Disclaimer: While much of this work is based upon interviews with Dr. Tewari, in addition to current research, always consult a medical professional for medication advice. Given the specialized knowledge required to prescribe medications, this section will be brief, providing only a general overview. Although these drugs are at the discretion of your doctor, I still encourage you to remain curious, educate yourself, and stay true to what feels right. 

 

Although there are medications used to treat PCOS symptoms, there are no drugs specifically approved by the FDA for PCOS, meaning most available medications are prescriptions for other conditions. It is important to understand that in the current state of research there is no one miracle drug that can cure PCOS, although the correct drug regimen can be useful in managing symptoms.

 

One of the most common prescriptions that you may be familiar with is oral birth control pills. These use synthetic hormones to regulate menstrual cycles or help women with painful or long periods common in PCOS. However, there are many other medications that may also be used depending on your specific symptoms. The goal is to tailor your treatment specifically for your PCOS.

 

The benefit of standard medical options is that they are well-studied and safe. However, there may not be many studies testing these drugs for usage in PCOS, specifically, so they may only act as a band-aid for your symptoms. With that in mind, these medications can complement lifestyle changes, or act as a good alternative if other methods are not efficacious. Below there are some broad categories of prescription medications commonly used for different PCOS symptoms.