deep breathing, getting outside, setting boundaries, and lightening your mental load.

I know it is easier said than done. But even small steps to cut back on stress can lead to big improvements in your symptoms!

Drink hormone-balancing herbal tea blends. 

Like natural supplements, herbal tea can give your body nutritional support to improve metabolic, digestive, and hormonal function. These herbs have been used for thousands of years as medicine, and now research shows they actually work. Plus, sipping on a warm cup of tea in the morning or at night is super relaxing and stress-relieving. 

To help with facial hair growth from PCOS, you want herbal teas that are anti-androgenic. Basically, you want teas that help lower testosterone levels. And, fortunately, there are several herbs that directly support hormone balance and reduce inflammation. These include spearmint, nettle, lemon balm, chamomile, lavender, orange peel, cinnamon, peppermint, and calendula.

Now, I am not suggesting you buy every one of these individually and rotate them on a schedule. Instead, choose a strategic tea blend like Ovafit’s Testosterone Relief Tea, which includes these hormone-balancing and anti-inflammatory herbs. With just one or two cups a day, you can start seeing real results.

Use slow-weighted and meditative workouts. 

We all know exercise is great for building muscle, but did you know it also supports hormone balance and stabilizes insulin levels? It’s true. The right kinds of workouts make your cells more responsive to insulin. This lowers insulin resistance and signals your ovaries to produce less testosterone. The result is less facial hair growth and fewer androgen-related symptoms.

Exercise also increases your sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. SHBG is a protein that grabs onto testosterone and prevents it from affecting other parts of your body. But that’s not all! Working out reduces inflammation and lowers stress levels, both of which are incredibly helpful for bringing androgen levels back into a healthy range.

However, not all workouts are created equal. At one point, I was kickboxing almost every day and actually gained weight and saw an increase in PCOS symptoms, including facial and body hair growth. Why? Because high-intensity workouts raise adrenaline and cortisol. When your stress hormones spike during intense exercise, they can counteract the benefits, worsening symptoms instead of improving them.

Avoid martial arts, HIIT, CrossFit, bootcamp-style classes, sprinting, intense cycling programs, plyometrics, and long-distance cardio. Instead, focus on low-impact, meditative movements like yoga, swimming, Pilates, walking, and my personal favorite: slow-weighted workouts. If you want a deeper explanation of why Sirak (my husband and a PCOS personal trainer) and I recommend slow-weighted exercise, listen to this episode of A Cyster and Her Mister.

And if you are ready to jump in now, download The Cysterhood app. Not only does it include all the delicious and nutritious recipes I mentioned earlier, but it is also full of PCOS-friendly workout routines. You will never have to guess whether your exercises are helping or hurting your healing. We designed these routines specifically for a Cyster’s unique body and needs.

Get better quality sleep every night. 

Another super beneficial way to support your body is by improving your sleep. Better sleep habits, also known as sleep hygiene, can have a huge impact on how you feel. This is true for anyone, but especially for women with PCOS. While you sleep, your body carries out essential processes that regulate blood sugar levels, balance hormones, and manage inflammation. When your sleep quality is poor, it becomes much harder to keep these things in check.

Research shows that when sleep hygiene improves, you’re likely to see lower cortisol levels, increased insulin sensitivity, healthier SHBG levels, and reduced inflammation. As your circadian rhythm strengthens, hormones like melatonin, insulin, estrogen, and progesterone move into the correct ranges, too! All these shifts work together to lower testosterone levels and improve PCOS symptoms, including excess facial and body hair growth.

You can read our full post on how to sleep better with PCOS, but here are some of our top tips:

• Get sunlight right away in the morning
• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
• Limit screen time at night 
• Consider CBD or a melatonin supplement 
• Keep your bedroom cool and dark—and just for sleeping 

Combine these lifestyle changes with natural, trusted topical treatments. 

I saved this one for last because so many of us are quick to reach for topical treatments to fix PCOS-related skin and hair issues. But without addressing the root problems? Things like excess hair growth, hair thinning, acne, skin tags, and darkened patches will keep coming back. I do not want you wasting money on expensive products with big promises.

That said, if you are already doing the work to balance hormones, reduce inflammation, and lower insulin resistance from the inside out, topical treatments can be a great secondary layer of support. Here are some options to discuss with your doctor:

• Eflornithine Cream (Vaniqa) 
• Azelaic Acid 
• Spearmint Topical Serums
• Tea Tree Oil 
• Licorice Root Extract 

Stop excess facial and body hair growth by healing your body from the inside out. 

At the end of the day, stopping PCOS facial hair growth naturally isn’t just about changing what you see in the mirror. It’s about feeling more in control of your body again. Once you understand what’s driving the symptoms and start addressing the root causes, the changes become noticeable. Your skin calms down, regrowth slows, and your confidence builds right alongside the progress. It’s a steady shift, but it’s totally possible to reverse unwanted hair growth long-term!

For more ways to manage cosmetic symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), read these guides next:

• How to Successfully Lose Weight with PCOS
• How to Treat PCOS Hair Loss Naturally
• All About PCOS Skin Darkening, Acne, and Skin Tags

One of the most common reasons for infertility is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS deal with several sex hormone imbalances that impact the reproductive system in a big way. In fact, up to 80% of Cysters trying to conceive experience infertility.

Fertility symptoms of PCOS include irregular or absent periods, lack of ovulation, ovarian cysts, difficulties with implantation, poor egg quality, recurring miscarriages, and more. Obviously, with a long list like that, it totally makes sense why getting pregnant with PCOS is difficult. 

Because of these struggles, many Cysters opt for assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization (IVF). This kind of support can greatly increase a Cyster’s chance of conceiving! And starting a family is something incredibly important to so many women out there, so I’m in full support of these fertility treatments.

That said, the challenges of PCOS are still at play even when doing IVF. High androgens, low progesterone, and imbalances of estrogen can prevent conception and hinder early development. So, in this post, I want to offer some tips to increase your chances of a successful IVF journey when you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Here’s what you need to do:

PCOS and IVF: How to Increase Your Chances of Success

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has helped millions of couples start a family. It’s a great option for Cysters as it bypasses a lot of the usual hurdles to conception associated with PCOS. It can also be combined with other natural fertility treatments (I love those!) for a compounding effect! 

