I'm a transboy, just got diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. I've been trying to look stuff up, but I keep having to leave the computer. I feel sick every time it says "women who have... women experience" as if the diagnosis isn't hard enough to take without all that (obviously, it's not the writers' faults, but it's still no fun). My doctor says I need to start on birth control pills (in my head this says "estrogen pills") and I'm freaking out a bit about that. It would be a pretty low does, according to her, but I'm terrified it will make me appear more feminine. Does anyone else have experience with birth control pills and FtM issues? Also (I'm not sure about this at all yet) I was thinking way long term about getting my ovaries removed (which wasn't in the plan before) and I was curious about the risks of that, what people's experiences are. Any help greatly appreciated.

Hey man,

I'm afraid I can't give loads of advice as I'm not too experienced with some of the stuff you asked. However, I had to go for a scan for PCOS and they couldn't see my ovaries so they just assumed I didn't have it. Then months later I got a letter from my doc saying that there's actually a chance I can have it and they were thinking about putting me on Metformin. Apparently it's usually used for people with diabetes but has recently been discovered to be effective in people with PCOS. I'm not sure if it's a birth control pill because when I looked it up it never stated it was only for females. However my doctor did say that it will regulate my periods but help reduce my weight (something they believe is both caused by PCOS). They were going to trial me on it and see how it goes but I haven't booked an appointment yet because I'm scaredand I don't want to get regular periods. I'm not sure if it's an option for you, but talk to your doc about Metformin and if that can help you?

Sorry I can't be more help to you, hopefully somebody more experienced will be able to help. I hope it all works out for you though.

P.S. After I posted this, I noticed you're new to Susan's so a big welcome to you too!

Thanks Joey. I appreciate the help. Unfortunately, I'm on the other side of the spectrum of PCOS, basically I have a hard time gaining weight and have way low testosterone as well. So most of the symptoms are weird for me (or something). I'll find out if that medication can help on my end of things, though I agree, the thought of having a regular period is just not okay.

I don't think I was diagnosed with PCOS though I did have a bad case of them and got them surgically removed when they went in after my endometriosis. I'm also not FtM.

I can't tell you what to not be dysphoric about, but there is absolutely no need to worry about birth control visibly "feminizing" you, it does no such thing. I have to take it, so I've done some things to make the routine work for me. First, I'd ask your doctor about putting you on a continuous cycle so you don't have to deal with periods (there are no adverse or even different side effects from doing this instead of taking the placebo pills), that will probably help you a lot. Secondly, I've stopped calling it birth control because that's not why I take it; I treat it like any other medication, and I will talk about it like it were any other medication. It's helping me live with a disease that's going to be there no matter what gender I am (that is, until I get my hysto).

None of the common side effects are guaranteed for anybody either. While I did see a drop in libido (which I like), I didn't get any of the associated weight gain, mood swings, depression (I had that already lol), more acne/less acne and so on.

Anyways, I hope that helps. And if you have lingering issues, please please try to work something out with your doctor before you gamble with your health.

I don't have it. It is pretty common, shall we say in female-bodied people. I know of several trans guys who have this. NONE of them are taking birth control pills or estrogen. You could try going to a doctor who is sensitive to trans issues, and get help that way. One of them recently had a hysto, which was pretty helpful to him.

--Jay

hey i have pcos and iw as on the pill for about a year before i hated it and went off... all it does is regulate your periods and balance your hormones a bit. i don't take em anymore because i kept forgetting to and i figured that would be worse than if i just stopped. no need to be on a hormone rollercoaster.

i suppose it just depends on your symptoms... for me i don't have anything extremem going on down there ever. like ever. i never cramp, i never bleed profusely, i never put on a ton of weight cuz of hormones.

Thanks all. I was watching something on this transman who, at 11, started getting these shots that would stop his periods. I think the regimen you're talking about with taking the real pill the whole time is similar. I realized the shot might be an easier (mental) solution, but I'll absolutely talk to my doctor about everything.

I was given an alternative to the pill--actually, the pill regimen was an alternative to it--which was depo provera. It personally freaked me out more because it would be inducing menopause, and because it was an intramuscular shot too . Anyways the side effects terrified me more than anything.

Point is there are always options and always ways to cope with whatever option is going to be best for you.