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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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PontyGirl · 01/04/2015 19:40

sorry to hear that drew Thanks hope you get some answers soon, will they refer you?

AbFab86 · 01/04/2015 19:50

Thank you ponty! That's the first chart I've seen that looks a bit like mine (except the post-ovulation part obviously). I will keep temping then Smile I want to see my line turn green!

Sorry to hear it was negative drew Thanks Could it be that you have just skipped a cycle? I've heard it happens. I skip most of my cycles, so I don't have any first hand experience of it, but I've definitely heard it can happen.

PontyGirl · 01/04/2015 19:55

I think it's worth it ab. I remember how disappointed I was that cycle because of how they looked and then all of a sudden it worked out.

DrewOB · 01/04/2015 20:12

I actually had a light bleed 4 weeks ago. Since first day of bleed I can't eat sweet food, fatty food, bloated constantly and nipples have grown and gone dark. Still negative HPT and bloods :(

Ginfizz90 · 01/04/2015 20:22

Eskimo! Just read your post about your scan. Sounds confusing and I feel for you as you haven't received the answers you were looking for and I know you will have built yourself up for that.

I wish I was not told anything my my u/s lady as I was not given enough appointment time to ask questions so it left me in a state if panic. I honestly think it will better for you to get an analysis by your dr so you have it in stone.

My u/s lady said my ovaries looked bulky, and that she could she cysts but she did not diagnose as such.

I saw what you said about the ov comment. Did you take my advice and ask if you had/or we're bout to ovulate? If so that's good it means you dr knows what to prescribe and also ovulation problems I'm told are the easiest to fix! A friend of mine has been trying along time, with regular cycles- both been tested and they cannot find any reason why they haven't conceived yet. In some ways in grateful for a reason and so it can be treated!

At least you have all of us for support! It's not an easy time and it's so nice to talk to people who understand fully.

eskimolaura · 01/04/2015 20:24

Oops, just re-read my post- I meant I have no symptoms of number 2 but possibly symptoms of number 3. Will read on now...

eskimolaura · 01/04/2015 20:30

drew I'm sorry for your disappointing news Flowers

Gin Thank you for your post. You're right- I had 'invested' and had prepared myself for some answers, even if they weren't the answers I wanted! Thank you also for saying that it's better to wait. We have waited this long, we can wait some more eh?! I did indeed ask about recent ovulation and she said that she would let me know, but obviously she didn't see any signs of ov at all. The follicles all looked the same size.

I am so glad that you are all so lovely and so willing to offer advice to a lurker, who may or may not 'fit' in here. Thank you Flowers

Ginfizz90 · 01/04/2015 21:00

So sorry drew! Our bodies can be so cruel at times.

Eskimo, I just remembered when I spoke to my Dr after she looked at scan results she said that as I had bulky ovaries and the fact I'm not having period was 2 out of the 3 symptoms. I didn't have any of the unbalanced hormones or any visual symptoms and my BMI is normal.

Do you know when you can discuss with your gp??

eskimolaura · 01/04/2015 21:09

Gin The report will go to the gynae consultant, as they referred me for the scan. I don't know when / if I will discuss it, but I'm assumingI will at some point? Everything has been really quick and smooth so far, so FX this will be too. What is next for you my lovely? x

Ginfizz90 · 01/04/2015 21:24

It's good that it's been so easy going! I have told my other half we need to dtd every 3 days just incase. Probably pointless but just incase!! I have another gp appointment 9th April where I will be asking for a referral and provera and ovulation test! Do you think that is reasonable?

eskimolaura · 01/04/2015 21:26

I think that sounds more than reasonable :)

I have told my DH the same thing once I have finished the progesterone and have had the HSG Wink

Ginfizz90 · 01/04/2015 21:54

To be honest I should probably wait u too! Just wish my periods would come back regularly, it's the most frustrating thing! Really using exercise as my release at the mo

Ginfizz90 · 01/04/2015 22:10

Sorry I meant I should probably wait too **

PontyGirl · 01/04/2015 23:42

fingers crossed for you both Eskimo and gin... there are so many things that can help, its just actually getting the help that seems to be the tricky bit.

everything seems to be pointing towards a normal cycle so far for me this month (and by normal I mean maybe a 28 cycle?! Grin a girl can dream...) but this is my first cycle after the provera bleed so who knows! staying positive until day 69483837 of my cycle, as per

PontyGirl · 02/04/2015 07:44

I take back what I said about looking like a normal 28 day cycle! my temps are flatlining and it's CD 18! so probably another long wait Angry

camrywagon · 02/04/2015 09:20

Hi all, just to add to conversation be wary of opks. They pretty much always came back positive for me as a side effect of pcos. Luckily, I'm not in the uk and have gone private as it's the only real option. In my two week wait after injectable cycle which made me ovulate ( for possibly the first time ever! Definitely in the year I've been tracking my non existent cycles)

Feel free to ask about ovulation indication or pcos management - at this point I feel like an expert!

AbFab86 · 02/04/2015 15:01

Ponty sorry to hear your temps aren't playing ball! Give it a couple of days. It might just be a long cycle.

When I had my scan last week I got to look at my ovaries (or just random patches on the screen) and she showed me the follicles. She said that one ovary couldn't be classed as polycystic because it had one follicle that was 15mm and a polycystic ovary doesn't have anything over 9mm. The other ovary had a load of small follicles. However, the endocrinologist that I went to on Sunday said the fact that ovaries have cysts on them is just one symptom of PCOS, just as you guys have been saying. Still, I'm thinking of that 15mm follicle as if it was a child Grin

Anyway, I got my blood test results back today - all 11 pages of them!! I knew they'd taken a lot of blood! I'm going to see my endocrinologist again on Sunday so he should be able to explain what they show, but the majority were in the 'normal' boundaries apart from the thyroid ones. An underactive thyroid has very similar symptoms to PCOS. Should be interesting...

