polycyctic ovary

[Tuzz]

Does anyone have any advice for treatment?
or on how to conceive with this condition?

[SqueezyB]

go to www.verity-pcos.org.uk/ there is lots of info and a really good discussion board.

I have polycystic ovaries and it took 3 years to conceive DD. We eventually did conceive with the help of clomid, a fertility drug that makes you ovulate. There are other treatments such as ovarian drilling, metformin ( a drug that regulates the insulin levels in your body), and in extreme cases IUI/IVF etc.

Best thing is to see your doctor if you haven't already and get a referral to a fertility specialist.

The good news is it is often 'cured' by pregnancy - after taking so long to conceive DD, I fell pregnant naturally with no.2 the first month of trying!

[MumNWLondon]

Hi Tuzz,

I think it depends on the severity of the condition, and how much you are in a rush...

I bought this book
and followed it religiously.. and got pregnant fairly (a couple of months after a year of trying before I started following the advice, and also had acupuncture, and lost some weight)... this might not work in more severe cases but if you are not in a huge rush might be worth a try even in conjunction with fertility treatment.

In terms of severity - I had a history of regularish periods but when I came of the pill not periods at all.... was a little overweight (maybe a stone) but none of the other symptoms eg excess hair. So fairly mild I guess.

DR was happy to prescribe metformin/clomid but as I said I wanted to try the natural approach first and I said I'd come back him in 6 months if no improvement... (I was 28 so didn't feel any rush) 6 months later I was 4 months pregnant!

[Woody31]

Hi Tuzz, I saw this and thought it would be a good idea to respond to you. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries last year. I had no symptoms at all apart from cysts had been seen on an ultrsound and at that point i was having no periods (after coming off the pill after 10 years!) I was quite worried about it all and the staff at hospital didn't really discuss any medical implications or issues that it may bring. I was keen to get my periods back on track without going back on the pill, which was their only suggestion. So i went to see a medical herbalist as i was planning to get married and knew we would want to start trying for a baby shortly after that. I took a concoction of herbs prescribed by her in liquid form and changed my diet, plus took some other supplements to support my hormones getting back to normal for around 4 months. She fully explained everything and why these things would support me in getting periods back and increasing my fertility. She was also very supportive and i really enjoyed talking to her... (which surprised me as i haven't ever had counselling or any other kind of therapy) A few weeks later I had a period and then i got pregnant on the 1st month of trying whilst on honeymoon. I know this is probably not a normal story and i would hate you to think that i am saying its as easy as that, because everyone if different - however i would thoroughly recommend seeing a registered professional medical herbalist if you would like to try a different way to support PO and your fertility. I live in North London and would be happy to recommend the herbalist i used if helpful. Good luck and please feel free to come back with any other questions.

[MumNWLondon]

BTW here is link to my acupuncturist - also took herbs from her too - my story is v similar to Woody except I had acupuncture in conjunction with Chinese herbs.

link

[kitcat1977]

Getting pregnant with PCOS and without assisted conception is more common than you might think.

I was diagnosed afew years ago and we started TTC in Oct 2006. After a year we were referred to the fertility clinic whcich told us pretty much what we already knew, and in addition that DH had poor morphology. We were offered IVF there and then, largely because our NHS trust had recently invested a lot in clearing waiting lists. Not wishing to look a gift horse in the mouth, we agreed.

We had two cycles of IVF, one of which went well but ultimately failed, and the second of which produced no embryos. As blase and open-minded as we were about it, it was hard - failure hurt like hell in fact - and we split for a time afterwards.

After first being diagnosed with PCOS, I gained some weight, but throughout the process of TTC that I've just described, I lost weight using Weightwatchers points and exercising (a lot, and hard!) I have since conceived spontaneously, following no special diet plan and with no alternative treatments.

So the best advice I have is if you've got any excess weight, lose it, and even more importantly, exercise.

[heth1980]

Have you been ttc for a while already? I know not everyone is as lucky, but I conceived DD1 the first month of trying and DD2 took 3 months........that's despite being told I wasn't ovulating and would need to take fertility drugs due to PCOS. Please don't despair and try not to get overly stressed about it........there's plenty of help available if you need it.

