PCOS - Trying to conceive

[ElizabethCatherine]

Welcome to our 5th thread :)

A lovely bunch of ladies all here to help each other along the way with any questions or concerns we all have when TTC with PCOS

@looking and @slady (and @ElizabethCatherine) thank you for your replies to my little icsi meltdown! I've been a bit 'heads in a hole' for the past few days, but I did appreciate your replies - it's all helping keep me sane!
Af arrived at the weekend just to make me even chirpier, but I am appreciating the shorter cycles!
Have either of you started cycle 2 of clomid now? I really hope cycle 2 works for you!!! It must be horrible waiting to see whether it will work or not, but fingers are crossed for you!

Hi Ladies, Just dropping in again to say hello.

I am still waiting for AF to start clomid, cycle day 38 today and feeling very hormonal. Doesn't help my 4 year old is starting school in Sept and we didn't get our first choice so i am so emotional about it all. Broke down last night about out how long we have been TTC for No2 and i really didnt want a 5 year age gap...sorry i am feeling sorry for myself.

@SLady Have you started Cycle 2 now on clomid? xx

Glad to hear from you, FloofyFloo and AmyL88.

FloofyFloo, it seems you've taken the drinking advice on board with all those bottle emoticons Hope you enjoyed a few cold ones this weekend to counteract the AF effects. It's a great sign your cycles are getting shorter. Hope you're okay overall.

Hoping to start Clomid in Oct (or around that time) as the consultant told me to try to get pregnant naturally until the end of Sep. I managed to do it once (mc in Jan), so they assume it's just a matter of time, but I know that was a bloody miracle. Hope Clomid is the next step for me.

AmyL88, sorry you're going through a rough time. Have you taken Provera or Norethisterone? I know it can take a while for AF to arrive after taking the last pill. Unfortunately we all know too well how shitty this whole TTC rollercoaster is, just hang in there, good days will come .

Hi Ladies!
Thanks for all of the advice... I think what we shall do is when I go for my appointment in August we'll say we're just about to start trying, but in reality we wont start trying until Feb/March next year (I don't mind being a little bit pregnant when we get married, as long as my dress fits, does that make sense?!) and then if it hasn't happened by sort of August/September time it looks like we've been trying for a year so should get somewhere?
After reading some of you talk about Inositol I've gone and ordered some to see what that does, however I am also taking Primrose Oil, Starflower Oil, Folic Acid, Agnus Cactus and Vitamin B Complex as I'd researched this all helps regulate hormone activity but so far I've gotten nowhere with it - would it be safe to take all of these together with the Inositol d'ya reckon?
Sorry to everyone having a hard time... I'm happy I stumbled across this thread because although we're technically not TTC at the mo, its still so irritating to have cycles and hormones all over the place, and still people dont understand. Does anyone else find there is such a sh*t stigma around these sorts of things that you dont want to discuss them with other people?!
I'm now CD62 so just need to get through today with no AF and I've beat my last personal best - deep down I know its really not good to have cycles this long but on the top I'm trying to be light hearted and upbeat about.
Also, how do you all find it when AF is not happening? I'm always so exhausted, crampy (I think thats more the Endo for me though?) and just a general emotionally unstable b**ch at times lol xx

@looking4hope No I haven't taken anything else. My cycles seem to be fairly regular just long so i don't its needed...just another waiting game.

I had a MMC too in Feb at 12 weeks after trying for 2 years so we had the same conversation. I know i can get pregnant (and it be viable) as i have a 4 year old and i fell pregnant naturally in Nov. I pushed for the clomid as i didn't want to have to wait so long. My body can do it just takes a long bloody time!

@littleemma1 I understand how you feel, maybe concentrate on your wedding and try not to stress to much regarding timings for a baby. I think with PCOS it's so hard, as many people can fall pregnant naturally but then others are trying for years and it can have a massive impact on your life.

