Conceiving baby 2 with PCOS.

[Beautifulblue]

Has anyone had a second child with PCOS? Was it easier for you to conceive the second time round? It took us 3 years to get pregnant with our first daughter naturally after just being referred to the fertility specialist. We are looking at trying for our second soon & im hoping it won't take as long this time. Any experiences? Both positive & negative to weigh up the likelihood. Many thanks!

Good news @Thenameisweasley pass some of your baby luck our way please!

More good news, the overnight oats are lovely!

I think if you're having fairly regular cycles you're in the game. The fertility issue with PCOS tends to come from not having many cycles & therefore not having many chances to conceive in the average year. Along with not knowing the timing of your cycles so almost impossible to DTD at the right time. This makes sense to me anyway. So I'm hopeful for all of us ladies! Going on holiday this Tuesday for a week, so luckily my mind will be (hopefully) otherwise occupied! I actually come home the day before test day! Will of course be keeping tabs on here to see how things go with all you ladies... 🤞🏼

I was not blessed with regular cycles. Well they did become regular for the first time in years for about 2 years. then in June this year when DP finally agreed to TTC again, my cycles went mental, and have continues to do so. I am honestly starting to believe my body hates me

But I have just ordered an Ovusense which I am VERY excited about trying. I wish it would hurry up and arrive! Apparently they are out of stock and expect a new batch in a week, then I have to wait a couple of days for delivery. I want it now!!

Oooh a holiday, that will be nice. Hopefully some relaxation will do you the world of good (assuming it is a relaxing holiday!)

Ahh @Frazzlerock that is so annoying! Everything concerning TTC seems to be a waiting game! Hope it turns up surprisingly sooner!! Wouldn't that be nice for once! Are you in cahoots with your GP about TTC?

Hello ladies, would you mind me hopping on? I’ve been searching for a ttc PCOS thread for a bit but could only find old ones for ages so I’m pleased to have found you! I’m ttc #2 just reached the year mark for trying with an early miscarriage in March. I’ve finally been diagnosed with pcos although suspected for a while so my gp has started me on Metformin (although she isn’t monitoring me on it or promised any follow up treatment). My periods are generally regular but I have noticed since the mc that they’re getting lighter and shorter so not sure if that’s something to be concerned about. Keeping an eye on things for now and may see if can investigate privately next year if no luck with bfp. Anyway good to have found some others in the same boat to share ideas with!

Hi @sweetpea0318 welcome! Sorry you've been trying for a year, it's tough! But glad we can try & support you. Not sure about the light/short cycles actually? Maybe something to read up on/speak to the gp about! Glad you're regular though that's great. Good luck! X

Hi Ladies,
Thought I'd jump on this thread just to add my weird PCOS story 😂 We are planning to TTC early next year.
Basically came off the pill after 8 years on it and had no period for 6 months, gained about 2 stone. Went to the doctor, blood test showed high testosterone, went for ultrasound which confirmed PCOS. Doctors advice was to go on the pill again - to me that was a no go. I wanted to get my own hormones cycling normally again not just continue to mask them. Fraught for a referral to an endocrinologist and got metformin and had a copper coil placed.
After about 2/3 years on metformin I was having regular 28 day cycles and had lost the 2 stone I gained (Although even at my top weight I was still "healthy" BMI). Went for a repeat scan early this year and no sign of PCOS. So I'm now off the metformin completely and still having regular 28-30d cycles.

So my concern is 1) I can't find no evidence or information on "fixing" PCOS or it going away so not to look a gift horse in the mouth but what the hell
2) am I to expect conception issues related to my previously dodgy ovaries, or not?

Anyway PCOS rant over - anyone had / heard of anything mildly similar?!

@tropicana1, I’m no expert on pcos so this is just my view based on copious amounts of googling but I do think that symptoms can come and go so it could be that is what has happened in your case. Everything I’ve read says there is no cure but who knows. As for issues conceiving - I don’t think you’ll know for sure until you start trying. But lots of women with pcos conceive without any problems. I got pregnant with my dd & had a very straightforward pregnancy without even being aware that I had pcos. It did take a while (7 months so not that long compared to some but long enough for me to start getting twitchy about it all) but I now look back and wonder if pcos had something to do woth it. But I wouldn’t worry too much until you start ttc and then just keep an eye on things and go to gp sooner rather than later if you do have any issues. Good luck!

