Any successful pregnancy with PCOS?

[Keysha]

Hi all,

Am new here but have been following most of the threads for a couple of months now. It is great for all of you to belong to such a good network that has created a close bond.

Am 34.5 yrs diagnosed PCOS almost 20 years ago.Am told mine is mild and have normal weight (65kg) for my height. Naturally, been having very irregular periods that can go up to 3-4 mths. Been TTC for the past 3 years and unfortunately had 2 miscarriages.Been on almost all kinds of fertility treatments (Clomid, Metafolmin, Injectables) that regulates my AF but do not conceive. Mind you both times, I conceived naturally while on medical break. Currently, am not on any treatment, as we are considering IVF as our next step. Not gotten AF for almost 4 mths now.

Well ladies, I just need to hear from any other PCOSers' experiences to a successful pregnancy. Will really appreciate your info that might assist me and other women. Thankx a bunch!

Hi Keysha I was diagnosed with PCOS and have had 4 pgs 3 of which have been succesfull one DS and 2 DD's. I did read after the m/c that women with PCOS are more likly to m/c as they have irregular hormones.
3/4 0f my pgs have been concieved the month immediatly after coming of the pill as this regulates my cycle.
Who is advising you G.P. or consultant?
What area are you in?

Hi Keysha,

I have PCOS as well and was diagnosed with this in 1997.

One of many problems with PCOS is that it is a very individualistic disorder and it can affect each woman with it very differently.

Many women with PCOS do have an excess of LH (luteinising hormone) and an excess of LH is one possible factor in miscarrying.

One treatment I noticed from your list that you have not tried is ovarian diathermy surgery. I would suggest you look into this possibility with the consultant first off rather than go straight for IVF. Diathermy surgery can have a successful outcome for some PCOS patients, this is a keyhole surgery procedure whereby the surgeon punctures the cystic follicles on the ovaries with an electrical laser or needle. This can reduce the hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS (mainly the excess LH hormone) and can assist with conception. I would say that no one therapy or treatment will completely eradicate PCOS; the cystic follicles associated with this condition do return over time.

Women with PCOS who undertake IVF should really only do so after all other treatment avenues (including the above) have failed. PCOS alone is not an immediate indicator for IVF. Also women with PCOS can run a higher risk of ovarian hyperstimuluation and must be carefully monitored.

If you are not currently under the care of a consultant gynaecologist you ought to be. This is not a case for your GP to be involved in apart from making the necessary referral.

Would also suggest you look at Verity's website as this is the UK based charity for PCOSers. Their website address is www.verity-pcos.org.uk.

If you can stay within the correct weight range for your height all well and good.

Hope this helps, any other questions just ask

Meerkats

I haven't, but I'm almost positive that my friend had pcos... she was told that she was in such a state that she would be very unlikely to have children...

Fell pregnant with #1 a few weeks before her wedding, and has gone on to have 4 more since!!! She has had two miscarriages - one between 2 & 3, and one a twin of 4.

I was diagnosed 5 years ago after me and dh had been trying to fall pregnant for two years. I was about to start some treatment that I don't remember the name of except that you had to inject a hormone or somet in your ass every day, anyway I fell pregnant before starting the treatment. I had a successful pregnancy although ds1 was born 4wks early. my second pregnancy was actually a surprise. We werent using contraception as we did want a second child and as it took so long to conceive ds1 we didnt see the need to use it. So we were in no rush fell pregnant with ds2 one year after having ds1. Second pregnancy also went well. We have decided to have no more children well at least till these two are older so have gone back to using contraception. Weve actually talked of adopting if we do decide to have more children, whether we do or not I don't know

another one here - mild PCO - successful IVF leading to ds1 and (if things turn out ok) current bump

im another pcos sufferer.

was ttc for 7 years and on a waiting list for treatment.the appointment came through late last year and the following day i got a bfp!!

im now 39 wks pg with no problems at all.

hope it all goes well for you

Hi Keysha

Have you tried Agnus Castus to regulate your period? There is a really great website that tells you more about these things and have a list of practitioners who have had success with helping people get pregnant with PCOS \link{www.nourish-fertility.com} . You might not need IVF. Best of luck

I have PCOS but have 2 healthy boys now. Have no wise words but wish you all the best.

