Patient's Guide to PCOS

Filled generalizations and very basic information, it wasn’t useful at all.

As someone who was just diagnosed with PCOS and knew very little about it, I was hesitant to buy this book because I wasn't sure how reliable it would be. But I was very pleasantly surprised. I felt confident that the author was very knowledgeable about the syndrome. The information is not flooded with incomprehensible medical-speak, but also provides you with the medical facts you need to know. The food lists and recipes for managing with diet were very helpful. I feel there were very clear suggestions about how to talk with your doctor, medication management, diet and overall empowering oneself to become involved in your own medical care. I appreciated the chapter on the emotional impact of PCOS as well, as it certainly cannot be overlooked.

After several painful years of misdiagnosis in my teens and a correct diagnosis of PCOS by an excellent doctor in the early 90's, I recently went looking for a book about PCOS to get up to date on what information has been discovered over the last 15 years. This book was exactly what I was looking for - impeccably researched and written in language that makes the information both easy to understand and easy to act upon. The authors approach the subject with an objective viewpoint, and not only discuss issues related to PCOS (insulin resistance, fertility issues) but tackle the broader topic of how to live successfully with this condition. The tone is hopeful and practical, and I only wish that this had been written 18 years ago when I started my journey. I have already given this book to friends of mine with PCOS and they share my viewpoint - this is essential reading for women with PCOS.

This book is wonderful! I've been learning more and more about PCOS, little by little, since being diagnosed with it four years ago. I had problems with PCOS symptoms since I was a teenager, but no doctors knew what PCOS was at that time. We are so lucky to have all of the information on PCOS now, and that doctors are taking women with PCOS symptoms seriously. This book is extremely informative and helpful! Although I've been gradually learning more about PCOS, there is still a lot that I need to know -- and this book covers just about everything you need to know. I really like how things are explained, so that you can understand what your body is going through and why certain things happen because of PCOS. Great eating plan, and helpful hints on how to stick to a healthy plan too. The glycemic index is great to have on hand. I've heard a lot of success stories from women who have eaten by this index, and by following plans similar to the eating plan listed in this book. I wish that more would have been shared about Femara being a lot more successful fertility drug for women with PCOS, who are Clomid resistant. Also, that Metformin isn't a magic pill for everyone...it won't give everyone a regular cycle or help everyone get pregnant. The same goes for Clomid. It would be good to also mention that there are two different forms of Metformin -- the "regular" Metformin, and the Metformin ER (Extended Release). Metformin ER has few to no side effects, unlike the regular Metformin. If you want to know more about PCOS, and want to take control of your health, definitely buy this book! It is literally a life saver!

I was recently diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 29 and after reading this book, realize that I have probably have had this since I started puberty! I was diagnosed two months before this book came out and finally received my copy the other day...I never anticipated a book so much. Finally, I have a guide book for this syndrome! Dr. Futterweit is one of the nation's foremost authorities on this condition and has spent his life researching and treating this condition. This book is the ultimate guide to understanding PCOS, getting a correct diagnosis (as symptoms are variable among all women and are sometimes diagnosed incorrectly), eating and exercise habits to help reverse the condition, as well as strategies for alleviating many other horrible symptoms like excess facial hair, acne, thinning scalp hair, etc. As I devoured this book I found myself saying over and over, "wow, this is my life". The book is written in such a great tone. While some of the 'understanding PCOS' parts are very medical, it's not so filled with medical jargon that you won't understand it. It is evident that Dr. Futterweit truly cares about women with this condition and wants to educate us and give us hope! If you are like me, I am only discovering the full fledged condition as a result of going off the pill in hopes of getting pregnant. There are parts of this book dedicated to Getting Pregnant, Staying Pregnant (PCOS sufferers have increased chances of miscarriage), gestational diabetes, etc. I feel this book has given me a wealth of information, some of which I intend to share with my primary care physician and ob gyn. I also found that a great compliment to this book in terms of dietary guidelines is Dr. Jennie Brand-Miller's The New Glucose Revolution Guide to Living Well with PCOS. I had no idea that due to this condition I have a form of insulin resistance and I've battled weight all my life. It turns out the usual low fat diets that tend to be higher carbohydrate are one of the worst ways that PCOS sufferers can handle their diet. I've already found much success with a low glycemic index diet in just 6 weeks and am startled at how much my overall quality of life has improved with Dr. Futterweit's strategies which are well defined in this book. If you are recently diagnosed or have had this condition for years without much success at battling the symptoms, this book is for you. I can confidently say that I'm on the road to battling this syndrome with education and a newfound lifestyle.

As a PCOS patient, this is just the kind of book I have been hoping would be published. Dr. Futterweit is one of the top PCOS doctors in the country, perhaps the world, and his book is well written and thorough. He manages to explore the complexity of PCOS while writing clearly and simply enough to keep the subject matter interesting and intelligible. He covers a lot of ground and gives good, practical recommendations and suggestions for patients. It's very clear from the way this book is written that Dr. Futterweit deeply cares about his patients. I had the pleasure to hear him speak at a PCOS conference several years ago, and I am grateful for his dedication to this lesser known but very significant health problem. I highly recommend the book, it's a great source of information and it will help you understand and treat PCOS. Congratulations Dr. Futterweit, and thank you.