Morning all,

Hi @sweetpea0318 and @Tropicana1

Tropicana - PCOS doesn't come and go, it is something you are born with (as far as I understand, although there is some suggestion that it could be environmental) and you cannot get rid of it, only make your symptoms easier to manage and help your ovaries to behave as normal as possible.
If it has been confirmed previously, I would be suspicious that you've been given the all clear. One of those outcomes sounds wrong to me.

Can you get a second opinion?
Do you have any symptoms of PCOS? Although, I you can have PCO and not have the syndrome (PCOS)... Losing weight can dramatically improve PCOS so perhaps you have it in control due to the weight loss, but you won't be entirely rid of it and you will need to keep it under control if you deffo have it.

Basically everything Sweetpea has said!

How confusing for you

Sweetpea, welcome to you too! Err... why the hell isn't your GP monitoring your metformin usage!? I'd be questioning that. I am so sorry to hear about your MC. It is sadly another kick in the ovaries from PCOS. I had two in 2016 and they both knocked me for six emotionally, which really surprised me - I'm still struggling with them now. Anyway, deffo keep an eye on your periods/cycles. Might be worth using an app to help with that. I use Flo which I rather like. But it did make me obsessive with symptom spotting as it asks you to track everything! So I have taken a step back from it for now.

@Beautifulblue I wasn't going to involve the GP because I have two children already (though they were hard to conceive) and have had four pregnancies in total so I wasn't sure if I'd be turned away for any help. However, the NHS website says:
It's a good idea to see your GP if you haven't conceived after a year of trying. Women aged 36 and over, and anyone who's already aware they may have fertility problems, should see their GP sooner
I am 39 so perhaps they will help...
I actually have a call with my GP tomorrow for a chat about a routine blood test (for thyroid function) so I will talk to her about help with TTC too, she does know we are TTC but maybe I need to actually ask to get anywhere!

I hope you all had a good weekend. What did you get up to?

I met some old school friends on Saturday and we took a boat up Regents Canal and had some lunch which was really lovely. We end up behaving like the teenagers when we are together, it's so lovely to be able to still do that after all these years! I sound ancient talking like that, I'm not that old

Thanks @frazzlerock. I agree it’s odd that I’m not being monitored- I don’t even know if I’m insulin resistant as I’ve only had the routine bloods and ultrasound. But at the time I was so desperate for something that I just accepted the Metformin without questioning it. It’s only after since I’ve been reading up that it struck me as a bit strange. I’ve booked to see another doctor next week so will ask about that as well as my periods. My sister has quite severe pcos (she’s had to go down ivf route) & speaking to her yesterday she said her af was the same as mine seems to be at the moment. This has really worried me so if I don’t get anywhere with the gp next week I’m going to start investigating the private route. I turn 39 in a few months so feel like I haven’t got time to waste.

Your weekend sounds lovely btw! We were down in Devon for our anniversary weekend which was really nice and relaxing.

@frazzlerock

I know - my understanding was the same. The blood test and ultrasound report from my diagnosis 3 years ago support PCOS (raised testosterone, u/s report multiple immature folliclular cysts) , but my ultrasound report from January showed no cysts on my ovaries, and a second scan 3 months later was the same.

It’s just all so weird and confusing - having come to terms over the course of 3 years with having PCOS and the potential impact that may have on TTC to basically be told now that my ovaries are normal has left me wondering where the hell I stand. GP obvs had no explanation 🙄

@sweetpea0318 I think you'll do alright with the GP. Yes you already have one child, but you have PCOS and you are over 36 so they move things along a bit quicker (according to the NHS website). Although I don' t know how far you'd get once your GP does refer you..
Re your periods being lighter and shorter, I don't really know. PCOS is so bloody complex. since my MCs my periods got heavier, so much so I had to go and find out what the hell was happening. They then discovered I have anenomyosis - thanks body! another ailment to add to my ever-growing list of crap hormone issues. I have also developed my teenage spotty skin again. At 39 I am seriously not impressed!

I just spoke to my GP on the phone re some blood results and I asked her about being referred for fertility help, despite only trying for three months. She agreed that as I am over 36 and have PCOS she can refer me, but whether or not they will accept me is another thing. She said having children already might mean I am not entitled. Also, she said DP will need to do a sperm text before I get referred.

Now I'm in a quandary about asking DP to have the test as he's far more relaxed about TTC that I am. I am scared to ask in case he sees it as 'pressure'.

