Trying for a baby with PCOS

[Megancoup]

Hey everyone, I'm hoping some of you may be able to give me some words of wisdom ...

I'm currently trying for baby no2, my DD is 2 years old & I'm desperate for her to have a little brother or sister.
I got diagnosed with PCOS on the basis of my hormone levels, excess weight & very messy periods, when she was approx 6 months old. I was then told having another baby would be difficult for me.

I don't use ovulation sticks as I've been told they are unreliable with PCOS, & am trying to be sensible with my eating but the weight doesn't seem to be moving.

I'm currently on day 101 without a period 😪 my cycles just seem to be getting longer & worse.
Last week I woke up with the heaviest & tender feeling breasts, & I've been cramping a lot since.
Could this be early pregnancy signs?

I'm constantly in limbo thinking "something Is happening in my body" but then a period never shows & my pregnancy tests are never positive.

Has anyone got any advice, or positive stories?

Hi op! I struggled to conceive for years due to pcos. Dr let me try metformin, I lost lots of weight and also got pregnant within 6 months and periods were regular within a month. Worth a try! Good luck

Hi @Megancoup so sorry you’re feeling like this, I can absolutely relate. Last year I was going 3 months plus without a period. Got diagnosed with PCOS at the beginning of the year, cycles, hormones, cysts - the lot!

However, I’ve been taking pre conception vitamins, inositol and omega 3 since April and for the past 4/5 months have had a period every month! I do use OPKs as I’ve had luck with them
in the last, I think the key when using them
with PCOS is to use them very regularly, I test at least twice a day from a week after my period, as you will have lots of ups and downs and some
high readings but you can still pinpoint your peak - whenever I have I always get my period 2 weeks later so confident it’s legit.

Back in December I hadn’t had a period for 3 months, had one and then got pregnant (unfortunately it was a chemical) but it is possible even after a drought!

I would say focus on your vitamins and supplements and hopefully you’ll start to see a difference! Wishing you the best 🥰

@TheVolturi thanks for this, congrats on your pregnancy too!
I have heard of metformin, but ive also heard it comes with some not pleasant side effects? Did you experience this?

Hi @Megancoup, sorry to hear you've joined the PCOS gang.

I would definitely agree with PP about supplements, I found it helped me feel more in control of my PCOS when nothing the doctors were doing was helping.

Like @thelma57, I take inositol- it's not for everyone, but it can have a really good stabilising effect on blood sugar levels which help PCOS run amok. I first started taking it on Jan 2019 and actually got pregnant after 6 weeks when 8 rounds of Clomid had no effect.

With OPKs, it can definitely help to use regularly- there have been times when I've taken 4 in a day because the line is so close to positive and it's easy to miss the surge. You can get bundles online for quite cheap, so it might be worth trying.

Metformin can also be a big help, if you can get a prescription. Like you, I was having some very long cycles, but was alternating with bleeding daily for months. I now take 500mg twice daily and that has really settled down, but I also sometimes need to take Provera to force a period

I hope you find something that helps x

Yes it did give me a dodgy stomach for a while but it did settle. And the pros way outweighed the cons.

I started off on 1 500mg tablet a day for a week then 2 500mg a day for a week then finally 3 500mg a day. Didn't have any stomach issues doing it that way.

Hi,

Just thought I would give my experience. I also have a 2 year old and wanted to start thinking about a sibling. I have extremely irregular periods, anywhere between 80-140 days. I knew that conceiving could be difficult, and I decided to try and help myself before seeing the DR.

I started doing some research into PCOS and trying to regulate my cycles, went down a rabbit hole of information on this site and others. Decided to first try angus catus and a multi vit. It didn't seem to do much.

Lost a bit of weight and decided to try inositol. Gave me a period within a few days (although i think it might have been a coincidence) as i havnt had one since.

My last period was the start of May and I started to take Myova plus (designed for people with PCOS and has a higher dose of inositol in it) at the middle of july - Decided to start ovulation testing but as you said they can be unreliable. Husband and I DTD every few days and I got a very strong positive OPK (usually they are a weak positive).

Seems I conceived after a few weeks taking Myova plus and I will be 12 weeks next week.

Just want to say its totally possible to concieve through long cycles - just takes a bit of commitment to DTD all cycle and not just when you my feel you are ovulating.

Good luck :)

I have PCOS. I did manage to have one lovely DS who is almost 3. I did an extreme crash diet, absolutely not recommending this at all, but it was the only way I could shift enough weight to fall pregnant. I lost 8 stone in 6 months and was a grumpy so and so the whole time.

Hi all,
Thanks for this thread. I’ve just started tracking my ovulation & trying for a baby. I too have been recently diagnosed with PCOS. After years of investigations, the pill masking symptoms & lots of other key symptoms (but only realising so once monitoring my natural cycles).

I did some research & also invested in the PCOS MyOva supplements which contain inositol. I have to say, I’ve really noticed a difference & feel so much better taking for them. It is still very early days & I’m trying to get my head around all the ovulation testing kit lingo . But I’m far less bloated, hormones feel more regulated & my cravings have reduced.

Fingers crossed things work out and we have some positive news soon!

Hi @SJ2 wishing you all the luck!

Honestly those supplements changed my life and I’m now almost 11 weeks pregnant! 💕
I was also taking a preconception vitamin and omega 3 🤞

@sj2 They really helped me too! Currently 19 weeks with Baby no 2

Congratulations @Irishgirl55 ! 💕
Can I ask, did you carry on taking them after your BFP? Xx

Hey @thelma57. No I stopped taking them once I found out. Just got an all in one prenatal vit!

congrats too btw. Is it your first?

Thank you @thelma57 & congratulations too! Is it your first baby? I’m just so pleased I’ve noticed a change & feel better already - my natural cycles were not enjoyable before!

Thanks @Irishgirl55 ! Yep this is my first ❤️

Amazing times ahead!

@sj2 - hope they work for you too!

Thank you @Irishgirl55 . Have a lovely Christmas ladies!