Help and Advise Please

[shoegirl36]

Hi Ladies. I just wanted some advice from you all. I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago. I miscarried in September 21 then believe I had a chemical pregnancy in August 2022. I had an internal scan which doctors said looked normal and I also have had bloods tested which showed everything within normal range. I’ve tried tracking ovulation in the past and only managed to catch a peak once. My cycle is irregular, usually between 31-60 days. I would love to conceive asap and take Pregnacare pre conception tablets, Inofolic alpha, folic acid, inositol and a multivitamin. Is this too much for my PCOS? What else can I do? TIA x

@shoegirl36 has your partner had a sperm analysis?

Hi @FlyOnTheWall89. My partner has two daughters from a previous relationship. He has not had a semen analysis since I've been with him.

@shoegirl36 regardless of precious children, he should still do a sperm analysis. Sperm changes all the time. He could have developed an undetected infection, a varicocele etc. you'll also need this for a fertility referral on the NHS. As your cycle is so irregular, you need to really pinpoint why this is - for lots of people, acupuncture works or helps. It may be that you're just missing your ovulation days - it would mean testing for so so long over the length of your cycle. I have a predictable cycle with 3 - 4 day variance and I even struggled to get peaks - I think maybe I have a very short peak reading, but I have lots of other signs like lots of EWCM - do you get this? It sounds like really you need some doctors advice as you've been trying for a long time now unsuccessfully. Good luck!

@FlyOnTheWall89 perhaps a silly question but do you think I am taking too many pre conception tablets and vitamins and that maybe I'm delaying/distrusting my own cycle by overstimulating them perhaps? I don't know if this is even possible, I guess I mean is it like I am overdosing on preconception tablets and vitamins. If I take too much of everything can this effect my cycle, ovulation and fertility?

@shoegirl36 I highly doubt it. Men can do harm to their sperm by taking too many potent things, but never read or heard of this for women. I would write it all down, make sure you don't have too much cross over etc.

I took Vital DHA pre conception (basically omega 3 and a few other things). Folic acid and Vitamin D were the two things I was specially asked about by the fertility clinic.... Both of which I was taking. I took Zinc too (can't remember the reason now). Did you have regular periods pre taking the tablet or trying to conceive? I also had a hycosy which was our final step pre-IVF as recommended by the fertility clinic and I got pregnant the next month even though my tubes were clear.

@FlyOnTheWall89 I've booked an appointment at a different GP clinic as I have just moved to a new area so I'm hoping I may have more joy gaining an understanding or even getting an explanation or advise from this new doctor than my last. I've noted all the stuff I take and hopefully they can advise me on which to continue and which to drop if necessary. Maybe even send me for further checks. My last GP wouldn't do anything without my partner getting a sperm analysis. I want to make sure I'm working 'normally' inside before we start getting referrals and doctors probing around inside me.

@shoegirl36 you have to have day 3 and 21 bloods, an STI check (both you and your partner) and a sleek analysis for a referral to fertility clinic. No way around that. It's a system of tick boxes and initial information to diagnose you and your partner. Sadly GPs in my experience really don't have any fertility specific knowledge and are unlikely to be able to help with vitamins beyond the basics which is Vit D and Folic Acid. You may need to go and see someone private for further advice... but defo press your irregular periods with the doctor... again, it's normalised that it's okay to have very irregular periods and super painful periods etc when it isn't. There is an excellent book called Period Power that I would really recommend.

@FlyOnTheWall89 honestly thank you so much for taking the time to message. And literally what you just said in your last message is my main focus. I just want to know why my cycles aren't regular. As much as I can't wait to fall pregnant I want to also try for as long as possible to do it the natural way. I am only 28 so still have time on my side somewhat even if my being impatient is against me lol. I don't think it's normal for me to have been on Mycrogynon for the best part of 10 years without a check up and since coming off them to have cycles range with no pattern or obvious reasons for delay. I've had bloods and an internal ultrasound and the doctors in 2 words told me my results and they were "essentially normal". I don't think the doctors understand that I want to be investigated for myself and learning and knowing my body before I jump into fertility clinics and outside help from doctors. Honestly all I want is to make sure that I ovulate. My mind would be a lot more settled if I knew that was happening, I have tracked ovulation in the past and only ever caught 1 peak. Thank you again for taking the time to chat x

Hi,

My situation sounds really similar to yours. I was on Microgynon for 10 years with no checks up, I am 26 and have been off the pill for just over a year, trying to conceive. But instead by periods were and are all over the place, from 44 day cycles to 77 day cycles.

9 weeks ago I was diagnosed with PCOS and was prescribed Metformin. My husband has had a sperm analysis test and his results came back fine. We have been referred to the fertility clinic and are waiting an appointment with them which could take months. I have also just started taking Inofolic as I have read good reviews and success stories about this.

Similar to you, I am young and have time on my side, but myself and my husband feel such an empty space in our life waiting for our family. All of my friends have successfully started their families and we are surrounded by babies and pregnancies constantly, it's heartbreaking. Anyway...

