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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.

TTC with PCOS (Thread #3)

999 replies

RoseBud2015 · 02/09/2015 19:04

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 our second thread >>>>>>>>> HERE

You can find the stats >>>>>HERE

Smile
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MrsC2013 · 04/10/2015 00:20

Hi all Smile I had a couple of days away from the site and feel like I've missed a few things, so just spent a while catching up. Have to reread things as I don't have any experience of IVF etc (yet) so want to get as much information as possible from you ladies and follow your journeys.

Rosebud- Fantastic that things are moving along for you, so pleased you made them listen! Will you be going straight to IVF then, and when do you start?

Pebbles- Pleased that things are moving for you too and I hope your op goes well.

Banana- FX for Monday for EC, you're so close! Best of luck. The link to the thread that has the pic we've all been rubbing Grin is in Fee's comment above. I don't know if it's helped yet as I'm not due to ov for a couple of weeks due to my long cycle, but I will ofc update as soon as I can.

On that note, sorry to Ponty and Freddie for the BFN's. At least you did ov though Ponty, so FX for next cycle. Keep rubbing! Haha I know what you mean about DH not liking doing his sample for SA. My DH has done 2 now and hates it, but as you said, I told him it's nothing compared to everything we have to go through! He came in from work a while ago whilst I was browsing the thread and when I started telling him about it, said that he doesn't need to know the technical side of things as I do by now, so he'll leave it to me! Do any of you find your OH are the same? I think they find women's bodies confusing enough (as they are) so I can't blame him. I'll just tell him when he's needed!

Is It- Nice to see you on the thread again. FX for the lower dose of Clomid and I know what you mean about just cuddling. TTC sex is frustrating when it's taken long than expected to conceive and when you can't help thinking that this time could be THE time....

Phew, hope I've covered everyone! Looks like we're all just waiting for things to move along. Wish appointments came along quicker! I think at my next one in Nov I'm going to be more like you Rosebud and get results as it's just going on and on without any real progress!

RoseBud2015 · 04/10/2015 15:39

Afternoon all! I've been on a hen do all weekend so only just been able to catch up- I am hanging out of my arse right now!!!

Pebbles Amazing news about the IVF eligibility and the speed at which things will start moving for you now! Eek! Have they mentioned how long the wait for NHS IVF is likely to be?

Isit Welcome back! Glsd to hear you and DH have had some quality time together and are all loved up- can only be a good thing! When will you know if 100mg has worked this cycle or not?

Banana DH and I have an excel spreadsheet for pretty much everything! So you are not alone! Let's be big losers together! How are you feeling about your egg collection tomorrow! I cannot wait for you to get those little eggies fertilised- this is beyond exciting!

Fee That's a great news about your tubes not needing to come out- now you can just focus on the IVF. There seem to be quite a few of us moving onto this stage now! It's so reassuring having you ladies to go through all of this with!

Ponty Has AF arrived properly now? Evap lines are too cruel- hope you are ok x

Freddie Sorry for the BFN. Hopefully AF is just round the corner so you can move onto the next cycle Smile

AFM- I think you ladies are right. Full steam ahead with the IVF feels like the right decision for us, with the possibility of trying a round or 2 of the femara while we wait. My consultant wants me to have follicle tracking on the NHS with the Femara too which I am really pleased about as it will mean we can pin point DTD much better.
Once I have my AMH result I will know the sort of time frame we are looking at with Reprofit- but going by what other Reprofit ladies have said, it could be as quick as a month!

I've had really bad pain in both of my ovaries for the last few days (I'm CD 19 today) and then yesterday I had actual EWCM.......I have NEVER had this before in my life!!!!!!!! So I cant help but think that I may be about to ov on my own!!!! Someone tell me I'm crazy- surely this cant be true?! I ov'ed on either CD20 or 22 last cycle (on clomid) but I haven't taken any meds this cycle! Confused

OP posts:
RoseBud2015 · 04/10/2015 15:42

MrsC I used to tell my DH everything about my cycle, temps, symptoms etc, but he started to find it overwhelming and it actually made him over focus when DTD and not be able to finish- so now I keep most details to myself (unless he specifically asks). However we talk about IVF completely openly and he is entirely on board with that. I think a lot of men are the same!