IVF works by stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved through a minor surgical procedure. Sperm is collected, and then the eggs are fertilized in a lab with that semen. Over the next 3-5 days, the fertilized eggs grow into embryos. Healthy embryos are then implanted into the uterus. 

Pretty cool, right? Technology can do some amazing things. In this post, we’ll discuss more about how PCOS causes infertility, why IVF is a good fertility treatment option, and how to improve your odds of a viable pregnancy. 

Can PCOS Cause Infertility? 

Yes! Nearly all the hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS affect fertility either directly or indirectly. As long as these dysregulated hormones go unmanaged, conception and full-term pregnancy can be really difficult for many Cysters. 

These are the hormones you’re dealing with:

• High Androgens: Can disrupt ovulation and prevent follicle development
• Imbalanced Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): Can disrupt ovulation and prevent follicle development
• High Insulin: Can trigger androgen production, which lowers egg quality and ovulation 
• Low Progesterone: Can thin the uterine lining, preventing proper implantation 
• High Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH): Can disrupt follicle development 
• High Cortisol: Can make the body prioritize other functions over reproduction, disrupting ovulation 

Does IVF Work for PCOS?

Yes! With IVF, eggs are taken directly from the ovaries, so regular ovulation isn’t a necessity. This fertility treatment also allows for controlled hormone environments and intentional egg selection. This, ultimately, can boost the chance of conception and successful pregnancy.

However, there are some risks involved. Women with PCOS are at a higher risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This is when the ovaries are too responsive to fertility medications, and they release a bunch of eggs all at once. Experiencing this can be painful and cause intense hormonal shifts. That said, doctors will monitor PCOS patients closely during IVF to manage and prevent OHSS. 

Beyond OHSS, it’s important to note that you should address the hormonal issues behind your PCOS. Doing so before and during the IVF process ensures that the treatment has a better chance of being effective. Also, remember: Conception isn’t the only hurdle to a full-term pregnancy. Proper fetal development is essential to positive birth outcomes. 

So, to reduce your chances of miscarriage and foster the perfect home for your little one while they wait to be born, make necessary lifestyle changes. You can read my guide to naturally managing PCOS, but I’ll share the habits that’ll make the biggest impact below! 

What Is the Success Rate of IVF with PCOS?

The IVF success rate for women with PCOS is around 55%. This refers to the live birth rates, whereas clinical pregnancy rates are closer to 67%. In comparison, these numbers are much better than other fertility treatment options like intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or laparoscopic ovarian drilling. 

Women undergoing IVF also have a lower chance of having multiple births than with IUI. This is good because multiples can be much harder on your body and lower the chances of a viable pregnancy.  

What IVF Protocol Is Best for PCOS?

Antagonist Protocol (GnRH Antagonist Cycle)

You can ask your doctor about the details of the medical procedure, but this is the procedure most often used for women with PCOS. It prevents your body from ovulating too early, which is safer for your ovaries and helps lower OHSS risk. It’s also a shorter, more gentle ovarian stimulation protocol that tends to have fewer negative side effects. 

Mild or “Low-Dose” Stimulation Protocol

This method is all about “less is more.” It uses lower doses of medication to help your ovaries grow just 5-10 eggs at a time (rather than 15-25). Basically, instead of aiming for a large number of follicles, this protocol prioritizes fewer, higher-quality eggs. Since this whole process requires less medication, it’s also gentle and lowers your risk of OHSS. 

“Freeze-All” Strategy

This last one is a longer process, but it can be worthwhile. In this protocol, eggs are retrieved and immediately frozen. This actually gives your ovaries time to recover from the procedure, which helps prevent OHSS and other negative outcomes. When it’s time to transfer eggs, you undergo a hormonally controlled cycle to increase your chances of a successful transfer. 

How to Improve Egg Quality for IVF: PCOS Edition

Eat a balanced anti-inflammatory diet. 

Since insulin resistance can make it harder to conceive, balancing your metabolism can be super beneficial to your pregnancy goals. An anti-inflammatory, gluten- and dairy-free diet is key to increasing insulin sensitivity with PCOS. 

This improvement in insulin levels supports weight loss and balances hormones—two major hurdles to fertility! Plus, getting your blood sugar in check can reduce the risk of pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and high birth weight. 

Take fertility-supporting supplements. 

There are lots of supplements that can help balance hormones, improve insulin sensitivity, and boost fertility overall. Some of the best fertility supplements for PCOS include Inositol, CoQ10, omega-3, and, of course, a high-quality prenatal vitamin. You can find all these on Ovafit, which is a supplement line specifically formulated for women with PCOS!

Lower your stress levels. 

Stress leads to hormonal imbalances. When we get stressed, our cortisol levels rise—which is why it’s called the “stress hormone.” If those levels become elevated, it sends our bodies into emergency mode. 

And when we’re in this state, our systems stop prioritizing reproduction, worsening all fertility markers. That’s why reducing stress through self-care is so important for supporting better egg quality and a healthy pregnancy!

Do slow-weighted workouts. 

Exercise can boost fertility by helping your body reach a healthy weight, balance hormones, and lower stress. I recommend slow-weighted workouts that keep your heart rate and cortisol levels steady. 

These workouts also build muscle, support fat loss, and improve overall body composition—giving you bigger health benefits overall. For PCOS-friendly routines, check out The Cysterhood app!

Improve your sleep hygiene. 

Sleep is essential for hormone balance. When we sleep, our bodies undergo specific processes that help manage important fertility hormones like cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. 

Numerous studies have shown that IVF success rates significantly improve with 7-10 hours of high-quality sleep! So, try improving your sleeping habits for a big boost in fertility and egg quality.

Drink herbal teas. 

Herbal teas have incredible hormone-balancing properties. I recommend drinking an herbal tea blend like Testosterone Relief Tea. This blend includes ten different herbal teas that have been shown to help lower androgen levels in women with PCOS. That means this tea could help regulate menstrual cycles, normalize ovulation, improve egg quality, and more! 

IVF can be a great way for Cysters struggling with infertility to conceive!

