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

Sorry for the slow reply SLady just home from a very long busy shift
I can relate to the frenemy! Did they tell you face to face? The whole thing is a pile of shite!! Glad you've had a good day with DH and good work on the positive thinking! I gave myself a big talking too yesterday as I was stressing over what happens if the next 3 rounds of Clomid don't work and how we'd pay for IVF !! Just trying to not think to far ahead at the minute!

No she just sent me a generic text, with the baby scan. She had always told me she was waiting a while yet but I didn't really believe her anyway so wasn't that much of a shock I guess.
We're only half way sunny, we've got plenty of time yet just got to take it one round at a time and try and be positive. My DH said to me today why are you worrying about a stage we're not even at yet or might not even get to just focus on what we're doing now otherwise its just wasted energy/upset. Which is true.
When are you starting opks? I'm already EWCM spotting and I'm only CD7 haha! 🙈

Hi Ladies!

I'm new to the forum world and looking for more information and support in dealing with PCOS - starting to feel like I'm losing hope! I am 35, ttc #1, diagnosed with PCOS a few months ago - irregular cycles, elevated LH:FSH ratio and slightly PCOS looking ovaries on ultrasound. I have no other symptoms, I am not insulin resistant and my BMI is 25. I had three rounds of clomid (first round 100mg a success but resulted in mmc at 11weeks, the next two rounds 100mg and 50mg both were done with triggershot but bfn). I started 1000mg of metaformin a month ago and next step is injectables. Everyone around me is falling pregnant and having babies with so much ease, I'm beginning to worry it will never happen for us.

Hi LadyPCOS welcome. Sorry to hear you're having a hard time. Have you been ovulating each time on the clomid but just bfns? My consultant said if I got to round 4 ovulating and bfns then he would recommend a hycosy. Have you had that done? The process can be so frustrating/upsetting. Least you have injectables as a next step to try though. How did they check your insulin resistance?

@SLady thank you for your message. The first time I took clomid I ovulated on my own at CD15 - worked perfectly - but the two times after the miscarriages the follicles seemed slow to respond and it wasn't until CD20/CD21 they were ready and the doc gave me triggershots to help me ovulate. What is hycosy? Insulin resistance was tested through blood work but the doctor has told me take metaformin as sometimes it can help with the elevated LH. How are you responding to clomid? I also heard Femara/letrazole can be good if clomid isn't working well but I guess as I'm 35 my doctor is jumping straight to the injections

I think they flush out the tubes to check for any blockages but also flush out any minor ones which can kick start things. I guess because you've conceived before they know the tubes are all ok so might not bother with it. Will your doctor try you on 150mg first? Most people seem to get at least 6 goes on Clomid so maybe you can try a few more? I had two rounds of 50mg and didn't respond at all my progesterone was below 1 at CD21 which was worrying. I'm on my first cycle of 100mg now. Again I have two cycles and then move on to two cycles of 150mg. I'm going to ask about metformin if 100mg doesnt work. I'd also like to try another type of ovulation stimulant if Clomid isn't successful rather than going straight to ivf. Sounds like you've been offered quite a few different alternatives

@SLady I remember when I was ttc and my work colleague had the coil in and still got pregnant :( I had to sit and listen how much this baby wasn't wanted or planned and it was going to ruin everything :( she knew I was trying for a baby :(
She used to rush to the toilets to be sick and I used to think I really wish that was me :(

@SLady baby bombs are the worst when its people around you and friends or not you can't help but keep comparing right. And yes I always worry and stress out about things that have not happened or might not even happen for us. I keep freaking out that ivf will not be successful for us and I don't know how I'm going to deal with it, or if it does work I will be constantly thinking that I'm going to miscarry and not be able to enjoy my pregnancy if I do because I feel all these ways are not "natural" for our bodies and we are forcing them to do something they can't do on their own :( and then the added PCOS crazy off levels etc that make us 3 times more likely to miscarry or have preterm birth. Ahhh I'm freaking out. It's hard thinking about it but DH tells me to not worry about something that might not happen that way just gotta keep on being positive. I'm trying but it's really damn hard

