TTC with PCOS (Thread #3)

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

You can find the stats >>>>>HERE

stealthbanana that is brilliant news!!! Lots of BD for you then :) are you still taking clomid? What did they do before they prescribed it to you?

Hi all, I have been AWOL while trying to de-obsess (but was lurking most of the time). Welcome to the newbies - as always, it's a shame you're in this boat too, but this is a lovely thread to hang out in.
Chandelier, Mistletoe, Sophie - huge congratulations! May everything go smoothly for you.
So lovely to see BFPs on this thread. Not that there's a lack of them IRL - as with most of you, almost all my relatives/acquaintances/friends seem to be up the duff, within just a few months of trying. Or less. I'm happy for them, of course. But can feel myself getting progressively more jealous and bitter. Not a nice way to be.
Stealthbanana, hooray for the follicle - what a wonderful way to start the new year, especially having seen your message writing off your clomid chances just before.
Bananafish, sorry to hear you're in pain - but fingers crossed for your appointment next week that you finally go ahead.
Rosebud, have a wonderful trip and I hope your meds are there when you arrive home (do they not need to be refrigerated?).
As for me, the doc confirmed IVF is the next step (tubes blocked, as shown in lap and an HSG, as well as having massively PCOs - though I have at least had a couple of cycles this autumn after waiting more than a year ). Funding came through within a month or so, which I'm told is good going (the wait for the doctor appointment was longer, of course), and I get one NHS fresh cycle, and one FET ( if there are any embryos to freeze ). First appointment with the consultant in the ACU is in three weeks - simply cannot wait to get this show on the road. In the meantime, I've had some other health complications, but on meds for that and it shouldn't affect my chances.
I wish you all a very happy 2016. May it bring all of us successful pregnancies, and not too much heartbreak/continued-long-slow-slog heartache/pressure from family/babybombing/tensions with DPs/DHs/financial cost from all the supplements/alternative treatments/private medical treatment in the meantime!

Hey girls, I'm new and I think I could possibly have PCOS. My amh level was 52 pmol/l, I'm 30 very nearly 31. I've been ttc for over a year. My periods are every 26 days. I've no other sign of pcos though. I don't know anything about it. I Don't get to see my dr until March so I'm pretty much interpreting these results from the net. Anyone had anything similar?

FeeFee glad the ball is rolling at only a moderately glacial pace - fx ivf will work for you first time round

French85 that level of amh can indicate PCOS, yes. Why such a long wait to see the doctor? You need to have an ultrasound scan (to see if you have polycystic ovaries) and day 21 (or for you day 19/20 probs) tests done to see if you're ovulating. Can you push for an appointment quicker?

Yes we have done loads of sex as have been on holidays let's not mention I've been drinking like a fish, eating crap and even had a cigarette a few days ago. So we've dtd at least once a day for the last 5 days - and it wasn't baby-making sex either as we didn't know I was gearing up to ovulate. So much nicer! I don't have any CM or pre seed but apart from that conditions are pretty good; my lining is looking good too at 7.2mm triple stripe. So I guess I'll be in the 2ww - although I just cannot believe there is any chance of an actual pregnancy this time round!

I had the ultrasound scan and they never mentioned anything about polycystic ovaries, I got the impression everything looked good although they found some fluid which they said was normal for that pt in my period I had my
Progesterone done on day 21 a few months ago and it was 68.5 so they felt I deffo ovulated. They mentioned that they saw a big follicle just about to go but I had a positive opk 6 days before, so I'm just baffled.

Thanks Stealth, I'm trying to be positive about it but given various setbacks in 2015, have learned to be less optimistic about things :/.
How are you coping with the 2WW? Great that your lining was looking good.
Pardonmyfrench, I'm afraid I haven't got any insights for you. If you're ovulating, that's something to hang on to! Upthread you'll see Rosebud and others talking about the fact you need two out of three criteria to be diagnosed as having PCOS. From (very fallible) memory I think they are polycystic ovaries, lack of ovulation, and testosterone imbalance. It sounds like you've 'only' got elevated AMH which I don't think is one of the diagnostic criteria? But ovaries can look quite different from month to month/ week by week, from what I've heard.

Happy New Year ladies!!
I am finally back up and running on mn so this is going to be a long post!

Rosebud Have your meds arrived yet? Please keep us updated on your IVF - I'm at least a year away (with losing weight and waiting lists etc) but am keen to know how it works!
I hope your trip was as fabulous as it sounded!

Welcome Glitterpoppy, Dunlin and pardon **

Congratulations Sophie, peardrop, chandelier & mistletoe. I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you after the horrible time you've had to get here. Please pop back and let us know how things are going

Bananafish Do you know if you have the go ahead for stims yet?