PCOS may make the path to motherhood more challenging, but it doesn’t close the door. Both intentional lifestyle changes and medical interventions can help you conceive and have a successful pregnancy. Just remember, the key to improving your fertility with PCOS is mending hormonal imbalances—which you have the power to do! For more ways to find relief and get pregnant with PCOS, check out these PCOS Weight Loss resources next: 

• How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy with PCOS
• How PCOS Affects Pregnancy 

By now, we’ve all heard about Ozempic and its weight management benefits. For many with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it can sound like a miracle drug. But as more people use Ozempic and other semaglutide prescriptions off-label for weight loss, the drawbacks are becoming clearer. And the truth is, Ozempic isn’t a long-term solution. It just doesn’t address the root causes behind your PCOS symptoms—and often leaves you with lingering side effects that outweigh the benefits.

That said, everyone’s journey looks different. If you’re on Ozempic and also making intentional lifestyle changes to support your health, I’m here to celebrate your progress with you! Still, it’s not just Ozempic’s side effects you need to keep in mind. This medication can also interact with others you may be taking—reducing their effectiveness, worsening side effects, or even putting your health at risk.

If you’re on levothyroxine—or your doctor is considering prescribing it—it’s important to understand how these two drugs might interact. Knowing the potential risks and drawbacks can help you make an informed decision about your symptom management plan.

Here’s what you need to know about levothyroxine and Ozempic for PCOS:

Can I Take Ozempic With Levothyroxine for PCOS?

In most cases, yes, you can take levothyroxine and Ozempic (semaglutide) for PCOS. However, there is evidence that these medications do interact with one another in certain individuals. Even though Ozempic is for improving insulin resistance and levothyroxine is for thyroid hormone management, they both can have a big impact on the digestive system. We’ll get into more details about this below! 

That said, this combination should be used selectively. mainly when managing hypothyroidism alongside PCOS, Type 2 diabetes, or obesity. In these cases, Ozempic and levothyroxine together may be helpful for improving blood sugar control, supporting thyroid health, boosting metabolism, increasing energy, balancing hormones, and reducing your risk of thyroid cancer, type 2 diabetes, and other long-term complications. 

Of course, always discuss everything with your doctor. They’ll have the best understanding of how these medications may work together for people managing PCOS and thyroid issues.

Important note: Never use Ozempic if you have a personal or family history of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome type 2 (MEN2). This rare genetic disorder significantly increases the risk of developing medullary thyroid cancer! In fact, studies have shown that semaglutide can raise the risk of thyroid tumors, especially in those with a family history of medullary thyroid cancer. If you’ve been diagnosed with either, steer clear of Ozempic.

What Is Levothyroxine Used for?

Levothyroxine is FDA-approved for treating hypothyroidism, which is when your thyroid gland fails to produce adequate thyroid hormones. The underactive thyroid causes a chain reaction of hormonal imbalances, leading to weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, dry skin, mood issues, and more. Levothyroxine works by replacing the missing thyroid hormones to restore balance.

This can be especially important for women with PCOS, since hypothyroidism is more common in Cysters. In fact, it’s one of the four types of PCOS! Research shows thyroid disorders show up almost twice as often in people with PCOS compared to everyone else. So, if you’re using Ozempic to improve insulin resistance while taking levothyroxine for thyroid hormone support, you may find success in relieving chronic symptoms. (Here’s more on PCOS and thyroid health.)

Beyond hypothyroidism, levothyroxine is also prescribed for other thyroid-related issues, including goiter, thyroid cancer, and certain thyroid conditions during pregnancy. Essentially, if your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones, levothyroxine can step in to fill the gap and help relieve symptoms.

That said, it’s important to remember that this medication isn’t a cure—it only works as long as you take it. This is why it’s essential to make diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to improve hypothyroidism and PCOS for good!

Does Ozempic Interact With Levothyroxine?

Ozempic has the potential to interfere with levothyroxine (and vice versa). One of the ways Ozempic works is by slowing down digestion, which helps food move more gradually through your system to support weight loss. While that can be helpful for blood sugar and appetite control, it also creates a challenge when paired with levothyroxine.

Levothyroxine needs to be absorbed at a specific point in your digestive tract to work properly. If Ozempic is slowing down gastric emptying, it can delay or reduce levothyroxine’s absorption. That means the thyroid medication is less effective!

Because of this, it’s important to have a clear treatment plan in place with your doctor if you’re prescribed both medications. Timing, dosage, and monitoring really matter here.

Here are some helpful resources for managing blood sugar levels and thyroid hormones:

• PCOS and Thyroid: Symptoms, Connections, and Solutions
• Decoding PCOS Hormones: Thyroid Talk with Dr. Cassie Smith
• Reversing Insulin Resistance with PCOS

How to Take Ozempic and Levothyroxine Together for PCOS

Step One: Take levothyroxine first thing in the morning. 

Levothyroxine works best on an empty stomach. Taking it first thing in the morning helps your body absorb the hormone properly. At the same time, this ensures your thyroid levels stay consistent throughout the day.

Step Two: Don’t eat or drink for at least 30 minutes. 

After taking Levothyroxine, wait at least 30-60 minutes before eating or drinking anything besides water. Food, coffee, or supplements like calcium and iron can interfere with absorption and reduce the medication’s effectiveness.

Step Three: Administer your Ozempic injections weekly at the same time each day. 

Ozempic is taken once a week, so stick to the same day and time to keep your blood sugar steady. Just be sure it doesn’t overlap with your morning levothyroxine. Try scheduling your Ozempic shot in the afternoon or evening! Not only does this help with consistency, but it’s an easy way to make sure you’re pairing it with meals.

Step Four: Get thyroid labs done more frequently. 

Since you are taking levothyroxine, regular thyroid blood tests (TSH, T4) help your doctor make sure your dose is correct. Labs may be needed more frequently when starting treatment or adjusting doses. I recommend Equilife’s Stress, Mood & Metabolism Test for regular bloodwork!

Step Five: Track your side effects and symptoms. 

Keep track of any side effects you experience while taking Ozempic and levothyroxine. For Ozempic, watch for nausea, vomiting, or digestive changes. For levothyroxine, note symptoms of over- or under-treatment, like rapid heartbeat, jitteriness, fatigue, or extreme weight changes. Monitoring your response helps your doctor adjust doses safely.

Step Six: Work on your long-term solution.

Remember, neither Ozempic nor Levothyroxine provides permanent results. They only work while you’re taking them! Once you stop, thyroid and metabolic issues will come right back. That’s why I personally believe every prescription (when possible) should come with an “exit plan.” You can raise your insulin sensitivity, balance your hormones, and support your thyroid health naturally—without relying forever on meds or expensive therapies.

