Disappointed with the Fertility Clinic

[shininglight16]

I went to the fertility clinic yesterday thinking that they'd put me on a treatment but NOTHING. I was told to go home and lose weight that's all. It's heartbreaking as I've been longing to be out on some sort of treatment for my very low progesterone which is 0.2, my prolactin on higher side was 468 in Dec now down to 379 (maybe since I'm taking Agnus Castus) and the AMH level is 36.32. Testosterone is 1.1, FSH 5.0, LH 3.0 and the Oestradiol 174. These tests were done on 3rd day of period. In 2020, I got 8 cycles only out of which one had to be induced in October which finally came on the 15th. I didn't get my period in Nov then again on Dec 2. That was a 48 day cycle and it then came on Jan 24 which makes it 54 days. I'm really stressed, depressed and anxious just don't know what to do anymore. Should I go to a private clinic?

The supplements I'm taking are Vit d 2000IU every alternate day, iron tablets 210mg daily, vit c 500mg, pregnacare before conception, Agnus Castus 40 drops (1000mg) daily and Evening Primrose Oil 1000 mg too. I'm not feeling good as I have all symptoms of PCOS, facial/body hair, belly fat, headaches, brain fog and lots of hair loss from scalp. Please help me find a way to regulate my hormones, get my progesterone up, ovulate & have babies. I'm super depressed about my situation.

Should I add Inositol & if so how much and in what form and type (Myo or Dchiro or both)? How about spearmint tea? Any other things you recommend as Doctors are pretty useless.

I really need help and guidance! 🙏

Hi lovely. I’ve had the same numerous times from the consultants, they put sooo much pressure on to lose weight.

Inositol is incredible. I have pcos and take 4 grams per day of the power, mix it with a litre of water and you can’t even taste it.
I started last March and got pregnant in may naturally, unfortunately I lost the baby at 7 weeks. (This was after 2.5 years of trying)

Definitely try the inositol, it’s worth a shot. I found if I took ‘pregnancy’ or ‘trying to conceive’ vitamins it made my cycles way longer. Angus cactus actually made my cycle over 150 days!

Stick with iron, vitamin D & inositol and go from there I suggest.
We’re 3 years into trying now and have just found out after pestering for an appt with the recurrent miscarriage clinic (which took from June until November to get!) I asked them for deeper blood tests and they finally did them. I found out 2 weeks ago that I have sticky blood and will have to have injections daily for the entire pregnancy straight away from getting a positive test.

It really is a struggle so I feel for you, 3 years in now and it really is exhausting. X

What is your lifestyle like? Do you do any exercise? What is your diet like?
I’m sure you’re tired of hearing it if you’re unhappy with the advice from your doctor, but losing weight and changing your lifestyle will likely help with all the symptoms you’ve described.
I know it won’t help with everything, but it would go a long way in making you feel better and as mean as this sounds, you need to take more accountability for your health rather than waiting for a doctor to prescribe things.

How overweight are you. Height/weight?

@Pepperlypue I'm really sorry to hear of the miscarriage. I hope you do get luckier this time round and give birth to a healthy baby. Thank you so much for understanding and being there 💕

@cat8986 Hey you're not being mean, I totally understand. I weigh 88kgs but eat healthy. Low carbs and more veggies/protein. I don't even eat red meat just chicken, oily fish, salads and fruits. I do exercise 3-4 times a week but struggle to lose weight. The weight is all on the belly.

@mouldyhouse101 I'm quite overweight, my height is 165cm and weight 88kg. The Dr has advised me to lose 8kg at least.

That's considerably overweight.

I honestly think your doctor is giving you the best advice.

Any fertility treatment that would be considered is much much less likely to be effective if you're that overweight

I know it's hard, I've battled for fertility treatment, but you really do need to get into better shape first

Hi op I am in the exact same position as you. I have all symptoms of pcos including raised levels but they again state I need to lose weight. I am trying my best to lose weight but it is very difficult because I am easily stressed and also have a really stressful job.

I have been taking the pre-conception tablets also, I drink spearmint tea which I order off Amazon and is supposed to be good for pcos but it tastes lovely. I have insositol powder here which I haven't used yet but I am going to start now.

My cycles seem to run at 37 days long although last one was 54. Currently using opks to track ovulation.

Apologies for poor grammar but I don't care 😀

Metformin can really help with weight loss!

I'm so lost and confused @dollygoo I'm in the same situation. Stressful job and no relaxation. I wonder how I'll have a kid. I do need to lose lots of weight you're right @mouldyhouse101 just struggling to do so.

Just want to add op I am 5 points heavier than you but we have similar bmi im also 165cm.

My GP refuses to give me anything and have to lose weight only even though the symptoms greatly impact me.

It's a struggle I feel you @dollygoo, hoping that we get pregnant soon. Which spearmint tea and inositol powder do you use can you share the link please?

Have you tried a very low carb diet? There's a group on facebook called 'keto for fertility' or similar and they are really helpful.

www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/planning-a-pregnancy/are-you-ready-to-conceive/overweight-and-fertility-when-planning-pregnancy#bmi

Some info here that might be useful. I think as difficult as it might be to hear, your GP is right. You also need to consider the risks to both yourself and your baby should you manage to conceive when your BMI is so high. It’s not just about getting pregnant, its about having a safe pregnancy too. I do hope you are able to get to a point where you manage to conceive.