I was wondering how your journey has gone the past few months? What medication/ vitamins do you take? Are you being supported by any professionals? Have you managed to conceive?

Hi @Megs26.. thanks for the message. So recently things have been abit crazy for me but here goes.. so I was on microgynon for 10 years or so with no reviews from doctors, I came off and was diagnosed with PCOS, I miscarried after being told I'd not be able to get pregnant so now barely trust doctors, I had blood tests and an internal ultrasound which all came back completely fine, I was then referred to a gynae dr who prescribed me slow release metformin. My meds now include slow release metformin, Pregnacare preconception supplements, Maca root, coq 10, folic alic, folate, myo and d inositol (all from Amazon) however and please done judge me but I also purchased Letrozole (Femara) without doctors consent and take 5mg on day 2-6 of my cycle. I understand this is dangerous and not advised in the uk however I felt like I was left with no choice after being constantly being let down by doctors. Also they would not refer me to a fertility clinic. Anyway it must be doing something right as my cycles are now 28-32 days long, I do not need to induce a bleed each time I need a period. My periods are lighter with almost no clots and I didn't have any pain for the first time. I understand the empty feeling completely but my partner has two other children so it's slightly different for us. I know some people are not spiritual but I went though a rough time and wanted to seek some solace from a psychic reading and they actually gave me a fertility reading who told me that I'd conceive a girl, with hazel eyes, and fair hair as well as a c section Delivery and I'd fall pregnant on 13th September 2023. I know you may not believe in it but it actually gave me the ability to relax in my mind and gave me the ability to stress less which is always helpful. I hope this helps you. I'm always here to chat should you want to :) x

That's awful that they wouldn't refer you to the fertility clinic! What was their rationale for not doing this?!

I'm so worried that I won't get any further help, and I honestly do feel like there is a massive missing piece in my life.

Thank you for being so open and honest! I'll look into some of these medications.

It's so lovely to have something to believe in, all my fingers are crossed for you that your reading is accurate and September will bring you joy. I'm keeping my stress levels down by completing little projects. This does help bring me peace and keep my mind from fixating on the wrong things.

@Megs26 they wouldn't refer me because I wanted to be referred to regulate my cycle and they basically said unless I wanted to jump straight into being poked, prodded and my partner having a sperm analysis then it wasn't an option for me. At the time my main concern was to be able to stop my pains, shorten and regulate my cycle and hopefully fall pregnant naturally. So in theory all I wanted was a referral for the Letrozole which appears to be working for me except I had to go through a foreign website and obviously take the medication with no check ups which is dangerous. I have been under loads of gynae clinics and they all told me completely different things so I soon and easily lost hope in them. I always said if I had not conceived by 30 then I would go through the whole medical process but I wanted to make as many changes as I could without invasive treatment. I have seen on other apps and do believe that if you don't stop almost nagging the doctors then you'll get what you want you just have to be bold enough to keep asking until they get bored of your calls or emails etc.
No honestly being this honest and open is good because there's so many ladies in this position and if we can all help and support each other then we hopefully will all get where we want to be.
When it comes to folic acid I do take folic acid and folate, although they come from the same bracket I recently learned that folate is digested better into the body where as folic acid is a lot harder to process in the body.
Again if you ever need to talk or have any questions then I'll do my best to answer or help where I can :) x

Hope it's OK for me to jump on this post as there's some similarities. I'm ttc #1, I also have PCOS. My periods have been pretty regular since I came off the pill at the beginning of the year except for a blip last month and we discovered I had a fibroid. I'm looking to start myo-inositol powder, I currently take pregnacare conception max, zinc b6 and Metformin 1.5g. Like @shoegirl36 original post im wondering if im taking too much. Alot of people have mentioned inofolic alpha but I'm worried it'll be too much folic acid as the pregnacare also has folic acid. Any advice please? How are you all getting on with ttc?

@Butterfly2000 hey girl.. tbh I'm on cycle 5 of Letrozole now, it has changed my cycle length but not yet fallen pregnant. My cycles went from 75 days plus, down to 40, then 32 and my last cycle was 28 days. I'm considering upping to 7.5mg Letrozole to see if this helps. However I do take Folic Acid, Folate, Inositol, Pregnacare, Maca root, Coq 10, Metformin on top of Letrozole. It seems to be helping as I am now having normal cycle lengths and am not needing to induce my bleeds with medication. I used to use Inofolic Alpha supplement too but I personally found it hard to maintain as I do prefer tablet form, though when taking it I didn't notice much difference, I may start it again as now as I haven't used it alongside Letrozole or Metformin. I will keep you posted.

@shoegirl36 Really glad to hear your cycles have shortened that's really positive! It sounds like the combination you've got going is working. Has your partner had any tests?

@Butterfly2000 I do take that as a massive positive and am super glad it's happened. But tbh no my partner hasn't had any checks or anything while with me, he does have kids from a previous relationship though. Tbh I actually asked him today if he'd consider taking a supplement as he is a smoker and drinker. It's just finding the good balance now.