Metformin, PCOS & TTC#2

Jellybelly888 · 2023-08-29T21:42:10+00:00

Hello! New to this so I’m sorry if I’ve posted in the wrong place. I’m 35, mother of one 7 year old and with a new partner TTC baby number 2. First time round it was 3 x early MC, diagnosed with PCOS and given metformin 1500mg and low dose aspirin which did the trick. This time round metformin 1500mg has not helped so dr said to up it to 2000mg and also take 4000mg myo-inositol, which I am. It has brought my cycles down from 90 days, to 55 days and the last two cycles have been 33 days. During the last two cycles of 33 days, I’ve had positive OPKs at around CD17 both times. Still no BFP though 😩 Currently on CD15 so I am gearing myself up for this to be our month! God knows if I’m actually even ovulating though? Anyone else taking the same? Feeling the same? I am driving myself round the twist 🤦♀️ Did metformin and Myo-Inositol work for you? How long did it take? Sorry for the long life story… it’s where my head is at and I’m even boring myself.

junebuglb · 30/08/2023 00:10

@Jellybelly888

Hiya- can’t speak from experience (yet!!) about what ‘works’ as currently still TTC for #1 but I also have pcos, taking 2000mg metformin, and hoping for the best. :-)

Interestingly my endo prescribed 3000mg off the bat (for ttc purposes, I was diagnosed pcos ~10 years ago but this is my first time trying metformin). But have been taking 2000mg for about 3/4 months now as I’m still working up to such a big dose. Also taking preconception supplements.

Metformin has brought my cycles down from 80/90days to around 40. This cycle it seems I ovulated on time which is unheard of for me. Usually I will get one or two questionable peaks, hard to predict, but this cycle seemed like huge progress- one strong clear peak cd16, plenty of ewcm. Waiting to test next week but know we just can’t be that lucky lol.

Fingers crossed for you and following to see if anyone else can help :-)

Original poster

Jellybelly888 · 30/08/2023 06:40

junebuglb · 30/08/2023 00:10

@Jellybelly888

Hiya- can’t speak from experience (yet!!) about what ‘works’ as currently still TTC for #1 but I also have pcos, taking 2000mg metformin, and hoping for the best. :-)

Interestingly my endo prescribed 3000mg off the bat (for ttc purposes, I was diagnosed pcos ~10 years ago but this is my first time trying metformin). But have been taking 2000mg for about 3/4 months now as I’m still working up to such a big dose. Also taking preconception supplements.

Metformin has brought my cycles down from 80/90days to around 40. This cycle it seems I ovulated on time which is unheard of for me. Usually I will get one or two questionable peaks, hard to predict, but this cycle seemed like huge progress- one strong clear peak cd16, plenty of ewcm. Waiting to test next week but know we just can’t be that lucky lol.

Fingers crossed for you and following to see if anyone else can help :-)

Hi junebug!

Wow 3000mg is a lot, no wonder you’re still working your way up to it. Have you felt ok so far? That’s really good about the OPK l, hopefully it means the metformin is working! Fingers crossed for you 🥰

it’s just so hard isn’t it because there’s no quick way around it, literally just have to wait for months for it to kick in?!

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CrispAppleStrudels · 30/08/2023 07:36

Ive been doing the same. My metformin dose is 2000mg. I conceived DD1 with letrozole in the end as metformin wasnt enough and thought i would need to do the same for DC2. But in addition to metformin, i recently lost 10% of my body weight and had my first natural conception in 5years of ttc. Its very early days but im really pleased we've managed at least one. It turns out i ovulated on day 27 or something? So much much later than i expected.

junebuglb · 30/08/2023 10:56

@Jellybelly888 its certainly a big whack; the initial side effects were fairly intense- nausea, digestive issues, no appetite. But that has settled now. Was told if this recurs to ask for slow release next time. Thank you😊🙏 and to you! Its a tough old game. Just trying to stay positive and level headed and trust that it will happen if we keep going.

