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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

TTC with PCOS

999 replies

Ainat266 · 15/03/2015 14:25

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.

OP posts:
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Lilwelshyrs · 16/03/2015 18:54

Thank you Ponty! I was convinced it was never going to happen... And then it did ShockGrin

wildpoppy · 16/03/2015 19:00

I have PCOS. Also v overweight - was 110kg when conceived dc1. I always has periods but varied between 27 and 40 days. Knew I ovulated as had ewcm each month. Doctors kept telling me weight was a problem and I kept telling them I was from generations of fat women who had babies. I was 31.

Anyway I had the clomid from the fertility clinic and we were about to have iui. I had to wait until day 3 of my cycle and take the clomid but day 3 never came!! So I conceived naturally after all after 2.5 years trying.

Ds came after one try two years later.

And now pg with number 3. Took about six months trying for this one (am now 36).

Original poster
Ainat266 · 16/03/2015 21:54

Thank you for all your replies, they are helping me to feel much better about things. I have been trying to cut out some carbs and some sugar which has helped me lose what I have lost so far, but I think it's time to start being stricter.

OP posts:
PontyGirl · 17/03/2015 09:04

ainat I know it feels like its never going to happen sometimes and it can be quite depressing but it will. It may take us a little longer and we may have to work a little harder but it will happen! My DD was a big surprise after what felt like a lifetime of celebrating everyone around me getting pregnant. I feel much more positive now having met so many women with PCOS who have children.

PopcornPip · 17/03/2015 10:49

Rufus Where do you get Inositol from? Are there any side effects? I've read a little about it but not really considering it just yet. Waiting to see what docs recommend.

Happy Shamrock day everyone!

AbFab86 · 17/03/2015 12:51

After my appointment today I've been prescribed inositol (you can just buy it though if you want it) and told to take cinnamon daily - both of which to help with the PCOS symptoms (especially insulin resistance). I'm also being sent for a pelvic ultrasound and tests to check my thyroid function so I'm getting a full MOT!

PontyGirl · 17/03/2015 19:30

v interesting ab, I'll be getting some of that!

Original poster
Ainat266 · 17/03/2015 21:01

Inositol sounds interesting... Could I take it with metformin do you think?

And cinnamon?

How quickly are doctors helping you? At the surgery I'm registered to I saw a couple of really helpful doctors who got my bloods tested and me in for a scan. Since then I've been back to the doctors twice and seen the same doctor both times who was really unhelpful. Now - was it just I think she is being unhelpful because she won't give me anything else (I asked about clomid or if there was anything else I could take) or is it that because we've only been trying to conceive for 8 months and I need to wait for a year (in her words). I haven't had a period in those 8 months and she knows that.

I was hoping that because I have PCOS they may help me a little quicker as it's going to take longer, and the other doctor was quick to help me with the bloods and stuff before I even had the PCOS diagnosis.

OP posts:
PontyGirl · 17/03/2015 21:13

ainat she could really be more helpful - most of the time if you're not having periods, you're not ovulating. there are things she can do to help, you need to be really argue your point

longestlurkerever · 17/03/2015 21:21

I have pcos but have had a slightly different experience. My cycle is regular but long (6 weeks) and I don't have too much trouble conceiving (usually on 3rd cycle of ttc) but have had three early miscarriages which I put down to implantation issues. I tried agnus castus and got pregnant first cycle and am now nearly 30 weeks pregnant. I do have gestational diabetes which is linked to pcos and am following a low gi diet. I feel better for it and have lost weight from my arms and legs. I wish I had tried it while ttc.

Good luck!

longestlurkerever · 17/03/2015 21:35

Ps that does sound rubbish about your dr. Even if you weren't ttc she should be trying to help you to get your periods back so you shouldn't have to wait for a year of ttc

Rufus200 · 17/03/2015 22:50

I buy through quidco (cash back) from Puritan's Pride. Be aware that although it says .co.uk it is a USA website. They ship to the UK but you have to pay import charges if you go over £15. There are always voucher codes for discounts and free delivery if you google and if you buy multiple bottles it can be cheaper to buy 3 then to buy 1!

I have IBS and had slightly more symptoms for 2 weeks then everything settled down.

www.puritanspride.co.uk

examine.com/supplements/Inositol

www.mypcos.info/1/q-a/is-dci-safe-to-take-during-pregnancy/

I contacted Prof Greene who is doing a study with pregnant ladies and Inositol and he said it is safe to take through pregnancy.