Also, is your partner overweight too? That can have an impact on his fertility.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Palanquins-Spearmint-Herbal-Tea-Bags/dp/B007H7OXOS/ref=mpssa113?dchild=1&keywords=spearmint+tea&qid=1611931225&sr=8-3

https://www.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/100-inositol-powder/10530319.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&variation=10848192&shoppingpid=30OfffRRPNov18&thggppccampaign=71700000047623004&producttid=10848192&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzu6A8KB7gIVDu3tCh2xxgCwEAQYASABEgIRxfDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

My protein have a sale on at the moment for when you order the inositol just check their website. I just took 6g of it in milk and it made the milk sweeter (I need milk to swallow tablets)

Hey OP - I feel for you! And what I find frustrating is that although yes, some weight needs to come off - the GP seems to be ignoring the impact of PCOS on the ability to lose weight? I'd perhaps go to a different one and just focus on the PCOS bit - e.g. you should have a scan to check if you have cysts and what was your androgen like? You might need metformin, ferritin etc to help you feel better and ultimately help you lose weight.

I will say though - in the meantime consider cutting carbs as it's known that weight gain under pcos can be due to insulin resistance so you should be aiming for low GI foods.

@shininglight16
I’m glad you took it the way I meant it.

Seems like you have a balanced diet and take exercise you need which is great. Belly fat indicates you may be having too much sugar in something. Look into the sugar content in things you’re eating and drinking, even tweaks like that in your diet may be the key to your weight starting to reduce.
What works for one, like cutting out carbs, may not work for the other, so make tweaks in your diet and commit for a month to give your body chance to react and hopefully lose a little weight.

Also, try not to cut out everything you love, otherwise you’re more prone to bingeing and throwing the whole day away to unhealthy eating.

Try not to be too hard on yourself and makes those small changes for long term results rather than quick wins.

Good luck to you xx

I have been where some of you ladies are and would recommend inositol powder I take swanson brand and cutting carbs also couch 2 5k. I lost 1.5 stone to start fertility treatment with my first (clomid which didn't work but injections did) but when that baby was 3 I found the personal strength to get into running (never had before) and it lowered my insulin resistance to the point I fell pregnant naturally at 38. That pregnancy was easier despite being older because I carried less weight. I'm now trying to lose the pregnancy weight again but that's another story

Good luck to you all give it 100% i promise it is worth it would also recommend looking up jason fung dr re intermittent fasting very good for insulin resistance which is imo root cause/issue of pcos x

Thank you for sharing all the tips and details ladies, I just went off to sleep as I was feeling really low today. I will try the things you'll have mentioned. Just wondering what would you suggest for increasing progesterone? Any supplements?

Losing a bit of weight t can have really good effects on fertility, I am a bit overweight too, I found getting active and weight loss,
Not even lots just a bit meant I much more easily fell pregnant. Agnus castus I found was great and high evening primrose oil til ovulation

Good luck - ignore any negative comments on this thread

It's so frustrating isn't it, is you bmi in the early 30's? Mine was 38 when we got to see an nhs fertility consultant, he was really clear and said he couldn't help on the nhs until my bmi was 30 and under so we asked to see him at his private clinic but he said I had to get my bmi down to 35. The advise he gave us was to take the fertility supplements, and lose weight, he said that for people struggling looking 5% of your body weight can kick start your fertility. it was hard to hear but I started a 1400 calorie a day diet and got a bike and started couch to 5k- it was hard going as I was so unfit but started to lose weight- I started in the 28th feb and by the end of April fell pregnant but lost the baby, started the exercise again and fell pregnant in June, sadly lost that one and fell pregnant again in September, currently 21 weeks pregnant and all going well this time.
I honestly think it was loosing weight and eating better that did it because we'd been trying for over a year before with nothing. I think time I was exercising I only reduced my bmi by 2 points so see had a point to loose to get to have private fertility treatment but it worked.
Sounds like you're going lots of the right things with diet and supplements, would you consider some extra exercise? I'd defiantly
Recommend C25K, it got me moving and I never thought I'd be able to for more than 30 seconds.
Wishing you lots of luck x

Have they given you progesterone cream? Or tablets. I took the tablets but stopped when they made me very anxious
I also had Lowe progesterone- but recently got diagnosed with PCOS after doing the fasting and then drinking a sugary solution and having my bloods taken to measure the blood sugar. Have they done that.
I’m prediabetic so I’m paying for Metformin. Only been taking it a few days so too early to tell if it will help.
For weight loss I recommend The Human Being diet by Petronella Ravenshear - she is also on Instagram. I lost 10 kilos before Christmas. It helps massively with sugar cravings. It’s not a diet but more a way of eating to balance the body and lost weight (if you want to)

I TTC for 10 years with PCOS and lost 15kg with a short term, ridiculously low calorie diet and had regular periods for the first time in my life. Metformin was also helpful.
I paid for private ovulation scans to time intercourse and conceived four times in four years, one miscarriage and three babies.

Generally with PCOS you don’t have to lose a lot of weight to conceive. A short term, crash diet will help. Think very low calorie, meal substitute type diet then maintain with average healthy diet.

Ovulation testing didn’t work for me so the scans were helpful and I also learned my irregular cycle signs and my youngest was conceived without scans.

Im still fat (fatter than before infact) but I have the children I wanted. Weight loss and exercise are cheaper than fertility treatment and often quicker to work. See it as an intervention like supplements, you just do it to conceive. You’re not aiming for the perfect weight just a workable menstrual cycle.

Hey ladies @Hoowhoowho, I'm so happy that you managed to lose so much weight in such a short time. The thing with low calorie diets is that with PCOS you get insane cravings and I know how it would be very challenging for me to do it (plus I'd fail) as I'd end up eating all sorts of wrong foods to satiate my hunger. I just need to ovulate and that's where the struggle lies. I understand that it's necessary to lose weight and exercise than going through fertility treatment, you're right about that.

May I ask how much did you weight when you conceived and had 3 babies?