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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
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
sundayraspberry · 25/10/2015 09:50

Love your pcos/motor analogy stealth! Just the words I needed to explain to OH why we still needed to go to our fertility clinic appointment, thank you Grin

Hope you get some good news tomorrow vixx

bananafish81 · 25/10/2015 15:13

Hi ladies, hope you're having lovely weekends

Rosebud I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. And esp if there were issues with his SA, it takes two to tango, and even if your engine did restart and ovulate, it can't fertilise itself. Hope you can cycle very soon and we're celebrating your BFP! xxx

stealth hoping you feel better soon

Vixx been following along on the IVF thread but OMFG wow, what an amazing haul. So excited for your embies and for your FET in January Smile

eighty hope you're also feeling better, you poor thing. Rubbish to feel rubbish - but hopefully it's not made any difference to your Clomid absorption. Keeping fx for you

AFM The TTC cray cray is reaching defcon levels, as I’m obsessing about my lining in a natural cycle. Every month that I’ve ovulated it’s likely my lining has almost certainly been too thin to be able to support a pregnancy, and so it feels like I’m missing every possible chance to try and get a natural BFP.

I’m taking L’arginine, high strength Vitamin E, baby aspirin and I’ve started, if you can believe this, as it sounds bonkers - using vaginal Viagra cream that many clinics recommend for thickening up lining. Viagra was originally developed as a heart medication, to do with dilating blood vessels, when it was discovered it had a rather different effect, the reason for which it is now best known and prescribed! However this also works on the blood flow to the uterus, if taken as a pessary or cream vaginally, and absorbed locally (doesn’t work if taken orally - and apparently you get all the horrible side effects and none of the benefits!) You can’t actually get pessaries or creams over here, a bit like DHEA, where it’s not sold or manufactured in the UK. So to get it in the right formulation, a clinic in Greece called Serum, who lots and lots of British women go to for IVF, liaised with an embryologist in Malaysia, who gets ‘V-cream’ manufactured over there (can’t call it viagra as it uses the generic, but it’s the same ingredient, just in a cream base). Mine arrived on Friday - it’s in little applicators, like a tampon (or pre-seed), and you just whack it up there, and hope it does its thing.

Completely OTT I know, but there’s a private ultrasound clinic about 10 mins from my office, so I’ve booked a £99 scan after work next week, to see a) if I’m gearing up to ovulate this month or if my cycle has gone wonky after the stims and b) if all of the above has made any difference to my lining, i.e. could I theoretically support implantation in a natural cycle.

Massively OTT and sounds utterly crazy I realise, but I feel so desperate after hearing how incredibly diminished my reserves are now - so feel like I can’t waste any opportunity I have to try and catch an egg, if that makes sense.

So will see if all the supplements and viagra up my chuff has made any difference at all - would give me hope that there is a chance I could conceive naturally at some point, maybe, possibly, one day - otherwise the months in between IVF cycles just feel completely wasted, if I’m ovulating but no chance of getting a BFP if we catch that egg!

Big hugs to you all

xxx

stealthbanana · 26/10/2015 08:41

Omg you have hit peak mental, banana! Grin but that's ok you're in a safe place here

Well it looks like AF is on her way - getting some light bleeding so day 1 will be today or tomorrow. Which - YAY! - means I am GO on the Clomid. On the downside, that means I need my dildocam scan right in the middle of a work trip next week. Do you think there's any harm in scanning on day 10 rather than 9?

stealthbanana · 26/10/2015 09:07

Ps Sunday the not prescribing because of ttc is beyond annoying! It almost happened with my hsg too - they said they wouldn't do it as I'd had sex on cd3 and I could be pregnant! I had to have an absolute temper tantrum before the doctor finally came out and agreed it would be a medical miracle if ANYONE was preggo in those circumstances, let alone me!!

I've finished the doxy now and they've put me on a week of amoxicillin just to finish off. Fingers crossed it kills the Lyme! I feel like nothing could possibly have survived in there given what I've been through over the last week.