For more on long-term healing, read my full guide to natural PCOS symptom management. In addition to this, I recommend starting with these key lifestyle changes: 

• Switch to a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet
• Do regular slow-weighted workouts 
• Take Inositol Complete 40:1, Berberine Advanced, and the Metabolism Plus Bundle
• Download The Cysterhood App for meal plans, exercises, community, and tons more PCOS healing resources 

Ozempic and levothyroxine can be taken together for short-term relief.

For decades, our relationship with healthcare has been: “there’s a pill for that.” However, we’ve all seen that this approach rarely brings true relief. Ultimately, it just means trading one set of side effects for another, relying on synthetic fixes instead of addressing the root cause. The side effects of Ozempic and levothyroxine, especially when taken long-term, can far outweigh the benefits. You deserve long-lasting relief and real results!

Changing just a few things about your lifestyle can have a profound effect on your health. And these results? They’re permanent! Stick with these new healthy habits, and you can reverse symptoms of PCOS and hypothyroidism for good.

For more PCOS healing tips and resources, browse the PCOS Weight Loss blog and listen weekly to the A Cyster and Her Mister Podcast. I’m excited to join you on your healing journey!

When you were first diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a lot of things probably started to click—maybe the irregular periods, acne, fatigue, or stubborn weight gain suddenly made more sense. But some symptoms, like facial hair growth, can feel more confusing, frustrating, or even isolating.

Excess facial or body hair (called hirsutism) is a common but often under-discussed PCOS symptom. It’s linked to higher levels of androgens—aka male hormones—and it can impact your confidence, self-esteem, and how you feel in your body.

If you’re dealing with this, you’re not alone—and there are real, science-backed ways to address it. In this post, we’ll walk through what causes facial hair growth with PCOS, and the simple, sustainable changes you can make to support your hormones and feel more at home in your skin.

How To Stop Facial Hair Growth Due To PCOS: The Hirsutism and Hormone Connection

When we’re unhappy with the way we look, it can deeply affect our confidence and sense of self-worth. It’s more than just a surface-level concern; it can hold us back from showing up fully in our lives, making connections, and embracing new opportunities. In short, we start missing out on the joy and experiences we deserve.

The good news? Unwanted facial hair growth can be reversed. But before we dive into how to naturally reduce it, it’s important to understand what causes it in the first place.

Why Does PCOS Cause Facial Hair Growth?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition. Hormone imbalance is one of the core issues that causes symptoms! But, which exact hormones are causing facial hair growth? Androgens. 

High androgen levels (male sex hormones like testosterone) aren’t natural for a female body. The ovaries are meant to produce it in small amounts, but with PCOS, the ovaries produce way too much! This excessive androgen production is the cause of irregular menstrual cycles, acne, infertility, weight gain, fatigue, skin darkening, head hair loss, and unwanted facial hair growth.

Elevated androgens can also lead to high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, which prompts the ovaries to produce more testosterone. It’s all a cycle that can be difficult to break if you don’t know what’s going on or where to start! (That’s where I come in.) We’ll get to how you can naturally balance androgens and improve insulin sensitivity below.

What Does PCOS Facial Hair Look Like?

Remember, androgens are male sex hormones, so when they’re elevated, the hair growth that results tends to resemble male-pattern growth. This means thick, coarse, dark hair appearing on areas like the chin, upper lip, jawline, sideburns, neck, and even the cheeks. Unlike the soft, barely visible peach fuzz most women have in these areas, this hair is much more noticeable and defined.

Do All Women With PCOS Have Facial Hair?

Not exactly. Depending on the type of PCOS a person has, androgen levels may not be high enough to trigger hirsutism or other symptoms associated with elevated testosterone. You can get a good idea of what PCOS type you have by taking this quiz! 

How To Stop Facial Hair Growth With PCOS

Take supplements that promote hormone balance and insulin sensitivity. 

One of the best natural treatments for hirsutism is a good supplement routine! High-quality, NSF-certified, research-backed supplements that support hormone balance and insulin sensitivity can give your body the support it needs to ditch the facial hair and heal. 

Here are my recommended supplements to stop hirsutism: 

• Inositol Complete 40:1 – Inositol Complete is a combination of myo- and d-chiro-inositol in the ideal 40:1 ratio. It supports healthy insulin levels, which you now know is key since insulin resistance can drive up androgen production.
• Berberine Advanced  – Berberine is a natural compound that activates AMPK, a key enzyme for metabolic health. It improves insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation, and helps lower testosterone levels—all of which can contribute to less hair growth over time.
• Zinc – Zinc is an essential mineral that helps regulate androgen levels and reduces the activity of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into its more potent form, DHT. This is one of the many important reasons we had to include it in our PCOS multivitamin, MetaMulti.
• Vitamin D – Vitamin D deficiency is common in women with PCOS and has been linked to higher androgen levels. And just like zinc, it’s found in OvaFit’s MetaMulti multivitamin.

Drink hormone-balancing herbal tea blends like Testosterone Relief Tea. 

You’ll often hear herbal teas recommended to improve high androgens, like spearmint tea. After looking at the latest research, we found that there are multiple herbs that are beneficial for targeting hormonal imbalances in PCOS. So we suggest getting a tea blend that combines as many of them as possible to get even more power in your cup!

Ovafit’s Testosterone Relief Tea is exactly that. It’s curated specifically to help with PCOS hyperandrogenism. It combines spearmint, lemon balm, orange peel, chamomile, rosehip, peppermint, cinnamon, nettle, lavender, and calendula tea, all shown to help improve PCOS hormone balance when you have a consistent routine! I recommend drinking it 2- 3 times a day.

Try a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet. 

The foods we eat have a profound effect on our hormones and blood sugar levels, of course. I recommend trying a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet for 30 days because for many Cysters this has helped them to reduce inflammation, boost insulin sensitivity, and balance hormones, which all had an impact on improving PCOS symptoms

I know the word “diet” can be triggering, but I promise this diet isn’t restrictive. It’s just intentional! You’ll be surprised how easy it is to keep your favorite meals even just by swapping ingredients our that are typically inflammatory. Here’s more on how to reverse PCOS with diet, and don’t forget to download The Cysterhood app to get PCOS-friendly meal plans and recipes!

Do regular slow-weighted and meditative workouts. 

