PCOS, Metformin & TTC

[Glimmerinmyeye]

I’ve had a rollercoaster ride over the past 3 years. I have lean PCOS and it took 18 months of NHS frustration for me to go private and finally being prescribed Metformin.

I’m currently taking 1000mg / day and have been on it for 4 months. Cycle has returned (still irregular but much closer to being a monthly cycle).

I can feel my period coming on today which makes me want to cry, smash something and then try pick up the pieces again.

A friend said she fell pregnant with #2 after 6 months.

How long did it take any of you Lean PCOS ladies to conceive on Metformin and what does were you on?

Any tips / advice?

I have PCOS as well, and am currently on 2000mg of metformin/day.
Please do not compare yourself to friends/family etc, each one is different, so there isn't a right answer for how long its supposed to take. As for tips, I will have to say the classics, healthy diet & lifestyle & prenatal vitamins. Also, an endocrinologist many years ago (when I was diagnosed) gace me the 10% rule, the fact that if I want my metabolism to change, improve health, fertility etc, lose 10%of my body weight. Now how am I going to achieve that with insulin resistance I do not know, since it creates a loop...

There are lots of threads about metformin and ttc that might be worth checking out. I posted on one just recently.

I have PCOS and we used metformin (which regulated my periods) + letrozole (which induces ovulation) to conceive our DD. I was taking metformin for over a year and my endo consultant warned at the outset that it might take 6 months to work. I had to up the dose up 2000mg, so if it still isn't working, might be worth seeing if this is an option for you? It did make me have regular periods but unfortunately i still wasn't ovulating. I was referred for letrozole and conceived after 3 cycles.

Are you seeing an endo consultant or is your pcos being managed by your GP? I have generally found that the consultants are more clued up than GPs so worth considering asking for a referral if you aren't under consultant care. Mine tracked my bloods alongside the metformin to see if it was having an impact on ovulation and i had internal scans alongside the letrozole to track follicle development. The endo consultant was also able to refer me directly to the assisted conception unit for the letrozole so much quicker than through the GP.

Thanks both, That's really helpful.

I'm on 1000mg of Metformin daily so may need to increase. I am ovulating and my cycle is shortening - last cycle was 32 days so I guess I need to give it 6 months, keep TTC and then look at going to a specialist again. Right now, my GP is useless so not receiving any medical advice / treatment. Good shout about the endo consultant.

I have lean PCOS so cannot afford to lose more weight so am managing my diet (low-carb, low-sugar, no caffeine) and am exercising regularly, taking pre-natal vitamins and getting more sleep than usual. I've cut out caffeine for the past month and I find that is helping a lot with sleep, work stress and anxiety levels.

Hi @Glimmerinmyeye

Lean PCOS is quite different..... at the same time there's at least 12 variations of PCOS which makes treatment complex.

Definitely go see an endocrinologist if you can.

Some are recommending metformin + inositols these days but its a personal preference.

fertilityscience.org/metformin-vs-metformin-plus-myo-inositol-and-d-chiro-inositol/

Hope this helps!

Just to give a positive response from someone who we also in the same situation. I conceived first month of trying. Did not expect that to be the case at all.