Dunlin I second bananas advice about writing things down in your appointment.
For my first appointment, they gave me metformin, referred DH for a second SA and put my name on the list for hsg. It was on my second appointment, after hsg was clear, DH SA results were good and I'd lost weight on met that they prescribed clomid.

Nurse 11 months is a very long wait for you! Is going private an option, just to get the ball rolling? (I have no idea of the procedure in NI sorry).
Losing weight is Definately a good step to take though - it can kick start natural ovulation.

Stealth do you know if / when you ov'd? Fingers crossed for you!

Feefee good luck with IVF. It seems that a lot of us are being told we need to go down that road.

Pardon I'm obviously not an expert but your symptoms don't sound like typical pcos to me, sorry. If your scan is clear, cycles regular and you're ovulating it sounds like there is either a different issue or its just taking some time. Has your DH/DP had SA?

AFM, no real news on my cycle. I didn't ovulate and AF has not shown up. I have tablets to kick start my period but am saving them for end of January when I need my cycle to start. Until then, DH is away on and off so no point in wasting a cycle. Going by my previous pattern, I ov every other cycle so hopefully first cycle of 2016 will result in an egg!!
I got baby bombed again on NYE by a very close friend who knows all about me ttc. She was so nice about it, she told me via text, then came to see me, one to one. She asked me if I was ok and how/if I wanted her to tell me updates. We were having a little party at my house for NY and she didn't want to just drop it on me then and knew her partner was too excited to keep it in.
She gave my feelings so much thought that I actually feel guilty. This is her first pregnancy and she was lucky that she had come off contraception with a view to really try in the new year but got pregnant straight away. And while she should have been bouncing off the walls happy, she was considering how upset I might be. I love her for that but feel awful that she had to even give me headspace.
I think the break we've had / are having is doing DH the world of good. He's back to his annoying, upbeat, optimistic self, so convinced that 2016 will be the year. And once we've stopped binging on turkey and cheese (we had a delayed home Christmas as we went away) we will be focusing on losing weight!

Apologies, I have no idea what happened with all the bold writing in that post!!

FeeFee - I hear ya on the resigned pessimism thing. The idea of anything actually working feels so remote - gah!

Nice to hear from you isit! Glad your DH is back in fighting form and that you have kind friends. I am having my last drink of my holiday before dry January and general healthy eating starts - so can relate!

No idea if I did actually ovulate or not - I am on my way back to London so will ring my London doctor first thing Monday morning and see if I can take a blood test the back end of this coming week/early the week after. I had a maybe positive ppl yesterday, the first one ever! We have stayed on the DTD bandwagon so let's see.

Pardon agree with isit - if you are ovulating, have regular periods and no hormonal imbalances other than high AMH it doesn't sound like PCOS, or if it's PCOS it's not a big issue for you - because you're ovulating!

Hi all,
I'm new to this site but just wanted to know other people's experience with pcos and pregnancy. I found out 2 years ago I had pcos but was on the pill. I came off the pill in July last year and have had regular periods every month. But am I ovulating every month with regular periods? How long did it take others to conceive? Sorry to go on just driving myself crazy every month with pregnancy tests and tracking my "fertile days". Would love to hear what you all think or your own stories.

Naomi I would set up an appointment with your doctor and ask for blood tests to check if you are ovulating. If you have PCOS and are trying to conceive they should be willing to help. That's brilliant that you are having regular periods, especially after coming off the pill. That rarely happens!!

Hi all! I'm back! Had a great trip with lots of yummy food and drink and lots of sight-seeing.

Good luck with your appointment today Banana Let us know how it goes! Fingers are firmly crossed for you! x

Stealth Well done to your clever little ovaries!! What day do you think you ov'ed and when did you DTD?

Feefee Well hello stranger! Great to hear that you are now firmly on the road to IVF- there seem to be quite a few of us now that are at around the same stage. It's a shame that it has come to this for so many of us but I'm really hoping this will be the trick for us all!

Isit Loving the fact that so many 'old' faces are coming back to the thread- feels like the 'old' days Sorry to hear you didn't ov again- that one ovary is a little bugger isn't it?! And so sorry for the baby bombing! She does sound like an epic friend though for having you so firmly in her thoughts at such an exciting time for her! Not many friends would be so kind- hold onto that one! How was your trip away? Was it Prague you went to?

No sign of my bloody drugs so I've ordered them again but with priority delivery so they should be here tomorrow- I will believe it when I see it!

