PCOS, late ovulation, short luteal phase, spending a fortune on hocus pocus potions - basically fecked

[MrsHY1]

Hello
I wondered if anyone on here is trying to conceive with a cycle like mine?
From observing my pant snot (read that in another thread and had to steal it) and temperature charting, I can tell that I ovulate between days 20 and 25. Problem is (if this wasn't problem enough) I then get my period only 10 days later, but start spotting brown (sorry!) only 5 days after ovulation.
I was diagnosed with PCOS, long before I was trying to conceive, about 8 yrs ago and have been on metformin for 5. That restarted my periods and got me ovulating again - great news - I know I'm lucky in that respect.
My GP referred me to King's Hospital London about 3 weeks ago and I'm already fussing that I haven't heard anything. Meanwhile I'm spending a fortune on reference books, vit B complex, a gallon of agnus castus which I then shelved because it seemed to make things worse, weekly acupuncture, eye wateringly expensive organic pre-natal supplements and Chinese herbs on the advice of the acupuncturist.
SIGH.
I'm prone to OCD and am the most impatient person I know... I keep telling myself that I haveto be more patient but it's not easy!
Sorry - have re-read this and it's a totally self-indulgent tirade.
Just looking for anyone who is having a similar experience really...
MrsHY1 x

Hi

I was in a similar situation last time I ttc, but hadn't actually been diagnosed with pcos. A lot of my symptoms pointed to it, and I took epilim for epilepsy for ten years which bizarrely can make women more prone.

But I had blood tests for a couple of cycles after I thought I'd ovulated to check I actually had ( which were ok) and I also ovulate around day 21- crappy having long cycles it just seems to take forever. My leuteal phase is also about ten days. You read so many threads to say that long cycles rarely result in ovulation but I know from experience that this isn't the case! It took us about 12 long long cycles but we finally conceived a girl who is now 2.

Now ttc all over again, first cycle, must be nuts it drove me insane last time!

Hi,

If you've been previously diagnosed with PCOS, temp charting is of no benefit at all as it can give a chart akin to the Rocky Mountains. With PCOS the charts are so problematic to determine with any accuracy you'll only tie yourself up in knots more and that is not a state you really need to be in. You are probably not ovulating regularly if at all if you have PCOS; signs like you mentioned can be misleading ones with this condition. If PCOS was not an issue then temp charting would be perhaps more helpful.

Would also lay off taking the organic pills and visit to the accupuncturist; its costing you a small fortune and quite apart from that there is no evidence that using such things will make conception happen any earlier.

Are you taking Metformin currently?. That is of far more benefit to you than any of the above potions and the like.

If you were only referred 3 weeks ago then realistically you won't get an appt yet. It may take some months also for a referral request to come through.

Thanks for the replies ladies!
AtillatheMeerkat actually, my temps are very good - very consistent before ovulation then consistently above the cover line (well, for my 10 day luteal phase anyway!) after ovulation. I also only get positive OPKs at ovulation time, as opposed to other ladies with PCOS who I know get + OPKs all the way through their cycle due to the hormone imbalance.
So I think I'm lucky - in that with the confirmed temp shift, + OPK and EWCM I'm definitely ovulating when I think I am - well at least I definitely have been for my past three cycles. But yes, I'm on metformin already.
I think I will keep going with the acupuncture for now, but will probably stop when I get my referral/and or decide to give up and go private.
PS, I think it was a bit hasty of you to use the words "you are probably not ovulating regularly if at all with PCOS". This is not true in my case and certainly isn't borne out by the evidence - PCOS is a massive spectrum and many ladies do ovulate, ovulate regularly and conceive naturally. I just wouldn't want other women with PCOS coming onto this thread and getting disheartened.

Hootie Thanks for your response! And lovely to hear you had your little girl! Best of luck with your second attempt. x

Hi,

Unfortunately it is the case that many women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly so that statement itself is not incorrect. Some but by no means all women with PCOS do and will require some medical assistance in order to conceive. I agree with you that it is a very individualistic disorder and does affect every woman with it very differently.

I never ovulated at all when I had my periods as they were so infrequent. Even though occasional ovulation with PCOS is possible the possibility that the body is playing tricks needs to be considered. Charting is certainly not infallible and particularly so when PCOS is an issue. You can get a temp rise in the second half of the cycle as well when an egg has not been shed so charting is not infallible. This is fact, not supposition on my part. I am not suggesting don;t chart but don't take the results as gospel truth. Blood tests would be the surest way of confirming whether ovulation is happening or not along with internal ultrasounds to see if an egg has left one of the ovaries.

Would also say that some private treatment can be poor as well as expensive; do your researches thoroughly before parting with your hard earnt cash.

I hope you get your referral soon and that you are monitored regularly when you receive it. Do not accept no monitoring if placed on clomid. They may use this for 6 months in conjunction with the Metformin you're already on; it seems to be more successful with PCOSers than clomid alone.

Ladies

I am in the same position. I conceived last year but promptly miscarried (wk 9) in October and have been trying ever since. I have very long cycles (40 - 42 days and o bloody clue when I ovulate). It's take a toll on us both to the point that my husband feels like suggesting we just give up on babymaking.

I am also on Metformin. I got a referral to St Thomas' last December but as I'd conceived previously they turned me away. Now taking 1500 mg Metformin and hoping.

Have toyed with just laying out the cash but think we'll just keep trying for now and I want to persuade DH that we should go back to drs for a referral in a few months time. After last experience he's not so keen. In the meantime, three colleagues at work AND my sister ALL had PCOS are are all either pregnant or have just given birth naturally. So even though I'm jealous as hell, they do give hope that we'll get there too

i dont know if this helps at all i have pcocs and my cycles varied wildly from 28 days to six seven months basically i never knew when iwas going to ovulate when ttc ds1 we were extremely lucky and conceived within 5 weeks ds2 took twelve months both were conceived naturally i just wanted to say that it is perfectaly possible to conceive even with a cycle as widely erratic as mine [ i do know how extremely lucky iam ]

LaraMi I'm sorry to hear about your miscarriage and it seems so unfair that St Thomas' won't see you. I would definitely go back for another referral in a few months if you can talk your husband into it. But, don't give up hope, as I also know of several women with PCOS who have conceived naturally - it is doable!

x2boys thank you! That does help a lot!

Well, I'm day 19 today and no signs of ovulation yet. Fingers crossed it'll happen in the next 5-6 days. I'm going to give the acupuncture 2 months and if it doesn't make any difference to my cycles (either in the follicular phase or luteal phase) then I'll knock that on the head and wait for a chemical intervention in the form of Clomid!

"Blood tests would be the surest way of confirming whether ovulation is happening"

But how does one do this with wildly long cycles in which day 21 doesn't mean anything?