- You are very lucky to have an understanding boyfriend. That's very important. You are also lucky that your hair is blond. Dark hair is much more noticeable.

- Yes, your hair is a result of PCOS. What birth control are you on? Is it Yasmine or Yaz that helps control the hair growth for some? Have you talked to your endocrinologist about possibly taking anything stronger like Spiro to prevent future growth? If you feel like the hair is getting worse, it's partly due to your age, partly to PCOS, and also partly to plucking instead of shaving or clipping.

- Shaving is actually a much better solution than plucking because it doesn't make the hair any stronger or more coarse like plucking and waxing can. I know it sounds awful, but it really is the best solution. And once you do it, you won't feel that weird about it. The thought of doing it is usually the worst part.

- If it only takes you an hour to pluck, you don't have as much hair as some. And if you are ready to consider a permanent solution, i.e. electrolysis, it wouldn't be that difficult and wouldn't take that much time for this amount of hair. You should really consider it if this is important to you and can improve your life significantly. Where are you located? There is lots of information on this forum on how to find a good electrologist.

- Is the hair on your other areas also blond?

Hiii,
So many issues!

This reply is to lil red and Echo Park, mostly. It's a bit long, but bear with me.

I am 24 and have been dealing with the issues you describe since puberty. Face, neck, back, belly, chest, breast and leg hair all upsetting me. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18.

I just want to say a few things, based on the insight I've gotten over the past few years.

From the ages 13 to 19, I was quite freaked out by the hair, and, partly as a result, developed bulimia. The bulimia did not affect my life too much - it was mild. Then, when I was diagnosed with PCOS and told, quite abruptly,to change my diet and start being super, uber healthy, my bulimia gradually got worse - much worse. For this reason, I want to sound a warning: telling people to "just get healthy" is over simplistic. As advice, it is impossible to follow; adjusting to the prescribed PCOS diet takes years for many people. It's important that those of us with PCOS (and related hormonal problems) aspire to the right lifestyle, but please remember to be gentle on yourself in making those changes. If you are persistent, you will make valuable changes over the years, but if you expect to do it straight away, you may end up thinking about it all the time, getting anxious about it, paranoid about it, and feeling a deep guilt that you seem to be failing so frequently. This, as many of us here know I'm sure, is the slippery slope to eating disorder land...*

If you develop/have bulimia, I can't recommend this book enough: "Overcoming Binge Eating", by Christopher Fairburn. (I have no affiliation with the people behind this book; I hope I'm allowed recommend it here.) My bulimia is much improved since I read it.

In the past, my hirsuitism made me feel, as you feel, utterly disgusting. I used to look in the mirror sometimes and get these fits of panicky tears, and be unable to get dressed... Since then, I've slowly realised what a crazy world we live in, and how the pressure on women (in particular) to look perfect is driving so many of us mad (literally!) When you are constantly thinking how revolting you look, that IS a type of madness...

Now I am in a better place, emotionally. I have recovered from a severe depression. I am making very slow, satisfying progress in resisting the pressure to look good all the time. I like to look as attractive as I can, and I do remove much of my hair, but I'm aware of these contradictions in how I behave, and I reflect on them, and I try to be courageous, modifying my behaviour, in gradual, helpful ways. I'm gentle on myself. At the moment,I'm experimenting with letting my under-arm hair grow - I don't know yet if I will have the bravery to go through with it, but I'm proud of myself for trying something so unfashionable! I understand the desire not to attract the negative comments of others (boy, do I), and the desire to attract the boys/men(/women) you want (boy, do I), but developing the strength of character to do something uncool is very rewarding. It's the only possible path out of madness...

I have a long way to go, and you have an even longer way to go, but I hope you remember what I've said. I'm an ordinary girl, who likes to be popular and sexy and all the rest of it, but I've been through insanity and come out the other side. Unwanted hair is a mental issue, rather than a physical one, and recognising that has helped me become HAPPY again. I wish you (and all of us!) the very best of luck.*

nonnynonny, are you on any medication for PCOS like spiro? Have you considered hair removal with either laser or electrolysis? You can also find support and lots of information at soulcysters.com forum for women with PCOS.

Btw, anorexia/bulimia can also add to the hair growth if you get too skinny as the body starts developing hair to protect you.

Have an your physician check your adrenal gland. Adult onset andrenal hyperplasia can also be a contributing factor.

Janet

Anyone suffering from adrinal exhaustion should remove caffeine from their diet and increase glutamine, and gladular tissue. The glandular tissue can be eaten, or if you are like most of us and don't like the idear of cooking organ meat and eating it, you can get excellent glandular supplements and get your boost that way.

I like the glandulars pills made by Don Lemmon's Know How, and Standard Process, but there are plenty of good companies out there serving this market.