When we constantly push our bodies with high-intensity workouts like HIIT, our cortisol (stress hormone) levels spike, triggering a domino effect that can raise androgen levels even more. That means more breakouts, more hair loss on the scalp… and more unwanted hair in places it shouldn’t be.

That’s why slow-weighted workouts are one of our top recommendations for managing hirsutism with PCOS. These workouts help build lean muscle and improve insulin sensitivity, which are two powerful ways to naturally reduce testosterone levels. They’re low-intensity and don’t trigger that fight-or-flight stress response, making them a hormone-friendly way to support your body and feel more in control of your symptoms.

You can find guided slow-weighted workouts in The Cysterhood app, created specifically to help you reduce symptoms like hirsutism while supporting healthy weight loss and energy levels. Movement shouldn’t make your symptoms worse!

Reduce stress levels and adopt a healthier mindset. 

Lowering stress and adopting a healthier mindset can help reduce high androgens in PCOS by calming cortisol levels, which are linked to spikes in testosterone. Because many of us Cysters already have chronically high cortisol levels, stress management can help supports hormone balance, reduce inflammation, and create a more supportive environment for easing PCOS symptoms. So, practice better self-care to keep you calm and focused! 

Prioritize getting 7-10 hours of great quality sleep. 

We know getting quality sleep with PCOS isn’t always easy—between blood sugar crashes, stress, and hormonal imbalances, restful nights can feel rare. But if you’re struggling with hirsutism, prioritizing sleep might be more important than you think. Poor sleep can increase cortisol (your stress hormone), and chronic high cortisol can throw your other hormones off balance, especially insulin and testosterone. This hormonal storm can make symptoms like facial hair, acne, and scalp hair loss even more intense.

Sleep is one of your body’s best tools for regulating hormones naturally. During deep sleep, your body works to repair cells, reset your stress response, and balance key hormones like melatonin and insulin—all of which impact androgen levels. To support hormone health and reduce hirsutism, aim for 7–9 hours of consistent, quality sleep each night.

Some tips we recommend: get morning sunlight to reset your circadian rhythm, avoid screens an hour before bed, keep your room cool and dark, and try a calming nighttime routine.

Cut out common endocrine disruptors. 

Cutting out common endocrine disruptors like BPA, phthalates, and parabens is a gentle but powerful way to support your hormones, especially if you’re struggling with symptoms like breakouts, irregular cycles, or unwanted facial hair from elevated androgens. These chemicals are found in everyday items like plastic water bottles, non-stick cookware, scented lotions, perfumes, candles, cleaning supplies, and even some makeup and period products.

Over time, these compounds can mimic or interfere with your natural hormones, contributing to the hormonal imbalance behind PCOS and hirsutism. By slowly swapping them out for cleaner, low-tox alternatives, you’re giving your body the chance to rebalance naturally and feel more in sync. Think of it as a small step with big benefits.

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s how to remove endocrine disruptors. 

Try acupuncture, cold exposure, and/or castor oil packs!

Natural healing methods are finally getting the scientific recognition they deserve—and for Cysters struggling with hirsutism, these tools can offer additional support by improving hormone balance and insulin sensitivity:

• Acupuncture – By calming the nervous system and lowering cortisol, acupuncture may indirectly help lower testosterone levels, which can ease symptoms like unwanted facial hair.
• Cold Exposure – Regular cold exposure, like cold showers or short ice baths, may help reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity. Since insulin resistance can trigger higher androgen levels (which leads to hirsutism), anything that helps regulate blood sugar can help minimize facial hair growth over time.
• Castor Oil Packs – Applying castor oil packs to the lower abdomen can improve circulation, support liver detox, and reduce pelvic inflammation. A well-functioning liver is essential for processing excess androgens, which may help reduce symptoms like chin hair and acne.

While these may not be overnight fixes, adding one or two to your weekly routine may help support the deeper healing your body needs to reduce hirsutism from the inside out. Always listen to your body and track what works best for you!

Think twice before getting laser hair removal. 

I tried it in the past, but I don’t recommend trying this method of hair removal if you want something more sustainable or long term. The high androgens make the hair thicker and darker, growing from much deeper hair follicles. Because of this, this method may not remove hair as effectively as you hoped. Plus, if the underlying hormone issue isn’t fixed, the hair will likely grow back. However, if this method is helping you control the appearance on the outside while you continue working on balancing hormones on the inside, continue doing what works best for you!

Know the risks of oral contraceptives and other anti-androgen medications. 

Some women with PCOS may choose to manage hirsutism with birth control or anti-androgen medications, and if that’s working for you, that’s completely okay! We fully support your right to choose what’s best for your body. However, it’s important to know that these treatments often mask the symptoms rather than address the root causes, like hormone imbalances or insulin resistance. They can also come with side effects and aren’t always a long-term solution.

If you’ve been told birth control is your only option, we want you to know there are other ways. Natural healing strategies, like nourishing your body with the right foods, movement, supplements, and stress support, can gently help rebalance hormones and reduce hirsutism at the root. It takes time and consistency, but the results can be longer-lasting and empowering.

For more on the risks of birth control and other PCOS meds, listen to this episode of A Cyster and Her Mister.

Balance high androgens to stop unwanted PCOS facial hair!

In the end, dealing with facial hair from PCOS isn’t about quick fixes, it’s about addressing the root cause: your hormones. By embracing natural methods like the ones above and finding which ones can become a part of your lifestyle as a natural routine, you can start to tackle the issue at its source! 

It’s all about supporting your body in a way that’s gentle, sustainable, and long-term. It might take time, but with the right approach, you can reverse your PCOS, reverse your symptoms, and say goodbye to unwanted hair growth! 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects millions of women of reproductive age. Because symptoms can vary so much, PCOS is often difficult to diagnose and usually requires multiple tests and evaluations. But here’s the good news—you don’t need to wait for an official diagnosis to start making changes that support your hormones! Simple lifestyle strategies can help you take control of your symptoms and start feeling better today.

One PCOS symptom that often flies under the radar? PCOS face shape. Yes, Cyster—if you’ve noticed changes in your facial features, it could be linked to your hormones! But that’s not all—PCOS can also be behind weight gain, bloating, digestive problems, a weakened immune system, excessive hair growth. And here’s the thing: many of these symptoms stem from the same root cause that contributes to PCOS face shape.

