Ovarian cysts but not PCOS TTC - age difference

[Ls2204]

Hi,

I've been TTC for around 8 months now, and as a result my doctors have sent me for a few tests.

I stopped taking my combined pill in December, had a withdraw bleed and nothing else. I have had blood tests for PCOS which came back clear, but my ultrasound shows that both my ovaries are covered in cysts - the doctor described it as a pearl necklace around both! I have been put on Norethisterone to induce another withdraw bleed which happened, but nothing else.

Has anybody else been in this boat?
Where can I go from here?

I'm in my mid twenties however my partner is pushing his later forties (age doesn't bother me and I'm the issue in this, not him) - but I'm finding it even harder to cope as I want him to be a dad while he's able to run around and play and not have a care in the world! Does the age make us more likely to be accepted for IVF?

To add to the above I'm not saying I want IVF now as I know women have been waiting years for it - but would this be the only feasible option? Are the odds stacked against us?

I had a cyst removed through a laparoscopy in June 2018 and fell pregnant in early August sadly miscarried in October.

I was scanned in April this year and found more cysts which I got removed again via laparoscopy in June 2019.

Some cysts (not all) give off hormones which almost induced infertility.

Are they scanning you regularly to check for growth/changes?

Up to 30% of all women have polycystic ovaries (but not all of them have pcos).

The diagnostic criteria is a bit woolly with pcos. It's an endocrine (hormone) disorder. It's diagnosed using at least two different f the following three characteristics:

• polycystic ovaries
• physical symptoms like difficulty losing weight, irregular periods, excess hair, thinning of hair, acne etc...
• hormone profile of raised testosterone, an fsh:lh of 1:2 (at least).

It's far more likely they would focus on ovulation induction before any ivf cycle. There are a few different drugs they use for this. Most ccg require you to be ttc for at least two, and sometimes three years for funded ivf.

If the 'only' issue is lack of ovulation, this is generally the problem they will tackle (using clomid or similar). Women with polycystic ovaries who don't ovulate can hugely improve their fertility by being in the normal bmi. They also usually respond well to ovarian stimulation (like used in ivf, ovulation induction).

Hi @Ls2204 I am in a similar boat to you.
I am 27, ttc first baby.

I stopped taking the pill in july 2018, I was worried about my irregular periods so went to the doctors in november. I was sent for an ultrasound which showed cysts on my ovaries. I had blood tests which were normal.

I have been to the doctors recently again and I am being sent for 1-5 day bloods which I am hoping will find something.
If the bloods come back normal I haven't a clue what my next step is.

I am currently on Cd53 impatiently waiting for AF so I can go for the blood tests.

But I am 99% positive I am not ovulating (I am bbt charting) so I am hoping I will be prescribed something to induce ovulation... but I don't know what's going on or what any of the next steps are

I just want answers and a journey to follow forward!

The day 1-5 is the test that can determine fsh:lh ratio. It's one of the three diagnostic criteria for pcos. Other tests aren't 'diagnostic'.

Which bloods did you have that they said were normal?

@physicskate It was a huge list of things I honestly couldn't tell you.
I wasn't told to go at a specific time.
To be honest, I think the doctor I had at that time was clueless as to what to do.

I have now got a female doctor who seems to know more.