My FSH result was 6.85, which fits in well with the follicular phase. Shame the follicular phase has been going on over 100 days though!

AbFab86 · 02/04/2015 15:03

eskimo when do you have your HSG? It's great all your tests are being done so quickly Smile

Lolly12 · 02/04/2015 15:18

I was diagnosed with PCOS after having VERY long cycles after stopping bc and cysts and enlarged ovaries showing on ultrasound. I took Angus castus (half recommended dose) which shortened cycle to about 35 days. Used fertility friend with tempting and conceived DS after three months. I stopped the Angus castus when I found out I was pregnant.

Then once cycle returned a year after birth (breastfeeding) it was fairly regular and conceived DD first month of trying.

Cycles have been very regular since I stopped breastfeeding DD.

I also paid very close attention to cervical mucus, which was nice. But it worked.

Good luck!

Olusha · 02/04/2015 16:42

Hi everyone,
Just spent over hour reading all 170 posts! :) thank you for sharing, it means a lot that I am not the only one. I feel for you all girls.
My story. I Stopped taking contraception pills in January 2014, started TTC in April 2014. After pills periods were more or less regular 34, 38, 46 days, then started being irregular again 4- 4,5 months, in February 2015 after seeing GP I made blood tests and all scans and in Early March been officially diagnosed with PCOS, no ovulation.
Waiting for appointment with gynecologist on 22nd of April 2015 (6 weeks waiting list). Having private cover I can't use it, been told by insurance company that all treatments for PCOS considered as infertility treatment and are not covered.Angry Just FYI.

After I found I have PCOS, I started taking Agnus Castus 1 tablet a day (almost 4 weeks now), but nothing. It's been 53 days since last period. No sides effects, except very sensitive breasts. Trying eating healthy and exercise regularly. BMI is normal.
I really hope that I will get prescription for some drugs to regulate periods and help me ovulate.
Most of the friends gone with second round for babies, and seems like we are the only one left. All this situation make me feel sad and stressed. :(
Trying keep positive is hard work.
Good luck to everyone! Flowers

Ain626 · 02/04/2015 18:16

Just having a catch up! Hello to eskimo and olusha and anyone else who I haven't said hello to yet.

I've started taking cinnamon to see if it helps with insulin resistance. Debating ordering some inositol - what doses should I be looking at?

Ginfizz90 · 02/04/2015 20:41

I have just started inositol, a quarter of a teaspoon a day xx

eskimolaura · 02/04/2015 22:06

Hi everyone,

Hello to Ain :)

Olusha Thank you for your post. What dosage is your Agnus Castus? I take 200mg a day and have been taking it for nearly 3 weeks. So far it's not done anything as far as I can tell. I agree, it's really hard to keep positive sometimes- I had a bit of a meltdown today, but I'm back now!

Lolly Thank you for your story too- it gives a lot of hope!

Ab I sat down with my calendar today and worked out the 'schedule' for taking these progesterone tablets. If I start to take them on Tuesday for 10 days, 5 days later I should have a bleed for 5 days (this is what happened back in January). I need to call the clinic on CD1 and they will book me in for my HSG between CD7 and CD10. I needed the calendar for this just to make sure these days didn't fall on a weekend! Also need to have CD 21 and CD28 tests, which also need to be on a week day. From what I can work out, these will pretty much all be Mondays if it all goes to plan! Phew- it took a bit of thought, a Post-it note and my MyDays app, but I got there!

Hope everyone is ok x x

AbFab86 · 03/04/2015 08:34

Hi lolly and olusha! lolly your story gives me hope!

eskimo I apologise but your story about having to work out your days made me laugh Grin Well done! It's like a crypton factor task! And then there are people who get drunk and get pregnant in nightclub toilets with someone they'd met 20mins earlier over a jagerbomb. Sigh...

With regard to inositol - I started taking it a few weeks ago and tbh haven't noticed any difference to my insulin resistance. Being type 1 diabetic I know exactly how much insulin I'm having to inject and what my blood sugars are in response. That said, it will effect everyone differently I'm sure. My endocrinologist didn't think much of it when I told him I was taking it for insulin resistance. I'm also on metformin and he told me to up the dosage, which I think has helped a bit towards the resistance, but I know that's not possible for everyone.

I also started taking cinnamon daily. That did nothing either. Endocrinologist laughed at that one. Fair enough Grin No harm in taking it though. The best thing I've found for good BMs (and therefore lower insulin resistance) is a low GI diet. It's a bit rubbish, but it works and if you are looking to lose weight I highly recommend it.

All this talk of resistance is making me want to watch Les Mis...

WestEast · 03/04/2015 10:32

Morning ladies, have read through all the posts, all the ups and downs you've been through.
I was diagnosed with PCOS at about 19, went on various pills and have just had my mirena coil removed yesterday. My GP told me to give it six months of DTD and she would refer me. Since having my coil inserted I've lost 5 stone, so I'm hoping there will be an improvement in the regularity of my cycles, I'm continuing to lose weight, I'm aiming for another 4 stone, which is completely doable.
Was planning on a bank holiday weekend of DTD but I've gone and got a nasty chest infection so it's off the cards!