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bananafish81 · 04/10/2015 15:51

Thanks ladies, I have duly rubbed the picture. Saved it to my phone for a quick rub (haha) tomorrow morning in the cab to the clinic!!

MrsC it’s an interesting one with the blokes. I really found the book ‘His and Her’s guide to IVF’ helpful for a view about the treatment we’re going through, from the blokes’s POV. With my DH, we had a really good chat about the fact that just because he’s not obsessing completely immersed in all things TTC doesn’t mean he’s not interested and doesn’t care. He had a good chat with some friends of ours who also had fertility treatment, and both the blokes agreed it was important for them to retain some sense of distance, so they could be the voice of ‘reason’ and balance when we were emotional wrecks. We walk a fine line between ‘how much is too much’ sharing, although now we’re at IVF I think any sense of TMI went out the window. He would ask about OPKs and got very excited when we got a smiley face on the CBFM, but I don’t share the details of my CM (although he does know what that stands for!). I was actually really touched and surprised when I found out that he’d been reading up all about Clomid, and knew a lot more than I thought he did.

Freddie that article is super interesting, thanks so much for sharing. And OMG how exciting about your wedding! Hope you have the most wonderful day.

ponty hope AF cramps have subsided. The funniest thing about our faces on the SA pot is how bloody awful the photos are - you can barely tell it’s us!!

FeeFee Glad you’re finding the book useful - I have to say, I skipped over the BPA chapters as I was already driving myself absolutely bonkers with chugging a million supplements and eating low GL (and since we knew I was starting IVF, eating ALL the protein and making myself drink milk, even though it makes me boak!). I found the supplements advice so so helpful - she did all the work reading all the studies, and put it into a format a muggle like me could understand.

Trigger shot was fine thanks - meant we had 3 injections last night, but that should be it for jabs for this cycle. Honestly, you really do get used to injecting yourself really quickly. The first time is weird, but not painful. My meds were really easy - the Gonal-F (FSH injection) and the trigger shot both came in ready-loaded epipens, with teeny little insulin needles, I could barely feel them. The Cetrotide (blocker to stop ovulation) needed a little more prep - comes in a little vial of powder and a syringe of sterile water, and needs mixing & drawing up - but I put DH on mixing duty, and did the injecting myself. We had a nice little routine doing it together, I have to say, that for all the stress and strain of IVF, it really really does feel like we're even closer, and that it's something we're doing together as a team.

No injections today! Lots less bloated since being on the lower dose of stims, but today my ovaries ache a bit. Hoping it’s cos the smaller follies have decided to have a growth spurt Smile

DH and I watched some YouTube videos from vloggers going through IVF for ’tips for going through IVF’ and a couple of women mentioned getting yourself some nice cheery socks to wear on collection day. I couldn’t resist a pair which say ‘Let’s carpe the fuck out of this diem’!! God only knows what my consultant will think when he clocks them when my ankles are in the air in stirrups!! Grin

Eightyeight · 04/10/2015 20:36

Hi ladies, I've just found this thread and was wondering if there's room for one more? I was diagnosed with PCOS about 5 years ago and after some stressful times I now have 2 DCs conceived on clomid and am trying for a third (hope that's ok, I know most of you are trying for your first, I'll understand if not). I first saw the consultant in July and I have not responded to 50mg or 100mg of clomid or even provera (even the doctor was a bit surprised about that one!). So it seems my body is well and truly broken!

I am about to go back and read through the thread. There's lots going on! Good luck for the egg collection banana love the socks!

PontyGirl · 04/10/2015 20:44

eightyeight of course you are welcome! Sorry to hear of your struggles - it does seem like our bodies are indeed broken sometimes but they can surprise us! Don't give up.

