TTC with PCOS

[Ainat266]

Are there any other ladies out there trying to conceive with PCOS? Or any success stories of conceiving with PCOS?

We've been ttc and off of bc since August. Since then I've been diagnosed with PCOS and put on Metformin. I am overweight, especially for my height as I'm only short - but am trying to lose the weight. I'm almost at a 10% weight loss since getting the PCOS diagnosis in November 14. I haven't had any periods since coming off of bc in August 14, apart from what I'm guessing was a withdrawal bleed (that happened pretty much straight away - end of August) and a couple of very light bleeds that lasted no longer than a day.

I'm just feeling all a bit fed up now and think I need to hear from others that are either in a similar boat or have been able to have healthy normal pregnancies despite the PCOS.

I should add that although I think I ovulate and I have periods, I'm waiting for the results of my day 21 test which I should get on Friday/Monday.
If it comes back negative I don't know what I'll do!

P.S. Ultrasound 6 years ago said the ovaries were polycystic 'in appearance'.

bucket I am addicted to temping now it has really helped me understand where I am at and what works for me (if I have better cycles because of doing x, y or z)

just keep a thermometer next to your bed, and use it roughly the same time every morning before you do anything - not even going to the toilet, nothing! it's not just good for pinpointing ovulation (which is v useful when you do get preg and the midwife tries to tell you the preg has to be dated from your last period utter bollocks) but it can also highlight if your luteal phase is too short etc.

Hi ladies,

Have my dr appointment tomorrow, is there anything you recommend I should say/ask?

Ladies ladies ladies! We need to be bonking! Just had a quick scan through the last 20 or so posts and people are not doing it enough! We're not going to get pregnant sat around sulking about our bastard ovaries, we need to be in the bedroom! Or the living room, or the kitchen, or the garage, hell apparently it's sunny in the UK now so get doing it in the garden, where ever floats your boat! I'm going to have to make you all make a vow. "I do solemnly declare that I will DTD at least 3 times a week and force these useless ovaries to sit up and take notice"

Gin remind me if you've had the 21 day test yet? If not, I'd ask if you can have that. It doesn't matter if it's not day 21 if you've had a monster cycle. If necessary, say you've been trying for longer than you have. That might speed things up. I hope it goes well for you. Come back and tell us how it went

Popcorn Yep PCOS is by far the sexiest of all conditions. I remember when I was first diagnosed I was 14. I was told what the symptoms were and just thought, you have to be kidding?! As if being a teenager isn't hard enough without the weight gain, random dark skin patches, hair, terrible skin...gahhh! Luckily, because I've got type 1 diabetes, I was put on metformin straight away. Before that I was literally pumping hundreds and hundreds of units of insulin into me every week and my blood sugar levels were still sky high. It was getting quite dangerous. Thankfully, the metformin and a sensible diet (and exercise) has meant that I am now a normal weight, skin is fine, no longer resembling Cousin It, and my insulin dosage is down to around 50 units overall every day. I find it unbelievable that UK doctors don't automatically prescribe metformin to people presenting with those symptoms of PCOS. If you're insulin resistant you put on weight, which makes you more insulin resistant, and so on.

I've emailed my gynae lady this morning and asked what the next step is. I've told her the progesterone has worked, so do I come in for a 21 day test? I also mentioned that my endocrinologist was very happy with my long term blood glucose (held off putting "SO NERRR" after that). She said she wouldn't put me on clomid til it was 6.4. It's currently 7.1, which my endocrinologist says would be absolutely fine for pregnancy. I'll let you know what she says

Fingers crossed for your blood test results tomorrow Popcorn! If they come back as not ov'ing then the next step is referral to clinic. I think that's the stage most of us are at now.... so you can join the party! Seriously though I hope its good news for you!

Gin, As Ab said you want blood tests to check for ov. They should check your LH and FSH levels at the start of your cycle then your progrestrone levels 7 days after ov. For me they did the progesterone bloods every week (because my cycles are soooo long) to be sure ov wasn't just happening much later..... It wasn't!

And Ab I am definitely guilty of not DTD enough recently! Its all been getting me down but I know its turning into a vicious cycle of not getting pregnant- getting down- DTD less! Not good! So I will take your pledge....

"I do solemnly declare that I will DTD at least 3 times a week and force these useless ovaries to sit up and take notice"

Starting tonight

Right whos next???

Hi ladies, thanks for gd luck messages. Not expecting much from today but will ask for 21 day test as my last bloods were just taken randomly at any point in my cycle. I'm going to push for help !

Popcorn Thanks for the info. It's good that the pill has set you regular. Funny how it can have such wide-ranging and different effects on different women isn't it? It seems to have shut everything down for me, made my ovaries fat and sent my follicles to sleep. I wonder when they're going to wake up? FX for your blood results today.

Gin Good luck today. Keep us updated.

Ab DH and I haven't DTD since the end of February! I am awaiting a HSG and you absolutely cannot be pregnant when you have that, so we have simply not been doing it... plus the Norethisterone also flushes anything out when it brings on a bleed. He is due to have a SA too and has to plan his 'hand shandies' around that. It's taking him a while to sort that out; he isn't as organised as me! But he can't leave it more than 7 days as the sperm won't be fresh, and he can't 'empty' himself within 3 days of the test, so it's quite time specific. The clinic is only open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and we've just had Good Friday and Easter Monday and then he was working yesterday, and we're going to a wedding tomorrow, so it's a bit of a minefield! Seems easier to leave off DTD and wait till all these assessments and tests are out of the way. But you are right; we need to have sex, and lots of it! Need to be EOD or at least three times a week when we are back on it!