Big hugs ladies, out time will come x

@amyl88 how long are your cycles?
Sorry to hear about the mmc 💛💐

I'm trying so hard to concentrate on wedding stuff but at the back of my mind it's always there, just not knowing what's going on with my body or what it's going to mean for the future. I'm a serial planner, I plan for absolutely everything and I know this is the one thing I'll never be able to control and quite frankly, it drives me bat shit crazy!
What I want more than anything now is to have a regular bloody cycle, hopefully a shorter one too!, so that when the time comes for TTC I know where I stand and when the chances are... does that make sense?! Xx

@littleemma1 I hear ya on that front!! To everything you just said ha. There is such a stigma around this topic I hate it. And no one will truly understand how you feel unless they experience it themselves and that's why I am so thankful for the lovely ladies on here. I feel bat shit crazy everyday and these hormones are making me an emotional wreck. I got married in July 2016 and came off BC in August and have not had AF since! It's so hard not having a cycle anymore, I think I'm just used to it now though.. I take a lot of herbal supplements you are taking too.. havnt noticed any difference with them but be careful our body gets used to taking things so maybe start taking folic acid 3 months before you start trying? Or take things on and off for a few months to see if you notice a difference you have time to test a few out and see what works with your body. If taking so many supplements at once it's hard to know what is working and what isn't. I know it's easier said then done but try not to stress this year too much if you arnt TTC until a year from now, it's unneeded extra stress that you don't need right now try to put your attention on the wedding.. It will be over before you know it! Our bodies can change so much in 6 months and even more so in a year so maybe you won't even have these problems when it comes to your time. A baby is a blessing no matter what and it's completely out of our hands when it comes to our bodies so just try to trust the process it's not something we can have complete control of and this is what also makes us all an emotional wreck, it's the uncertainty of never knowing.

littleemma1, I don't think it's a good idea to mix so many things, you have no way of knowing how they interact with each other as there aren't any proper scientific studies. And you don't know which one is helping if you get more regular cycles. Not to mention that, as far as I know, some of those are only supposed to be taken before ovulation (e.g. Agnus Castus). I read somewhere that Agnus Castus can make matters even worse if you have PCOS, don't know how true it is: www.larabriden.com/vitex-for-period-problems/. Also, as far as I know it's not a good idea to take Vit B long term as B6 can cause nerve damage (don't want to scare you, just be careful). B6 is usually taken when having a short luteal phase.

I'd advise you to stick to folic acid plus one another, max two, and do a lot of research on how it's supposed to be taken. As a rule of thumb, it takes at least 3 months (usually 6) to notice the real effects of any medicine / pill etc., so if you notice that the first one isn't helping, switch. Just make sure you do your research before taking anything.

Btw, I'm convinced Inositol also helped me lose over 13 pounds since January (a lot of belly fat) without an awful lot of effort (only changed diet and started exercising properly). I already had a very healthy BMI, but had pockets of fat in the wrong places It's apparently the 'natural Metformin' and I know Metformin helped a lot of PCOS ladies lose weight.

I agree there's stigma, I feel like I can't talk about my hormone issues with anyone except my mum (used to be a nurse, so plenty of medical knowledge) and DP (who has no choice, ha ha). That's what this thread is for, so let it all out, good and bad.

Feeling tired all the time is a sign of PCOS, has to do with insulin resistence / how glucose is processed. I've always had this issue. Giving up coffee and getting more sleep each night made things a bit better.

AmyL88, so sorry to hear about your MMC. My MC hit me pretty bad and as my due date is fast approaching (30 July, one day after my birthday, sigh), I'm feeling the pressure to get pregnant again. Happy you got Clomid, keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Yes, our time will come, we just need to be patient (easier said than done, I know) and focus on the good things in our lives 💓

P.S. Sorry I wrote another novel, bad habit.

I agree with everything ElizabethCatherine said. Sorry, missed your message as we posted at the same time

Hi ladies, just catching up with the thread. AmyL88 I've called up for a prescription for norethisterone as AF never arrived. I'm on holiday next week so I will take them then and then when I get back will be ready to start round 2. Although still on 50mg!
I've been having a real stressful time at work, was feeling down Clomid didn't work, not to mention all the hormones and bloating that comes along with all these tablets. Just fed up. Excited to go on holiday and de-stress ready to start round 2 being more positive.
Sending love to you all

Hi all. Hope you don't mind if I join. Was diagnosed with PCOS almost 20 yrs ago and have all the same wonderful symptoms, uncertainty and anxieties.

