Should I tell my consultant about the chemical?

[whattodo8]

Been seeing a consultant for fertility issues (NHS). TTC in excess of a year, diagnosed with PCOS, on metformin. Was sent away for hycosy which was clear, and more day 21 bloods and sperm analysis.

I have another appointment soon to discuss what next and results of the above. During this time I had a chemical pregnancy. I am now three months clear of that with no sniff of another BFP.

I worry if I tell them about the chemical, that I won't be given more help eg. If clomid was up next, because they'll think I can get pregnant by myself. Given the three months of nothing (my cycles have gone weird again despite the metformin) I feel like the chemical was a fluke and am tempted not to mention it.

What do you think, what would you do?

[Brunilde]

Definitely tell them as it could be important to your treatment. I'm three years into fertility treatment and the only issue they can find is PCOS looking ovaries. I have no symptoms such as weight gain etc but despite that I seem to be a worse case scenario. I've had six chemical pregnancies so it was definitely something they needed to consider. This and the poor quality embryos they got from two IVF cycles has meant we are now using donor eggs. My doctor didn't see the chemicals as a reason to delay treatment, in fact the main reason for IVF was to get as many eggs as possible to give us the best chance at a successful pregnancy.

Don't want to worry you as a lot of people with PCOS conceive with their own eggs but it could be a part of a bigger picture and may be helpful to treatment.

[whattodo8]

Thank you for sharing your experience, sorry to hear your journey has been so tough.

I have read somewhere online before about people not getting IVF because they have had a chemical or similar and it makes me think crazy thoughts like should I be dishonest!

I am under 30, also limited PCOS symptoms healthy BMI but bad hormonal acne since going off the pill.

I spot quite severely in my luteal phase but the consultant didn't seem that worried by it. Infertility is so hard

[Brunilde]

I think with IVF it can depend on the area you're in. I remember the doctor saying that he would have to word the application very carefully as there was a chance it wouldn't be successful. But at the point they hadn't diagnosed PCOS, for some reason that was only done after we had to cancel a cycle over HOSS concerns as my Estrogen was the highest they had ever seen apparently. At the point we applied I was unexplained with multiple miscarriages/ chemicals. From what I've read IVF is the recommended treatment for people with PCOS who are struggling TTC and higher chance of miscarriage is a part of it so I would hope it shouldn't delay anything. But I don't know how far down the road you are and whether they have exhausted all other options. Clomid shouldn't be an issue as the doctor can prescribe that themselves. Are you ovulating regularly and having regular periods? I was so it was a bit unusual to be prescribed clomid but he explained it that clomid can lead to two eggs being released each month instead of one so was increasing our chances. But in hindsight I think that was a bit of a long shot.

[whattodo8]

Gosh sounds like you've gone through the mill

I seem to ovulate but I feel like I have a progesterone issue or don't ovulate successfully. Periods got more regular/normal on the metformin initially but have now changed again and become really short (24/25 days the last couple with very heavy spotting before). I've read the IVF policy for my area and it says:

Duration of infertility/waiting time
a. Couples with unexplained fertility must have infertility of at least three years of ovulatory cycles, despite regular unprotected vaginal sexual intercourse with the partner seeking treatment or 12 cycles of artificial insemination over a period of three years.
b. If the woman has a miscarriage, the couple will wait for a further 3 years of unexplained infertility from the date of the miscarriage to be eligible for NHS funded IVF. Couples with unexplained infertility should be referred from primary care after 12 months expectant management.

Point b is what has me worried, sounds like a miscarriage = no IVF for three years...I'm not clear on how the PCOS comes into that/if it does?

[Modernfamily101]

I'd tell them! If you don't, they may think that the drugs they gave you were ineffective when they actually weren't?

I know it hardy feels like 'success' to have an early miscarriage, but it really is encouraging that you have managed to get past implantation, and that means you are far, far more likely to conceive naturally without having more fertility treatment (which is no walk in the park and to be avoided if at all possible, IMO).

Telling them may also help them rule out other stuff (e.g. one cause of infertility is that the shell of the egg is too hard for the sperm to penetrate - if you've had a chemical they will know you don't have that, and won't treat you for it).

FWIW, my mum, sister and I all have PCOS and my mum and sister have both conceived (mum had 3 kids and 2 miscarriages aged 27-32).