Do I need to know if I have PCOS

[Namechange1067949]

I want to start trying to conceive within the next year
I am fairly sure I have PCOS (family history, adult acne, excess hair, irregular periods, and blood tests that have suggested a possibility)
But my gp has said as they can’t ‘cure’ it there’s really no point diagnosing it.
And another gp said when I am TTC they can just chat to me then about it, and discuss things like my diet
I’ve asked if it will delay access to any additional help I may need in trying to conceive and they’ve said no, as they do the same for everyone anyway

Does that sound right?
Do I need to know?
And is there anything I should be doing now to be in a better position TTC
I’m trying to lose some weight (I’m a bit overweight but not massively so) and I’m just about to come off all hormonal contraception

Thank you for any help - I’m a bit clueless about it all but v nervous that I’m going to struggle.

If you come off hormonal contraception and have normal cycles then I agree you don't need to know. If they end up being wonky and long then the PCOS is probably stopping you from ovulating regularly - but thats not something you can test for now, you'll just have to wait and see how it affects you.

If you do end up with the long cycles then be aware opks won't really work all that well and you'll need to be using bbt to see if you're ovulating. Clomid can then be prescribed for you to induce ovulation if PCOS is getting in the way.

Its correct that no matter what underlying conditions, youll wait the same amount of time to get any help with fertility on NHS. Its 1yr of TTC, regardless of whether you have picture perfect 28 day cycles or have something clearly wrong going on.

In terms of what to do: start taking folic acid and vitamin D, if your BMI is above 30 lose some weight, definitely come off hormonal contraceptives. wishing you all the best x

I think it is good to know. Its a very common thing that can affect your fertility. I think if you are trying and recording things it just means you may be longer than some but ultimately I don't think it'll mean you won't get pregnant and there are things like clomid or letrozole that can help spur your cycle/ovulation etc to help you achieve your goal of pregnancy quicker (in theory).

Come off your contraception, give it 6m to 1yr of seeing what happens to your cycle. There's no harm in trying during that time but once your cycle stabilises then you should be able to see if it is normal for you and if you do ovulate every month. I agree with the above, start trying to lose a bit of weight gradually, eat well and add extra vits to your diet if you don't naturally get it. Ttc is not easy and it's not always fun either. Everyone is different and it can take a long time. Doesn't mean it will for you but it might. Try your best and try to enjoy.

Also I recommend inositol for pcos. But I would wait until you know your cycle. Coq10 should help improve egg quality but generally fertility diet should benefit you and baby

I would want to know. I wish I wanted to know more! I have PCOS as well, was diagnosed years ago, but they didn't really inform me of what is it or that it might be more difficult to conceive. I was young and stupid and didn't search or asked about it. Now I'm 39 and ttc with IVF and donor sperm -possible egg too or embryo-.
Get informed, it's your body you deserve and you have to know what is going on. (I just wish I had the same opinion when I was younger)

@Namechange1067949 Find out! I have been diagnosed with PCOS while trying to conceive and I wish I had known sooner. It's also likely that your hormonal contraception has been 'managing' your symptoms and they may get worse for a time after coming off (which I have found to be the case) if you do have PCOS and you can start taking steps to remedy this straight away. Weight gain hasn't been a symptom of my PCOS but I have found that a high protein low carb diet has been helpful and am currently getting referred through the NHS to a fertility clinic after 6 months of TTC (so having a diagnosis may get you help more quickly if you need it rather than having to try for a year first if you're not ovulating etc). I'd also recommend the books Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden and Getting Pregnant with PCOS by Clare Goodwin. Good luck!!

@magnoliasinbloom unfortunately how fast you get referred is down to your area - I very clearly have an ovulation disorder and huge long cycles and my GP has zero interest in referring me until at least 1 year of trying has passed (so frustrating!)

@TheDaydreamBelievers I'm sorry to hear that :(

Thank you everyone
Sorry to hear about your difficulties @TheDaydreamBelievers and I hope you’re able to get help soon!

Am I being stupid but how do they know how long you’ve been TTC? Is it because they know when they were last giving you contraception?

@magnoliasinbloom I’m definitely a bit nervous of that weight gain and acne when I come off the contraception.
I think it looks like it may be the same for me as @TheDaydreamBelievers in that they’ve said it doesn’t really matter, everyone has to wait the same time and then gets the same help, which does seem very unfair for anyone with an issue when time is of the essence and extra help may be needed.

I do have periods - so I presume I do ovulate but just not regularly? Or again..is that naive

@Namechange1067949 I conceived and then lost the baby at 12 weeks. So theyll count it as 1 year total from the surgery I had after the loss (which is december 2021). Really frustrating as we have been trying since march 2020 but the loss means we only "count" as trying since december 2020

Hey Namechange. I have PCOS, regular periods and regular ovulation. Had my son naturally Nov 2018. It varies from person to person.

All the best!

Oh @TheDaydreamBelievers I’m so sorry for your loss and so sorry it works that way! That is awful I had no idea that was the system

@orangejuicer

Hey Namechange. I have PCOS, regular periods and regular ovulation. Had my son naturally Nov 2018. It varies from person to person.

All the best!

Thank you, I think I need to read more stories like yours, I’m scared I’m going to get too in my head about it assuming it’s going to be impossible for me. I’m so glad it worked out for you and you and yours son are ok!

Yeah, its pretty shitty - they basically view it as evidence you can conceive, so there goes your accrued time. Took us 6 months to conceive that baby, 4 months pregnant, then 2 months to get a period back, now 5 months into trying again (with ridiculous long cycles with no ovulation). Feels very frustrating and sad. Sorry to be a downer on your post!

You can have periods and not have ovulated but they tend to be weirdly long or short cycles. Normal length cycles USUALLY means you ovulate fine. Do you temp?

OP do start temping so you can see whether you're ovulating or not. If you find that you're not I'd recommend going private for a clomid prescription instead of waiting a whole year for the NHS to even consider seeing you (it's actually then much longer for them do something about it).

I suspected I had it for many of the reasons you state. Came off the pill & tracked my periods. All over the place!!! How can someone go 3 months without a bleed?! All my friends are like "yeah, I come on every 30 days without fail".

So after 12 months I present med the evidence to my GP & we went from there. 3rd month of clomid & I got pregnant.

This is a fantastic book by the way -

www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Pcos-Handbook-Fertility-Self-Esteem/dp/0007213255?tag=mumsnetforu03-21