Only quickly popping on - AF due tomorrow and I have hideous, hideous nausea which is just cruel as I am positively BFN. God damn hormones!

bananafish81 · 05/10/2015 14:06

Hi ladies. Well, we got 7 eggs, a much better crop than expected, which is fantastic. Unfortunately, couple of hurdles to being PUPO this month. Firstly, in a fantastic stroke of timing, DH fell ill last night and which made providing a fresh sample this morning more than a little challenging. Secondly, my lining had got thinner since the last scan. So even if a fresh sample had been able to be provided this morning, we’d potentially have been looking at a freeze all cycle anyway, if the Progynova wasn’t able to get things thick enough before transfer. So, the eggs have gone in the deep freeze, and we await confirmation of next steps. Obv nothing can get transferred this month - would have been preferable to have embryos rather than eggs in the freezer, but the biggest hurdle was getting eggs in the first place. The priority next month will obv be getting my lining thickened up, although there’s a part of me that also wonders if it’s possible to do a consecutive stims cycle, and try to get more eggs so we have more embryos to work with (and maybe even something for the freezer for subsequent FET cycles)

I’m both absolutely elated to have got such a great crop, and devastated that I won’t be PUPO this month. And as yet, don’t have any clue about fertilisation rates Sad

But we have eggs. Which was the biggest hurdle. No idea how the fuck I’m going to get through the next month without driving myself hatstand!

PontyGirl · 05/10/2015 14:41

Oh bananafish, why can these things never be straight forward? 7 eggs though! That really is fantastic. I'm so sorry about your lining and your DH - completely understandable that you feel deflated. Keep focusing on those seven amazing positives Flowers you're so much closer to having a baby now, keep going Flowers

My DH hasn't gone for his SA today as I couldn't work today (we run a business) due to hideous nausea. AF due but not here and I'm absolutely not pregnant. I'm assuming she'll either arrive in style later (not feeling like it though) or my luteal phase has got a day longer. Whatever, annoying!

RoseBud2015 · 05/10/2015 16:34

Eighty Welcome! Of course you can join us.... in fact the fact that you are TTCing number 3 will probably give those of us who are having problems TTCing number 1 some additional hope! What age are you and how long have you been TTC3? How old are your 2DCs? Are you moving onto 150mg clomid?

Banana A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! 7 eggs is fab news! It's a shame you weren't able to be PUPO this cycle but like you say, now you can have EC again next cycle and then have either a fresh or frozen transfer then! In the long run this could actually work in your favour! When will the eggs be fertilised? Any ideas? x

Ponty Hope AF gets a move on for you soon! x

OP posts:
bananafish81 · 05/10/2015 16:58

I don't THINK we'll be allowed to stim back to back, but a medicated FET would give us a better chance to get my lining up to scratch. Even if we waited another month or two to do another stim cycle we might well end up needing to freeze all and do a FET to get my lining up.

My lining has been crap on natural and Clomid cycles - and it turns out on stimulated cycles as well. My AFs have been so so light, I never even needed anything more than a pantliner - so it's likely my lining will need all the help it can get. So at least with a medicated FET you don't schedule transfer until the endometrial thickness is satisfactory.

Awaiting further into from the Dr and the lab. 6 our of 7 eggs were mature!!

Pebbles086 · 05/10/2015 18:04

Just popping on to say welldone to banana big 7!! That's great. Sorry you have to wait a month but it will be worth it when your lining is super thick! You got through the stiming and EC, so another massive step closer!
rosebud glad you have a deffinate plan, I hope your Results are on there way! Once I've had my surgery and healed I can start IVF, there is no waiting list at my clinic (very grateful the nurse confirmed that!)
Welcome eighty like the others had said, your very welcome. We're all having our troubles and don't mind sharing with anyone who needs some support xxx
Hello to everyone else xx

bananafish81 · 05/10/2015 18:35

Spoke to consultant. He was absolutely astonished that we got 6 mature eggs as he couldn't believe I'd respond like that. He was genuinely concerned I wouldn't respond at all, and said he never imagined we'd get anything near that. So we know we got the stimulation protocol bang on.

