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

Hello ladies, I hope it's okay to join you.

I popped in briefly a while back, but hoping to stick around this time.

Have just had my blood test results back after insisting on them following two early MC last year, and my free testosterone has come back so high, I feel floored by the results. I'm already on 1000mg metformin. Due to see gyne next week. Waiting for a phone call back from the GP with most fertility experience at the surgery.

Off to read the last few pages to get to know you all!

Rosebud I had a day 21 blood test done by my GP back in April that showed ovulation, the result was 90 something? I am wondering if they'll let me have another with having one in May? I couldn't use my clear blue advanced digital fertility monitor in Nov as I didn't reset it when Aunt Flo arrived, so I used the normal clear blue ov tests, they showed a flashing smiley face but never a static face, so assuming I must not have ov'd in November. Looks like I ov some months, but not others.

*had one in May, not April.

Village I don't OV every month either.

Rosebud Eeeek! Looking forward to updates on stimming!

Hello Voldy Your post wasn't there... and then it was! Good luck for your appt, when you get there. The wait between getting some news and being able to talk about it can be agonising.

Hi ladies, will pop back to do personals, but just wanted to pop in and follow up on Rosebud’s gentle nudge …

…I had my first tracking scan today (day 8) and consultant was ‘over the moon’ with my response (and a little gobsmacked), as I have……drumroll….Only bloody 14 follies !!!

Absolutely stoked - not too shabby for someone who had an AFC of 5 in September, and AMH of 1.5. And FSH of 17.6 back in July, suggesting I was in borderline premature ovarian failure!

Follies are pretty decent sizes too - 6 on the right and 8 on the left, all ranging 10-16mm, although most are around the 13-14mm mark. So very very relieved to have responded at all tbh, was terrified I wouldn’t after my epic 7-week abortive down reg saga, ugh!

Dr has halved my Gonal-F, and then I’m to drop it again on Thu - next scan is on Friday, he thinks prob trigger Sat and EC Monday.

Lining is ‘fair’ (6.6mm) but he will keep an eye on it - may add in Progynova (oestrogen tablets - aka HRT!) after Friday’s scan. He’s hopeful we may have enough embryos (given we also have 6 mature eggs in the freezer to batch together with whatever we get this time) to go to blastocyst - in which case we have a further 5 days of progynova after EC to get the thickness right, so fingers crossed. So, things hopefully heading in the right direction!

Oh, and Dr was also pretty astonished by my spectacularly swollen belly - his eyes nearly fell out of his head. I look 4-5 months pregnant, I am the size of a frigging house (and it is really, really obvious on a size 8 frame). So I think that means I must be pretty bloated if I’m surprising the top fertility Dr!!!

Consultant has had a busy week with our thread, what with seeing stealth yesterday and me today!

banana That is awesome news! High five to those fourteen follies!!! I hope you're not in too much pain/discomfort from the bloating and they're going to keep a close eye on you. Thanks for updating us my love. You're in my thoughts

Hello ladies, is there room for another newbie here?

I had a pelvic scan yesterday and was told that I've 'probably' got polycystic ovaries. I went to the scan more than expecting to be told this but I'm still feeling a tad bewildered and have no idea what happens next!

A bit about me. I'm 36, been ttc#1 since December 2014, not even the slightest whiff of a bfp during that time.

Came off the pill in 2007 after being on it for 10 years, followed by 9 months on the implant which really fucked with my body so I demanded it be taken out. I've been contraception free since 2008 but actively avoided getting pg until last year.

Periods are only mildly irregular (I think...). I've only been tracking them for the last 2 years but I don't think they were ever regular after coming off the pill. Most months they range between 30-36 days long. When I approached my GP last year about this, she said this 'wasn't irregular enough' to indicate a problem and nothing was done about it. This was in July and since then I've had a 44 day cycle and a 52 day cycle (with a 30 day cycle nestled in between!) so I demanded a scan. But I'm on cycle 12 of ttc since starting in the Dec 2014 so not massively irregular.

I temp. Since Feb last year I've only had one month without a temp rise So I'm happy I am ovulating. Cd21 tests showed progesterone at 50 (July) which is great.

