TTC suspected PCOS

[Northernsoul90]

Hi all, sorry this is a long post. I have a 3 year old daughter and have previously had a MMC and a chemical. I've been ttc baby number 2 since May - we caught the first cycle but then had the chemical in June.

I came off the pill in January and my cycles have been irregular all year, previously when I was trying for my daughter they were regular. They have ranged anything from 39-28 days. I have the following PCOS symptoms - more facial hair than I've previously had, irregular cycles, I've gained weight especially around my middle and started getting acne around my chin and jaw line. I'm at the GP next week for bloods to hopefully get some answers about my cycle.

My question is really about how PCOS affected your fertility and what helped - I'm planning on shifting excess weight hopefully over the next few months, upping my protein intake and generally eating better.

Also can OPKs be used if you have PCOS? I got a peak on CD17 this month but then 9 days later got EWCM and then today I have done both a pregnancy test and OPK. Pregnancy test was negative but OPK looked to be a peak again?! So confusing I'm currently on CD36. TIA any advice would be much appreciated x

I have potential pocs according to a very unhelpful GP. My only symptom is excess body/facial hair, everything else seems normal so far but I'm just at the start of the journey.

I have read so much on pcos though. I understand that ovulation tests can be unreliable for women with pcos and give multiple positives throughout a cycle.

Lots of people swear by myo inositol powder, and I've read so many people saying it's reduced their symptoms and regulated their period. Im not a medical professional though so can't say if it's okay or works but worth reading about potentially.

Thank you for replying! Yes I've been taking Myo Inositol for almost 3 months now - the first month I thought it had worked a miracle as my cycle was 28 days but the last 2 have been long again. Will keep on with it though. I don't know if I could have ovulated this late in my cycle CD36 seems really late for ovulation, could just be a random hormone surge maybe.

Hi @Northernsoul90 I’ve just been diagnosed with pcos through the recurrent miscarriage clinic I’ve been under. The only symptoms of pcos I have is the irregular periods, and so then the blood tests I had done showed high LH levels which indicates pcos. The consultant put me on Metformin to help regulate cycles. If I get pregnant again I’m to stay on Metformin as it helps reduce the risk of miscarriage. I’m only on week 2 of taking them so can’t advise how they are going. But hopefully once your bloods are done, it could be something the GP prescribes .
Not sure on the opks while on Metformin, but I have found them unreliable before. My levels were always pretty high on them. But when I got an obvious peak where the line is definitely darker than control, then I have ovulated

Hi OP, I have PCOS and have been on a long road with it. My consultant told me trying to track my cycles was a waste of time so I never did that. The number one thing that helped me was a vitamin the specialist told me to take. It's called myo inositol, I bought it on Amazon and it made a huge difference for me.

I’ve just posted this on another thread but we were ttc for 18 months which is how I found out I had pcos.
Started taking agnus castus and using preseed and was pregnant within 2 months. Used it straight away (took AC few months before actually) with dc2 and fell pregnant the first month of trying. I really believe it helped.

My PCOS potentially affected my fertility in that I was fortunate to fall pregnant relatively easily but did suffer a number of early miscarriages (one between each successful pregnancy). I also had issues with high blood pressure/pre eclampsia which I think can sometimes be linked, but nothing that couldn’t be managed

Myo innistol. Honestly look it up. Cheap cheerful and is amazing for PCOS. I usually get it from goodness direct but loads of places sell it.

I hadn't had a period for over a year (confirmed PCOS) and within a month i had a period and a regular cycle. Got to the point i knew when i was ovulating. Conceived first time trying.

Doctors don't really know about it. Usually because doctors are mostly clueless about pcos. There is a very slow growing research evidence base if you do a pub med search. The anecdotal evidence though is vast.

Thank you so much everyone for your replies. I have been taking the Zita West Vitafem and their myo inositol for almost 3 months now... although I must admit some days I forget to take the inositol powder I need to stay consistent with it.

@Figtree11 I wasn't aware that there is a link between miscarriage and PCOS that is interesting, i have previously had a MMC at 9 weeks and then a chemical at just before 5 weeks. I do think it's pretty likely I will get a diagnosis as I have quite a few symptoms of it. Have you had any side effects from the Metformin?

@ChipsnGraveee Which Agnus Castus did you use? I've never heard of that before but will definitely look into it... can it be taken alongside other supplements do you know? X

@Northernsoul90 i didn’t know about the miscarriage link to pcos either. Have since read some articles on it so I’m hoping that I will get pregnant again soon & that the Metformin will help.
I’m having to gradually increase the dose over a few weeks so not on max dose yet, but I increased some more this week & I am having waves of nausea. Not enough to stop me going about my normal life though.
I hope the GP is able to help. My consultant didn’t even think twice about prescribing me Metformin