AbFab86 · 18/03/2015 05:10

Ainat yes you can take inositol with metformin, I'm on both. It's all natural so technically shouldn't have many conflicts with other medication. My doctor warned me to keep checking my BM though (type 1 diabetic) because it can make you a lot more sensitive to insulin. Here's hoping!

The cinnamon is also to help with insulin uptake apparently. I don't know how much good it'll do but I had a big tablespoon of it in my porridge this morning!

My doctor is going to get all the tests done ASAP but (and it's a big but!) I have private health cover because we live outside of the UK. She has ordered a bunch of tests so I'm waiting to see which ones the insurance approve before we go ahead. I do agree though that if you already know you have PCOS then your doctors should be trying to help you ovulate. Have you tried Agnus Castus yet? I only started taking it yesterday but I've heard great things about it.

longest Congrats on your pregnancy! Another agnus castus success story Grin I definitely think low GI diets are best for diabetics. I've had type one for 23 years and the only time I can control it fully is with a low GI diet (and insulin of course, but that's not the same for type 2 or gestational).

Whenwillwe3meetagain · 18/03/2015 05:31

I was diagnosed w pcos in oct 2013 my ace dr prescribed metformin in December and I got pg in Feb 2014 DS1 is snoring in his cot!
I get annoyed when people are told it will be v hard or impossible to get pregnant with pcos as lots can be done. I had a BMI of 29 when I got pg and the metformin regulated periods. Dr has said I can go back on metformin as soon as I want to start ttc again. All the best!

Original poster
Ainat266 · 18/03/2015 07:09

I started the metformin at the end of Nov 14 and started focusing even more on what I was eating at the same time, (I've been trying to eat better since August 14, when wdwdgppt started ttc). I've lost some weight since then, but not as much as I would have liked in that time, and no cycles... Sad

Agnus castus confuses me as I've read conflicting information about it. I've heard success stories but also that it can make things worse... same for soy isoflavones...

OP posts:
AbFab86 · 18/03/2015 08:27

I've read that you must stop taking agnus castus once you've ovulated but haven't seen anything else negative about it (that's not to say there isn't anything!). I figure I'm not seeing any sort of optimistic reproductive signs at the moment so it can't really get any 'worse' so to speak, so it's worth a shot Smile

longestlurkerever · 18/03/2015 08:29

Yes, I read that too. I was under the care of the recurrent miscarriage clinic and my consultant oked it. No one would prescribe me metformin as my fasting glucose was ok (annoyed about that now as I clearly do have some level of insulin resistance though my fasting glucose levels are still good) so figured it was worth a go.

longestlurkerever · 18/03/2015 08:30

I didn't even do that abfab as my consultant said it was ok, but I stopped taking it at bfp. Some places I read said stop at ov and others said carry on till 12 weeks. It's all very confusing.

PontyGirl · 18/03/2015 09:40

I'm actually really annoyed with the agnus castus they sell in Holland and Barretts and boots now. they only sell 4mg tablets due to legislation, but this is a completely ineffective dose!

longestlurkerever · 18/03/2015 10:24

I got mine in the Chinese herb shop and on amazon. 100mg.

PontyGirl · 18/03/2015 10:26

longest and how many do you take a day? it's been a while since I've been on them

longestlurkerever · 18/03/2015 10:34

I took 2 I think. Sometimes 1 as they made me a bit nauseous. Its a while since I came off them too.

Always1987 · 18/03/2015 16:14

It's been just over 8 months of trying for me and I also have PCOS. I have to go back to my GP in June to kick off blood tests and SA for my Husband. You are lucky to have already been given Metformin to help things along. I hope you get your BFP really soon. I completely understand how frustrated you are x

AbFab86 · 19/03/2015 04:46

I naively hadn't realised the normal agnus castus tablets weren't a full dose. Just checked mine and they are only 40mg too. Have upped my dosage so I'm having one in the morning and one in the evening.

My BBT has been high for the last 2 days. It has never stayed high before. I'm hoping that's a sign of ovulation! We'll see in 2 weeks(ish) I guess. We haven't been actively trying really this month. Ridiculously, I'm hoping I can time pregnancy and maternity leave so it doesn't interfere with work (I'm a teacher) but I know after a couple of months I won't care when it happens as long as it does happen! Now I'm on all this medication though we'll definitely ramp it up a gear if it looks like I'm actually starting to have some sort of cycle.

Saying that, I've got a very sore throat at the moment so temperature rise could be down to that Confused

PontyGirl · 19/03/2015 07:59

always I've got everything crossed for you!

ab the month I got pregnant with dd is the month when I had a million things going on and so not much time to think about getting pregnant for once! I told my doctor this and she said she sees it a lot. really hoping the temp shift = ovulation for you!