He said judging by my lining this morning it was highly unlikely the progynova would have had time to work in time for a fresh transfer, so we'd almost certainly have ended up having to do a freeze all cycle anyway - albeit with embryos rather than eggs.

It's frustrating but a medicated FET will give us much more control over my lining so as to give us the best chance possible for implantation - they will only thaw the eggs and fertilise with ICSI when the lining is ready.

DH is understandably not only feeling dreadful from the bug, but is inconsolable about the turn of events. It's obv far far from ideal, but as hurdles go, fertilisation and building up the lining are much more easily surmountable than the expected hurdle of not getting (m)any eggs. So while the stims get out of my system, he'll freeze a sample in advance just as an insurance policy, then we'll go into a medicated FET in Nov.

Consultant is v optimistic that we'll be in a v good place once we can get everything in good shape, and have to concentrate on the positives and not dwell on the frustrating bits - or how far away Nov feels! Xx

FeeFeeLaFew · 05/10/2015 21:34

Woah Bananafish congratulations on all the eggies! I know out must be frustrating to have to wait but at least you're one massive step closer to the end goal!
I agree re the supplements advice in the book- so helpful to read, and clearly laid out. I really must crack low GI eating once and for all.

Ponty, sorry you've been feeling so poorly. Hope you're feeling better already.

Eightyeight · 05/10/2015 22:34

Ah thanks ladies. rose I'm 35 and DCs 2 and 4. I have a great GP who knows my history and she referred me to the infertility clinic as soon as I saw her in July (fortunately referral time is just a few weeks here). Given that I haven't had a period since I got pregnant with DC2 Shock Shock I would have to be extremely lucky to conceive without help so I saw my GP as soon as we decided we wanted to go for a third! It will be good to chat to people who understand as everyone I know seems to fall pregnant just by looking at each other!

I see my consultant again tomorrow afternoon so will know then the next steps.

banana wonderful news about the eggs but it must be very disappointing and annoying about having to wait - especially when it takes so long to get to that stage in the first place! Fingers crossed November rushes round for you!

ponty sorry you're not feeling great. I hope AF hurries up for you.

I'm just trying to catch up with everyone else. rose I've heard that clomid can kick start your system so hopefully you have / will ovulate naturally this month! The follicle tracking will be good - I just have blood tests on days 21, 28 and 35 to see if I've ovulated so no use for knowing when to DTD. Hope you have recovered from the hen Wine

Freddiesmother · 05/10/2015 22:36

Nice one Bannanafish thats great news.

Ponty sorry you feel poorly. Maybe next cycle will be our cycle... everhopeful! No sign of AF for me either wish it would just hurry up I want to get on with my 5th Clomid cycle.

stealthbanana · 05/10/2015 22:37

Yay banana! Nice haul. Well done you.

Sorry you've not been well ponty, and welcome eighty!

My only news is that I look like a drug addict as have had 3 blood tests in the last week and I have bruising all over my elbow crook Grin one more to go on weds (although am worried that it's only cd29 and maybe I should have a couple more tests on cd32-7 just in case I have a 45+ day cycle?

PontyGirl · 07/10/2015 14:38

AF came, a day late. My luteal phase is the longest it's been, I'm wondering if it's down to the EPO I took this month. Either way, here goes another cycle!

Freddiesmother · 07/10/2015 15:19

ponty When's your next appointment? Did you take Clomid when you conceived dd?

eighty it's so nice to have you as you are a Clomid success story! My periods never came back after DS... That was 4 years ago (although they never really arrived in the first place)

First day of Clomid tonight. Been super healthy and strict on caffeine and booze for 6 months.. Do you ladies think I should just let it go and drink on my hen do? I was thinking of just having a couple but I don't want to jepodise this cycle or undo my good work!?!

PontyGirl · 07/10/2015 18:33

No appointments scheduled until DH does his SA. Which will probably be next week now, so much going on at work. freddie DD was conceived with nothing, I was about to be referred and put on metformin/clomid I think. She was very much a surprise!