Welcome @LadyPCOS I'm sorry to read your message it seems like you are having a hard time as well. We are here for help and support. I had a hycosy. It does check for blockages if you are ovulating but not catching the egg, one tube can be blocked but the other not, something to think about if you are ovulating but not falling pregnant. I'm sorry to hear about your mc :( is it ok if I ask do you know why they think it didn't work? X

Ladies who have taken norethisterone is there any side effects? Like nauseous, tired, etc? I have to take it for 2 weeks straight starting tomorrow.

Husband and I have been ttc for a year and a half, I'm diagnosed with PCOS and haven't ovulated since November last year! Finally got to see a fertility specialist last month and he's put me on metformin, 1000mg a day and to come back in 6 months. Im hoping there are some ladies with the same experience, trying hard not to be disheartened!

@SLady ahh my doctor was calling that a HSG. The thing is i came off my pill Sept 2016 (after many years on it) with the intention of starting TTC January, everything looked like it was normalising and then in January my cycle just didn't end. I went to the doctor, he assured me it was just because I had come off the pill, kickstarted my pill with primolut and then gave me clomid (no testing at all) but then I miscarried. When i went back he gave me 100mg of clomid again but when I went for the follicle check he said it hasn't worked, cycle was bust and casually mentioned I had PCOS and told me to start 1000mg of metaformin (again no testing). It was here I changed Doctor as I didn't feel he was trying to find out what the problem was. The new doctor told me the cycle wasn't bust, I was just responding slow due to PCOS and she would triggershot when ready. She also did the blood testing to confirm all hormones except LH were normal. She lowered the next round of clomid to 50mg as she said my hormones were too high and she had concerns that it was thinning my lining - also hence why it would be my last dose. So there will be no attempts at 150mg for me :(. I'm also a bit like you, I see IVF as the last road and would like to exhaust all others but my friend assures me the injectables are stronger. I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow about what we do next - fingers crossed, she did mention an HSG before but ruled it out initially as I got pregnant already

@ElizabethCatherine thanks for the info, no one has said why they don't think the clomid is working as well as before - it's frustrating. My husband is also telling me not to stress about what may or not may happen, it's tough, it's on my mind all the time and my husband has two kids already so sometimes I feel alone.

@Fatgirlforlife good luck on the metaformin, it works for a lot of people by helping them with insulin levels - did the doctor check you levels? If you have insulin resistance this could help, and if not they should give you clomid to take with the metaformin

That's so sad lorddenning1 it seems so unfair sometimes

I have all those exact same thoughts too ElizabethCatherine I know my DH is the same. It's funny while I was waiting to start treatment I was thinking for those it works for eventually wouldn't they regret spending 4, 5 months upset and worrying. Why not enjoy life. But when you're in it, it's so difficult. Negative vibes can take over!

Ah I see LadyPCOS are you with a fertility consultant now? Let us know how you get on tomorrow. I'm the same, and my consultant told me it was Clomid, IUI and then IVF. Which is why I'm panicking so much as I want some more options before IVF. I'm hoping if Clomid doesn't work then they will try and make me ovulate via other methods as it seems silly to go for IVF when we still know what the issue is of not getting a bfp. I think I'd chill out a bit more if I knew I had more options

Good luck on the metformin fatgirlforlife. I haven't been offered it but lots of ladies on this thread have seen results with it in the form of weight loss and bringing back periods

@SLady so just out my appointment and my husband is to have an SA and I've to have a hycosy (HSG is the more intense one) to ensure there are no other issues. Then we start with injectables. We do 6 months of those, if unsuccessful we move to IUI and injectables for another 6 months - my insurance only covers 12 cycles of injectables. Although, I think if the SA comes back low we start with IUI and injectables straight away.