Let’s break it all down and get to the real reasons behind these changes—so you can start seeing improvements from the inside out!

What Causes PCOS Face Shape? 

Because PCOS is a hormonal disorder, it affects your entire body—including your face. Hormonal imbalances can impact facial fat distribution and inflammation, sometimes leading to changes known as ‘moon face.’

What is PCOS Moon Face?

“Moon face” refers to some common facial features seen in women with PCOS. Often, Cysters have rounder, fuller cheeks, puffy eyelids, double chins, and even excess facial hair growth (hirsutism). Of course, the way PCOS may affect your physical appearance isn’t the most important reason to fix your PCOS face shape. However, these facial features can be a sign of an underlying problem that is probably contributing to a lot of your other chronic symptoms and the problem could be increasing your risk of common PCOS long-term complications like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. All in all, it’s a good idea to discover what’s the root cause of your moon face to support your PCOS healing journey. 

How Does PCOS Change Your Face Shape?

PCOS can change your face shape, as well as the rest of the body, due to its effect on inflammation, hormone imbalance, and insulin resistance. 

Inflammation

First of all, inflammation can cause bloating and facial swelling. Chronic inflammation is when your immune system is overactive and attacks healthy cells. This state causes our bodies to retain fluid and bloat! Inflammation can also contribute to insulin resistance, which is another culprit of PCOS moon face. 

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance occurs when your cells don’t process glucose (AKA sugar) properly. Instead of using it for energy, your body stores it as fat—contributing to weight gain and elevated blood sugar levels. Over time, this can also affect where fat is stored, including your face, leading to noticeable changes in facial shape.

But that’s not all—insulin resistance can also prolong inflammation and contribute to hormonal imbalances, which may worsen other PCOS symptoms like bloating, acne, and excess hair growth. Addressing insulin resistance is key to balancing hormones and reducing these effects!

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances are a big contributor to PCOS moon face. Progesterone is a necessary hormone for digestion, and at low levels, our bodies have a tendency to retain water. Women with PCOS are often deficient in progesterone, leading to fertility and menstrual problems. (One of the main signs of low progesterone is irregular periods or no periods.) Progesterone, though, as we’ve just discussed can impact physical appearances, too! 

Progesterone isn’t the only hormone playing a role in PCOS facial feature changes. Excess male hormones (androgens) in a Cyster’s body can worsen insulin resistance, further prompting weight gain. But, high androgen levels can also cause excess facial or body hair growth, leading to unwanted dark, coarse hair on the face. It can also lead to male pattern hair loss!

Though appearance isn’t the most important part of your healing journey, for many Cysters, getting their body back is essential to feeling empowered, confident, and joyful again. The changes in your body are signs of bigger troubles within, so let’s take some time to discuss how to lower inflammation, increase insulin sensitivity, and balance excess androgens and other hormones. Here’s what you can do to reduce PCOS moon face:

How To Reduce PCOS Moon Face

Reduce stress. 

Reducing stress is super helpful when trying to reduce PCOS moon face because stress is one of the biggest contributors to weight gain. Of course, the food we eat is a big part of it, but stress can worsen insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances! That means even when you’re eating well and exercising, you may not see change until you find ways to relieve stress. 

You can relieve stress with PCOS by spending time in nature, getting better sleep, cutting back on commitments, doing slow-weighted workouts, engaging in a hobby, and lots more! Figure out what helps you relax, and this can help with weight gain and bloating!

Drink more water. 

Staying hydrated is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce fluid retention—especially in the face! When your body senses dehydration, it holds onto excess water, leading to puffiness and swelling. Drinking enough water helps flush out excess sodium and toxins, reducing bloating and inflammation.

Hydration also plays a key role in liver function, which is essential for hormone balance. Your liver helps process excess androgens and estrogen, so supporting it with proper hydration can aid in reducing hormonal imbalances that contribute to facial swelling, acne, and weight gain.

✨ Pro tip: Swap sugar-sweetened beverages for filtered water, herbal teas, or lemon water to keep inflammation low and hydration high!

Consume less salt and processed foods. 

We all know that salt is the worst when it comes to swelling. Processed foods aren’t any better! So, cutting back on these two things can do a lot for PCOS face shape. Specifically, having salt and processed food in moderation can help reduce water retention, improve insulin sensitivity, decrease inflammation, and balance hormones. Yes, all that! The way we eat can have a big impact on our PCOS symptoms, including moon face! 

Maintain a balanced diet overall.

That being said, a balanced diet is key to healing your PCOS and living symptom-free. The goal is to make food our best friend and not our worst enemy with PCOS. Remember, we can still have delicious food and our favorite meals with PCOS-friendly modifications. There are sooo many delicious meal options and ingredient alternatives/substitutions that’ll satisfy your cravings, relieve symptoms, and help you lose weight. 

I recommend trying an anti-inflammatory gluten- and dairy-free diet for 30 days to see how you feel. Many Cysters find this approach helpful because gluten and dairy can trigger inflammation, worsen insulin resistance, and disrupt hormone balance—all key drivers of PCOS symptoms. Gluten may contribute to gut inflammation, which can lead to leaky gut and heightened immune responses, making PCOS symptoms like bloating, fatigue, and cravings worse. Dairy contains hormones and insulin-spiking proteins that can increase testosterone levels, leading to acne, weight gain, and excess facial hair growth.

• PCOS Breakfast Ideas
• PCOS Lunch Ideas
• Snack Ideas for PCOS
• PCOS-Fighting Foods
• PCOS Diet Plan 

Exercise regularly. 

Exercise is also great for your overall PCOS healing goals! Focusing on slow-weighted workouts or other meditative exercises can help reduce stress, lower insulin resistance, lower inflammation, balance hormones, and, of course, promote PCOS weight loss! All these things can help shape your face and get rid of PCOS moon face. 

Like I said, not all exercises are made for PCOS. High-intensity workouts that get your heart rate up and pump your body full of cortisol and adrenaline probably won’t help you reach your goals! You can learn more about PCOS exercises here and make sure you download The Cysterhood app for all the best PCOS-friendly workout plans! 

Get better sleep.