Just wanted to let Floofyfloo know that I had ICSI due to PCOS, a possible blocked tube and OH sperm issues and while it was frustrating and took a long time to even start treatment, it worked. My LO is 28 months. I attended a reflexologist throughout treatment and I feel that she played a very big part in the positive outcome. I know everyone is different but would recommend researching ones in your area before you begin treatment.

Currently trying the natural remedies for PCOS and TTC. Wishing luck to everyone xxx

HI All
Thank you all for the advice! I have done some hard research over the past few days and dropped some of the stuff I was taking but most of it is meant to be really good but over a continued course of 3-6m minimum.
CD65 and still waiting for AF - cramps coming and going but not a single other symptom - have taken a PG test just in case as I'm not on BC and thats -ve (thats fine, was just to make sure!) so its basically just a waiting game now :/
Hope everyone else is getting on OK and has a lovely weekend! xx

@littleemma1 316 days and counting since last AF. Been diagnosed with pcos. Blood test was normal and DH getting his SA done in a few weeks.

I've ordered pregnacare ttc his&hers a and intisol on the advice of my mumsnet ladies 😊 Fingers crossed. Been cutting down on carbs and diary and acne improving so hoping this results in AF. Longing for Af is a strange emotion...
Is it just me or is all you see nappy adverts on tv or pregnant ladies / ladies with proms / Facebook birth announcements everywhere...
Baby dust to all

Px

@popcorn my goodness! That's a long long cycle!!
I know what you mean though by longing for AF, most people don't want it but for me I'm pleased when it comes!!
I swear by vitamin E for my skin and hydrocortisone cream to clear up any blemishes quickly.
My skin really really gets me down as when I was on the pill it was always beautifully clear and now I'm getting spots on a weekly basis, however it has started to stop since I started taking the vitamin e and I've found clean and clear face wash fantastic!
I'm on a meal replacement diet at the moment to try and get used to a low carb diet and get my weight under control, you're meant to have quite significant sustained losses but I've lost around 8lb in 3.5weeks so not happy about that... hoping the inositol helps with that.
Does anyone know much about pcos and insulin resistance and how it comes about? I have a theory for myself but not sure if it's likely to be true. My mum is type 1 diabetes and struggled throughout her pregnancies to control her blood sugars so was always having to inject artificial insulin and I was wondering if that could have in turn affected me? I've tried looking into it but it's hard to find out! Xx

"Been diagnosed with pcos. Blood test was normal"

Blood test was normal?. What hormone levels were tested, if they were tested on the wrong day the result is meaningless. They missed something fundamental here.

Unfortunately as well PCOS is a very individualistic disorder that affects each woman with it very differently, the commonality though is the cystic follicles on the ovaries. Some PCOS patients are insulin resistant whilst others are not, the causes of PCOS are still not entirely certain but hereditary through the male line is a possibility.

@AtillaTheMeerkat I think half the battle with me is that there is no actual CD IYSWIM as it's been that long since my withdrawal bleed since coming off BC. So I think that was just a basic blood test - not on any particular cycle day or looking for any particular hormone etc.im hoping the intosol will bring on AF when I start taking it...

@littleemma1 I had great skin on the pill too so I'm sure people know what's going on since my skin turned bad 😕 Who knew it would be this hard?

Px

Hi popcorn,

A basic blood test is not of much use really.

I had no real cycle to speak of either due to PCOS. Blood tests however in such circumstances can be done according to calendar days so you could have tests done on the 2nd and 21st of the month. These would measure and compare LH against FSH (for the day 2) and progesterone for day 21. Repeated blood tests and internal ultrasounds are also helpful as this can establish what is happening over a period of months.

Hey everyone! Hope you are all doing ok it's gone a bit quiet on here. I just had an appointment with the endocrinologist and just been prescribed metamorphin, had some blood tests done and she wants to see me back in 2 months. Does anyone have experience with this? What can I expect? Or symptoms or weight gain/helps with insulin/helps with ovulation? Don't know too much about it she just said it might help me with insulin and indirectly with ovulation. Wonder what's everyone's thoughts are on it. I have my first NHS consult on Friday with the fertility clinic so she said she will leave provera/clomid up to them.

Hi everyone 👋🏻

Not been around as made a promise to myself that I would stop trying and just see what happened
I was a week late with af, exhausted and nauseous however bloods showed no ovulation. So that was that.