Morning all and welcome to all newbies.....i can see that so much has happened since my last post, big congratulations to the many BFP's we seem to have had over Xmas and New Year period, I am so very pleased for you all, really even though it makes my heart ache a little .

I have missed so much, Rosebud, I can't believe your drugs have not turned up, what a bummer, fingers crossed your new order arrives. Stealth isn't lovely when they tell you that it looks like you have a dominant follicle I couldn't believe it when they told me following my scan at the beginning of Dec! so you are well in the TWW now, fingers crossed for you. Isit, that sounds like one lovely friend x

I wanted to comment on some many posts but can't remember them all, so I will just wish all of you good luck for 2016 and hope there are lots more BFP's....

AFM, so went for my consultation appointment on the 29/12, because of the failed HSG they would not prescribe me anything as they are still not sure if my tubes are clear, so just waiting for a date for a lap and dye. Once that is done I will be referred to the fertility clinic as I will have been TTC for over 12 months by then and because of my age that means I get referred quicker. The consultant suggested that if the lap and dye shows no blockage then the next step will be clomid and again because of my age I will be referred for IVF shortly thereafter. She confirmed that my CD21 bloods suggest that I ovulated, it was at 35 and anything over 30 means that I ovulated, although she suggested she would rather it be 50+! But I was happy to hear that it looks like my ovaries are starting to do what they are supposed to.... On another note DH got his SA results and all is normal and looks good, in fact if I am understanding them right (just given a print out of the results from the GP!) he has a great count, his total count was 232.9 (10^6), the rest of the results were well above the normal levels as well, so of course he was walking around like he had super balls!!! I'm CD13 today and had a positive OPK this morning (not FMU) and some EWCM this afternoon so plan to BD again tonight!

Here's hoping 2016 brings nothing but BFP's xxx

Hi ladies, just a quick one, will pop back this evening to reply properly with personals, but update from this morning’s appt is that (drumroll) we have liftoff!!!!

Today is my last day of the pill, I’m to wait for AF and then start stims on Day 2. Which should hopefully be the end of this week, woohoo!! Dr’s switching me to an antagonist protocol as doesn’t want to downreg me any longer, so will be adding in Cetrotide after a few days of stims, like last time.

Baseline looked great - ovaries were quiet, antral follicles were nice and evenly sized, and my AFC was double what it was before my last cycle (it was 5, now it’s 10!!). Admittedly piss poor compared to the the AFC of 42 when I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2010, but certainly an improvement on last time.

Was a bit worried that DH’s morphology might have been borderline @ 4%, but Dr said it was absolutely fine (and that it was rare to see anything above 6% normal forms) and should be no probs to do standard IVF, rather than ICSI.

I also asked him about supporting my lining in a natural cycle, and he said yes we could def give my lining a boost with some progynova, would just have to be a monitored cycle to make sure we didn’t add it in too soon & interfere with the follicle growth. Which is bloody awesome news, as means we can TTC naturally between IVF cycles and at least be in with a shot of a natural BFP!

So, so, so relieved!!

Welcome back rosebud! What an absolute arse that your drugs haven't turned up. Where are they?! Am imagining some bemused old lady taking delivery of them :)

I have no idea when I oved - didn't have any CM or ov pain. So have now convinced myself the follie is actually a cyst and is still there. If it's not a cyst, it was 26mm on Thursday and doctor said it would pop in the next 48hrs so am guessing ov happened Friday or over the weekend? I did get a borderline positive ppl on sat morning with fmu (the darkest opk ive ever had). Luckily DH and I were in relaxed holiday non-TTC mode as we'd written off the cycle so dtd Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (twice!), Thursday and then post-discovery of the follie Friday and Saturday too. So if I did ov we have done everything we can really to get that egg fertilised! We shall see.

Elle welcome back (although sorry you're still here). Good that you have a plan, although all that waiting around is so frustrating.

banana, so excited for you!

Elle Fab SA results there and great that you ov'ed. Interesting that your clinic says that they would prefer it to be 50+ because my UK clinic told me that anything of 30 or over is perfect and there is no need at all for it to be higher??!! Who knows! As your ov'ing and your DH has super sperm, I have a sneaky suspicion you might not be needing that IVF referral. Fingers crossed the lap and dye shows clear tubes for you! x

Banana WOOP WOOP!!!!! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G news that things are finallllllllly moving forward for you. If my fecking drugs arrive soon then I'll be inducing a bleed and will only be a few days behind you on the stims. It would be great to have someone to handhold with through this new scary bit of the process. Keep us thoroughly updated- you know me- I LOVE details! xxx

Stealth Tell me about it! Blatantly some little old lady is pill-popping and shooting up on my drugs whilst I sit here scratching my head wondering why I didn't just get the bloody drugs from Tesco/Asda for £20-30 more Believe me, lesson learnt!
Oh and congrats on the DTD! You are more of a woman than me! You really have done everything you possibly can this cycle...... now give those lady bits of yours a rest fgs x

P.S depressing thought for the day.......