RoseBud2015 · 26/10/2015 13:23

Thanks for all of your comments- DH and I have reached a compromise I think...... although I may still try to twist his arm Wink We have agreed that we will go ahead with IVF asap but will do a freeze-all cycle like Vixx is doing to give my body a break and take some of the pressure off, both emotionally and financially.

I'm happy with the compromise for the time being! Smile

I finally got my AMH result back (it only took 5 weeks!!! Angry) and it is "over 99" which I understand is a very strong indication of severe PCOS (which is no surprise!). Does anyone know if this will hinder my IVF chances? It means I'm very likely to get OHSS doesn't it? I've googled it to death but cant find a definitive answer! I've emailed Reprofit and await my protocol!!!! Arrggghhh!!! Scary stuff!

Vixx Hope your 3 day report came back positive? Thinking of you! x

Eighty Hurray for AF! Are you feeling better now? Are you sure it was a sickness bug and not just clomid side effects?

Banana that's really interesting about the Viagra pessaries! Where do you get all of this random inside knowledge from?! Does it have any unwanted side effects?

Stealth I hope AF gets a move on for you! I dont think there is any harm at all having your follicle tracking scan on CD10 instead- You are unlikely to ov before CD12 anyhow so I say go for it How are you feeling now? x

OP posts:
stealthbanana · 26/10/2015 15:36

Ugh it's so annoying! Have had just a bit of brownish mucusy stuff today (sorry for the DISGUSTING TMI) - more like what is normally have at the end of my period. I think I'm going to wait another day and see what happens. I figure it doesn't matter if you take clomid from cd3 (my doctor has said to take it from cd2) so no harm either way.

Rosebud - good compromise. (And you can always see how you feel as you go through the cycle Grin). My AMH was 70 so also very high - weirdly there is very little about it on all the forums and the web etc. I hope this means that people with v high AMH have good odds! Grin

Eightyeight · 26/10/2015 20:47

Hi ladies

bananafish maybe you do feel a bit crazy doing all that stuff but I could totally identify with the desperate feeling when I read your post. Back when I was ttc DC1 the whole business literally consumed me and I would have done absolutely anything to try and make progress and every day was just another day of not being pregnant. Now I am lucky enough to have 2 DC I am a bit more relaxed and only think about ttc most some of the time. I hope that's come across in the right way - and I hope you feel you can rant / cry / etc as much as you need to here!

stealth I was always told spotting at the beginning of a period didn't count as day 1 but that day 1 was 'full flow'! So I agree you should be fine. Come on clomid!

rose glad you have found a happy compromise. I don't know anything about AMH I'm afraid. Exciting that IVF is so close for you! I'm much better thanks. It was definitely a bug as we all had it - a fun week in the eighty household!

bananafish81 · 26/10/2015 21:51

Rosebud that sounds like a terrific plan. And as a likely high responder it should help to minimise the risk of OHSS - as well as giving you a reason to have another trip back to the Czech Republic Smile

The way my consultant explained IVF for a PCOS patient (back when we thought I was still PCOS and my issue was that I wouldn't ovulate!) was that the higher the AMH the more gentle the stims would need to be. He with high responders the issue can apparently be producing a gazillion immature eggs - and that more isn't necessarily always better, as the aim is to get a reasonable number of decent, mature eggs. He said the optimum number of eggs is around 15 (give or take - it's just a rough indication). Too few like me and the chances are obv reduced, but loads and loads more l than 15 and the risk is that the stims get spread out too thinly so many of those eggs are immature. So stimming gently helps to stop loads of follies going off like rockets and means you should get a really good number of great eggs. Just means careful monitoring whilst stimming so they can adjust your doses as needed. So no reason you shouldn't have a totally brilliant chance! Xx

bananafish81 · 26/10/2015 21:59

Oh and bloody brilliant that Reprofit make doing a split cycle so reasonable - for me having to freeze-all and do a FET cycle on top of the retrieval cycle has added on a fair old whack to the cost. Fantastic that it works out so well for you. Win win!!

