Advice on periods and conception with PCOS

[foxy1]

Hello - wanted some advice on trying to get pregnant. I have a boy who is 13 months old and have breastfed him up to 1 year and slowly dropped a feed one by one. My last breast feed was about 3 weeks ago. I am waiting for my period to come on. Before I had my son I had PCOS polycystic ovaries and my periods were every 49 days so knowing when you were ovulating was very difficult. I really want my periods to start so I can start trying. Is there anything I can take to help bring on my periods - shuld I go and see the doctor or midwife? Are there any tips to know when I am ovulating ? Took a long time to get pregnant with first so don't want to leave it too long for the next one. Any advice would be really appreciated. The more the better!! Thank you! :)

[gothicmama]

see gp about taking metformin to help regulate cycle and effects of pcos (i was pg in a year of taking this)Also bd every other day for mth to ensure if I ovd it was likely to be fertilised

[babyfettle]

Hi Foxy

I too was diagnosed with PCOS - very irregular periods, most cycles over 40 days, if not much longer. I conceived DD naturally after 2 years of trying. Weirdly, my periods came back when I started weaning DD at around 7 months, and for a few wonderful months I had a 28 day cycle. Part of me, when not TTC, made me realise that I was actually quite lucky only to have 6-8 periods a year!! Anyway, this didn't last long and they went back to being irregular again.
I conceived again after 9 months of trying (with irregular long cycles) when DD was 18 months, but unfortunately miscarried back in Feb of this year. Interestingly when I went for a follow-up scan following my miscarriage, the ultrasonographer said that my ovaries were clear and showed no signs of PCOS anymore.

I remember on one visit to my GP back when I was student being told that if I got pregnant, it might kickstart my hormones and solve my problem - great advice for a teenager, I thought. Luckily, I decided having a baby then just to solve my hormonal problems, possibly wasn't the best idea. Still a bit shocked by his advice, but he does seem to have been right.

Either way I've realised I've not really answered your question, as I'm now back with irregular periods, but no explanation. TTC again! However, the one thing I've done on another GP's advice for years is take my basal body temperature every morning. Although it doesn't actually help predict when you are going to ovulate, it does note a rise in your temperature that tends to occur after you have ovulated. This meant that at least I had about 10-14 days notice of AF arriving. Gave me some control over my life again.

Hope you're still with me and that I've helped a little bit

GOOD LUCK!!

[Twiglett]

I had PCOS before DS was conceived .. had scans afterwards and the PCOS had cleared up .. something to do with your hormones changing (pregnancy throws them up in the air ... and they land any old way)

hope it happens for you too

[booge]

I had pcos before DS, I don't know whether I still do but I only had 1 AF after weaning before concieving DD due in oct. It took about 6 weeks after stopping BF before AF it that helps. I read somewhere about pregnancy sorting out your hormones with pcos so I didn't want to wait long before having another as I thought it might be easier to concieve again if it happened sooner rather than later.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

foxy1

My suggestion to you would be to seek medical advice asap (your GP should refer you to a gynae).
Although it is possible to conceive without any medical intervention many women with this condition do require help of some sort.

I have also heard the implication that pregnancy will solve the PCOS problems - I do sigh when I hear women being told such things. It is more recognised these days although some docs still do not know very much if anything at all about PCO.

PCOS is a very individualistic disorder that affects each woman with it very differently. The causes of same are not fully understood although there may be some genetic factors. It is not a condition that ever goes away (and no one therapy or treatment will cure PCOS as the cystic follicles associated with it do return over time) but it can be controlled. Would suggest you try to stay within the correct weight range for your height as excess weight can excerbate PCOS symptoms.

It is little point in temperature charting with this condition as you could end up with a chart akin to the Rocky Mountains. Such charts are notoriously difficult to interpret accurately. Another problem with them is that you can have a temp rise in the second half of your cycle when an egg has not been shed.

The surest way of knowing whether you are ovulating or not is to have blood tests done. Having PCO/PCOS anyway means that regular ovulation is less likely to happen.

Would not suggest you use opk's either as these measure LH hormone. As many PCOSers have an excess of this hormone to start with the kit will only read this excess.

The cystic follicles associated with PCOS do disappear over time (this may be why scans of ovaries have been clear) only to be replaced by further cystic follicles.

Metformin can be beneficial to PCOS patients especially if there is insulin resistance (seen in some but not all PCOSers).

Verity is a very good UK based organisation specifically for women with PCOS, their web address is www.verity-pcos.org.uk.

Knowledge is power - the more you are aware of what PCO or PCOS is the better off you will be when it comes to making treatment decisions.

[sorkycake]

Meerkat,
Excellent advice!
On the subject of seeing a temp shift without ovulation, I was under the impression that after ovulation it was the leftover corpus luteum which produced the progesterone which in turn results in the temp rise. The only condition I've heard of that would result in signs consistent with ovulation, but without release of the actual egg, is Luteinized Unruptured Follicular syndrome, but this is not particularly common and I didn't think much was known about it. Do you know of any stat's or a site with this info. as it does genuinely interest me.
Thanks, Sorky

[foxy1]

Hello - just wanted to say thank you everyone for your advice. I did a pregnancy test yesterday and it was positive!!! I feel so excited. This shows that you can get pregnant followng breast feeding even if you have not had any periods. I did buy a kit called OVATEL on ebay which tests your saliva and is reusable for 2 years. Waiting for appointment to see the midwife so don't have any idea how far gone I am. soo excited fingers crossed. thank you once again.

[rubles]

Wow that's fantastic foxy1. That's brilliant news, what a lovely surprise for you. Good luck with it all.

[sorkycake]

How fabulous for you!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[Twiglett]

oh congratulations

[foxy1]

Thank you vey much!:)

[sofarsogood]

Hi, I dont have children but I too have PCOS and Im trying for my first. Have been for 2 1/2 years now. My average cycle is 250 days!

Want to say Good Luck in getting pregnant again!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Sofarsogood

Would strongly suggest you seek a referral to a gynae asap if you have not done so. Two and a half years is a long time in terms of ttc especially if PCOS has already been diagnosed. You have more than good reason to be referred.

www.verity-pcos.org.uk is a good website for PCOS patients to read.

[foxy1]

Hello - sofarsogood - have you tried the pill and Clomid? this is normally the first step. I tried this a for a few cycles but it did not work for me. My consultant then recommended that I had ovarian drilling done on the NHS. He said that this helps restores ovulation and can help with making periods more regular!!!

I then fell pregnant within 3 months after the operation and had a beautiful boy. I am now pregnant with my second.