Pcos, periods (or lack of!) and a lovely bunch of ladies

[YouBoggleMyMind]

Right here's our new thread ladies:

Ella, moomin, Amy, robber, danika, trying, Eskimo and anyone I have missed or is lurking.

Hi Summer, I called my local private hospital, booked appointment for that weekend and now considering to go private for the whole thing (prescription of clomid). Just because, I hate to say, but the NHS are taking ages. I've been going back and forth with my GP for 18 months about my acne, I initiated the blood tests, obviously had to wait a year of trying before we could do anything really. But at no point did my GP suggest I had PCOS even though I told her my concerns several times. But to look at, my spots are not that bad, I'm not over weight and my periods every 40 ish days. I wish I'd pushed sooner, knowing deep down there was something going on. Now married for 2 years, been trying for just over a year. My initial appointment with the NHS Gynae is not until end of November and that's not to say they will prescribe me the Clomid on that initial consultation. The NHS Gynae clinic are lovely though and tell me to call every day to see if a closer appointment becomes available. I also noticed that all the Dr's at the Private clinic also consult for the NHS so you I could end up getting the same Dr for both. If you can afford it Summer then I would highly recommend it. It cost me £200 and that included a woman check up too (smear, bloods etc), so probably just for the scan a little bit cheaper. I hope this info helps.

Hi everyone - wondered if I can join this thread!

I'm 27 TTC #1
I have PCOS with irregular periods and an AMH of 84.

Currently starting the referral process although it is taking absolutely forever! Waiting on sperm analysis appointments before the GP will refer for further investigations!

Starting taking inofolic myself to see if that helps - it's regulated my cycles a bit but still feel like I'm forever away from having a BFP!!

Hope you are all ok!

I'd also like to join this thread, my body confuses me so much! I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17. I've always wanted to have children and be a mum and I was always so nervous it wouldn't happen for me.

We're TTC #1 (for me, #2 for him) after I had a miscarriage in July (First time taking hormonal contraception in years!) and decided it was really what we wanted. My cycles are an average of 48 days, and we're on cycle 3 since the m/c and my period has arrived today, a record breaking 10-18 days before I'd even think it could be near on day 30! Genuinely thought that we might have gotten lucky this cycle so I was gutted and also so confused when AF most definitely arrived today. I just have to keep reminding myself that I had the m/c so I know I CAN get pregnant we just have to be patient.

Do any of you use OPK's? I've got some but read some mixed things about how useful they are in women with PCOS.

Hi NeverGoOutOfStyle,

I'm new to the thread to but had to comment as you sound just like me! I was diagnosed at 17 too (I'm 31 now) and my cycles are on average 40-50 days long.

Just wanted to say that in 2014 I had my son without any help/medication- just got pregnant on our own. After my pregnancy, my cycles were approx 30 days for 5/6 months but have slowly crept back up to 40 days plus.
We are currently trying for baby number 2 and despite many people having issues with OPKs (PCOS sufferers i mean)....I am actually finding they work just fine for me, sometimes I might get one or two lines that look like positives early in my cycle but I ignore them as then the REAL positives arrive and they are obvious.

Hope that helps and lots of luck xx

Thanks Nutcracker for that info.
I havent been diagnosed with PSOC at this point - sorry to seem thick ladies but which test is it that definitively tells you you have it? Is it the bloods?
Symptom wise I have teenage skin, loopy cycles now that I'm off the pill, light bleeding. I'm a healthy BMI though and an ultrasound I had last year for possible endimitriosis came back all clear.
I'm thinking that bloods are the thing I need to be focussing on at the moment, what do you think? x

Hello all. I posted way back in August and have been lurking since as haven't really started TTC #2 properly yet (changes in job situation etc) but as I still haven't had a cycle and it's been quite a while have been prescribed noresthisterone (utovlan) to induce a period - 3 a day for 14 days, due to finish them tomorrow evening, can't wait as I'm spotty, bloated and moody. Has anyone taken this before? how long will it take to get the bleed?

A bit worried that I won't cope well with any other treatments like clomid if I'm struggling a bit with the norethisterone...

pcos is diagnosed using the rotterdam criteria. you don't have to have all the symptoms to gain a diagnosis; just two will be sufficient.

things that are on the rotterdam criteria are:

unregulated menstrual cycles
hyperandrogenism (unwanted hair growth/ unwanted hair loss)
cysts on overies

there are a long list of other symptoms such as:

sensitivity to carbohydrates
craving sweet foods
lack of energy
mood swings
adult acne
to name just a few

p.s.

welcome to the thread

So my first round of Clomid went well. First time in this TTC process that I have not had really bad side effects from a medicine. I woke up drenched in sweat a few times (thanks to Amy and Boggle for recommending I take it at night) but that was all.