Both boys were conceived naturally.

Thank you all for all your feedback.

Xena and Meerkats, unfortunately am not based in UK. I live in E.Africa and been seeing a Consultant for the past 3 years. I did know about my condition for many years but didn't research much as I wasn't ready to TTC. I got alot of research done after m/c no 2.

Meerkats - 2 months back my consultant was considering to perfom ovarian diathermy. However, when she perfomered an ultra sound a week prior to the surgeon, she couldn't see any follicle of cysts. Basically they had disappeared. To me that sounded very strange as by then i hadn't had my AF for 2 months and wasn't pg either. She scheduled another visit whereby she I was told, it will be advisable for me to consider IVF consider all all the treatments i have been through and age (will be 35 this year). Also was told since i respond very well with clomid but don't conceive, there is a high chance i will succeed with IVF.

Right now, am at the edge of not knowing what treatment will be best for me 'cause the past 3 years have been of roller coaster.Therefore, valuing all your advises to a breakthrough.

NatureDoc, I have heard about Agnus Castus. For how long does one have to use it? I will do a thorough research on it.

Am going to check all the websites you have all recommended. Thanx alot!!

Hi,

Would strongly suggest you not self medicate with Agnus Castus if you have PCOS because in some cases it can make the underlying hormonal imbalances worse!!. If you really want to take this (and I would suggest otherwise) please seek out a properly qualified medical herbalist beforehand.

The cystic follicles associated with PCOS do disappear (this is most likely why they were not seen on ultrasound) - but only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. Think your cons needs to do another ultrasound scan. Also these cystic follicles are very small; it can take great skill to see them properly!.

Although clomid is often the first line of treatment for many women with PCOS would have to say that it helps one in three women to become pg. It is also not always suitable for some women with PCOS to take as it can affect their LH levels markedly. As many women with PCOS have higher than average/normal levels to start with this is clearly not ideal.

I would talk to her again about the possibility of having diathermy surgery before you embark on IVF. As mentioned PCOS on its own (no male factor problems for instance) is not an immediate indicator for IVF and should only really be tried when all other treatment avenues have failed.

I wish you well

Meerkats

Hi Meerkats,

Thank you so much for all the helpful advise associated with PCOS. I had no clue that cystic follicles sometimes do disapper and then reoccur. What it means, PCOS is not treatable and will keep reoccuring. Thank you so much for that insite and I will definitely talk to my consultant once again, if she insists on IVF, I will for sure get a second opinion from another consultant.

Just quick questions: Is it true that the side effect of ovarian diatherm (ovarian drill?) is ovarian scar and thereafter possible damage on the ovary? Can the surgery be performed on only one ovary at a time so as to reduce the risk? Does one have to perform the surgery when the cyctic follicle are only visible?

Wll keep you posted and God bless.

Hi Keysha,

I can only go by my experience of this surgery but both ovaries were operated on. The surface of the ovaries were "pricked"; the ovary itself was not touched as I understand it. Its not drilling in the usual sense of the word; the cystic follicles on the ovaries are diathermised.

I would say that diathermy is NOT a cure; there is not one for PCOS as the cystic follicles associated with PCOS do return over time. Also the underlying causes with regards to PCOS are not fully understood.

It was successful in my case (I am a parent) but I do know of cases as well where this procedure has not ultiamtely been successful. I also know of some successes.

The ovaries were operated on when the cystic follicles were clearly visible (even I as a lay person could clearly see them!). Would also say that the polycystic ovary is larger in size than a non polycystic ovary (the usual size of any ovary is about the size of a walnut).

I wish you well

Meerkats

I too am in the 'not knowing what is next' boat......' I have been unsuccessful at both Metformin and Clomid and now have another appointment booked to discuss the 'other possibilities'. I think he will suggest the drilling to me too.

All your info makes really interesting reading and certainly makes it seem less scary than before.

Really disappointed to have had the metfomin fail too, have this deep seated panic that I am one of those people that just doesn't respond to medication, no matter what it is.

Hi Keysha, I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 32. I had probably had it since I was 14. I was not ttc when I was 32, but was fed up with having to stay on the pill for years to mask the problem. I went to see a medical herbalist for a few months and he prescribed me agnus castus, blue cohosh and a number of other herbal remedies (can't remember). I have to say he was entirely successful in banishing the PCOS. I started having regular periods, and did not need any further help.

