PCOS help needed

Someone very close to me after 10+ years had a baby and what worked in the end was homeopathic treatments.

If your doctor is doing phone appointments, I'd have thought this is absolutely one that can be handled by phone. You have PCOS (I assume she has the test results to confirm this?) and you can tell her your vital statistics vis a vis weight, height, general health etc. I see no reason why, at the very least, your GP can't a) prescribe Metformin to see if that has some impact and b) refer you now to gynaecology. Because the next step, if Metformin doesn't work, is Clomid to make you ovulate.

Incidentally, it depends on your trust obviously, but overall, even with confirmed PCOS, as far as I know the NHS won't go straight to Clomid until they've done full investigations. I find this mind boggling as Clomid is cheap and simple and if that's ALL that's wrong, there's a relatively high chance of success. But it is what it is. In which case, if you can afford it, you should seriously consider private as, relatively speaking, it's very reasonably priced to get fertility treatment for PCOS privately.

For context, in my case, I had an initial consultation with a few tests (bloods and internal exam - nothing too crazy). Was prescribed metformin. A few months later I returned, discussion and internal exam followed and Clomid was prescribed. There was a brief delay and the requirement of an additional appointment as a result of a follicle that just kept growing and then basically got stuck but I think that was sheer bad luck. Clomid. In first month, had appointment and scan to assess follicles. Told not to come back unless pregnant or after 3 months. Was pregnant after second month.

The point is that even with crazy private prices, the above is all relatively inexpensive and about 500 times quicker and less invasive than via the NHS. Obviously, if you don't have the money, you have time to go through NHS, but it's worth considering (appointments for private doctors will vary but think between £200-£500 a session plus cost of some blood tests. Some will charge separately, or as a separate appointment, for the internal exam/scan). I paid £5 for two months worth of Clomid.

Before you start cutting carbs out of your diet... how is your BMI? I have PCOS but my period practically disappeared when I was underweight. intermittent fasting can also alter your cycles even if you are not underweight.

I was told by my fertility doctor to take Myo inositol supplement alongside folic acid and I'm currently cuddling my ten month old!

I cannot advise on medication as things may have changed a lot since my diagnose and having a child almost 20 years ago.

The only thing I know, that has not changed, is that if you are as irregular as I was ( my periods could be anything from 1 month to 7 months apart) there is no way on Earth you can get pregnant without especialised medical assistance, This falls beyond the expertise of a GP or a dietitian, you need to seek a referral for a gynaecologist and push for tests, do your own research and ask the doctor to be totally honest about your chances and how to improve them.

Agree with low carb as per pp (there is good evidence for this in PCOS) but be careful with ovulation tests. They are not recommended by NICE and are especially inaccurate in PCOS (covered in the above guideline as well). Also you have no idea when you might be ovulating so would be testing loads (as you can’t just test around the middle of your cycle). Take it from me that it gets very expensive and very disheartening when they’re always negative. My obstetrician said to throw them out.

I think you should go to your GP earlier rather than later at least just to discuss. You have oligomenorrhoea with a known cause. The NICE guideline clearly states that women in your position should be considered for referral earlier than the standard 1 year of trying:

From the NICE infertility guideline here (I’m not saying you’ll necessarily have fertility issues and don’t mean to scare you but this is the relevant guideline if you need back up)

cks.nice.org.uk/infertility#!scenarioRecommendation:7

“ Consider earlier referral if the following factors are present:
In women:
Age 36 years and older (refer after 6 months).
Amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea.
Previous abdominal or pelvic surgery.
Previous pelvic inflammatory disease.
Previous sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Abnormal pelvic examination.
Known reason for infertility (for example prior treatment for cancer).”

I waited for a year before seeking help (didn’t know I had PCOS) and it was really hard. Then the referral takes time and there are several medication options all of which need trying for months and it just goes on and on. At least have a conversation and flag your concerns. You might not get referred straight away but you could maybe agree to try six months instead of a year or something.

In conjunction with metformin I’d look at lifestyle. Especially the reduction of inflammation in your body by cutting out ALL sugar and refined carbohydrate (bread, pasta, pizza etc)

Basically go keto / blood sugar diet / low carb

It’s pretty much proven that it is an insulin related disorder and you need to lower your insulin

hi - yes I'd recommend Metformin too. I have PCOS and started on it after TTC for over a year - was pregnant within 3 months. Could have been co-incidence, but definitely worth discussing with your GP.

Hi . Have they put you on metformin or anything to help shorten your cycles. I also have pcos and my doc put me on it two years ago to try and shorten my cycles. Still not 28 but at least every two months now instead of every 6. Losing weight also helps. Have you got any tests done to see if you ovulate etc??