PCOS

[Ashford10]

Just been diagnosed with pcos. Any tips on how to manage the condition and encourage ovulation? Any success stories?

Maintain a healthy bmi and keep to a low glycemic index diet. No guarantees, but this can be helpful.

Some women also report the medication metformin being helpful.

I successfully conceived with PCOS and irregular periods! A healthy, moderately low carb diet helped me lose weight and using OPKs helped me to pinpoint ovulation.

Thank you for your replies. Just feel so shocked. I already have 1 child so wondering whether this has just happened or whether I’ve had it the whole time. Struggling to feel positive. @lottiebird I’m pleased you were able to conceive. Can I ask how old you were. Also did you have a healthy pregnancy and child?

My DD has just been diagnosed Ashford - she is in her mid-20's and has been desperately trying to lose weight (sensibly through diet and exercise), and is very downhearted about it.

I've read a lot of late. Myo Inositol is supposed to be effective for some people, DD's consultant has said that she can take it alongside Metformin. I think she is also going to try acupuncture.

I have read of many women conceiving with a mixture of Metformin and Clomid. Also ovarian drilling has helped a lot of people - might be worth investigating.

Just wanted to send best wishes to you really, hopefully the more you find out, the more you'll feel comfortable with the fact that there are some options available to you.

@ajandjjmum

Thank you for your reply and your best wishes. Sorry to hear about your DD. It’s very difficult to not be down hearted so really feel for her. I’m fairly slim and have regular periods. Just high testesterone and the cysts. I’m 34 and My GP basically said no more children and ivf. Although I think I need to go back and ask for more options as the same as you read a lot on the internet that people can get pregnant with it. I know I should be grateful I have 1 child already and she is healthy. I think that makes it difficult to believe I have pcos

I think the truth is that PCOS is a complicated condition, as it's all about balance. With all respect to GPs, I'm not sure that many of them would have a detailed understanding of it, unless it was a special interest.

DD has regular periods and is a size 10/12 - but she is not happy with her shape, and I've finally accepted that me saying she looks beautiful is not helping!

The things that DD has done from your stage of diagnosis -
Gynae - prescribed metformin
Herbal - just started Myo inositol
Nutritionist - had tests for allergies, and taken advice to cut out caffeine, gluten, dairy and wheat. She is also doing a three week cleanse. Not sure whether this will help, but she's happy to try anything.
Acupuncture - next step
Hypno-therapy - I have spoken to a guy in London, who said that relaxation therapy has helped some of his patients with PCOS - he did a study on this whilst at UCH, and there is some back-up. Something to do with a reduction in the levels of cortisol (stress hormone?).

Have a hunt around the internet, and you will find lots of positive stories about pregnancy. I know it's easy to get dragged in to 'miracle cures' but I think there are some options that are genuinely worth trying.

Good luck!

@ajandjjmum

Awwww your such a great mum researching all this information about it and telling her she is beautiful. Her size being size 10-12 is the same as me. I used to be size 10 back when I was in my twenties but since having a baby it’s more size 12 as all weight on my hips and I have the same regular periods. Thank you for all the information it’s really helpful. I will try not to take the gp word as you are right they are not specialists in the area. Good luck to your daughter. I’ve got fingers crossed for her that she get through this condition

@Ashford10 I was 34 when I conceived and I sailed through pregnancy (did have some nausea but it was manageable). It did take me a year to conceive but I believe that was down to only having one tube. My advice would be to listen to your body as like previous posters have said PCOS is a complicated condition and will affect everyone differently. For me, metformin did not work and I fell pregnant a couple of months after stopping. However I know some people swear by it. Feel free to send me a message if you want more details, don’t want to spam you with all my tips!

@lottiebird

Thanks for your reply and for letting me know that it’s not one type of pcos that fits everyone that has it. I will try to listen to my body a bit more, I think I have been under so much stress the past few months, my dad passed away and then I feel I’m on a never ending rollercoaster with this that I’m not being kind to myself and letting my body heal. I will private message you, that’s so kind of you to offer. It will help talking to someone with pcos as want to understand it more and try and help me get with the condition and to stop stressing about it

Wishing you all the best!
You should be able to also find a lot of support on these boards.
In addition, you can ask your doctor about CoQ10 (water and fat-soluble) for PCOS support.

@ckc45d10

Thank you! will have a google of coq10 and see what it is. I’ve started the diet, I’m always so hungry although definitely getting my 5 a day!

I was diagnosed with PCOS based on an ultrasound when I privately went to see a gynaecologist in November last year... I'm a size 8/10.... more a size 10 then. I was going through a stressful time and had just started TTC. I started doing more exercise (around 3 times a week) and cut my carb intake (tried to restrict it to less than 50g a day which was hard as I'm vegan). Anyway, this doctor had prescribed me Acarbose and Metformin and that I needed to seriously consider it if I was serious about TTC (I have no children). After being on the low carb diet for a month, I went for a second opinion / scan and this time there were no cysts. I also went for a third scan recently and again all looks normal. I am now roughly 6 weeks pregnant (I conceived on Cycle 6). I am thinking the original gynae was a bit hasty in recommending the medication.

I'm 38 by the way.

@birdbybird

Thank you for sharing your story! That’s amazing that your cysts went away and that you are pregnant! Congratulations! I just wonder whether it’s just ive put more weight on since my 1st and I didn’t realise my diet plays a big influence plus all the stress I’ve been under

@Ashford10 No worries.
I would start with low carb diet plus exercise.
By the way, not sure if it was clear but I did not start on the Acarbose or the Metformin.

Would anyone mind letting me know what kind of meals you are eating with the low carb diet? I get the whole fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread, fish, chicken, eggs, nuts. 0% fat yoghurts & I’m going for low sugar cranberry juice plus water. Anything else exciting? Is it low fat cheese as well? My meals seem to be some sort of meat/fish and then veg or salad. Feel I need to do something more enticing or not doing it right?