In terms of other symptoms, i get a little spotty and mood swingy at times and I put on weight easily but I manage this by trying to eat healthily and I run lots. In anticipation of being told I'm polycystic I've dramatically reduced my sugar intake, the first month I did this my cycle was 30 days long...the shortest since I've been tracking! Not sure whether this is a coincidence or not.

I'm making an appt with my GP today to discuss what happens next. She had previously told me I couldn't have any further investigations done until DP has his SA (he's awaiting his appointment) but I guess this changes things now!

Can anyone shed any light as to what happens next?

Thanks

Banana Congratulations lovely! That's such fab news! You must be thrilled. I was mega excited when I saw your news on another thread.

Dizzy Welcome! I recognise you from my early days on the buses (I was on them between August 2014 and Feb 2015 but left soon after the Bumsnet thread was created cos I didn't feel like I fit in..... I was the only one not having cycles at all) Sorry to hear that you are still ttc#1 I've had no whiff of a BFP either in nearly 18 months so know completely how you feel there.

From what you're describing it sounds like you may have PCO with your ovaries looking polycystic. But as you are having pretty regular cycles on the whole and your temps are showing you ov regularly, it doesn't sound like you have the syndrome. Do you have any signs of high testosterone at all? Unwanted hair etc?

I have only ov'ed twice in 18 months (once on 150mg clomid and once naturally the cycle after that) so thats our biggest problem but when DH had his SA it turned out he had a very low count too..... The dreaded double blow

It might be that you don't have PCOS but maybe your DH has a similar issue as your oving regularly and timing DTD but no BFP? Just a thought. Fingers crossed that isn't an issue for him!

In terms of what next Dizzy You might have to do another 21day blood test to check for ov again. Then if you are oving regularly I would be surprised if they would prescribe clomid. Instead it would be worth you asking to be prescribed metformin to try and control your blood sugar (a frequent problem in people with classic PCOS) and I would imagine IUI would be your next step after that. There are other ladies at that stage here, like Stealth so she might be able to give you more info xx

Hi dizzy! What rose said - if you are ovulating regularly then the PCOS is kind of not that relevant to the whole getting pregnant thing. I'd guess the 52 day cycle was anovulatory but even normals have the odd anovulatory cycle so I wouldn't stress too much about that. Has your DH done a SA? Have you had a hycosy to check your tubes are clear? They would be the next steps for me.

In terms of iui, my doctor said that if you could pinpoint ovulation and there are no male factor issues it isn't more successful than just doing it the old fashioned way. (I'm doing iui because my DH has a very high sperm count but conflicting morphology results so they want to see how the sperm behave when they prepare them during the iui - if they're all deformed, it'll be straight to icsi for us!)

Happy days for banana! So glad it's working out for you.

Afm I have just realised I'm travelling next week so will need to transport my gonal f on the plane. Where does one buy a small freezer bag from in london?!

Hey all,

Banana that's amazing nice work!

rose how exciting to get started its so nice there are a few of you starting out on the IVF journey. Sure I will be joining you soon.

stealth I have done one cycle of iui. It was all fine and I found injections much better than clomid.

I am having a funny old time. Obvs bfn from first cycle of iui. Then when I had my scan to start next cycle nurse said I maybe had a fibroid or polip so I couldn't start and there wasn't a Dr who could confirm. Was so annoyed!! When I went for another scan a week later on day 11 of my cycle there was no polip (great) but even better there was a 16mm folical! Amazing given I never ever ov on my own.

Since day 12 so 6 days ago now I have had LOADS of ewcm more than ever in my life but no postitive opk. Don't know what to make of it? Surely I would have ovulated by now if I was going to given size of folical? Been Dtd every other day just in case but struggling to work out what this means! Any thoughts?

Banana that's wonderful!

I got some blood results back today, testosterone levels both high (1.8 and 45) but my binding globulin level is low (15). What does that mean? Results taken on day 8 of cycle for relevance! LH 10.9.

Hmmm Freddie it sounds like you're at least gearing up to ovulate. Can you go for another scan and potentially ask the doctor to give you a trigger shot so you don't get overripe? Exciting news that you oved on your own. Glad you found injections fine, tbh I had no symptoms at all on clomid so it's all the same to me what methodology they use!

Voldy if you have pco and/or irregular periods + raised testosterone and high LH then that looks like PCOS. Welcome...you're one of us!! (The club no one wants to be in.) what was your fsh:LH ratio?

