Wanting to conceive with PCOS

[ThisWorthyReader]

My whole life I have struggled with my periods being irregular, however recently have discovered I have PCOS.

I already have a child (3 in July) however really want another child. I have been back and forth to the doctors having scans, blood tests, tried different medications, however nothing is helping to either regulate my periods or help with ovulation. They have also said there’s not much they can do to help with me already having a child.

I don’t really know what my point is, I’m just hoping someone has some advise on meditation/ vitamins / or positive stories about yourselves or people you know who have fallen pregnant with PCOS.

Are you on metformin ? That is what helped me to conceive x

Sorry for the tmi in advance!!

I was using it for 7 months but the side affects were not good (diarrhoea, loss of appetite, nausea)
The doctors changed it a few times to different doses/ slow release types but it didn’t seem to help.
I literally couldn’t eat a thing, without having to run to the toilet instantly. It could be literally anything I ate, something as small as an apple or biscuit, or a main meal, it was instant, so then I wouldn’t eat from the moment I woke up until I got home, which was any time from 6-7:30 in the evening, so I was always starving and low on energy in the days.

and now I’m stuck as I don’t think they can/ will prescribe anything else

myo-inositol (I use MyOva brand)
ovulation tracking
low sugar, low carb diet
weight training was a game changer for me

good luck!

i cut out sugar and this gave me a regular period. (Even with lean pcos this helped) Also spearmint tea (use sparingly) and vitamin d

Thank you.
Ive tried ovulation tracking but it’s so confusing without periods. Ive tried going by my discharge and checking my temperature daily, but can’t seem to work it out.
i’ll look into changing my diet a bit, I struggle to get to the gym due to childcare though, but will also have a look at buying some of the myo-inositol - thanks

Have you been trying for long?
I have pcos, averaged probably 3 periods a year at wildly different intervals but conceived twice within about a year.
I couldn’t track ovulation or work off a monthly schedule but would pay close attention to cervical mucus and try much more often around then.

It did make testing a nightmare because I was obviously never “late”.

I’d say at least a year we have been trying, probably longer but had gallstones removed so had to wait a bit after that to recover and feel myself again.

I’d say my periods sound the same as yours, around 3 a year, never know when they’re coming or how long they’ll last.

Is there a clear difference with the cervical mucus?

I was for 7 months, but the side affects were really affecting me, so the doctors advised me to stop taking them after that length of time with the side affects not getting any better

Have you kept track of your periods? I would start now, better late than never. I didn’t ever keep track when I was younger but in the run up to ttc I came off birth control and finally paid attention. It took like a year to be able to make any sort of hypothesis but I was more “regular” ever other period so I was thinking it was maybe linked to one ovary having less cysts and preforming better. It still wasn’t monthly, more like two, but the next period would have a 5 month gap.

The cervical mucus is clear and stringy like an egg white, it’s a sign of ovulation. I think we can have this with pcos because it’s your body gearing up but it doesn’t always end in ovulation but it’s the best gauge you will have for your body.

Thank you.
I’m so fussy, I did buy some spearmint tea, but had to force myself to drink it! Can I ask why you have to use it sparingly?

Myo innistol. I was on metformin for ages. Didn't have a period for over a year. Within a few weeks had a period and then a regular cycle. Got to the point i could pinpoint ovulation. Conceived first time trying.

Its affordable and accessible. So i always think worth a try for those with pcos. There is research showing its effectiveness if you do a pub med search. But it's not ever going to attract large scales studies as there's no money to be made and pcos is a very under researched area. The anecdotal evidence is vast though.

In addition i'd check your diet and lifestyle. Even if you're not overweight pcos can cause insulin resistance. Making changes to reduce that can also help.

Thank you.
Yes, I record all my periods so I’ve got track of them and know how ‘often’ they’re happening - which is not often at all!

Oh fab, okay thank you for that

Thank you, that’s really insightful and helpful. I’ll get some ordered as a few of you have mentioned this now.

Congratulations for conceiving btw!x

It lowers your blood pressure. I felt very dizzy when I drank a concentrated brew. :) but I only drank 1 cup that day and it brought on my period after 80 days. So I keep it as a back up if it needs a kick start.

but the life style changes (low sugar) have really made the difference. I ovulate regularly at day 24 now. Previously I had 4 periods a year, max. Hope you have some luck!

I 100% agree with myo-inositol - i was diagnosed with PCSO when i was 18 and my periods for 20 years were so sporadic! Sometimes i would only have 2 a year! I thought that getting pregnant would be a real issue but i took inositol and my cycle went to a perfect 28 day cycle and we conceived our son on our second month of trying - i then stopped taking it but after having my son my periods were pretty regular! We then decided to try for another baby and i took it again and and i have conceived again on our 2nd month of trying and am currently 6 weeks pregnant!

Have you tried Pukka's three mint tea? That's my favourite one. I think it's included in their mixed pack if you don't want to commit to a full box :)

No I haven’t but I’ll ‘treat’ myself to some, thank you

Thank you, I appreciate your help x

Thank you, I will definitely get some ordered!
congratulations on your on and your second pregnancy, that’s wonderful to hear x

I took myo-inositol for 1 month and went low carb (100g max) and no added sugar, and got pregnant that month. Can't be sure that did it but no other month was successful! I did also lose 3kg as I was cutting down for my holiday but I was already a healthy weight.

Thank you! It’s worth a go then! I’m trying to lose a bit of weight, I’m not big but bigger than before, size 14.
congrats on conceiving!