PontyGirl · 27/10/2015 11:36

Hi all - glad to see everything seems to be moving in the right direction for everyone on this thread! Hopefully we'll be celebrating more BFPs soon.

I have done something of a U-turn and put getting referred on ice - when I sat and thought about it, I don't want clomid or metformin etc just yet. I think I'm going to give myself a bit longer with losing weight and maybe reconsider around May time. I might totally change my mind in a few weeks (again) but, for now, I want to focus on getting down to 9st. Which should be interesting seeing as Christmas (or Eatmas, as it's known in our house) is almost upon us!

sundayraspberry · 27/10/2015 15:16

Defo not gonna judge you for going a little crazy banana!

Good luck with the weight loss ponty. I'm not saying losing weight will magically solve pcos issues but I lost 10lb after miscarrying and I think it has helped me have a natural cycle.

I think you ladies doing/planning ivf are amazingly strong. Can't offer any advice as I don't know anything about it but can be here with fingers crossed and Brew at the ready xx

Glad you finally got bloods back rosebud, hopefully things will get moving quickly now.

Not sure if I might have ov'd or not. Had some lines on opks over the weekend but don't think it got dark enough for a positive. Then blank yesterday. Shall just have to wait and see ...

PontyGirl · 27/10/2015 18:09

sunday sorry to hear about your miscarriage Flowers

I do think my PCOS is governed by my weight, as when I've lost weight in the past, my cycles have been more regular. We shall see!

Fx for your OPKs and lines getting darker

stealthbanana · 28/10/2015 11:56

Still just spotting. This is day 4 of it. What to do? I think I'm just going to start clomid tonight. What do you guys think? I don't want to miss my window if this is just a weird period and I'm not going to get "full flow".

RoseBud2015 · 28/10/2015 12:05

Darkest opk I've ever had this morn. ..I'm pretty sure its still not quite positive but I've had EWCM for 2 days and really severe ovary pains. I don't want tempt fate but , I think I might be about to ov again! Only thing is in only CD10! Will crack on with DTD anyhow. DH is in for a treat lol Smile

TTC with PCOS (Thread #3)
OP posts:
RoseBud2015 · 28/10/2015 12:10

Ponty Is it worth carrying on with your referral but delaying things once you get to the stage where they are offering you clomid? Once you are ready to start meds and are happier with your weight loss, you might find you get frustrated by all of the waiting around- just a thought Smile

Sunday We are in similar positions with OPKs and waiting for ov- what CD are you?

Stealth I would be inclined to phone the clinic and see what they say- it is supposed to be "full flow" that you count as CD1 so to me 4 days of spotting still isn't AF. Sad Hope it comes properly for you soon! x

OP posts:
sundayraspberry · 28/10/2015 14:18

Stealth I agree with rosebud, think you should ring the clinic. You must be so frustrated. Perhaps there isn't much lining to shed, and its just a v light period?

Rosebud I'm on cd19 today but was cd15/16 when I got lines in opks, was definitely not as strong as yours! I would call yours positive so get dtd!

bananafish81 · 28/10/2015 16:57

Thanks eighty - I don’t even recognise myself tbh, the TTC crazies have turned me into a proper mentalist. But the truth is I’m desperate. When we discovered my ovarian reserves had plummeted to the levels of someone in their mid 40s in the space of 5 years, my world fell apart. So it’s not just that I’m impatient (which of course I am!) - it’s that I’m terrified that every egg could be my last. I have to accept that the dream of having two children will never come true, but I’m just so so scared the sun has already set on being able to have a child of my own. I know IVF is a long shot as it is, but I also can’t give up hope that maybe, just maybe, I could get a natural BFP between cycles. I think it’s also especially raw because it’s my sodding birthday this week, urgh!!

