The problem with assuming PCOS means low milk supply is that it is a syndrome, and not a disease. So there are many different ways it manifests that are all lumped into the PCOS diagnosis. I have insulin resistance, no menstrual cycle, higher testosterone, and cystic ovaries, but I'm not overweight. Some women will have skin tags and cycle normally, but be overweight and have excessive acne and/or facial hair. Some women don't know they have anything wrong until they have problems conceiving and do bloodwork. So which of these women will have problems with their milk supply? The name Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is actually quite debatable in medical circles because the cystic ovaries seem to be one symptom, rather than the definitive sign. Many women don't have cysts on their ovaries at all. As Karleen said, I have been diagnosed with severe PCOS at 15 years of age, yet I'm now successfully and without supplements nursing my 4th adopted child (right here, as I type, in fact!). But when I didn't have alot of milk with baby #1, I actually stopped nursing him at 6 months when I heard about the connection between PCOS and low supply, blaming it on my PCOS and figuring that I wasn't ever going to be able to get rid of the stupid SNS so why bother? I was wrong in thinking I couldn't make enough milk, and after a few weeks was able to ditch the lact-aid with the next child and the following two as well. There are just so many variables, it's impossible to predict. There have also been reports of some PCOS patients have an oversupply of milk. So what can we do besides being aware and encouraging? I'm not sure. But there are just so many variables. I don't know what made the difference between the 1st and 2nd babe. I stayed on my metformin with #2 because I knew more about breastfeeding pharmacology by then, so maybe that was it. Maybe I was just more comfortable with my body in general or had more confidence. I pumped in advance of baby #2, so that could have had something to do with it. Maybe nursing #1 built more breast tissue. I really don't know. But I don't think PCOS had as much to do with my low supply as just being an adoptive mother. Kerri Smith LLLL, Chilliwack, BC, Canada *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html