@CrispAppleStrudels congratulations 🎉 that’s great news. I also lost some weight at the start of this year which I’m hoping will help. :-)

Worldgonecrazy · 30/08/2023 11:00

I am so pleased that metformin is now being used to treat PCOS. I had to get it prescribed privately 15 years ago and it cost a fortune!

Sorry that doesn’t help you but it made me happy, so thought I would share. I took it during ivf and to week 20 of my pregnancy.

Original poster

Jellybelly888 · 30/08/2023 11:33

Worldgonecrazy · 30/08/2023 11:00

I am so pleased that metformin is now being used to treat PCOS. I had to get it prescribed privately 15 years ago and it cost a fortune!

Sorry that doesn’t help you but it made me happy, so thought I would share. I took it during ivf and to week 20 of my pregnancy.

Thank you. It’s really up and coming because 7 years ago I had to have it prescribed by a fertility specialist and sign all sorts of disclaimers, however this time I just went to my GP to ask for a referral and she said I didn’t need one because GPs can now prescribe it for PCOS!

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Original poster

Jellybelly888 · 30/08/2023 11:35

CrispAppleStrudels · 30/08/2023 07:36

Ive been doing the same. My metformin dose is 2000mg. I conceived DD1 with letrozole in the end as metformin wasnt enough and thought i would need to do the same for DC2. But in addition to metformin, i recently lost 10% of my body weight and had my first natural conception in 5years of ttc. Its very early days but im really pleased we've managed at least one. It turns out i ovulated on day 27 or something? So much much later than i expected.

Ah see this is helpful because I think being in my mid-30s now, I’m a bit weightier than I was in my 20s. I’ve started a strict diet and swimming now, hoping to lose a bit of weight because I think it will help. I’m a size 12, however I’m larger and heavier than I was when I conceived my son. So I think losing a bit of fat can only help matters.

Congratulations on your pregnancy xx

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Original poster

Jellybelly888 · 30/08/2023 11:37

junebuglb · 30/08/2023 10:56

@Jellybelly888 its certainly a big whack; the initial side effects were fairly intense- nausea, digestive issues, no appetite. But that has settled now. Was told if this recurs to ask for slow release next time. Thank you😊🙏 and to you! Its a tough old game. Just trying to stay positive and level headed and trust that it will happen if we keep going.

@CrispAppleStrudels congratulations 🎉 that’s great news. I also lost some weight at the start of this year which I’m hoping will help. :-)

Are you going to up it to the 3000mg dose or keep it at 2000mg?

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junebuglb · 30/08/2023 15:55

@Jellybelly888
Current plan is to see this cycle out/maybe the next on 2000mg, then get back to GP for repeat bloods (advised by endo. Curious to see what’s happening “on paper” if no luck with ttc in the next couple of cycles after around 6 months on metformin.)

I’m sure it would do no harm to up the dosage sooner but I do find it to be a lot and I am definitely already noticing effects from 2000mg. Cycle length more normal, blood sugar more stable, insane carb cravings curbed.

If you don’t mind me asking, did you take metformin throughout your first pregnancy? It’s a question I haven’t asked gp/endo yet, whether to continue during pregnancy or not. :-)

Original poster

Jellybelly888 · 31/08/2023 07:49

junebuglb · 30/08/2023 15:55

@Jellybelly888
Current plan is to see this cycle out/maybe the next on 2000mg, then get back to GP for repeat bloods (advised by endo. Curious to see what’s happening “on paper” if no luck with ttc in the next couple of cycles after around 6 months on metformin.)

I’m sure it would do no harm to up the dosage sooner but I do find it to be a lot and I am definitely already noticing effects from 2000mg. Cycle length more normal, blood sugar more stable, insane carb cravings curbed.

If you don’t mind me asking, did you take metformin throughout your first pregnancy? It’s a question I haven’t asked gp/endo yet, whether to continue during pregnancy or not. :-)

Gosh I still crave so many carbs on metformin… maybe it doesn’t work for me well anymore?

Yes I took it all the way through my pregnancy and afterwards too because the fertility dr said to stay on it if we were considering another baby even a few years after the first, due to how long it takes to work and the fact it’s harmless to take. I only came off it when we separated and divorced.