Freddiesmother · 07/10/2015 19:04

Me too Ponty with DS completely out of the blue. I hadn't had a period for 5 years so wasn't on the pill or anything and then BFP. Gawd what I wouldn't give for that effortlessness now!

PontyGirl · 07/10/2015 20:00

Couldn't agree more freddie! After I had DD, I had three perfect 28 day cycles. I thought I was cured! But then they just went back to the way they had been. FX we have some more luck soon!

Eightyeight · 07/10/2015 20:29

Hi Freddie I'm no expert but as far as I know, a few drinks on your hen night shouldn't make any difference to the clomid. My doctor has never mentioned it to me and I have a few glasses of wine most weekends. Well done on your health kick! I could do with a bit of that myself! Have a great time on your hen.

ponty fingers crossed this is your cycle!

AFM I'm back on the provera and really hope it works this time. The doctor seems to think it's worth another go. And then assuming my period turns up I'm back on 100mg clomid. I'm off to research inositol to see if it's worth taking that...

ClareLily101 · 08/10/2015 01:50

Hi all,
Not sure if you remember me, I posted a while back (July/Aug I think?), I was told at 19 due to my PCOS that I wouldn't be able to have conceive naturally. Then all the hacking/scandal came about and I haven't logged back in until now.
I just wanted to thank you ladies so much, on your advice I saw my (new) GP, she was shocked at the previous GPs advice and also that no follow up had occurred since diagnosis.
I had the nexplanon implant removed at the end of July and we agreed that if no natural period in the next 6 months that we would start investigations.
Your stories of miracles helped me a lot, I myself am a one in a million baby, my mother had two ectopics before me and had both tubes removed but I still managed to find my way through (not PCOS related but a miracle in its own right). Smile

I now have a miracle of my own, I tested positive on 21st Sep and went for my second scan earlier today, I am 6w3d. Everyone, my GP included, was shocked, I didn't even have a period since implant removal.

I want to say thank you again for lifting my spirits, I know PCOS ladies can wait a very long time for this to happen and hopefully my story will help someone like you all helped me.

Good luck to everyone, love to all xxx

RoseBud2015 · 08/10/2015 06:50

Clare I remember you! That is fantastic news!! !! Were you on any meds or it all happen naturally? Huge congrats to you!

Eighty Glad your appointment went well and you have a plan! Fingers crossed the Provera works quickly this time.

Freddie Defo have a drink. Clomid is enough of a bitch as it is without it affecting you hen do too. Let your hair down!

AFM: FF only went and confirmed that I bloody well ovd on my own!! !!! I had all the symptoms: ov pain, EWCM and now high temps! So I'm 3DPO today.. ... cannot believe it!

OP posts:
VillageFete · 08/10/2015 13:33

Hi ladies, can I join this thread? I'm part of another lovely thread (ttc number 2 after easily conceiving number 1)

Ok, I had my DD 6 years ago, not planned but a wonderful surprise. It was on the only time ever DP and I hadn't used protection, it was ridiculously easy to conceive her.

Fast forward to now and i've been TTC for 14 months. After tests it's come back with 2 things - my body has far, far too many eggs and doesn't know what to do with them and I also have PCOS. The consulant said something about me being prone to putting weight on, and also said something about insulin production, but because it was such a small appt I didn't have time to fully get to the bottom of things. He said my day 21 bloods showed i'd ovulated, but he was certain I don't ovulate every month.

He is reluctant to put me on clomid, I have so many eggs that he is sure it would be a multiple birth?! He thinks I can do this without intervention. I'm currently getting acupuncture and when I started my cycle was 37, last month it was 32, this month it was 30, so it must be doing something right?

I know NOTHING about PCOS and I don't know what i'm supposed to do? Is it possible to conceive naturally or is that a very slim chance? I've bought myself the clearblue advanced fertility monitor but now i'm worried if will be inaccurate, it may give me a false positive ovulation result?

What do I do now? Use the machine and hope for the best? I guess I need to lose weight too? I'm not big, my BMI is ok, i'm a size 12, but i'd be happy in myself if I lost a stone. Would this help? I have no idea how i'm supposed to know if i'm ovulating.