PCOS - 14 Months TTC (Secondary Infertility)

[Totters123]

Hi everyone,

As written above - my husband and I have been TTC for 14 months and havent been able to conceive. I was diagnosed with PCOS in June, and in 14 months have probably had around 7 cycles.

I have a 3.5 yr old daughter who we conceived naturally and without 'trying trying', and I recognise how fortunate we were to be in that situation. However she is now desperate for a sibling (as most of her friends have one) and regularly asks me if I have a baby in my tummy and its so hard to keep making jokes/trying to put her off the question.

My generally feeling is one of total frustration, mostly with myself. At our appointment with the doctor I was told to loose weight and return in six months - my BMI is 35.2 and the limit for NHS IVF (even though we pay for it) is 35. I have been given Metformin but nothing is helping me shift more than a couple of kg's, I walk and cycle a lot but I cannot properly 'diet' as it will cause me to eat in a disordered way (binge). I eat normal meals but can snack a lot. Overall I feel like the reason we cant conceive is because of me but I cant seem to fix that problem.

I know I probably sound self-defeated but in a way I am. I am taking Nov and Dec off from properly trying because I just cant face the pressure. We have another appointment in January to discuss our options, unfortunately we cant afford to go to private IVF.

I just wondered if anyone has any advice, thoughts or any words that might kick my arse into gear - please let me know.

Hi @Totters123 totally sympathise with your position. PCOS sufferer here (10yrs + now) - first DD conceived using metformin and letrozole in 2020 (born 2021). Went back through the fertility clinic process this year only go find my BMI had crept up to 32.5 and i was no longer eligible for NHS treatment (30 in our Trust).

I'm sorry to read you are at risk of disordered eating. Could you have a chat with a good GP or Endocrinologist to see what they advise? PCOS is much like diabetes in the impact it can have on weight and insulin levels, so even if you you eat normal meals, it may not be having a normal effect on your body in comparison to someone without PCOS. There are some really good PCOS blogs on insulin resistance that you could read. Generally though they advise removing carbs / sugars and cutting down on dairy, which can cause the inflammation that makes PCOS worse. Is this something you can consider or is it too much like dieting?

In my case, the consultant agreed to give me 3 months to see what difference i could make to my weight. I did a low carb / low cal diet (Michael Mosley's Fast 800) + intermittent fasting alongside the metformin. In 12 weeks, i lost 12kg and got my BMI to 28.9. Whilst waiting to start treatment, i discovered i had fallen pregnant naturally for the first time in 5 years of trying, which was a massive surprise. However i appreciate that if you are not in a position to diet then that programme would not be suitable and the most important thing is to also think about your health - TTC / pregnancy / post partum is difficult enough on a woman's mental health without introducing additional stresses. 💐

Also, are you on high quality multivitamins including vitamin D and myo-inositol? Again lots of advice online on what can help with PCOS.

Thanks for your advice and sympathy - it means a lot.

I have just started taking Inositol but didnt know about vitamin D, what is considered a good brand?

I have tried the fast 800 and its great for a week or so but tricky as soon as I ate anywhere but home, plus it does trigger some bad sneaky/bingey behaviours for me. I am seeing a therapist and had therapy for binge eating, a lot of it is tied up in losing my Mum just after my daughter was born (all during lockdown), its why my weight went up so much. Thats kind of why I have to be cautious not to set myself off, as its my reaction to stress, sadness and pressure (all the emotions in TTC journey!) I basically practice as much intuitive eating as I can these days, plus low sugar/carb breakfast and dinner.

I didnt know about the dairy so thats helpful too as I am cheese fiend!

If theres anything else you found helpful I would really appreciate it 💖

Hi! I also have PCOS and struggled to lose weight for a long time. I kept dieting then bingeing, over and over.

What really helped me was actually eating proper food. Normal portion sizes, nothing ridiculously low calorie.

I would recommend tracking your calorie intake for a normal week (use MyFitnessPal) and seeing where the bulk of your calories are. For me it was snacks!! I then decided to reduce my meals slightly (think smaller portions, less pasta/more veg etc) - and I kept my snacking as normal. It really did help. As I started to lose weight, the snacking naturally became healthier and less often.

Over time, I also added in more exercise. Walking quickly is absolutely fantastic - do as much as you can. I started off doing Joe Wicks at home workouts which then increased my confidence and I joined the gym. Did a few classes and decided I preferred weight lifting on my own but find out what works for you and stick to it.

I now have a steady routine that I really enjoy (weight training, running, and netball) and I have now lost 4 stone and am well within the 'normal' BMI range. I am also starting to TTC so I'm keeping up my healthy habits.