To ask how likely I can get pregnant?

[HannahJP3]

Based on your own experience or anyone else’s you might know…

I’ve got PCOS… I was diagnosed about 6 years ago.
The only ‘symptom’ I have had is adult acne
I get regular periods and they are always on time. Although the last few years I noticed that I went from solid 5 days of bleeding to more like 3 -maybe 3 1/2 days.
I’m 30 years old and worried if I won’t be able to get pregnant when I want to have kids.

Can you share your experiences?

I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 18 and had my first and only child at 40 (got pregnant within 2-3 months of trying). Got pregnant again at 41 but miscarried and decided not to try again after that.

While PCOS can cause fertility issues, women certainly also do go on to conceive without intervention (I was told this several times by different gynaecologists). It’s a hard one because you just won’t know until you try. I hope all goes well for you when the time comes.

I have PCOS and was diagnosed in my mid-20s. I came off the pill after we were married, but wouldn't say we were actively TTC. I fell pregnant 8 months later (aged 32), but then miscarried. I was devastated and desperate to replace what was lost, to the point where TTC became almost an obsession (ovulation monitor, temperature taking, etc). It took 4 months to fall pregnant again, but I miscarried again at 11 weeks. Wondering if the miscarriages were connected to PCOS, I saw a private consultant and he assured me that I was still likely to be able to conceive and to call him as soon as I fell pregnant again and to take all necessary vitamins whilst TTC. I fell pregnant again 3 months after the second miscarriage, and he prescribed Metformin for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to help my body to hold on to the pregnancy, as research had shown this was helpful for women with PCOS. It was an anxious pregnancy at the time (but a great one, in hindsight), and my son was born strong and healthy. Whether this was down to the Metformin, I'll never know - but the consultant was confident that PCOS should not be a barrier to having a child and, most importantly, he gave me hope. I really hope everything works out for you, OP. I know how anxious a time it can be x

I agree with the PP. I think it's a case of until you try, you just don't know. Some women with PCOS have no trouble conceiving, but for some infertility is an issue. At least you already have a PCOS diagnosis, which will hopefully mean you can access support more quickly, if required. Hopefully though, you'll be just fine x

While 3 day periods are short, they still are considered long enough to not be an issue when conceiving. And your regular periods are a good sign too. Add in your current age and the PCOS doesn't seem like a huge concern to me (if you were in your 40s it would be more of a worry).

I'd suggest looking at a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility if you want to get more informed about what's going on in your body before you start trying to conceive. Good luck!

I know of three women diagnosed with PCOS who all conceived quickly and easily. At your age I really wouldn’t be concerned- but speak to a GP if nothing happens after 6 months.

I have pcos and conceived within 3 months. Periods were and still are regular and short. 2/3 days.

I have PCOS and i had my DD last year. I was diagnosed at 28 and conceived DD when i was 34. You can ask for blood tests to check if you are actually ovulating - regular periods are a positive sign but it is possible to have periods without ovulation. I conceived DD using metformin for 6months to bring on periods (i was only have 2-3 a year when first diagnosed) and then 3 cycles of letrozole to bring on ovulation, as my blood tests showed i wasnt ovulating. In my experience GPs are not the most knowledgeable when it comes to PCOS so i was seen by an endocrinologist and then referred to the Assisted Conception Unit. As others have said, some women have no trouble, but that wasn't the case for me. Being already 'in the system' as it was, definitely helped!

I have had PCOS since 19.

I got pregnant first cycle twice at 34 and 39.

I had acne, I was obese, had slightly patchy periods and extreme pain. All have improved since having children.

I have PCOS - diagnosed at age 18. I have been on the pill or a form of contraception since so only had a period when TTC at 29, i conceived within 3 months and had a healthy pregnancy and baby. I did get GD with PCOS is a risk factor for.

I would also say that ovulation tests can be inaccurate with PCOS so it's better to DTD every other day regardless of ovulation.

Hi OP. I think the main issue with PCOS is that it can stop ovulation.

However you are having regular periods so it sounds like you a probably ovulating okay.

The infertility stats for PCOS and endometriosis are overinflated if you ask me. I was diagnosed with endo after having my kids, getting pregnant was never an issue for me.

I know many women with PCOS and/or endo and most have kids naturally, a couple had IVF which worked for them. One exception is my aunt, she had endo and couldn’t get pregnant but also this was decades ago and she wasn’t able to get IVF at the time.

So even if you are unable to get pregnant naturally, it doesn’t mean you’ll never be pregnant. Most people these days suffering female infertility do eventually end up pregnant.

Thanks everyone, this makes me feel better. I think we will just have to try and not overthink it.

If it doesn’t happen naturally after 6 months it makes sense to contact the GP, isn’t it?

Yes PCOS is a reason to seek help after 6months, not the standard 1 year.

I've got PCOS and was told aged 13 I wouldn't get pregnant without intervention.

Because of that I came off the pill aged 30 and DH and I adopted a kind of not-trying-not-preventing regime. My periods were very irregular at that time. After 18 months I conceived naturally.

Then breastfed my DS to 17 months, had 2 regular cycles after stopping and got pregnant naturally, on the first try the cycle after that.

I’m a GP. The fact you’re having regular periods almost certainly means that you’re ovulating each month and have a “normal” chance of conceiving. As a previous poster said though, it would be worth starting ball rolling by contacting your GP after six months of trying.

Also worth bearing in mind that different areas have different rules re fertility assessment/treatment. In our area for example, neither partner can smoke, the woman’s BMI must be below 30, you must be below 32.5 years old. Along with rules that neither of you can have children already. Obviously your area will be different and some of these things can’t be changed, but it’s worth getting your BMI down and stopping smoking (if relevant) in case these are relevant where you live and obstruct things if you need them. There’s also the benefit that if you are a healthy BMI and both don’t smoke that your odds of natural success rise anyway!