That sounds like a good & sensible plan LadyPCOS. My husbands SA was compulsory before I started Clomid so it's good they are checking that. So are you going privately for the injectables? Do you know the process for that, how long you inject etc? Hope you're feeling a bit better about things now. It's always good to have a plan!

Sorry ElizabethCatherine I forgot to answer your question about Nore. I didn't get any side effects at all except that day 2 I usually feel a bit sick/stomach cramps which wears off by day 3 and then it's totally fine. I take mine with food and it really helps. Good luck

Hey everyone
Sorry I've been mia for a bit
Decided to try not to ttc lol - didn't work still no bfp, although I am a week late so clinging on this month - again
Anyway we welcomed a new baby into the family last week and visited over the weekend
DH held baby and had a lovely time as did I
However now I feel that he is really down about us not getting a bfp as we've been trying for 2.5 years now and it seems like we should've been first.
We are still waiting on referral although he has an appointment with the endocrinologist as he has very high prolactin (first reading was through the roof, second had decreased quite a lot) GP thinks is stress related.

Still at least princess Kate seems to be popping them out with ease

@Fatgirlforlife I would definitely ask about clomid! Just metformin can sometimes work but in most cases they do clomid to help with ovulation. As it's already been over a year of trying and if you feel pressure and don't want to wait another 6 months I would def ask about it! Strange how it hasn't been offered before but then again I found it strange how my doctor never put me on metformin awhile ago because I've been on it for 2 months and got my period back

I'm not entirely sure that the doctor mentioned it, I know he wanted to see how the metformin goes first but waiting 6 months on the off chance does seem like a long time! I'm thinking of seeing if my GP would prescribe clomid without having to see the Dr at the hospital again!

@SLady I have private health care so all of it is being done on private healthcare. My DH SA is being done next Tuesday and my hycosy next Monday - although as I'm currently CD4 and you usually start injections around now I'm guessing we won't get to start until next cycle - only problem is next cycle we are on holiday with my young step kids making it impossible to monitor the dosage ... so the wait continues, unbearable for the impatient ones .. Me lol

Hi All,

MIA sorry! CD 26 for me today, 12 DPO and BFN this morning (Knew i shouldn't have tested!!!)

@Fatgirlforlife I have heard of people only being put on metformin and then clomid together so deffo ask your consultant ? Its strange how each hospital varies as Metformin was mentioned to me only clomid!

I had my blood test yesterday so need to call up Thursday for the results, take it from there i guess whether they up my dosage!

@HollyWollyDooDah I thought the same about Princess Kate...I mean come on! We have a new baby in our family too, my sister in law gave birth 6 weeks ago to a little baby girl. Kick in the teeth as we both fell pregnant at the same time, mine ended in a MC at 12 weeks and i really thought i would be pregnant again by this time ( Can you tell I am feeling sorry for myself today!!)

@Fatgirlforlife I have read that some people can conceive on metaformin alone once it resolves the insulin issue and it's best to start with metaformin so it is in your system before taking clomid as it can help the effectiveness of clomid - but your chances of conceiving are much higher if you take them both so I would follow up in 2/3 months for clomid

Just updating, blood test results came back and progesterone was 22 so no ovulation....little bit gutted i have to say after my scan was so positive.
Ah well I am starting on 100mg now and CD1 for me today. Taking Clomid has helped my cycle regulate as last month was bang on 28 days!

Hows everyone else getting on? What CD are you on now @SLady ?

Sorry to hear that AmyL88, big hugs! I had no idea you could release an egg and not actually ovulate, how strange! I guess that's why you still had quite a high score and AF came. On the bright side at least your body is responding, hopefully the 100mg does the trick! And good news you get to start the next round right away!
I'm CD13 today, had some EWCM yesterday and today so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Decided against opks again so just DTD every other day.

How you getting on Sunny?

I'm 12 days late
Two bfns
Sense of smell through the roof
Felt really poorly last three days
Every day I've had a very light pink mucous on wiping after first wee then absolutely nothing for rest of day
Tonight I've got a pulling pain in my side (again)

Ooh. Are you testing with a FRER holly?