So many of our body’s physiological processes take place while we’re asleep. That means, when we don’t get enough good quality sleep, our body can’t carry out the essential functions necessary to ditch PCOS face shape. That means if you prioritize better sleep hygiene to get those 7-9 hours of great sleep, you can see improvements in all the root issues of PCOS face shape, including insulin resistance, inflammation, and hormone imbalance. With this tip, you can literally reach your goals in your sleep. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Take Ovasitol and a multivitamin.

Even with a well-balanced PCOS-friendly diet, getting all the essential vitamins and minerals can be challenging—and that’s a big deal because nutrient deficiencies are common in women with PCOS and can contribute to inflammation, insulin resistance, and even moon face. Your body needs the right nutrients to support hormone balance, reduce inflammation, and optimize metabolism—which is why supplementing can make a huge difference!

Ovasitol is one of my favorite PCOS supplements because it helps regulate insulin resistance and hormone imbalances, two of the biggest culprits behind stubborn PCOS symptoms (including facial bloating and puffiness). Learn more about it in this episode of A Cyster and Her Mister podcast!

A high-quality multivitamin, like Ovafit’s MetaMulti, is another must-have! It’s packed with dozens of essential nutrients that many women with PCOS are deficient in—giving your body the full-spectrum support it needs to function at its best. When your body gets the nutrients it needs, you’ll start noticing changes in your energy, skin, bloating, and more!

Talk to your doctor. 

If you’re struggling with PCOS symptoms, talking to a doctor is an important step. But I know how discouraging it can be when you leave an appointment with more questions than answers. Many of us have been given quick-fix solutions without real guidance on why our bodies are struggling in the first place.

That’s why it’s so important to keep searching for the right healthcare provider—someone who listens, understands PCOS, and works with you to find a treatment plan that feels right for you. They may suggest birth control, metformin, spironolactone, or other prescriptions, and while these can be helpful for some, make sure to do your own research, ask questions, and weigh the pros and cons before making your decision.

At the end of the day, you are your best health advocate—and you deserve to feel heard, supported, and empowered in your PCOS journey.

PCOS face shape happens due to hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and insulin resistance.

Once you get a PCOS diagnosis, treatment for PCOS can feel limited . . . meanwhile, the symptoms of PCOS can be overwhelming. But, don’t worry! There are so many ways to naturally reverse your PCOS and live symptom-free with PCOS! You can reverse everything from moon face and PCOS acne to heavy periods and weight gain.

Here at PCOS Weight Loss I’m all about helping you find relief from all your symptoms by presenting you all the options you may not have known were possible. To take your PCOS journey to the next level, download The Cysterhood app, join our community, and let’s do this thing together!

It’s no secret that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often struggle to become pregnant. In fact, up to 80% of women with PCOS will experience infertility due to high levels of androgens and other hormonal dysregulation. On top of that, there’s often pressure to conceive before 35 for the best chances of a healthy pregnancy, making it seem like time isn’t on our side. But here’s the good news: there are ways to support your body and improve fertility naturally, giving you more options and flexibility on your journey.

Modern medicine has provided lots of new options for women needing fertility support. One of those options is egg freezing! If you’ve ever been curious about the process, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re diving into how PCOS can impact fertility treatments and what you can do to prepare your body for egg retrieval and freezing. Let’s break it all down together!

How PCOS Affects Egg Freezing: What Every Future Mom Needs to Know

Egg freezing is a process where healthy eggs are retrieved, frozen, and safely stored for future use—giving women the option to pause the fertility clock. But what about Cysters? Is egg freezing the right choice if you have PCOS?

Here’s what you should know:

How Does Egg Freezing Work?

Egg freezing is a complex process! However, it can be a great way to preserve your opportunities of becoming pregnant, even if you aren’t planning to at this time. Before deciding if egg freezing is the right choice for you, it’s important to fully understand the process. After all, being informed is the first step in making the best decision for your fertility journey!

Here’s how egg freezing works: 

Step-by-Step Process of Egg Freezing

• Step 1: Consultation – Your first step is meeting with a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist for a deep dive into your fertility journey. This is your chance to ask questions, discuss your medical history and goals, and get a clear understanding of the egg freezing process.
• Step 2: Baseline Testing – To understand your full reproductive picture, you’ll get labs and ultrasounds done to check in on your hormonal balances, ovarian reserve, and overall reproductive health. 
• Step 3: Hormone Injections – The doctors will stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs via hormone injections. This usually takes a couple of weeks. 
• Step 4: Monitoring – Doctors will now monitor the growth and development of the eggs via blood tests and ultrasounds. 
• Step 5: Receive Trigger Shot – Once the egg is the right size, you’ll get a shot of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that’s often called a “trigger shot.” This preps the eggs for retrieval. 
• Step 6: Egg Retrieval Procedure – 36 hours after the trigger shot, you’ll undergo a minor surgical procedure to retrieve the eggs. Doctors use a thin needle to collect the eggs. 
• Step 7: Recovery – The procedure itself takes about 30 minutes, and most women can head home the same day. Some mild discomfort and light bleeding are normal, but recovery is usually quick!
• Step 8: Assessment of Eggs – The doctor will assess the eggs to determine their maturity and quality. 
• Step 9: Vitrification (AKA Freezing) – The high-quality eggs are rapidly frozen using a process called vitrification, which helps preserve their viability by preventing ice crystal formation.
• Step 10: Storage – The frozen eggs are carefully stored in liquid nitrogen at extremely low temperatures to maintain their quality and viability for future use.
• Step 11: Thawing and Assessment – When you’re ready to use your eggs, doctors thaw the ones you want and re-assess for quality. 
• Step 12: In Vitro Fertilization – Eggs are then fertilized and developed into embryos via in-vitro fertilization. 
• Step 13: Embryo Transfer – Once the embryos are ready, they are transferred to your (or your surrogate’s) uterus!

Can Women With PCOS Freeze Their Eggs?

YES! Freezing eggs can be a really good option for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)! First of all, Cysters often produce a higher number of eggs, making the chances of successful egg retrieval actually higher with PCOS. But, more than that, egg freezing can give you control over your fertility. No matter the circumstance, freezing your eggs can give you flexibility in the timing of your pregnancy.

Hormonal dysregulation, inflammation, and insulin resistance (the three core issues leading to a bulk of PCOS symptoms) can make conceiving, staying pregnant, and having a healthy pregnancy challenging. Women with PCOS often experience irregular menstrual cycles, anovulation, reduced egg quality, ovarian cysts, high blood pressure, difficulty managing blood sugar, and low progesterone levels, which are all less than ideal for pregnancy.