Went back to the clinic to get my scan yesterday. It know it is not supposed to, but it really hurt. Worst of all, my biggest follicle was just 12mm, when they need 14-20mm for ovulation. The Clomid might still work this round, but I have to go back for another scan tomorrow. I actually cried in the clinic when they said I had to come back. The scans are so sore and unpleasant.

Thanks Amy - I certainly could sit and say I have some of those symptoms, so will need to wait and see what they say.

Am pleased to report that I spoke with the GP today and have managed to sort a blood test for this Friday. She's going to test for other possibilities like thyroid etc as well so hoping this might shed some light.

Thanks for your info x

Hi Summer. Welcome to the thread! Like Amy said, there isn't a single test that proves you have PCOS. For me, I got some blood tests which showed abnormally high testosterone. I was then referred for an ultrasound to look at my ovaries, at which point they could see that my ovaries had way too many follicles (i.e. were polycycstic). So for me, that felt like the conclusive test.

Hi everyone

Yeah SummerHopin, my initial bloods came back normal, then second set of bloods couldn't pin point ovulation. So for me it was the scan which showed the follicles on my ovaries. I guess we are all different? But for me it was the scan that diagnosed it for me. I'm 30, not over weight, period every 38-45 days, a few spots on my face, always been a tad hairy but nothing major. Hope this helps.

p.s I have also confirmed today to go private for the Clomid to help kick start these ovaries.

Thank you satsooma thats interesting. I will see what the bloods bring up. The lack of cycles is what is worrying me though, as I'm now on CD56 with no sign of anything. If I think back I remember my first ever period (age 16) was in the January and my next one didnt come until May! After then I cant quite remember but I went on the pill pretty soon after that for birth control so never really knew what my original cycle was.
.....could it be that I've actually had PCOS this whole time and just not known??

Exciting for you Nutcracker - I think sadly that private is the way to go for getting anything done quickly these days. FX for you x

Just had my other scan. Unlike the last two, which took forever and really fucking hurt, this was just a bit uncomfortable and over quickly. Had been dreading it, so almost wanted to hug the nurse.

Got one follicle grown to 13.6mm, they rounded up to 14mm which is apparently the absolute smallest needed for potential ovulation. So keep your fingers crossed that the little thing keeps growing.

Has anyone else (Boggle?) had their follicles measured? How big were they?

Hi girls,

Warm welcome to all the newbies - the more the merrier to help each other through!

Fingers crossed for you Satsooma

Well I had the dye in my tubes and xrays last Friday, they couldn't get the tube through my cervix so had to force it open with a little balloon thing which huurrt lol. But other than that all good. We've now had all the tests the specialist wanted (lots of bloods, swabs, physical exam, ultrasounds, 2 x semen analysis, dye in tubes) and we're due back on 15 Nov and should be given the clomid then.

Re. the whole NHS/private thing it's very unfair in that it does seem to be a postcode lottery. We were referred to a specialist after less than 6 months of trying (we were told by our GP that the 12 months trying wait only applies if everything seems normal, not in cases of pcos), we've had a lot of tests between now and then (listed above) and have seen the specialist twice, and are now about to get clomid prescribed pretty much bang on 12 months of trying.

Hi ladies, sorry for being a bit quiet. Nothing to report and will be holding off on a new cycle for a while.

My biggest follicles were like 22, 21mm and that was literally the day before ovulation. However, I have had some come in at 14mm and 15mm but I've ovulated a few days later. What cycle day are you satsooma? There's still time for them to grow.

Oh Dani, that sounds like it would be sore! Hope the Clomid works for you. I haven't had a dye test yet, but I hear it really ups the chances of Clomid working, as your tubes should be extra-clear for a few months.

20mm is really big Boggle. I was told I likely wouldn't ovulate until Sunday, but it you ovulated a few days after 14mm maybe we should get on and DTD soon. Got to say, these appointments have left me sore and not in the mood.

Defo no harm in getting those sperm up and in there and hanging around waiting for Mrs Egg to appear. Good luck and I hope it works. Xxx

Hi girls :)

Please can u give advice on this OPK? Would u say it's pretty close to being positive. It's the darkest I've ever got! Advice would be so appreciated xx

Hi milky, not far off but not positive yet. Keep going for the next few days! Good luck

God damn it! milly!!!!!! Not milky!!!

Hahahahaha it always auto corrects to milky 😂😂😂 xxx

I'm already on cd22 :/

Well I guess there is no harm in giving it a whirl either way? Nothing to lose? Xx

So true xx