TTC with PCOS (Thread #2)

[RoseBud2015]

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS and would like a small group of very friendly ladies in the same position as you to talk to, then this is the thread for you!

You can find our first thread >>>>>>>>> HERE

You can find the stats >>>>> HERE

Thanks ShortyK that was my thinking too, I think I will get it booked in as it will put the ball rolling if there is anything wrong. My gynae said I've not been trying for long enough and I'm "still young" - I don't feel young thanks haha!

Mistletoe no idea about the side effects but it doesn't sound too good being tired all the time - especially when you're starting a new job!

Dollface yay for the new GP, they sound very knowledgeable!

Good luck for your new job mistletoe, I hope the distraction brings some babydust your way! I am hoping my holiday will have done the same!

Anyone who is on chlomid, did you have to have a hysteroscopy or similar before NHS would prescribe it?

dollface I didn't no but I have a child already and had a hysterospy two years previously.
The consultant did not know express any concerns about my tubes or womb. The only thing he wanted before a prescription was given, was a trans scan

Super thanks Mistletoe. Just trying to make my plan of action/what to expect next if the metformin/inositol doesn't improve things. He said it would be 8 weeks to get an appointment with the fertility clinic so I was planning on going for chlomid privately but always worth getting expensive scans on NHS if I can.

Dollface just to add that I'm seeing my gynae privately and he's happy to start Clomid whenever we want it, but DH has to get a semen analysis first.

Obv if my scan on Monday shows my ovaries are heading towards premature ovarian failure after all then it's academic as we'll be rushing to IVF. Keeping all fingers and toes crossed the picture will be less grim and at 33 I'll have some eggs left (given I had bloody loads 5 years ago!)

SA doesn't take long but just a heads up that some doctors will want that before clomid (which makes sense as no point trying ovulation induction if there's an issue with swimmers)

Super thank you banana. The private clinic I am looking at does an "initial consultation" which includes SA and trans-scan so that should set us up to be prescribed chlomid fairly quickly then if I haven't had any luck by end of Sept.

Fingers massively crossed for your scan on Monday! x

Ladies can I ask a question.... The nurse told me to dtd every day for three days and then every other day for two weeks. I had my injection on Monday. I always thought every other day was better because of sperm count. What do you do?

Also what are they actually checking at the day 21 blood test? She didn't explain and I was too elated about having a dominant follicle to ask sensible questions!

Freddie I'm going to ask my consultant when I go in for my scan on Monday how often and when...

I think in TCOYF it says if there are no known issues with sperm count then eod with every day during the 3 days up to and including ovulation. I'll check though.

Day 21 should be progesterone - to check if you've ovulated! Fx

mistletoe I was exhausted for about 2-3 weeks on clomid, partly because everything felt so draining and partly because I couldn't sleep for more than 2 hours at a time without getting a hot flush and having to strip naked and jump out of bed! I also had the lovely hormonal side effect of sobbing like a teenager over the most ridiculous things. I only completely lost my temper once though, which I and DH were very happy with!

dollface to get clomid I had lots of bloods, ultrasound and internal scan, DH had SA x2 and I had a HSG. Then had to take metformin for a while and then they prescribed clomid. It's a long trek but worth it. I've ovulated on it for the first time in years!

Thanks banana I will follow her instructions to the letter then!

Thanks IsIt. Am hoping as I have a diagnosis and have already had 3 scans/4 blood tests a private consultant might let me skip straight to SA and HSG!

Having a down day today. Don't know why. Am 8dpo and feel fed up with ttc. Lots of friends asking me to plan weekends away etc later in the year an all I can think about is wanting to hide away until I get my BFP. Silly I know. I just feel like there are so many hoops to jump through, it's like a full time job.

I don't think the fact I have bought a total wreck of a house and am renovating it is helping much. I can't face talking about what we are doing with the "third bedroom" and get really teary whenever it is mentioned.

Dollface, hugs and empathy

I often feel like I don’t want to see people, I just kind of want to hole up at home - I’m limiting FB too as the constant (as in, several times a week!) new baby announcements and photos just got too much. On a lighter note, I whinged to DH last night that all our friends are taking the good baby names!! As he said, if we’re lucky enough to have one of our own, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Obv he does know I have a big list going as well!

Q about HSG. I’m going to ask my gynae when I see him on Monday, but before starting on Clomid did everyone have their tubes checked? I know he’s insisting DH has a SA, which makes total sense. But unless we check my tubes, that’s another variable that I’d have thought warrants investigating first off….?

Oh and tell me to sod off people, but out of interest, whereabouts in the country (or world in AbFab's case!) are you ladies? I'm from Manchester originally but live in London xx

Thanks banana. I too have a list of names I am hoping no one in my immediate group uses!

I'm from Bournemouth originally and now live in Surrey (work in Central London). At least us London gals have access to multiple private clinics! Glad I'm not trying to sort this mess out in deepest Dorset

Another one having a down day here! I'm going to book my hsg privately as I'm fed up of waiting around for answers - it's so frustrating

I'm in London too, just been into central and now I'm whacked out!

Hugs to you battenberg. Have a look at the London Women's Clinic. I've heard really good things about them and signed myself up for an initial consultation in Sept if no luck on the metformin by then.

Does anyone know (and sorry if this sounds dumb) if you get your af exactly 12 days after your temp/cm indicates ov, does that mean your tubes are likely to be fine or could there still be an issue?

Dollface to my knowledge getting AF approx 2 weeks (give or take) ovulation doesn't mean there are definitely no tube issues (although it's statistically more likely that there aren't any issues) - the lining breaks down if no embryo implants, so AF can come whether you've got perfectly normal pipes and it just wasn't your month, or whether you haven't got pregnant because the sperm can't get to the egg.