[SuziBhoy]

I have PCOS, so had the same worries when i started ttc. my first pregnancy (2years past) was ectopic and second (7 months past) ended in a MC. I went to the doctor thinking i would never beable to carry a baby full term, i gave up hope, and he was going to prescribe me clomid! I didnt start the drug as i found out i was pg and im now 5 months!! so try to relax about it a little more as this is when things happen!! It is very common for people with PCOS to concieve naturally.

[LittleSilver]

I was diagnosed with PCOS aged 17. The gyn (most appalling bedside manner ever seen and should have complained, but when you're 17 you don't, do you?) told me I would probably struggle to conceive naturally. At the time I was menstruating 2-3 times a year and on the scan I was told I had severe PCO.

Five years later, I conceived first time. Unfortuantely I mc, but conceived again, first time. Two years later we got pregnant again, a year after that, again. We are blessed with 3 beautiful daughters.

Interestingly enough, I started having periods regularly in my early 20s (though since then couldn't say as have been bf/pregnant pretty permanently).

I just wanted to give you a really positive story, and agree with what everyone else says about reading up for yourself. Good luck.

[llareggub]

I have it too.

It took 2 years to conceive DS1 and in that time I took metformin, half-heartedly tried to lose weight and tried to follow the low GI diet.

The low GI diet is supposed to be good for PCOSers to lose weight. It helps regulate the blood sugar which is part of the problem. I follow it now and it does help.

I now have 2 children. DS2 was conceived naturally (and quickly!) after 2 miscarriages, which sadly are more common in women with PCOS. However I take metformin which they think helps prevent miscarriage and also lower the risk of developing gestational diabetes. There is a higher risk of developing GD and type 11 diabetes later in life if you have PCOS.

During my 2nd pregnancy I started exercising regularly to help control my blood sugar. I followed the low GI diet religiously when pregnant and by the end of the pregnancy I'd lost weight and had a healthy weight baby. 9 months on I have lost somewhere in the region of 4 stone of my pre-pregnancy weight and am still following the diet and exercising.

It is my belief that meformin only works in the context of the low GI diet and exercise. Breastfeeding also helps lower and control blood sugar.

To conceive baby no 1 I had metformin and ovarian drilling, but I can't stress enough the importance of losing weight, exercising and being healthy. I think that is why I got pregnant so quickly 2nd time around.

Good luck!

[comeonbishbosh]

Tuzz,

I would mention it to your doctor as soon as you feel able. I did after 5 months or so of TTC, was referred to a consultant, and conceived about a year or so after after gradually uppping the Clomid dose. I also had some acupuncture. PCOS is fairly common and Clomid is the most usual way of treating it as far as I know, and has fairly high success rates. There are some good threads on it on the 'conception' talk board.

And, just to be even more encouraging, my sister who has always had much more severe PCOS, got pregnant with twins almost straight away with no medical intervention at all.

Good luck!

[BabyGiraffes]

Would advise to get referred to a specialist straight away. In my case Metformin was the secret to a successful pregnancy (now on number 2) because it balanced my hormones before conceiving, while clomid alone just led to more miscarriages (total of 7)
Very best of luck! Took me 8 years to have my first dd and I wish I'd been referred and treated properly straight away...

[Honeybee79]

I also have PCOS and was told that I would need IVF due also to other half's poor morphology. They put us on the waiting list and we decided to have a go with clomid while waiting, not thinking that it would work - but I got a positive test last week so that's a start.

Ask to be referred to a fertility specialist. Also, I was advised that there is a strong link between PCOS and diet and lifestyle and that there are plenty of things you can do to try and manage the condition, be it losing some weight (if you have any to lose!), eating extremely healthily and cutting back on alcohol.

[ronx]

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2003 just before I got married. We started TTC soon afterwards, but it wasn't until I lost quite a bit of weight (about 2 stone) that I started to ovulate regularly. But nothing happened, so we were just about to start IVF - and then I got pregnant. My DS is two in March.

I then started Slimming World in September - lost an stone - and got pregnant again in December .