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junebuglb · 05/09/2023 15:48

Just wanted to update, I had a positive test this week:) happy, shocked and praying for a safe first pregnancy.
Just wanted to list what I think has made a difference;
— 2000mg metformin since approx 4-5months
— lost approx 1.5-2stone at the start of this year (am a size 14)
— pregnacare preconception supps
— partner taking wellman conception
— following a low GI diet non religiously
— cut alcohol
i will also say this cycle seemed noticeably different for me, ovulated on time with plenty of ewcm which was a good indicator and abnormal for me.
lots of love and luck.xx

CrispAppleStrudels · 05/09/2023 15:56

Jellybelly888 · 31/08/2023 07:49

Gosh I still crave so many carbs on metformin… maybe it doesn’t work for me well anymore?

Yes I took it all the way through my pregnancy and afterwards too because the fertility dr said to stay on it if we were considering another baby even a few years after the first, due to how long it takes to work and the fact it’s harmless to take. I only came off it when we separated and divorced.

Show quote history

This is very interesting. I was told by my endo to come off metformin at around 15 / 16 weeks pregnant as it can hide the signs of GD and then very strictly told i must not take it whilst breastfeeding as it can pass through breastmilk. So i had a gap of around 18months during pregnancy and bf.* *

Im pregnant again and was also planning on stopping again around 15w mark. I might contact my endo again and see if the advice has changed.

Original poster

Jellybelly888 · 25/02/2024 14:35

Just an update from me. Nothing came up in my fertility tests - egg count was fine, tubes fine, scan fine, partner fine. The only thing that was mentioned was that of an elevated TSH level of 8.9. I was told it was ‘normal’ and no action or medication was needed. I have since found out it really isn’t normal and needs to be under 2 to be able to conceive. I went armed with a load of literature and guidelines to the GP and she reluctantly prescribed me a very low dose (25mg) of levothyroxine and guess what? Six weeks later BFP!!

Fingers crossed for a sticky bean! 🙏🤞

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Original poster

Jellybelly888 · 25/02/2024 14:36

junebuglb · 05/09/2023 15:48

Just wanted to update, I had a positive test this week:) happy, shocked and praying for a safe first pregnancy.
Just wanted to list what I think has made a difference;
— 2000mg metformin since approx 4-5months
— lost approx 1.5-2stone at the start of this year (am a size 14)
— pregnacare preconception supps
— partner taking wellman conception
— following a low GI diet non religiously
— cut alcohol
i will also say this cycle seemed noticeably different for me, ovulated on time with plenty of ewcm which was a good indicator and abnormal for me.
lots of love and luck.xx

Just seen this! Amazing and congratulations! I hope your pregnancy is going well x

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LiIacMoon · 25/02/2024 14:41

@Jellybelly888 have you taken a blood test to confirm if your ovulating or not? Metformin and myo didn't get me ovulating. I did months of clomid, and while it did make me ovulate it was still really inconsistent and late day 40 50 +.
I lost a bit of weight and completely cut out sugar but to be honest didn't eliminate carbs but it got my cycles down to 30 days and I ovulated on day 14 like clockwork.
I still couldn't get pregnant naturally :( so ivf was what worked for me

Original poster

Jellybelly888 · 25/02/2024 15:10

LiIacMoon · 25/02/2024 14:41

@Jellybelly888 have you taken a blood test to confirm if your ovulating or not? Metformin and myo didn't get me ovulating. I did months of clomid, and while it did make me ovulate it was still really inconsistent and late day 40 50 +.
I lost a bit of weight and completely cut out sugar but to be honest didn't eliminate carbs but it got my cycles down to 30 days and I ovulated on day 14 like clockwork.
I still couldn't get pregnant naturally :( so ivf was what worked for me

Yes I did, got the results back in January and they said I was ovulating fine. It took a while (from May to December) for myo and metformin to kick in and work.

Sorry you had such a difficult time but I'm glad IVF was a success!

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