When I eventually wanted to conceive it happened on the second attempt! If you can find a qualified medical herbalist where you are, it's worth a go.

Best wishes.

Hi, I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1999. My symptoms have been missing periods, weight gain, facial hair and acne. Not much help in a way as I did get pregnant easily and had ds in 2004. I am convinced that losing weight helped (about a stone and a half), but it is not easy. Was at a talk by a consultant and she said that women with PCOS who have a weight problem have to eat a fifth less food than other women, just to maintain the same weight. I found this very helpful. Best of luck.

Hi

I was diagnosed 7 years ago when I only had af approximately every 90 days. After trying other fertility treatments I became pregnant after my first attempt at IVF. I now have twin dds aged 2 years 6 months. The pregnancy was relatively easy with some bleeding at 6 weeks but no harm to the babies.

I wish you luck with what ever treatment you choose.

Hi all,

Gosh, there are many of us struggling with PCOS. Your success stories gives us alot of courage on our TTC struggle with PCOS.

My only two symptom for PCOS is the irregular period and about 4 strings of chin hair(beard). Have no weight problem, though I don't mind loosing a bit.

Snowbell - sometime last year I saw a herbalist who prescribed some medication (can't remember which).After taking for 2 months and no AF, I totally stopped and never went back. I have heard some women here who have been successful with herbal medicine.

Runtus - If you don't mind me asking for how long have you been TTC? Prior to TTC, I was also on Dianette pill for almost 6 years till when I got feed-up of living with it. I stopped the pill about 2 years prior to my TTC and the AF was ranging 45 -70 days. Now am not on any medication am ranging up to 120 days. Is it because of age that is why it is getting worst? Tell you, i hate myself of not knowing when ovulating! When talking to some women,they don't understand how could that happen - 120 days without AF? If you don't mind,please let share our experience and encourage each other on the hard journey to TTC.

Thankx ladies!

Keysha, I've been ttc for just over a year now and was on the pill for yonks before hand. Never knew I had PCOS until we started TTC and noticed my periods were getting further and further apart. My friend mentioned it can be a symptom of PCOS so I asked the dr and he did some blood tests which confirmed it.

As I don't have any other symptoms at all, he originally thought a course of Clomid would sort my system out but that didn't work. I was taking progesterone as well (which is seriously painful!), to bring on a period each month.

When the Clomid didn't have any affect he referred me to a consultant who ran ultra sound scans to look for blockages (all clear) and more blood tests to give me a full bill of health. my partners sperm count was also checked (came back v good). After that we tried a course of Metformin to see if my insulin levels were playing any part in the anovulation but apart from making me as sick as a dog, that had no affect either.

I am now waiting to see him again and think he will suggest a laparoscopy to try and get round the non-ovulation thing. I'll let you know in 3 weeks what he says........

just quickly if I may butt in girls, my friend has PCOS, and has had 2 periods in 9 months, but she's lost 2 stone in weight (now 8 1/2)and has had two periods on the trott, so it looks to have helped.

I have heard that too from loads of people....doesn't apply in my case as I am normal weight, but def worth trying to do if you can.

fingers crossed for u hon hope all's well for the drs

yeah, I've calmed down a bit now (was a bit of a mess yesterday when he told me to come off the pills) and I am just keen to get the appointment done and move on to the next treatment step.

well finger's crossed it will happen all on it's own.

I too have PCOS and was ttc for 6 years before having my dd, had clomid,didn't work for me so eventually went on to injections of pergonol, which eventually worked after about 2 years.
Ttc for ds for 2 years on injections again but no success so I had the ovarian drilling (this was 7 years ago now so this procedure was very new then). My consultant told me that you need only treat one ovary but he was taking no chances and did them both. I then went back on the pergonol and fell pregnant approx 8 months later with ds.
I have only ever had about 2 periods per year, am overweight (didn't used to be berfore embarking on fertility treatment) and have a few problems with small amount of facial hair (i have electrolysis for this when needed).
Good luck to all of you who are still ttc, and don't give up and keep on at your consultants to give you all of the help they can, I found that if you do not ask you do not always get what you want and need.