So there is definitely hope

[Tigresswoods]

12 months of trying. I knew I had PCOS just from googling and looking up the symptoms. We were referred to a specialist and on the 3rd round of Clomid I was preggers. Currently 35 weeks and really never thought I would get here

[CrystalQueen]

I suppose it depends on what your symptoms are. I have polycystic ovaries (diagnosed by a scan) but the only symptom I have is a total lack of periods after stopping the pill. In my case metformin was useful in restarting my periods and I got pregnant while waiting to start Clomid treatment. Good luck!

[peanutpie]

I had symptons of PCOS - moderately high testosterone levels, cysts on my ovaries and irregularish periods (5-7 weeks cycle).

I tried Clomid after a couple of years of trying but that pregnancy ended in miscarriage. For the next pregnancy we tried metformin and which was successful and we now have a baby boy.

I was also slightly under weight and the consultant asked me to put on 1/2 stone. Since having my son my periods have been regular and I have got pregnant pretty easily.

[monkeybump]

I too have PCOS.
Ive never been on the pill, and have always had an irregular cycle. Me and fella ttc for a year and a half naturally. Found out mid way I had PCOS after scan revealed cysts, also explained unpredictable periods, slight excess hair and why harder to shift weight! I took up running and tried to get healthy. However, as so many people say, it was only when we decided to stop 'trying' that ta-daaa! I got preg.
From what Ive learnt there are varying degrees of PCOS and for many people it makes sod-all difference to how long it takes them to conceive- and even if it does mean you need a helping hand there are a whole range of treatments out there... Dont despair!

[Limelight]

I've got PCOS too. This feels like a support group - 'my name is Limelight and I've got PCOS.'

I was diagnosed when I was in my early twenties and it didn't really concern me to be honest - it wasn't like I was looking to get pregnant anytime soon. I got checked out because I had an irregular cycle (5-7 weeks and the odd three month-er). From memory I think I had slightly high testosterone levels but that's all I can really remember (ah, the carelessness of youth!). I'm overweight but not ridiculously so - could probably do with losing a stone (maybe two if I was really keen).

Anyway, I have a DS aged 2.5 who was a happy accident so that sort of confirmed in my head that I didn't have problems conceiving (possibly a bit naive of me). Sadly I've just miscarried twins but again I got pregnant really quickly (within three months of starting to try). Incidently, since I had my DS my cycle is regular as clockwork - every 5 weeks.

The higher risk of miscarriage concerns me primarily I think because I've had one now and it was fairly traumatic. I feel slightly stupid and naive that I've given so little thought and time to the fact that I've got PCOS so trying to clue myself up a bit now. I'm terrified of going through a string of miscarriages and hadn't even thought about all of the health risks etc.

Sorry that turned into a bit of an essay but my original purpose in responding was to say that conceiving doesn't necessarily have to be a problem and try not to worry about it too much I suppose. Get all of the advice you can etc etc. Loving verity by the way

Limelight x

[llareggub]

Limelight, sorry to hear about your miscarriage.

Do you take metformin? My endocrinologist told me that it can help prevent miscarriage when pregnant. I took it through my two pregnancies. Good luck with TTC.

[Limelight]

Hi!

No I don't take anything. Apart from the initial diagnosis years ago I haven't ever seen anyone about it. To be honest, my GP was thoroughly uninterested in the whole thing and so following all the bloodtests, the practice nurse diagnosed me from a textbook. Other than that, the only thing I know is that on my medical notes from my miscarriage, it says that my PCOS was noted in the 12 week scan (when I found out my babies had died) - I have an RH luteal cyst whatever that means. See what I mean? I don't have a clue!

Limelight x

[llareggub]

It is worth seeking treatment in the form of metformin and making some lifestyle changes. Until recently, I thought the only side-effects/symptoms were excessive hairiness, weight gain and infertility. I've since discovered that PCOS makes me more prone to developing diabetes in later life. I did develop gestational diabetes so this raises the odds of getting it considerably.

Since having my 2nd son I've been exercising regularly, eating a low GI diet etc and taking metformin regularly. I've gone from a size 20 pre-pregnancy to a size 12 nine months on. I'm hoping these lifestyle changes will delay diabetes.

[Tuzz]

Woody31
Please can you send details of your herbalist. Would like to try that. Starting some acupuncture next week. Fingers crossed that helps

[heQet]

I've got PCOS and I take metformin - it is a diabetic drug but recent research suggests it is good for women with PCOS.