Went back to doctor and he confirmed no ovulation, partners SA was poor and he's high in prolactin.
So gp has referred us to fertility clinic however he said to me that if the SA is still poor and prolactin high then we would probably only get pregnant with IVF.
This is fine, however I already have a dd from my previous marriage and understand that I won't be offered ivf on the NHS - is this correct?

Also how do you do a home chlamydia test? Need to do one for referral x

Evening all :) I've had a break for a while so thought I'd come back and update you.

So I'm now on clomid round 2 taking 100mg. Currently on CD14. Scan on CD10 showed follicles at 6mm, scan today showed them as 12mm so they are growing ... but slowly. I'm not sure if this means they will keep growing and I will ovulate late, or if it's not quite worked and i need to go up to 150mg. I have been told to do OPKs from Friday for a week to see if they are positive.

The nurse who scanned me said 'I think you should have IvF, it's the best option for you'. I was a bit shocked that she came out with that after me only being on round 2 clomid, especially after my consultant saying that clomid was a good option for us. She really annoyed me! I just thanked her for her advice and as I was leaving she said 'I hope you don't think I'm pressuring you into choosing iVF...' I don't really know why she was saying this to me as I've never had her before for scans and it just threw me a bit. Maybe I was being over sensitive at her comment? Who knows!

Anyhow... how are you all? Give me an update of where you are all up to?? Xx

Hi Elly,
I still read this board from time to time and just wanted to say don't listen to the nurse! I had 50mg clomid (didn't work,) 100mg clomid twice (follies never got bigger than 8mm) and finally 150mg where I had one 20mm and one 18mm folly which I caught and am now 11 weeks pregnant. So don't give up if 50 and 100mg doesn't work - they didn't for me either x

Thank you changing that's good to read! I guess i was a little upset with the nurse because actually I felt the scan was a positive one in the sense that my follicles are getting bigger, so something is working. So it was a blow to hear her say that she thinks IVf is the best option for me...! Anyway, I will stick to my decision and keep going with the clomid for the 6 rounds and see what happens ..!

Hi ladies! Just had my first NHS apt and all I can say is wow.. I am completely shocked at what I've been offered. I don't know what to do really... I was expecting to go private and had all the quotes in hand but the NHS have offered me literally whatever I want whenever I want - I am almost too spoiled for choice now I don't even know what to do. They said they can do clomid 3 months monitored and if that fails then 3 rounds with iui or can go right to IUI if I really want.. or literally go right into IVF. Having a HSG in a couple weeks to check there is no blockages or any complications first and then it's my choice on what and when. I'm so shocked. I can't believe how quickly things are moving I was expecting to be paying thousands in the next few months for monitoring or IVF... I kinda want to go right to IVF because the timing would be perfect for when I need to get pregnant but then a part of me feels like I'm cheating the system and not "trying naturally" with clomid you know? I know how lucky I am and am very thankful for the opportunity but I really don't know what to do. DH wants IVF ASAP. What would you ladies choose? The thought of IVF is daunting..

Hi ladies, hope you're all well.

Elly good luck with Clomid round 2, hoping those follies get nice and big for you. Don't listen to the nurse, id be annoyed too . The consultant has obviously put you on Clomid for a reason and there's another dose to try if this doesn't work like changing said. It's out of order for her to be negative like that.

Elizabethcatherine so pleased your appt went well. If it was me, id definitely go down the Clomid route first. Just because you've got more options to try to work your way up to IVF. If you go straight in at the last resort where do you go from there sort of thing? Also I think IVF is alot more emotionally demanding and stressful and also expensive as I don't think you get many goes on nhs for free either. Anyway just my opinion of course, got to do what's right for you and the hubby.

As for me, day 6 of norethisterone, waiting to start Clomid round 2 50mg. Been feeling really positive this week but had a baby bomb today, not even anyone I'm particularly close to, which maybe makes it harder to feel happy for them, but it's made me feel really down :(

Oh and my consultant rang me before I came away on holiday too which was nice of him. I told him i was disappointed 50mg didnt work and can i have 100mg now please haha... but it's still a no, booo! He seems to think 50mg a second time might work so he likes to do that before moving onto 100mg . Does anyone know if a CD21 blood test shows if you are building up to ovulation or is it just more of a yes you did or no you haven't?