sunday thanks so much, yo ladies are awesome. I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten, but are you temping? That’s how I work out if I ovulated or not (and if so, when). Hoping you get those 3 high temps if so Smile

Ponty that sounds like a really sensible and positive step We’re all here cheering you on! Would def agree with the other ladies about the referral -

stealth I asked my Dr exactly this, as I didn’t know when to count as the start of my period - I know you’re only supposed to count full flow as Day 1, but since coming off the pill I’ve never had anything like proper flow (drat you crappy lining). So he said after a day, then better to count Day 1 earlier rather than later, so that I didn’t miss my window. I’d call your clinic though to be sure. Excited for you!

Rosebud woohoo! That looks like a +ve OPK to me. And amazing to have loads of EWCM too. Get to it missus!

stealthbanana · 28/10/2015 18:44

So I managed to email my doctor - she said to wait until day 5 and if full AF hadn't turned up by then to start taking it. Given the spotting now seems to have stopped, I will start tomorrow!

Am really worry i now have lining problems on top of everything else - I've never ever had this happen to me before Sad I guess I'll see it on the scan. Could perhaps it just have happened because I had no ovulation at all? Even weirder I did an opk yesterday and it was positive! I've never had an opk be positive before.

Rosebud that's awesome re ov - well done you!

Eightyeight · 28/10/2015 19:44

Ooo good luck rose Wink

sunday belated welcome! So sorry to hear about your MMC. How awful for you. Is your appointment with the consultant coming up soon?

Very confusing for you stealth however I would think if you haven't ovulated that it would make sense not to have a period (that certainly applies to me anyway). Hopefully another more knowledgeable lady will be along to help soon...

Good luck with the weight loss ponty

Big hugs bananafish hope you have a decent birthday despite all this Flowers

AFM DH is going away with work at the last minute so even if I do manage to ovulate there won't be much I can do about it! Hmm

Hope everyone else is ok.

stealthbanana · 28/10/2015 21:25

Ooh I missed that - happy birthday bananafish!!

Freddiesmother · 28/10/2015 22:57

Happy birthday banana hope you have had a great day.

rose that's awesome nice one! Go go go!!

Wedding at the weekend which was so amazing and currently on a little honeymoon. Feeling shitty though as 12 dpo and negative tests again. Last three holidays I have been on have had to do test on last day of the holiday .... Only got one more round of clomid before it's the end of the NHS road for me. They had previously said I could have two cycles of injections but have changed their minds because I have responded so well to the clomid but still not preg. So it's straight on to IVF started a bit of research into clinics. It's so confusing. Been looking at create and the mild ivf options.

stealthbanana · 29/10/2015 00:02

Aw congratulations freckles! Happy wedding Smile Don't feel shitty, enjoy your minimoon

mistletoeprickles · 29/10/2015 07:22

Morning all

Unfortunately I'm bringing it shit news. I had a miscarriage on Sunday.

It's been a very hard few days but we're trying our best. I'm trying to focus on it must of been for a reason.

I'm seeing the GP today and the consultant at the end of November

Freddiesmother · 29/10/2015 07:52

Mistletoe I am so sorry. What awfully sad news. Not really anything to be said other than we will all be thinking of you. I hope you have a lovely GP who will support you through this. Flowers

bananafish81 · 29/10/2015 09:35

freddie Huge congrats! Hope you had the most wonderful day and enjoy every minute of your minimoon - thrilled for you. And hope you get a just-married BFP! Re: the responding to Clomid / no injectables question. Have you been given tracking scans? i.e. do they know that Clomid hasn’t thinned your lining?

I mention it only because as you know, Clomid ‘worked’ in that I responded to it, but it made it impossible for me to get pregnant because my lining was too thin to be able to support a pregnancy. I was unlucky that it happened on my first month of Clomid (and it appears I already have thin lining anyway) - but if you’ve not been scanned, perhaps worth pushing your Dr to check (especially as the thinning effect can be cumulative). Keeping everything crossed for you