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

I can vouch for clomid making you emotional, pretty sure I was very difficult to live with when I was taking it. Almost didn't see the course through it was that bad!

I recently found giving up gluten and dairy made a massive difference to symptoms of pcos - it's hard, but the results made it easier to continue with. :)

What does a heart shaped womb mean Elizabethcatherine is that something they couldn't tell by ultrasound. Well done for having it done these procedures are never fun!

Was it the whole month you were like that nelly or just when you were taking it? I'm so with you on the cutting out dairy! I've really cut back and I can see a MASSIVE difference in my skin. I still get bad days but such a big improvement compared to when I first come off the pill. I'm starting to really try and focus on my diet at the moment. Like you say, now I've started seeing a difference it has made it easier to stick to

Hi all, I'm new to these parts. Been suffering with PCOS for years but was fobbed off with false diagnosis. Until I tried to conceive, I didn't know I would have such issues. My first DD was pure luck (off 1 round of clomid). We've been trying to conceive #2 for the past 9 months and nothing. We're on round 3 of clomid and I'm day 1 of my cycle and really struggling with my period.

I've also started acupuncture to see if that helps so we'll see. It's so encouraging to hear other stories.

Nelly: I was warned against cutting out dairy or gluten as it can cause issues down the line?

@SLady it's the top part of the uterus scoops down a bit, she says mine doesn't go too far down which is ok but sometimes if it's a bit deeper can make pregnancy tricky. She says it may be problematic and can be harder to get pregnant - didn't ask too much she said it looked healthy. I don't think they could see this without the procedure I had done since they had to blow it up.

Well done guys for cutting and slowing down on the dairy and gluten! Will only benefit. I am pretty good with diet but if I want a big burger with a gluten bun then I have it. Restriction will make me binge so I do everything in moderation and don't get too intense if something has a trace of gluten. Restricting didn't do me good with getting over an eating disorder. Little bits here and there are ok

Welcome @Hortonlovesahoo When you say you are struggling with your periods what does that mean? That's so nice that the first round worked for you, that's positive that your body responds. Maybe it just needs a little longer this time x

SLady - it was mainly just for a week or so before. Fits of bursting into tears and being super angry! You get used to being able to spot the signs, then you can take a breath and a bit of comfort in knowing that it clearly means something is working somewhere!

Horton - really sorry you're struggling this month. Fingers crossed it gets better. I haven't heard about eliminating things causing a problem down the line, was it anything in specific?

Hi guys

I recently went to the drs and they suspect I have PCO from my blood tests. Waiting to have an ultra scan next month to confirm this.

Been trying to conceive since April and had two periods since stopping the pill in Jan 2017.

If I do have PCOS what help would you recommend to ask for from the drs to help conceive/ make my periods normal again so I can track ovulation?

When you have PCO is it normal to have heavy and long periods. Today im on day 8 of my period which is super heavy.

Thanks in advance for any info/help as im brand new to trying to conceive and PCOS.

Nelly - thank you :-) I was told that removing dairy or gluten wouldn't do anything positive, it may only be negative if you remove it from your diet. I think it was around a balanced diet etc?

Little: hey :-) yes, long periods are normal. My 'record' is 35 days, heavy period. Hopefully the scan will give you some information either way about what it could be. One thing I'd recommend is looking at small things that could make your pcos better/worse (e.g. Losing weight if you're overweight, keeping an eye on your blood sugars).

I've done a lot of reading about the side effects of PCOS and there's a lot you can do to help your chances :-)

Thank you! Ive joined a gym three weeks ago as I felt like ive put a lot of weight on (size 10 to 12). Im not officially overweight but there is room for improvement. Also putting my sugar intake down and healthy eatting.

35 days! Im struggling with 8 days so that must have been torture.

If there anything I should ask in the ultrasound to see my what my fertility changes arewith pco if I have it. Do you normally find out when you are having the scan if you have any cysts etc or is that told to you at your drs appointment afterwards?

Sorry for all of the questions

@Elizabeth - sorry - I missed your message. Normally my periods are relatively light but this month its been very heavy and i've had a fair bit of cramping.

@littleonek - Yeah, i was worried that there was something seriously wrong but they werent too concerned. When i had my ultrasound they were very open with the number of cysts but they werent going to be pinned down with timings/expectation as they say that every body is different.

Day 2 and i've been to my acupuncturist and she gave me some relief today which is very welcome! Day1 of Clomid tomorrow so the cycle begins again.

Does anyone take any side medications that could help reduce PCOS? I've been recommended a few but wanted to get others' thoughts?

AF arrived exactly the same time and day as last time - least my body is in a routine with the norethisterone!! Clomid round 2 starts tomorrow, I'm ready!! 👊👍

I booked an ultrasound scan for yesterday, because the not knowing on how many weeks was going to drive me mad. Although my last full period was early may, I'm only 3 weeks pregnant, which means the timings work for it being clomed aided!
A little ray of hope for everyone currently taking it :) honestly didn't think we would get to this stage, maybe there is something in filling out paperwork that makes your body understand you're not just going to let it get away with not working!

