PCOS and Metformin - TTC #2

[Omummy]

This is my first post so bear with me while I get down with the lingo!!

We've been TTC #2 for 9 months now with pretty much absent periods. Been to docs and been diagnosed with PCOS. He has suggested Metformin to help with weight loss prior to prescribing clomid.

Just wondered if anyone was in a similar situation and had any advice/comments??

Also, been taking daily ovulation tests for 3 months and got a positive this week. Needless to say jumped on the hubby for 3 days but worried that raised levels of LH with the PCOS would mean it was a false positive....any ideas??

Bump

I would not use OPKs at all if PCOS is present as excess levels of LH can contribute to seeing false positive OPK results. These kits read LH which many PCOSers have an excess of to start with. They are beset with problems anyway and should be avoided.

Which sort of doc did you see - was it a gynae?.

You should be monitored as a matter of course when you are prescribed clomid as it can cause raised production of LH. If they do not mention being monitored insist on monitoring because you will have no idea whether its working or not otherwise. Also clomid resistance is not unknown. Clomid used in conjunction with Metformin can be better than just using clomid solely.

I may be out of date as my son is 9 but after 12 mos TTC with PCOS And having clomid fail ( didn't know it would work until treated PCOS) I was given metformin and pregnant straight away! didn't even need clomid! Then conceived sec d son with no help at all. Heard of lots of people with PCOS for whom metformin did the trick. GOOD LUCK

Ps I also had absent periods - in fact ended up pregnant not having had a period .... Midwife was most confused!

I started on metformin after being diagnosed with pcos, which increased my periods from abou 1 every 6 months to about every six weeks. I found out I was pregnant when I went for the pre-clomid scan - felt like a right idiot for not knowing!

Thanks for your replies had heard stories of people catching very soon after starting Metformin but thought too good to be true! Glad to hear it worked for you.

Currently waiting for referral appointment with gynae and in the mean time hoping Mr Period doesn't arrive next week!?!

Ps, queen of knickers, that's exactly what happened with my first. I think we were just incredibly lucky!

Good luck Omummy. I'm also TTC#2 with PCOS. AF is here now after 12 weeks, although I have only been TTC for 8 weeks.
I've never heard of metformin. Is it only given to women who are TTC or as a general treatment of PCOS?

I took Metformin - I have PCOS but it is controlled via weight so the symptoms are very slight. I continued to take Metformin through to week 20 of pregnancy as there is some evidence that it can help prevent early miscarriage in PCOS sufferers.

Good luck - it may make you nauseous or give you a mild stomach upset but you should get through that after a week or two.

LittleMachine Metformin is a diabetes drug. It helps by making you produce less insulin which in turn makes you produce less testosterone thus helping you loose weight and improve the PCOS symptoms. It'll only work if you are overweight but I think can be used as general remedy not just when trying. (This is how I understand it works)

Worldgonecrazy my doc has suggested I start on a low dose and work up to help stop the sickness, was a bit worried about getting preg when on it so thanks for your post, it's very reassuring!

omummy my IVF consultant said to take it to 12 weeks but I took it a bit longer, having suffered a previous mc in early pregnancy following my first IVF treatment. There is absolutely no evidence of it causing harm to babies so I was happy to take it for longer.

Thanks for the info Omummy.

Fortunately (maybe?) for me, the only PCOS symptoms I have are the long cycles and crap skin, so it's not something that would be prescribed for me.

It's quite frustrating, I feel like I'm not TTC really, as I have no timescale to measure against!

I'm not TTC yet, but hopefully in the next year or so, if everything goes to plan. I also have PCOS, just diagnosed before Christmas. Would you mind explaining about metformin again? My GP didn't mention anything about it but I'm definitely overweight and finding it difficult to lose it.

Forgot to say that I miscarried twice in 2011, so am also interested in what a PP said up thread about it helping prevent early miscarriage.

My GP wouldn't prescribe it for me, until my IVF consultant did. I had to pay £120 for the private consultation/prescription, but once I had that my GP was happy to prescribe it. You may need to follow a similar route as Metformin has not been licensed as a fertility/PCOS control drug, only as a diabetes drug, so not all GPs are happy to prescribe it without the say so of the fertility consultant.

LittleMachine - the only PCOS symptoms I had were absent periods, and hairy, not overweight at all. It is also one of the cheapest drugs around so don't let GP get away with that argument!

Plus they have now brought our gastric resistant ones which don't cause as much sickness/nausea.

I don't know why it its known about more - I got it from my IVF dr but have heard of GPs prescribing.

Twllbach, have a read of this - www.endocrineonline.org/pdf%20box/pcos%2Bmet.pdf
My doc had spoken to fertility expert who advised Metformin but they had to make me aware of the licensing. Was explained to me that just means if something goes wrong (which is VERY unlikely) its the doctors fault not the drug company's as its not licensed for use in PCOS. just covering their arses!

That's really interesting, thank you very much!

Well, Mr P arrived this morning!! Cried......lots!! I know it sounds stupid but really thought we'd been lucky. (Have been knackered all week and feeling rough.) I really tried not to get my hopes up but obviously didn't manage it.
So that, coupled with hosting my friends baby shower this afternoon, has resulted in copious amounts of alcohol consumed!! (Yes I know it's only 5pm!) Don't get me wrong...I'm really happy for my friend but could have cried all afternoon!
So off to the doctors tomorrow to get this Metformin. I've done loads of research and really can't see any negatives, apart from the sickness, which when trying to loose weight can't really be a bad thing?? Plus hopefully I'm going to end up with 3 months of morning sickness anyway!!! Fingers crossed???

Omummy I really feel for you today (big hug). Get that metformin tomorrow and see it as the start of the next exciting chapter for you xxx