@Tropicana1 I'd deffo get an explanation from somewhere. It doesn't add up.

How's everyone this week?

*sperm test, not text obviously!

Can I join? Been ttc 2nd child for over a year. Took 18 months and weight loss to get DC1 but with his medical complexities etc all weight and some extra has gone back on. Currently back in plan and have had periods in Jan, May and Sept so that's as regular as I get. Was on similar cycle when I conceived DS.

Was put on met for in yrs ago but I'm crap and didn't understand what they did and just kinda stopped taking them... Should I speak to doc about going back in?

Hi @SleepingStandingUp
Metformin and diet (this is a big one) will help to regulate your cycles. Get back on the metformin and/or try Inositol (but only from reputable sources!)
As you've been TTC for over a year you should probably get referred to a fertility clinic as well. Make a GP appointment and have a chat with him/her. Welcome to the thread

I didn't think they'd care if we already had own? We went with first one but I had to lose weight before they'd do anything and then I fell pregnant at 99 kg.
Previous laparoscopy showed some endometriosis but not much but obvs weight is a huge issue in them repeating it.

I felt different this month and really thought... But I got my period Satueday after telling DH Friday no sex, we can have it tomorrow, I'm tired. Poor DH 😂😂😂

@fragglerock that's good news that you'll be referred. I completely get where you're coming from about the 'pressure' on dh. We've had several rows over it over the past few months. I'm trying my hardest to be as 'light and casual' as possible about everything each month but it's so bloody hard especially as time is ticking on!! Hopefully he'll be a bit more understanding about it though if he knows you can't go any further without it being done. Good luck!

As for my situation, I've been looking online loads today and I'm now wondering whether the metformin or inositol could have something to do with my extra light period. There are quite a lot of examples online of people experiencing the same and as I've only been on them about 6 weeks I guess my body could still be adjusting. Another thing to ask the doctor about!

I'm not sure how far I'll get though tbh in terms of further action with the gp as I've already been referred to the gynae in the summer. He basically dismissed all my concerns about pcos, initially saying that I didn't have it and then later in the conversation he said that even if I did have it there was nothing he could do to help. I think it's because it was relatively soon after my mc so he didn't understand why I was there (even though I was already starting investigations before falling preg). It was only in his letter to my gp afterwards that he mentioned pcos and that's how come I've ended up on metformin even though it wasn't specifically mentioned in his summary. Anyway, that's why I'm seriously considering what I can do privately as I'm not holding out much hope for next week's appointment but want to at least explore every nhs avenue I can before I do anything else.

Can I also ask where you get your inositol from? Earlier in the thread you've mentioned getting it from reputable sources - I'm using one from amazon (bulk powders) which I came across on another thread - now I'm worrying that it might not be legit!

Cannot get an app with my doctor. She'll call me Monday!

I think it depends on your age, but it is always worth a try. If you have PCOS and you've been trying for so long, I would definitely go along to your GP.

My GP is happy to refer me, despite two children and four pregnancies. this is because I have PCOS and I am also over 36. We've only been TTC since June (we had a 2.5 year break from TTC after the MCs). However, she has warned me that I might not be eligible for help. I think it might be down to the area you live in though.

Ahh bad timing! For us it is usually my DP telling me he's tired!

@sweetpea0318 I've been warned against using Amazon for inositol and also Holland and Barrett is a no go.

I get mine from: www.healthmonthly.co.uk/swanson_pure_inositol_powder_227g (although page not found at the mo!)

You can try:
www.zitawest.com/product/inositol/

I've been taking mine since about July time, it gave me terrible tummy cramps to begin with but if I take in water with food then not so bad

I take half a teaspoon in the morning and half teaspoon in the afternoon, both in full bottle of water

Just started my period. Hello cycle four... 😓 the silver lining is that the past week I've cut down massively on dairy and sugar and my cycle was only 25 days. Since we started TTC they've been 40-50 days.
Oh and first night of OvuSense last night. Although now I can't use it again until my period is finished

Sorry @Frazzlerock I feel mine is on the way as well... best of luck for next month!

Sorry to hear you’re out @frazzlerock Fingers crossed for this cycle 🤞

I got home from hols last night... I was 2 days late. Got this, this morning! PCOS does not mean infertile! I'm so shocked/chuffed ladies.

Congratulations!!! That’s lovely news 😊