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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

PCOS - where to start?

32 replies

CRbear · 10/08/2021 14:02

Hi everyone!

My partner and I would like to start TTC in about a years time. I’ve never had regular period (am on the mirena now) and have previously been diagnosed with PCOS. A number of years ago now. I am 31.

I’m sorry if this seems like a silly question but when we decide we’re ready to start TTC…do we just get the mirena out and see what happens? Or having had a diagnosis of PCOS and knowing I don’t have regular periods do I see someone (who? GP for referral?) for help straight away? If yes are they likely to tell me to lose weight before anything else? I’ve got a BMI of 27 right now and if I’m going to need to lose weight then I could do that now. I guess I’m wondering if there’s anything I could now to improve my chances? Is it worth getting any further testing done at this stage (even privately?). It does weigh on my mind and knowing what the “plan” would be would help I think. Even if that’s just have a lot of sex and cross your fingers…Grin

Sorry if this seems like a silly question. I genuinely feel a bit overwhelmed by it all - maybe I just can’t see the wood for the trees!

OP posts:
Original poster
CRbear · 12/08/2021 10:27

@5zeds do you think I’ll be denied medical help based on a bmi of 27? If not I’d rather focus on holistic health. I’m trying to step away from the notion that a bmi of 25 or under equals healthy because it’s not always true and I’ve found it quite harmful in the past. I’ve got the best relationship I’ve had with good I’ve had in my life right now and I don’t want to jeopardise it trying to lose weight if I don’t need to.

OP posts:
Original poster
CRbear · 12/08/2021 10:24

I had heard that @TheDaydreamBelievers - barmy. Surely some people just lie! I’d like us to try for a year anyway, if it can happen naturally I’d like to give it a good shot to see if we can avoid all the intervention.

OP posts:
5zeds · 11/08/2021 23:55

Lose weight, get fit and then try.for me making sure I kept a regular sleep/wake pattern and got lots of sunshine really helped.

TheDaydreamBelievers · 11/08/2021 23:50

Even with a known ovulation problem, sadly the nhs will not assess you until you have been trying one year to conceive. Ridiculous I know!

Original poster
CRbear · 11/08/2021 21:49

I’ve never really had periods so I do suspect ovulation will be an issue

OP posts:
Original poster
CRbear · 11/08/2021 21:49

Thanks @kennetrose - temp drop looks really good. I don’t know how much to get “into” this early rather than not worry about it and worry if/when I have to m. I’m inclined to think 6 months of data would be a great thing to have right off the bat though - I like data haha

I don’t feel like my weight is an issue. I cook everything from scratch, swim with a squad twice a week and run with a club once a week. I’m healthy. But I know that the bmi scale can be stuck to by doctors religiously and it would be triggering for that to be a barrier. I’ve had weight issues in the past.

OP posts:
kennetrose · 10/08/2021 16:18

PCOS presents differently in everyone. Some have anovulatory PCOS, some people ovulate every month. You don't really know where you'll fall on the spectrum until you take out your IUD.

It can take a couple of months for your cycle to regulate after removing your IUD. If I were you, I'd take it out ~six months before you're planning on starting TTC and start tracking your cycles using BBT and OPKs. I don't recommend just OPKs as you can get false LH surges with PCOS. BBT is a more reliable way of detecting ovulation. Personally, I've found my Tempdrop has been an excellent investment.

I've heard of people with anovulatory PCOS losing weight and starting to ovulate on their own. If you find you ovulate on your own, a BMI of 27 is probably fine. I think 30 is when the fertility clinics ask you to lose weight before they'll treat you (not sure if that's all treatment or just IVF though). A healthy diet and regular exercise is more important than weight loss at your BMI (although that's just my opinion!).

If you start tracking and find you're not ovulating, you'll need a few months of evidence to get your GP to do some tests. So the sooner you start the sooner they'll help you if you're not ovulating.

Really though, getting to know your cycle is probably the best thing you can do. Then you'll know whether you need to seek intervention or can try on your own.

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