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Conception

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Original poster

PCOS advice please

17 replies

sparklymieow · 26/07/2005 14:14

My friend has just found out she has PCOS after 3 years of trying for a baby. She had a son 4 years ago, but he died at 5 months She only has one tube. What treatment can she get and is it avaible on the NHS??

OP posts:
CarolinaMoon · 26/07/2005 14:29

Did she get the diagnosis of PCOS from her GP or from a gynaecologist?

In my case, my GP suspected it (no periods 5 months after I came off the pill) and referred me to an NHS gynaecologist. He prescribed metformin (aka Glucophage), I had a period a month later and conceived ds 2 weeks after that, rather amazingly.

I combined the metformin with a low carb diet and lost a lot of weight v fast - after coming off the pill I'd been going to the gym 3 times a week and hadn't been able to shift any weight .

Some people treat PCOS with clomid (to make you ovulate) and people who don't respond well to drug treatments sometimes have their ovaries drilled (there is a thread about it at the moment in Conception).

Metformin is also used to treat type 2 diabetes - PCOS is linked to type 2 diabetes and is caused by insulin resistance (your cells don't absorb insulin easily, so insulin levels in your blood rise which causes the hormone imbalance that affects ovulation and can show up as thinning hair, greasy skin etc. Because you aren't able to use the energy in your cells, you get hungry and the weight can start piling on). Metformin helps your cells use insulin so it treats the cause of PCOS directly.

Has your friend had any advice at all yet?

Original poster
sparklymieow · 26/07/2005 14:38

she has some tests done in March, blood, scan etc, and noone told her what was wrong, she went to the GP and she asked if he had the results and he told her PCOS but gave no infomation

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 26/07/2005 14:51

CHILD

I used to work for and used to be good, I used to run a support group

No idea if it is still as good but she could give them a ring

or verity PCOS organistitation

I have PCOS really badly but Clomid worked for me and I am VERY FAT !!!!!!!!!!!!

CarolinaMoon · 26/07/2005 14:52

That's a bit crap. The GP should refer her to a specialist (i.e. gynaecologist) for treatment, esp as she has been ttc for so long. If he won't, it may be worth seeing a different GP. There's no reason why she should put up with not being treated.

This US site has loads of info on it, and some British women post on the discussion boards (in "community") on there too (so there is a bit of an NHS angle). It can get a bit depressing though - some women seem to have a really hard time trying to get treated, and sadly a few people's PCOS doesn't seem to respond much to treatment.

feelingold · 26/07/2005 15:36

I too have pcos and after lots and lots of waiting, clomid, injectable fertility drugs, follicle scanning, ovarian drilling and lots more injectable fertility drugs I do have 2 lovely kids. (took me 6 years to get pregnant with number 1 though).
I am overweight, suffer with some facial hair, skin tags and only have 1-2 periods per year. You can conceive but you do need specialist treatment so I would tell your friend to go back to her GP and ask to be referred to a Gynae/Infertility clinic.
Wishing her lots of luck.

Original poster
sparklymieow · 26/07/2005 15:44

she isn't overweight, and doesn't have any extra hair, but it has effected her chance of having a baby, it took her 3 years to get her son.

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 26/07/2005 15:48

IMHO she should gather as much info from CHILD and VERITY and any other sites that you get links to before going to GP

Then she/they can fight a better fight IYSWIM

CarolinaMoon · 26/07/2005 16:06

sparkly, I didn't have any of that either (except a couple of spots on my jawline). I was prob a big size 14, trying to get down to a 12 by going to the gym. I'm 5'9", so was a bit over what I should be, but not fat iyswim.

My first appt at the gynae clinic was a bit of a waste of time for that reason - the SHO and registrar thought it wasn't PCOS because I didn't have excess hair etc even though a scan had showed my ovaries were polycystic (there is a distinctive "string of pearls" look with PCOS).

At the next appt I saw the consultant (not sure why, I hadn't asked for it), and he said that if you have polycystic ovaries, you have PCOS, end of story. It just affects different people in different ways.

I agree, she needs to get as much information as possible, it's amazing how hard it is for some women to get it taken seriously when it's actually a very common condition.

MeerkatsUnite · 26/07/2005 16:41

Hi,

I feel she should be referred to a consultant gynae as a matter of course to be further treated. Has she still not been referred even now after such a diagnosis?. If this is indeed the case it is frankly appalling. She ought to complain strongly to her GP.

Metformin may be an option if it is determined that she is insulin resistant but not all women with PCOS are actually IR.

The sites mentioned, especially Verity, can offer much support.

I wish her well.

She will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

Original poster
sparklymieow · 26/07/2005 16:43

she asked the GP to refer her, he wasn't going to. Its taken her ages to get an diagnosis, they kept saying come back in 6 months if you haven't convivced

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 26/07/2005 17:00

Is she near london or is it poss to get to london

Cos I sort of refered myself cos gyne at local hosp kept saying come back in 6 months and DH is 14 years older than me and so we wanted to get on with it?

CarolinaMoon · 26/07/2005 17:07

What reason did he give for not referring her Sparkly?

She should insist on a referral. I would change GPs if he won't do it.

munz · 26/07/2005 19:32

my bud has this as well, she's got her refferal for the gyno which has gone from august this year to september this year now they're saying early next year - do u think I should suggest she rings her GP up to kick up a fuss? they seem to be dangaling a carrott for her and it's not really fair.

CarolinaMoon · 27/07/2005 09:54

yes, seems quite a long time to wait.

I was referred in August and seen in November, and part of that wait was caused by the referral letter being lost for at least 6 weeks.

munz · 27/07/2005 10:10

think i'll tell her to go back to the dr's as I was seen at the infertility clinic within 6 months. do u think she should lay it on a bit thick with the gp as in terms of it effecting her?

Original poster
sparklymieow · 27/07/2005 10:15

she really wants another baby, even more so because her son died, and he was very precious to her. She knows there is a chance that the next baby could have the same condition but she wants the chance.

OP posts:
runtus · 27/07/2005 11:16

Tell her to kick up a real fuss, now she has a diagnosis there is no reason to wait for treatment.

If in doubt, change GP's and lay it on thick about the 'mental stress and how it is affecting her ability to work'. Should do the trick.

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