AFM, woke up this morning with bad cramps and skin has gone haywire. Did a first response hpt and bfn - I think AF is on her way. But disappointed, but on to the next round!

Hi rosebud! Yes I think I remember your name, sorry you're still hanging around these boards too. There's a few of the first bumsnetters still around on there, and a few who have joined since then. It seems to have become a place for ladies who are struggling, only because the lucky ladies have graduated and moved on leaving those of us having difficulties behind!

I'm not sure about the syndrome symptoms. I used to have quite spotty/borderline acne skin on my face right after I had the implant but that settled down and now I just get a few spots a month. In terms of hair, I'm not sure what is normal and abnormal! I have fine hairs on my upper lip but nothing I can't live with. I get a couple of stray thick hair growing, one at the base of my neck and one on my nipple and a couple on my tummy. My bikini line grew out a little to just outside my knicker line onto the top of my thighs but I treated this with ipl so most of it doesn't grow any more. Then I get hairs growing on the back of my thighs, these are quite fine -not like leg hair but will grow long if I allow them to! I usually shave or wax these. I am very dark haired and these and the hair on my upper lip are much lighter.

My GP, although she's a bit sceptical about temping, agrees that it does sound like ovulation isn't a problem and has already said I'd be unlikely to be given clomid.

Out timing when dtd has been a bit hit and miss, but there has been a few months where it's been pretty good. I hope this doesn't mean there's a problem with his sperm, who knows though. Don't they say there's only a fraction of a chance of conceiving per month when a couple don't have any problems?

stealth, hi! DP is on the waiting list for his SA. He's got two kids from a previous relationship but his eldest is just about to turn 6 so anything could have happened since then. I haven't had any other investigative work done just yet. I don't know what iui is! sneaks off to look at Google lol I won't qualify for certain treatment though because of DP having kids already. Grr.

I did look like i ov'd on my 52 day cycle! I think it was around day 38 ish, I got a temp rise and my LP was exactly the same length as always....by that point we'd given up weeks ago though and I'd assumed it was an anovulatory cycle. Very frustrating.

Sorry for the long posts! I've got a lot to learn!

*DP's youngest is about to turn 6....

Hello everyone. I've been in hospital from Monday with left flank pain and getting IV antibiotics, the only positive from the entire thing is that I had an ultrasound scan when I was in, report stated that I had multiple "follicles" however given that my last period was 3.5 months ago I reckon they're likely cysts rather than follicles as suggested! My consultant had been trying to get me seen by gynae all week but the hospital has been very busy and given that I'm not technically being treated for a gynae issue they seem to be reluctant to review me on the ward. Very frustrating!

Nurse you poor think. I'm not sure what left flank pain is (it makes me think you are a horse!) but I hope you feel better soon. You would still have multiple follies even if you're not getting periods - they'll just be small. That's what PCOS is! Hope you manage to track down a gynae.

Dizzy - I think the statistic is that it's around a 20% chance of conceiving per cycle if the timing is alright. Not great odds, hey?!

I have officially given up on my body. I had a bit of blood at 2pm and geared up to start gonal f tomorrow but it stopped an hour later and hasn't returned! Still getting cramps but no more blood. So do I start injecting tomorrow or wait for more blood? Gah! (Also, how the hell am I getting a period today when as of Thursday 2 weeks ago I hadn't even ovulated??)

Hi ladies,

Promise I'll pop on and reply properly with personals to you lovely bunch, lots to catch up on!

Update from my scan this afternoon - EC is all confirmed for Monday, I trigger tomorrow.

Cannot believe that with my barely detectable AMH I have 15 follicles!

14 good ones (most @ 18mm, a few @ 16mm, and one big fella @ 20mm), plus one 12mm tiddler.

Consultant is reasonably confident that with 14 decent follies (plus the 6 frozen eggs from last time), that we will have enough embryos to get something to blast.

He said he would be absolutely delighted with this kind of response from any patient, let alone someone with such (apparently) diminished reserves. Not bad for someone who the NHS would have written off!

Lining is, however, looking far less spectacular - triple line, but only 7.2mm, so am to start the Progynova (HRT - oestrogen tablets, to thicken the lining) tomorrow.