The good news is, there are natural ways to improve these root issues and symptoms to have a successful pregnancy with PCOS. However, if you’re still working on healing your body to boost your fertility, egg freezing is an option to increase your reproductive age window.

Curious about when you should get pregnant with PCOS? Here’s the ideal age for getting pregnant with PCOS. 

How To Prepare For Egg Freezing When You Have PCOS

Start taking steps to improve your symptoms and heal your body. 

First of all, if you’ve decided to start the egg retrieval process, congratulations! A great way to begin your journey is by taking steps to improve your reproductive health and heal your body. Because once you are ready to get pregnant, you’ll want your body to be in optimal health. Regulated hormones, increased insulin sensitivity, and reduced inflammation will help increase your chances of sustaining a healthy pregnancy! 

Here are some lifestyle changes that can help you reverse your symptoms and get control over your PCOS:

– Change your diet:

A balanced diet can make all the difference when getting to the root issues of your PCOS symptoms. For PCOS I recommend you trying a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet for 30 days to see if this makes an impact on your symptoms and reducing inflammation. You can find recipes and meal plans on The Cysterhood app. To boost your fertility, here is a list of foods that I recommend!

– Exercise regularly:

Slow-weighted or meditative workouts can be a great tool for improving PCOS symptoms and reproductive health. You can also find PCOS-friendly workout routines on the app! Unlike high-intensity exercise, which can spike cortisol and disrupt hormones, strength training at a controlled pace helps regulate insulin, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow to the ovaries. It also supports a healthy metabolism and minimizes stress on the body, creating an optimal environment for hormone regulation and reproductive health.

– Take fertility-boosting supplements:

Even with a strategic diet, it’s hard to get all the right vitamins and minerals to help your body thrive. To boost the effectiveness of all your fertility and healing efforts, I recommend high-quality, NSF-certified prenatal supplements like Purely Prenatal, which provides a pre-conception multivitamin for PCOS and coenzyme Q10 for egg quality.

– Get more sleep:

Sleep is essential for supporting a healthy metabolism, immune health, and adrenal system. Take steps to improve your sleep hygiene to get high-quality rest. 

– Stay hydrated:

Drinking plenty of water can help improve hormone regulation, uterine health, and plenty of other PCOS and fertility symptoms!  

Learn about the whole process of egg freezing. 

Learning about the process and hearing real stories from women who’ve been through it can help you feel more prepared, both physically and emotionally. No matter where you are in your fertility journey, you deserve to feel informed, supported, and empowered every step of the way.

Meet with a fertility specialist. 

I recommend seeing a fertility specialist for your next step! You’ll discuss things like your medical history, your PCOS symptoms, your long-term pregnancy plans, and more. The right specialist should really listen to you, answer all your questions, and make you feel hopeful about your journey! 

Get labs done to establish a baseline and evaluate your ovarian reserve. 

In order to establish a baseline and get a sense of your current health, your fertility specialist will have you undergo some testing. Blood tests will give you and your doctor vital information on your hormone levels while an ultrasound will assess your ovarian reserve. They may also do an X-ray to check the inside of your uterus and fallopian tubes for any problem areas. Here, you’ll find out what’s possible in your reproductive future!  

Make a plan to financially cover the egg-freezing process. 

It’s important to be aware that fertility treatments can be a big financial investment. Before diving in, it helps to have a game plan for covering costs so you can move forward with confidence. Check in on your employer benefits, explore your savings, and set a budget that aligns with your goals. Your specialist can walk you through the full breakdown, but expect costs to range from $10,000 to $15,000, plus an annual storage fee of $500 to $1,200 for your frozen eggs. Planning ahead can ease some of the stress, so you can focus on what truly matters—your fertility journey.

Start tracking your cycle the best you can. 

To map the best times to do your egg retrieval process, start tracking your cycle. I know this can be difficult for some of us who are still trying to work with our PCOS to get our period cycles regular. However, as you make those lifestyle changes to heal your symptoms, your period is likely to become more regular. For more guidance, here’s how to track ovulation with irregular periods. 

Prepare for hormone stimulation.

This next stage involves taking injections to encourage your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. To support your body through the process, now’s the time to double down on those key lifestyle shifts we talked about. Prioritize nourishing foods, stress reduction, and plenty of rest. It’s also a good idea to skip alcohol and follow any personalized recommendations from your doctor or fertility specialist. The more you support your body now, the better you’ll feel throughout your journey!

Monitor your side effects and report any concerning symptoms to your doctors. 

If at any time in the process, you experience concerning symptoms, make sure you communicate that to your fertility specialist. It’s important that you stay in the best health possible, so any negative side effects need to be quickly addressed to keep you on track. 

Additionally, it’s important you know that as a Cyster you’re at a higher risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), especially if you have high AMH levels or a large ovarian reserve. Essentially, this complication happens when your ovaries respond too strongly to the process, causing ovarian swelling, fluid leakage, abdominal pressure, weight gain, and hormonal imbalances.

In extreme cases, it can also affect kidney functioning and cardiovascular health.This is why it’s so important for us Cysters to find a healthcare provider who truly listens and understands the full picture of your PCOS journey. The right doctor will take all your symptoms into account and work with you to create a plan that supports your health and well-being. So if you needed a sign to seek another doctor…this is it!

Ensure you have a plan for post-op support. 

Egg retrieval is a minor surgery, but it’s still a good idea to have someone to help you around the house for at least 24 hours post-op. You’ll be told to get rest and avoid any strenuous activity plus, you’ll be recovering from anesthesia, and it’s always a good idea to have someone monitor you after that. The process can also be an emotional process, so don’t hesitate to ask your loved ones to be there for you during this time. 

Egg freezing is an option available for women with PCOS!

Egg freezing can offer peace of mind when it comes to your fertility. PCOS can be overwhelming, and the added stress of conceiving “right now” doesn’t help your reproductive health and overall PCOS journey. So, if you need more time before you’re ready physically, emotionally, or mentally to have a baby, egg freezing is a great option for women with PCOS!

For more on managing your PCOS and boosting fertility, check out the PCOS Weight Loss blog and the A Cyster and Her Mister podcast! We discuss everything from losing weight with PCOS to navigating birth control, all to help you through this whole process. We can do this together!