Pcos

[Butterbell]

Hi, I am already a mum to 2 and fell pregnant 1st time with both. We started to try for our 3rd over a year ago but didn't have any luck. I have recently been diagnosed with pcos confirmed by ultrasound. They are doing a second day 21 blood test as the first time my progesterone level was 24, so they want to check again. If this test shows that it is low again what will be my next step. I live in the UK.
Thanks

They won’t do anything else. It’ll be confirmed and you’ll be sent on your way. If symptoms need treated you’ll usually be offered the pill (which is obviously no use in your situation!) If you need fertility treatment you’ll need to do it all yourself and pay for it as you already have children.

Thank you for your reply. It seems ridiculous they won't help at all.
What's the point in all the tests!

It’s utterly ridiculous, I completely agree. One area where the nhs totally fall down in my opinion

I feel your pain. I have it and my GP basically said the NHS wouldn’t do anything and it wasn’t anything to get worked up about! I have private health insurance but they said they wouldn’t cover it because there’s no ‘cure’ and it’s a chronic condition. I don’t plan to ttc yet, I just want to manage symptoms like losing weight, facial hair, hair loss, bad skin and energy levels.

im planning to go private and see a dermatologist to prescribe spironolactone which I’ve heard can help manage symptoms. So I anticipate an expensive process

In my experience, you will receive some help via the nhs. I have pcos, struggled to conceive both my dc. For my 2nd child we ended up paying privately for ivf. However, before that on the nhs we had many rounds of Clomid, follicle tracking, regular internal scans, metformin and many gynae appointments. It was only once it was obvious that ivf would be our only hope that we were told to go privately.

Good luck on your ttc journey.

They may offer you things like Clomid to help with conception? That doesn't have the rationing criteria like IVF does.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply!
IF and that's a big IF - IF the gp decides to take it further, would it be them that can prescribe something or would I have to see some else?

My GP referred me for scans and I also had a hysteroscopy (to check fallopian tubes ok - basically that there isn't a physical problem with the egg getting down towards the uterus).

I then discovered I was pregnant a few months later (after five years of trying) so didn't get as far as Clomid but I did see a gynaecologist about the scan results and hysteroscopy.

The fertility clinic prescribed clomid for secondary infertility but I had put on weight after my first, I just ate really well for a couple of months (keto/low carb as PCOS can have insulin resistance element), lost all the weight and then got pregnant pretty much the second I hit my pre baby weight. We'd had years of trying for second.
I didn't have to take the clomid.
NHS will do all the tests and treatment medication just not the IVF.

This might sound weird but I was recently diagnosed with pcos and my head is all scrambled. Is there such thing as “trying for a baby while I can”???
I’m 23, I have 2 kids with my husband. We always wanted 3 kids. That was the “set” amount since day one and I never changed my mind. My husband is a little more flexible saying “whatever you want”. With my recent diagnosis and my current ovulation tracking (form of contraception because anything hormonal makes my blood pressure sky high) I know I ovulate once every 3-4 months. We were originally thinking to wait about 5yrs before going for a 3rd baby. Now I’m thinking what if in 5yrs time my symptoms worsen and I’m “too far gone”??? Is trying for a baby now while I still have a window every 3 months a valid point? Am I looking at this wrong? Do things worsen with time? I’m I likely to have the same chance of conceiving now as I would in 5yrs time? Would appreciate some insight and wisdom.

So sorry! I’m new and was trying to add a new thread! 😭 didn’t mean to post this as a comment!!!

23 is really young though, you've got plenty of time. I was diagnosed with PCOS at about 21 but didn't start trying to conceive until my early 30s, as that's when I met DH. I had a baby when I was 36. But since then (now mid-40s) I've been as regular as clockwork and ovulate about every five weeks instead of a few times a year.

You could concentrate on the wider health issues - being a healthy weight and having blood sugar under control helps a lot. PCOS puts you at higher risk of having Gestational Diabetes which I did develop when pregnant, but I learnt a lot about balancing my blood sugar and how to eat more healthily (I thought I was before but now low GI stuff) and I think that's what's made the difference since.

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I'd been struggling to conceive for a year. In my case there was a male factor issue as well, so they said basically there is no point trying to treat the PCOS because the sperm issue might mean you still won't get pregnant, so they referred us straight to a fertility clinic. Neither of us had children so we had IVF on the NHS and I am forever grateful to that clinic as I have a lovely daughter now. As other posters have said, you'd have to pay for any IVF needed as you already have children.

Its a condition I find quite tricky to live with. I'm aiming to control it with weight loss and diet at the moment. I have dark hairs on my neck and some on my face and they are the hardest part. I'm plucking them out like twice a day. I am hoping once my weight is lower that will improve.

Thank you!
Yes 1000% looking at the bigger picture in terms of health and weight loss. I was just a little confused on how things process as the years go on and if I would regret not trying sooner.
I am young but I’m also not thinking to have my last when my first is a teenager :D I was hoping to keep them all relatively close in age.
I do appreciate your insight and a brief overview of your experience xx

I also had PCOS and after a kidney and liver check, got put on metformin. Not officially used for PCOS/fertility (is a diabetes related drug) but enough research to allow Doc to prescribe.
A month later, BFP.
Think I got mine on NHS, but even if private prescription, will cost less than IVF or similar.
Not saying this will work for you (I have obvs got no idea!) But maybe worth an ask??