Ok eskimo you're allowed a pass until you've both had your inner workings tested

Well done Popcorn

Looking forward to hearing about your results!

Hey guys, will catch up later but I've just called the doctors.
Helpful receptionist as ever, not.

Apparently my progesterone level came back as 27 and 'Ovulation may have occurred'

Feel a little disheartened and even more than ever.

welllllll I definitely could have had sex more this cycle (says that sentence like she's a fully functioning reproductive woman - ha) but I had it 4 days before ov and on the day of ov so that will do me

hope everyone is okay! have to keep telling myself that I'm not going to be pregnant this cycle again and again because no matter how cool you try and stay, there's always that little ember of hope ready to explode into a full on FIT OF RAGE when AF comes

I'm sorry if previous post is insensitive in any way, not intended!! I know some of you are struggling with this far more than me.

don't be disheartened popcorn, it sounds like you did ov to me?

Dr has referred me to gynae that's all she could do. She didn't want to do a ovulation test or anything

Popcorn don't be silly. You're allowed to complain as much as you want here! It's a thoroughly rubbish situation. We need to embrace the crapness here seeing as we have to disguise it everywhere else. I've just had a look at my blood test results as the email had a list of 'normal' results for each phase in a cycle. For progesterone, a reading of 27 can ONLY be found in the luteal phase (according to this lab). The highest it can be in any other phase is 3. Mine was 0.64 (hah!). So according to my result sheet, you are in the luteal phase! I really hope that's correct for you. Either way, you're now being referred to someone who has more power to help you on your baby journey. That's a big positive. Cling on to it xx

Ponty I'm going to pretend that if I knew when/if I ovulated I'd still be DTD like mad when in reality I couldn't give a damn about it and would much prefer to sit on facebook

Still, you DTD at the required time so you can have a gold star this cycle. You're definitely allowed to think you might be pregnant. You have more chance of being pregnant than someone who a) hadn't ovulated and b) hadn't DTD at the right time. That's all very positive. Of course though, if we expect not to be pregnant then it's supposed to not be as crushing when we get a BFN. But I'm all for the positive thinking (pardon the pun). If it does end up as a BFN you can take the positives from it - you ovulated and it was noticeable. Next time it might work. Of course though, don't bottle it up. You're allowed to have absolute red mist rage if AF appears and anyone who dares to tell you otherwise deserves the full wrath.

Gah sorry popcorn I got confused and thought you'd been referred, but that's Gin. The rest still stands though. Big hugs.

Gin hopefully the person you're being referred to will do the tests now. Perhaps it's better to be referred rather than waiting for your GP to do everything. At least then you're a step further along in the system.

Well the good news is I just need to pick up my referral letter and send it onto Benenden. Has anybody used them?? I have private healthcare with them. Apparently I will have a diagnosis and treatment within 11weeks so that's good. I'm scared about all these drugs and side effectsi wish there was something they could do that was more natural !!

That's great that you've got a referral Gin, very pleased for you! And 11 weeks should hopefully fly by!

Thanks for the temping tips Ponty, I managed to remember this morning and will dutifully plot it all onto a lovely graph (possibly using coloured pens to make it more fun)

I shall also take your pledge Ab after all, its the only way to ensure when (not if!) we ovulate there are some lovely sperm there to turn it into a baby!

Sorry for going mia ladies! We had unexpected family issues come up which means I've been very busy. In a good way.

I wanna be on the chart thing. I can't see it properly on my phone though.. what stats do I need?

yay for those who have ov'd!

I'm a teacher too.. Seems to be a lot of us here.. Though I'm primary. Back to school on Monday. So not ready!

In terms of ttc I haven't made any steps in the right direction other than I've lost a few pounds (nowhere near enough mind). It's the last day of my easter hols tomorrow and I've just stupidly realised I've lost my repeat prescription for metformin. Will have to try phoning up in the morning to get an appointment to get some more. Want to try grilling them whilst I'm there if can get to see someone. What would you recommend I ask for?

Oh, it's been a while since I posted so to catch you up (And to see what I could ask for)...

other than a withdrawal bleed I've had no periods since stopping bc in august last year.
Diagnosed as having pcos and on metformin after 21 day bloods (done on who knows what day, think it was 90 something). They showed my lh and testosterone as being too high and that g have a high level of insulin resistance.
Overweight. Am trying semi successfully to lose some weight. Have lost 20lbs since coming off the pill, but still a long way to go to get my bmi to a normal range.

Gin that's a good timescale to have in mind. I don't have any experience with them unfortunately, but hopefully they'll be as quick as BUPA have been for me. I've heard the side effects of clomid can be pretty awful, but it's totally worth it and I've heard loads of success stories

Bucket I like the sound of your graph! I use the fertility friend app which lets you log all sorts of other symptoms too. I have had it tell me I've ovulated yet, but I have misplaced high hopes for this cycle!

Ain if you post your age, what number child you're TTC and any medication you're on (for fertility, don't need to know about anything else!).

I think with regard to asking to see someone, I'd maybe see if you could ask your GP what the next step is (and maybe see what the likelihood is of you being allowed clomid). It sounds good that they've diagnosed PCOS and put you on metformin. What dose are you on? As annoying as it is, losing weight seems to be the most direct way of getting rid of the symptoms of PCOS. I'm a big advocate of a low GI diet for insulin resistance. I've seen how quickly it can affect your blood sugars and I've had to lower the insulin I inject quite considerably. It's a lot easier than the vast majority of diets. It's just about being strict and keeping the end goal (healthy baby!) in sight