Those of you with PCOS........

[FruitynNutty]

How long after giving birth did it take for your AF to arrive?

[FruitynNutty]

(Without breast-feeding)

[DippyDino]

Can't exactly remember, but I was really irregular after being fairly regular before (even with the PCOS)

About 5 - 6 weeks I think. This lated for around a year (the frequency, not the AF!)

Then back to 4 weekly-ish.

[LadyBee]

It came back at around 8 months (I think), I was still breastfeeding but only twice a day morning & night. I had much longer cycles and irregular - 40-35 days - I was pretty regular before as well. I'm back on the pill now for a few months before ttc again, so we'll see what happens when I come off...

[FruitynNutty]

It's so hard to know. I suppose it doesn't really matter, it'll come when it's ready
DS2 is now 15 weeks and due to PCOS I don't have much milk producing tissue so not BFing
I only had about 3 cycles in the 11 months it took me to conceive so could be a loooooong time before AF arrives - obviously not ttc yet! but would be nice to know when AF is coming. I thought, if I wasn't bfing, AF would have come back by now. I also thought my body would sort of kick start itself after birth and perhaps give me normal cycles (yeah right!)

[FruitynNutty]

Good luck BTW LadyBee
My cycles usually last over 100 days which makes TTC incredibly tricky so I know how heartbreaking it is. I hope it doesn't take you long
I'm not going back on the pill, what will be will be. As far as I'm concerned, PCOS is my own personal contraception

[llareggub]

I think my body kick started after the birth of my first child. It took nearly 3 years to get pg first time around but 2nf time I got pg 3 times in 6 months, sadly mc twice but DS2 is now 8 weeks.

[FruitynNutty]

That's similar to me, we weren't using any contraception for about 2.5 years before I got pregnant with DS1 (although weren't actively ttc).
It only took us 11 months with DS2 but we were manically TTC with all the BBT and charts, you name it we tried it!
It would just be nice to know how long my cycles are. I want some kind of control over my body!
Blardy PCOS
Sorry about the MC's llaeggub but Congratulations on the birth of DS2

[llareggub]

The only thing that has ever worked for me is getting my weight under control. When I am following the low GI diet and taking metformin regularly, my cycles are a normal length and regular. However I've been breastfeeding since October 2006 without a break so I've barely had a period!

[FruitynNutty]

I'm doing the GI diet now. I put on 3 stone. Have lost 2 stone in 15 weeks. Just one more to go It's the perfect diet for PCOS. I feel so much better when I'm on it
Doesn't seem to be helping my cycles but it has only been 3 months I suppose.....
When do "normal" people get their AF's back after birth? (if not bfing)

[FruitynNutty]

You are soooo lucky to be able to bf! I'm very

[brimfull]

I have pcos.

Mine got worse after dd and my cycles were about 100 days apart. Be warned though..after yrs of trying for a second I gave up.
When I was 39 my cycles suddenly became 28 days long...how weird is that ..and ds came as a result.

I think it is common for pcos woman to suddenly start ovulating around 40yr.
I am 47 now and regular as clockwork ..shame as I'd have loved more children if I was younger.

[FruitynNutty]

Really? I've never heard that before, that's interesting.
I'm 30 now and don't want another just yet (well I do, but not a good time) but I'm hoping to have at least one more before 40, if not two - desperate for a girl!
I'm not sure I want to be still having babies at 40. That'll be mine and DP's time!

How typical that ovulation kick starts at 40

[4andnotout]

After dd1-dd3 af came back within 6 weeks and a regular 28 day cycle.

Bfing dd4 so still waiting 8 months later

[brimfull]

fruity-yes ,periods may become more regular as you get older but other problems like high cholesterol and BP start to kick in.

Lovely pcos isn't it

[FruitynNutty]

Actually, that's another interesting point you make ggirl, I have raised cholesterol. Is that a symptom of PCOS? I'm not over weight and have a healthy BMI. My Mum has is very slim but has raised cholesterol so I assumed it was hereditary from her. It didn't cross my mind it would be caused by PCOS?

[hazeyjane]

I have pcos, it took 7 years to conceive dd1 (although I had 2 mc in that time), and I fell pregnant with dd2 when dd1 was 5 months old (af returned after a few weeks), my periods became much more regular after dd1. My cycle are starting to get longer and longer now (dd2 is 2), but I don't know if that is the pcos or because I've just hit 40.

Is there a GI diet book or website that anyone could recommend? Thanks

[brimfull]

fruity-yes rasied cholesterol could be symptom of pcos .

High BP as well,increased risk of strokes /coronary heart disease because of these sypmtoms.

[FruitynNutty]

hazeyjane - I've heard verity is a good website. I've always just used MN. I had a thread in Conception going while I was ttc ds2. I think the thread is full up now. No idea if anyone started a new one....
We should probably start a new one in the General Health section. Us girls need to stick together!

ggirl - So far my BP is very good. Always has been. Just my cholesterol which the GP is going to re-check in Sept

[notcitrus]

10 months and no AF here, but bf still. Planning to stop bf at 13 months (after jabs) if no periods by then, as we're ttc #2.

Hadn't had a period for 9 months previously (and the last few had been produced by metforming and provera), when it turned out that was partly because I was 4 months pregnant...