AF doesn't really tell us anything about our pipes - although if we're massively irregular it's often a clue that we're having anovulatory cycles (as we ladies all know!)

I'm def gonna ask my consultant about HSG / HySoSy on Monday - will report back!

Fab thanks banana I'd be really interested to see what your con says and thanks for the info. Good to know.

Will do!

I'm also deffo asking the gynae about zinc and selenium for DH. The obstetric physician poo -poo-ed pre conception supplements as a waste of money (except folic acid and vitamin D) and said Wellman were an unnecessary con. Which DH who's very sceptical of the supplements industry and was only taking Wellman to keep me happy, understandably took as vindiction to chuck em back in the drawer.

But as the gynae is the one who's going to be looking at DH's SA results I want to heat from him whether zinc and selenium are worth taking for the swimmers - the obsessive ttc-er in me just wants him to take them whether they do anything or not, but if the Dr says yes they are a good idea then that will do the trick!

If he says no don't bother, then obsessive TTC me will have to concede defeat, what with the lead consultant in reproductive medicine at St Barts knowing rather more about good swimmers than I do! Haha

New Here | Nexplanon Removal | Nipple Fire & TTC#1 with PCOS

Hi all, I'm new here, this is my first post.

A bit of background:

When I was diagnosed with PCOS at 19 and I ballooned, although I had success with the SouthBeach Diet I could never get back down to what I was. Paired with IBS and an underactive thyroid I was in a bad place.

Then I had Nexplanon put in nearly 3 years ago, I was told at the time that it would have no effect on PCOS.

AF rarely visited before Nexplanon (due to PCOS) and never visited after. I managed to lose weight (was size 12-14, now 6-8), my skin cleared up etc, at the start I had a few mood swings, but stuck with it and even they faded away.

Fast forward to 8 weeks ago when I woke up with two inflated, swollen, sore and tender boobs, which have only got worse. My nipples are on fire!!!!! I'm currently sat with a wet wipe in each cup... My mood swings are changing quicker than the second hand on a clock, I’m sobbing for no reason, irritable, I’ve had random sicknesses and cravings, my hair and skin are so greasy, acne has developed on my chin and then last Wednesday Aunt Flo arrived in full flow. Before AF I POAS twice as all these symptoms are driving me crazy. I’ve gone up 2 cup sizes and a dress size. The implant is now coming out on Tuesday (28th July), rather than 31st October (the 3 year date).

I was wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences, and what was your outcome? Does anyone have further info on effect of Nexplanon on PCOS?

OH and I had already discussed TTC after the 3 years were up, so we are just gunna go for it now, 6 years ago when diagnosed I was told that by now (25yo), I probably wouldn't be able to have children naturally.

But here goes

Would love to hear your stories?

Haha I hear you. It's all I can do not to fling DH's laptop across the room if he puts it on his lap shouting "save the sperm!" lol

Hi ClareLily welcome!

It’s a fab group of ‘cysters’ here, lovely to have you

You poor thing, that sounds desperately uncomfortable! I would def ask your GP - can you see a Dr when you get your implant out (if you’re having it taken out by a nurse)?

No experience of the implant myself, but just curious why you were told you would never be able to have children naturally? Was this based on PCOS or another diagnosis? There are LOADS of women with PCOS who’ve conceived ‘naturally’ - sometimes our ovaries need a bit of a nudge with Clomid or other meds to kick them into gear, but otherwise there’s a v good chance of conceiving.

As the ladies here who already have a child and / or who’ve got their BFPs will attest to!

Dollface Yep! OH now wears looser boxers only now, and I rather miss the old boxer brief type pants, cos they were great for perving at his bum, haha

He's on showers not baths, and is 'revising' hard for his SA test by no booze (and he gave up smoking several years ago)...I just think zinc and selenium should be part of his homework!

Hi Banana, Hi 'cysters' LOVE IT

I spoke to the nurses for advice but the removal is with a consultant. I will speak to him as you suggested.

I was 19 when I was diagnosed and that's what the family gp told me, she even suggested starting TTC at that age! My mum was with me at the time and went absolutely mental. When I went for the scan they couldn't find my left ovary at all, nor on the 2 follow ups.

I've never even thought to question it until now as I deal with things by putting them to the back of my mind, so just sort of accepted I would never have children, even though I've always wanted. My OH has managed to talk me round from that .

I've since had a private MRI scan (I am lucky to have this as part of my job package), I mentioned the PCOS to the consultant who said that both of my ovaries where there (thats a start at least).

I am so happy that there are success stories and so many of them it seems!

Here's to some luck ladies xx

The MRI was for an unrealted condition, I should have mentioned!

Clare glad you’ll get the chance to speak with a Dr - that would be a great opportunity to quiz him about PCOS in general TBH, esp if you’re seeing a consultant and not ‘just’ a GP (I say that not in a derogatory manager, as lots of my friends are GPs, but by their own admission the point is that they’re generalists rather than specialists)

I find it really helpful when I see my consultants (of which I have several, due to various medical conditions) to write down questions beforehand, and sometimes to take notes during the consultation. Might be worth having a think about questions you might like to ask, esp given you’re planning to start TTC, and particularly given the ridiculous scare you were given when you were younger!

May be worth asking how long they expect normal cycles to return - if you’ve recently come off hormonal contraceptives, it can take several months for women without PCOS to get regular cycles and start ovulating again, so unlikely they would do investigations until at least 6 months. If you’ve already had a PCOS diagnosis they might agree to investigations sooner. Just worth asking any questions you might have while you’ve got some face time with a specialist, as they’re hard to come by!

Banana, thank you.

I've tried to list all I need to ask on Tuesday and will take the list with me, no doubt I'll be adding more questions before then!