trying for a baby but have PCOS Advice needed please

[taytotayto]

i would like to know if anyone has any tips or advice on how to help regulate my periods. i would be lucky to have 4-5 a year. how on earth am i supposed to know when im ovulationg???
i would try anything to have a baby. i must admit im no posh spice size 0!

I'm really sorry to have to say this but I do think losing weight helps. I conceived shortly after losing a stone and a half and though I have no evidence that these events were linked, I believe they were. I assume I still have PCOS but it doesn't concern me much anymore, except that the weight creeps on whenever I don't work at it!

I went to a talk once by a reproductive endocrinologist who simply said that women with PCOS have to eat 25% less than an average woman, just to maintain the same weight. On the positive side, women with PCOS frequently build muscle quite quickly which gets you into a virtuous circle of weight loss, so any circuits sessions, strenuous team sport, running or free weights are good. Very best of luck.

If you're only having 4 or 5 periods a year there is a high chance you are not ovulating regularly, if at all.

Excess pounds can exacerbate the symptoms so losing weight can help but it is not an easy thing to do. Some PCOSers find using a low GI/GL eating plan helpful as this can be sustainable in the long term too.

I would seek medical help from a gynae re conceiving as PCOS is not a problem to be messed around with by GPs. Your GP should refer you to such a person as a matter of course.

Verity's website may also be helpful to you:-
www.verity-pcos.org.uk

Hi tayto

I also have PCOS and am ttc. Have a look at the verity website which Attila has suggested, it has a lot of really useful info about PCOS and fertility and it has a message board where you can chat to other PCOS ladies, many of whom have conceived with or without treatment.

You need to be referred to a specialist who will do a full hormone profile and take your history. They may suggest a drug called metformin which sensitises your body to insulin and can help to normalise your hormones and get you ovulating (especially if combined with a low GI diet and exercise). There are lots of treatment options and a specialist will advise you which ones are most suitable for you.

I also found Colette Harris' books really useful (The PCOS Handbook, PCOS & your fertility, The PCOS Diet Book) - they help you understand the different treatment options as well as how complementary therapies can help.

And finally don't let your GP fob you off by telling you that you have to try for a year - if you have a known fertility issue (i.e. PCOS) you are entitled to be referred straight away.

Best of luck

I have recently been seeing a dietician who specialises in conception/pregnancy/post-partum.

Her advice for regulating PCOS and falling pregnant is to drastically reduce the carbs in your diet to regulate your hormones and blood sugars (same of all syndrome X diseases of course).

It's not a case of shunning vegetables - think "South Beach" style - so lots of protein, some low-fat dairy and fresh fruit & veg, but NO pasta/bread/tatties/chocolatebrownieseveniftheytasteofheaven!

I related this advice on another messageboard I use and one of the PCOS girls tried and fell pregnant that month... I know there are no guarantees of course but the change in her diet did something.

thanks to you all for your advice ill check that website and get that book asap x

Yep, I second the losing weight bit. It can be enough on its own (my SIL has PCOS too and conceived without even trying after going on a diet). If you need treatment, treatment is much more likely to be effective if you are a healthy weight - indeed many fertility specialists will refuse to treat patients unless their BMI is within the required limits (20 to 25), because otherwise it can be a waste of time. I would recommend seeing a gynaecologist who specailises in fertility problems if that is not enough. PCOS is highly treatable. Good luck!

I've got PCOS too and have one DS... I got pregnant by accident first time around so that can't be a bad thing!! Yes to weight loss as a plan though - it's a constant battle for me and I can't say I've ever been permanently successful. Low-GI is the way though. Keeps you full, good for the whole sugar thing etc etc.

I have to say I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment. Having always had really irregular periods, it's been great since I had my DS (who's nearly 2.5 now) - it's every 4.5 / 5 weeks on the dot! DH and I decided to chuck away the contraception and think about another in July. So first month into ttc it's all gone skew-whiff again. I'm 2 weeks late now and have done about six tests. Nothing. Gah! I feel properly grumpy about the whole thing (and clearly need to stop it frankly!).

Hummph.

I'm sorry MariaCC it must be quite frustrating. Are you feeling stressed about ttc? Sometimes stress can affect the cycle. Hopefully it will settle.
Taytotayto: just to add to what the others have said: a healthy diet will also reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes, women with PCOS often have a higher risk of it. In general being a healthy weight will give you the best chance of having a successful pregnancy, as overweight women are also more at risk of pregnancy complications such as hypertension and diabetes. Good luck!