He will measure the lining on Monday before collection, and then wants to scan me again towards the end of the week. If he’s not happy with it, we won’t risk wasting a decent embryo in a fresh transfer - we’ll have to freeze-all and try to build up the lining in a medicated FET

Absolutely thrilled with the eggs, though will be gutted if we don’t make it to transfer again - desperately hoping the Progynova works its magic

Thinking thickening thoughts!!

Sorry for the me, me, me post

xxx

Banana LOVE your me, me, me post!! Thanks for updating us. Hope that your lining is listening up to your amazeballs follies and eggs!! C'mon lining- get with the programme! Thinking of you and hoping all goes well for EC xx

Stealth what happened? Did AF arrive?

Banana hurray! That's fantastic. Fingers crossed.

Chandelier lovely to hear from you, how is it going?

Rose how is the stimming?

Nurse how are you doing?

Dizzy could your GP suggest a plan? Tbh clomid might help you - it isn't just for women who don't ov.

Wave to everyone else.

I've just finished cycle 3 of clomid 100mg. Had absolutely no symptoms this time - no acne, no hot flashes - which I did on 50mg, when it didn't work. Maybe this one might?! Day 21 blood test a week on Fri...

Freddie Sorry to hear that your first round of IUI wasn't successful. Did you have a second round of IUI since then? Whats the plan now? x

Voldy Hi! I think you said you were on the thread a while ago- are you already on the stats under a different name? If not I'll add you!

Stealth Any news? Did AF turn up properly in the end?

Dizzy My DH has two children from a previous relationship too! The youngest is 10. So we aren't eligible for IUI/IVF help on the NHS either- but I have to say that my experience of the help that the NHS has provided us in the last 18 months has been amazing. There is loads that they can offer before you get to the brick wall that is the funding criteria so hopefully now you are in the system you should start getting some proper answers and a plan in place. I love a plan! Always makes me feel so much more in control

Dizzy IUI is where the sperm is "washed" to remove poor forms etc. You are then given injections to stimulate your ovaries to grow a follicle and then a trigger shot to encourage the follicle to burst around 72 hours later. The washed sperm are then placed high up in the cervix ready to meet the soon-to-be-released egg/s. Unfortunately because my DH has low sperm count (we have managed to improve it from 8 million to 21 million in 6 months but it's still not good enough for IUI) we had to jump the IUI step and move straight to IVF.

Nurse Have you recovered? Sounds nasty Hope you're ok?!

Banana Fantastic news! You must be so happy!!! And the lining doesn't sound terrible- it's within the minimum limit most clinics want to see. But I understand that you want your soon-to-be embies in a nice cushioned cosy uterus with lots of lining. Fingers crossed it continues to thicken up for you. Good luck for tomorrow!

Oranges Fingers crossed for your bloods- how are you feeling now? Did you manage to DTD much?

AFM- Finished my Provera to induce a bleed on Sunday last week. Was expecting AF to arrive on Thursday (the last 3 times I've taken it its taken 4 days to arrive) Didn't turn up. POAS yesterday morning because it still hadn't shown- BFN- obvs!
Still no sign of AF this morning- so I'm now 3 days late for AF This really does mess up ALL our plans! We were supposed to be flying to Czech on Friday coming. We have both arranged to have the week commencing 25th Jan off work! Now everything has been delayed and god knows how long AF will take to show so we are both going to have to rearrange everything at the last minute And my work even got a supply teacher sorted for the week!!!!

WHY are things NEVER simple for us

Rose that is beyond frustrating! Fx AF turns up soon

And no my period hasn't come! Have had a teeny tiny bit more intermittent spotting (can only see it when I wipe with loo roll) but basically nothing! I don't know what to do! Haven't started injecting but I really need to do it today if I'm going to start as I'm already cd3 if you take it from the sludgy day. Am thinking I'll take another hpt and if it's negative just get on with it. I'm just wondering where the hell that 7mm of lining has gone if I'm not having a period?!

Have you taken another test Stealth? I think you should break out a FRER! X

I did another frer on Friday and it was negative. I'll do another one tonight (do they work if you don't do them first thing in the morning?). But I really think there has been too much blood for it to be anything but a negative test! If I test neg today do you think I should inject tonight or wait to ring the doctor tomorrow? I can't believe this!