PCOS and birth control pills

Dear Ask The Doctor: I am 19 years old and have been diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). I know that birth control pills are commonly given to regulate periods. However, I've read that women with PCOS should not be on triphasic birth control pills, is this true?

Dear Mallory: Hello, I realize your concern about Triphasic Contraceptives and PCOS. Traditionally, physicians have prescribed oral contraceptives (birth control pills) to regulate menstrual periods in women with PCOS. Oral contraceptives contain a combination of hormones (estrogen and progesterone). Used properly, oral contraceptives can assure that women menstruate every four weeks.Triphasic birth control pills have constant or changing estrogen concentrations and varying progestin concentrations throughout the cycle. There is no evidence that bi- or tri-phasic oral contraceptives are superior to monophasic oral contraceptives which delivers the same concentration of hormones daily, or vice-versa, in the prevention of pregnancy ,however in PCOS a constant level of Estrogen might be beneficial due to the Androgenic symptoms of PCOS.