Congratulations Nelly!!! Great news! So does that mean you ovulated late on Clomid?

Just thought I'd drop in and say hi! I'm still here, lurking but trying to put TTC to the back of my mind has made a wonder of difference to my mental health. We hit the one year trying mark at the start of the month and my GP referred us on to the fertility clinic and is starting the tests we need to do before that appointment, so hoping that things get moving a bit soon.

Thank you SLady! I ovulated slightly later, but don't usually ovulate at all so changes have happened somewhere over the last few months. Fingers crossed for the next few weeks now :)

A couple of people have ovulated around the CD21/22 mark so I am going to be a bit more positive this cycle and keep trying for as long as possible. If I reach CD28 without AF again I may start using OPKs for a couple of weeks. Congrats again nelly

I'm glad you are feeling a bit stronger mentally never that's great that you are starting to get things moving hopefully that will make you feel even more positive about things. Nice to hear from you again :)

@Nelly9 big congrats to you!

Hi everyone ..hope you don't mind me joining in but I could really do with some advice.
I have tried for 6 months to get pregnant and I'm 31.
Went to doctors and all bloods were fine but my progesterone was slightly high but still in normal ranges.
She said it could be PCOS but the other bloods didn't correlate with PCOS.
I'm scared something is wrong seriously with me.
She is sending me for a internal ultrasound.
The blood test was taken mid cycle when I read progesterone can be its highest.
I don't know.

Oh and I rang the doctors and they refused to give me the progesterone level or number because it would mean nothing to me and it would be unhelpful for me to google

@Nelly Congrats on your BFP....that is a positive story we all needed to hear!

@SLady, glad AF has returned. I am on my last day of clomid now so one more tonight and that's me done for this cycle. Better get down to business!! I am still going to use OPK's are just try and DTD as much as we can. Oh i so hope this works for us!! x

@Miaoriely2017 GP's do not normally worry unless you have been TTC for a year? Are you using ovulation kits to see if you are ovulating?

I had been using them yes but last month I was nearly 3 weeks late and I was confused when I ovulated or if I even ovulated.
The only I'm sure of is when I had my bloods is two weeks before my period arrived and that showed my progesterone was slightly high ..not sure what that indicates ..I'm very confused
I did have all the usual pmt symptoms sore boobs etc ,the pmt arrived later than normal too.

Hi mia you can't diagnose pcos through blood tests alone so id wait to see what the results of your ultrasound are and ask for two blood tests CD2-5 and CD21. My blood tests always come back pretty normal but I have pcos. Good luck

Taking my first tablet tonight Amy fingers crossed for us!!

Thank you for the congratulations :)

It may have been coincidental but I have been using a tracker app called Clue for periods and DTD - once you have a couple of months data in there it can indicate when you are due to ovulate and in turn when is best to go for it! I found it really useful, and now really comforting in being able to look back at it and know dates all work!

@Mia PCOS is a very wide diagnosis, even when diagnosed firmly. I have friends who have it who never struggled with any symptoms (naturally slim, conceived accidentally, clear skin, hair only in the right places) she flat out refused to believe we were trying hard enough and thought all other symptoms I show were un related. It’s such a broad spectrum, which means there are many ways to ‘treat’ it, it just takes a bit of time finding what you’re comfortable with and what works for you. I focused on the parts that I was able to control, lifestyle and diet and trust that the Dr's will cover the other bits.

@Slady, fingers crossed!

@nelly a 'friend'!?!? I'd be furious if that was one of my friends attitudes!
PCOS is a massive spectrum though, and I think a lot of the fertility rests on regularity of periods - I view that I have maximum of one chance per cycle, so when my cycle was 9 months long - no chance of hitting it!
People with pcos who have regular cycles may have a much easier time of getting upduffed... But then the symptoms can also hinder that so it's still very individual!
I have poly cystic ovaries, but not really many symptoms - slightly hairy but that's just probably because I'm getting a bit older, slightly chunky - but I know my diet could be better. And that's it. No raised testosterone just minimal other hormones and a lack of periods!
Then when we had SA done found out MFI is a big factor and so began ivf (leading to icsi) last week!

slady how are you getting on with your second round of clomid? No nasty side effects I hope!

Congrats nelly you must be super excited! How many rounds of clomid did it take?

floofy how's the treatment going so far? And how are you feeling?! I bet it is an exciting and yet nerve wracking step!

I'm currently CD27 and had no positive OPKs and no sign of any CM so it's highly unlikely I've Ovulated this month which is a little disappointing! I go on holiday a week on Tuesday so I'm going to take the next lot of notheristerone with me and start taking it the second week on about cd44 so that I'm not coming on whilst I'm on holiday. Do you think cd 44 is ok? I know lots of people say they have ovulated late on clomid so I feel really bad if i take notheristerone too soon. But as my follicles were only 12mm on CD14 I don't think it's worked this month? What do you all think? X