Do they do anything for PCOS or is this it?

[MogTheMoogle]

Long story short, I got my IUD out a year ago, and my periods haven't returned in a consistent manner. An ultrasound and 2 blood tests later, I had a telephone call with the GP who said it looks like I have PCOS. I should still conceive but it might be harder, and if I don't in a year (I.e in 2/3 months as the IUD has been out 9) then they can refer me to fertility.

There wasn't really any other advice. Just almost a 'it is what it is', keep track of what little cycle you have and have sex 2/3 times a week.

Now I don't know, if that's just it now or if I can do anything, or if the GP can?

Now it might be tmi, but last 'proper' period was January after an 80 day gap. I had the blood test in April. In May, I had several days of spotting...like maybe it was a period but it didn't feel heavy enough, but a proper bleed during sex.

The last couple of days has been the same. Dark spotting but not nearly enough, but a lot of blood during sex. No pain.

Husband wants me to go to the GP but part of me thinks it's just a waste of everyone's time. That I'm just going to be told it's one of those things with pcos...maybe it's a light period or not.

Of course added to that, I'm obese and know that won't help with pcos or conceiving but I'm also slightly worried that it's all going to be lumped on that too...(with no support on how I can lose weight either).

I don't know if gp can support with pcos or you eill be referred. Care is prett6 shit and very hit and miss.

You can ask for metformin to help with regulating your period and also with weight loss. Never worked for me but maybe you will have better luck.

I eoukd call ans ask for a referral as it will take months.

I have PCOS. GP prescribed clomid bec of going six months without periods. Three months later I was pregnant.

I have PCOS and my periods would go for 80 days and then bam!! Like 3 periods in one go,so much blood.

Also spotting randomly. Got referred put on Pergonal, pregnant with baby girl .

Second and third pregnancies both Clomid,both boys.

Then fourth and fifth pregnancies were SURPRISES, and both girls !!

So five children in all, now all grown up.
I'm now 66.

That's reassuring to hear!

It just felt very...abrupt as a diagnosis. I mostly did my own reading about what it actually was. As I don't seem to have any actual symptoms except the lack of periods, it seemed any support would be help me conceive, and perhaps stupidly thought they'd tell me I was too fat...

I'll go back to then and see...glad that there is something they could do, not just from a fertility stand point, though its obviously heavily tied - it seems the other help is contraception which worked wonders at stopping them entirely.

I have conceived 2 children with PCOS. You can ask for metformin and the GP can prescribe this, although i found a better service to be provided by getting a referral to endocrinology. It can take a few months to start making a difference though. I was on 2000mg per day and it did bring back my periods to being a regular cycle. It can be pretty rough on the digestive system but there is an extended release version which is gentler.

For DD1, this wasnt enough. We got referred to the assisted conception unit and i did 3 rounds of letrozole. This is like clomid (which is more well known) but newer and more effective if you have a higher BMI as clomid isn't as effective if you have a high BMI. Plus it has a lower risk of multiples.

For DD2, i did the Fast 800 diet, got my BMI down to 30 and conceived naturally whilst waiting for our letrozole to be prescribed. I was told that losing 10% of body weight can sort of reset everything.

PCOS is hugely affected by weight but also causes weight gain so really a catch 22 situation. There are lots of PCOS diet friendly insta / social media accounts out there. I found following a diabetic friendly diet to work best for me given how PCOS impacts insulin levels, but i know this isnt the same for everyone. If you are making an effort to lose weight, you will be taken more seriously (in my experience) even if you havent quite got to where you want to be, plus some NHS trusts have BMI cut offs for treatment. Ours was 30 but I've heard some others are 35. Obviously you can also pay to go privately without the BMI restrictions - ovulation induction (clomid or letrozole) is much less expensive than IVF.

Edit to add - the standard treatment if you are done with kids or not TTC is hormonal contraception.