When I set up my profile in 2014, my Username (Rosebud2015) was supposed to reflect the fact that I would be holding my baby in 2015.
Then I changed the goalposts and decided that so long as I was preg in 2015 I was content
It's a sad day when you have to change your username to reflect the reality that just managing to get preg in 2016 would be nice!!!!!

So Rosebud2016 it is

Hi ladies,

It's so lovely to see so many PCOSers getting BFP's!!!! Congratulations, it's wonderful news and what a start to the new year!

I'm after a little advice. Does anyone here use the clearblue advanced fertility monitor? Mine told me I ov'd in Oct, then I forgot to re-programme it so had to use the clearblue digital ovulation tests in November instead and they confirmed no ovulation that month, then my fertility monitor told me I ov'd in December.

I've had a letter today from the hospital asking me do I want a private consultation and a course of clomid. Now, no-one ever explained fully to me what clomid is and what it does, but I think it forces you to ovulate? It would be a 3 month course. I feel it's pointless in my case as i'm ovulation at least every other month anyway? Blood test confirmed I ovulated a few months ago and it was a reading or 90 something, so it's not just the monitor that's confirmed it, yet I still cannot get pregnant!! I've had a hycosy and all was well, DP's sperm count and mobility was excellent.

What would you do? It is worth trying clomid (It's a bit of an expense for us) or would you trust the clearblue advanced fertility monitor and keep trying that way? The consultant I saw seemed to think clearblue is very accurate.

Village Could you book the consultation way in the future, maybe mid-year, and say that you want to ttc naturally for a while longer? That way, you are ready to go with the clomid if it turns out your ov isn't that regular. But in the meantime you don't have the added (and potentially unnecessary) expense? I think that's what I would do in your situation- keep both balls in the air, so to speak!

Also is it worth getting another blood test done to check ov for this month?

Eeek!!! Ladies My drugs are in London (the newly sent batch!) I just got my tracking info! Sooooooo damn excited now! x

Village I don't OV each month either, so it's quite possible that your monitor is right. Having said that, apparently not all PCOSers have success with fertility monitors etc. although I've successfully used OV sticks myself Rosebud gives good advice re. an appt, as ever.

Rosebud my lovely Don't be disheartened by the number change. Your time is around the corner my love xx So glad you had a wonderful break. Can't believe you had to reorder your drugs!

Stealth Wow- go you and DH! Really, really, really hoping this cycle brings you good news.

Elle Great results! Don't forget to DTD again today and tomorrow just to be on the safe side! as those lil spermies live in tubes for a few days! Sorry that recent news mine included has made you a little sad. I am literally dreading telling my bestie, who has had three failed cycles of IVF, even though I know she'll be chuffed for us, because of that double edged sword thing... Keep the faith

Banana Wooooooooooooop!!!! The time has arrived!!!!! I am peeing my pants with excitement for you. Never have I willed for someone to have AF as much! Yy, do keep us posted. We're waving our pom-poms for you

Very excited for everyone as having not been on the thread for a day or two there seems to have been massive leaps forward for some ladies :D So great to see!!

I'm feeling pretty rubbish today, have lots of abdominal pain making me think AF is on her way! However, at least this means onwards to the next cycle. Silver linings etc!! Seriously need to start eating sensibly again, feeling a big bit "bloated" after the christmas fesitivities!

My patient i was looking after in work yesterday was a postpartum lady - I got to take her down to neonatal to visit her wee one, It was totally amazing and i totally cried my eyes out for her!! Not a dry eye between us!! hashtag hormones

Thanks Rose. It was a bit of a DTD marathon. Luckily the first 4 times were just for fun. I think I have a mild uti now . Can't let myself believe that this could even possibly happen so am not holding out much hope, but we shall see! DH thinks it's a sure thing so am trying to manage his expectations. Men!

Glad you've fixed the drugs. And don't worry about the name - you will get there! So excited for you to be able to start.

Ha ha ha, Stealth! That's some good going! Sorry to laugh but I rememeber one particularly amazing date night that DH and I had which gave me a UTI too!! At least you know you've given it your all!

OBH Stealth I'm surprised it's only mild!!!

Aww thanks Chandelier I love the fact you are hanging around. It's great having you here x

Nurse Good work on the positive thinking- every cloud indeed. Get this AF out of the way and you're back in the game x