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

Hi Superhero! I haven’t tried Iniofolic sorry, but if it’s helpful I am quite certain they would prescribe metformin as dozens of women on here and elsewhere on the forums have been on metformin alongside contraception for a long time just to manage PCOS & diabetes, not necessarily for fertility TTC. It calms the symptoms in general for unbearable PCOS. I’m hopeful you could always get Metformin. It’s basically the bottom layer of meds x

So sorry sunny it's so disheartening. It just seems so impossible at times. With all our added issues and the fact that there's only a 20% odd chance of conceiving in any given month anyway, the odds are stacked against us. We just have to be strong and keep trying, I'm sure we're all going to get there in the end. The only tips I can think of that I've been told is to try and reduce stress where possible and use a sperm friendly lube as I think Clomid can dry everything up which isn't good for the swimmers. Sending virtual hugs sunny

Mol good news about the docs appt (not so good news about the thrush)! Hopefully you can start your tests again so you can get a referral sent off.

Hi superhero I agree I think you should be able to get metformin at least on the nhs. Also if your clinic doesn't insist on scans then treatment for Clomid is actually very cheap. I thought about going down the private route (but my appt came just in time) and it was going to be £24 for my first two months of Clomid tablets and £15 for a blood test. My clinic don't monitor though, that's when it starts to get expensive I think

@Superhero2 Where about's do you live? I have a 5 year old, had a MMC in Feb of this year and was referred to the fertility clinic in June. I really really pushed my GP and as soon as i was referred i was put on clomid. As we already have one child (and another natural conception) the consultant didn't feel necessary to have all the tube scans and sperm tests so for me it was quick once i had the referral.

@Superhero2 I was recommended inofolic but it's so expensive and there's only two ingredients - folic acid and inositol so I just buy them separately.

1 month of inofolic = £32
OR
1 month inositol (100g Bulk Powder from Amazon) = £5.99
2 months folic acid = £1.99 from Boots (smallest size is 60)

Thanks Ladies they didn't say it was certain they wouldn't fund metformin/Clomid but said it was a grey area atm as the ccg havent decided if they would fund people on the nhs who already have a child but that they would do the tests and discuss at the next appointment. We live in Somerset (Mendip)

Interesting @AmyL88 I was surprised when they said I would have to go through all the tests.... I'm thinking I might opt out of the x-ray on my tubes as it sounds slightly invasive and I feel unnecessary.

Thanks @Mol I would of thought so too :-(

@SLady that's good to know is monitoring necessary?

@hopeislost wow!! Didn't realise you can buy it seperatly just paid out for 3 months worth o well I know for next time! X

@AmyL88 I'm also sorry to hear about your loss

I went to see my GP today as we have been TTC for 6 full cycles now. She wants 2-5 and 21 day bloods, an ultrasound, and a SA for dh before referral. At least we've got the ball rolling.

@hopeislost glad you've got some progress. Have you a diagnosis? I managed to get a refferal straight to fertility as I already had my diagnosis. Fingers crossed it gets sorted quickly! X

superhero it's good to have the monitoring but it's not absolutely necessary as my clinic don't offer it and I'm still allowed to take Clomid.

Good news hope those are the same tests we've all had before starting Clomid so sounds like it's all moving in the right direction!

@Superhero2 That's what I was hoping for! I was diagnosed 12 years ago in a different city so they want up-to-date bloods and scans first.

@Superhero: I was recommended: N-Acetylcyteine (N.A.C) which you take the same days as Clomid and it works just as good as Metaformin (you need 3x600mg per day). Just in case you were looking for something different.

@Mol: Good news about the Doctors!

@Hopeislost: Hopefully the new bloods and scans go well.

I had my Day 12 scan today and I've got one egg at 17mm! Hurrah! There's also 2 eggs at 11mm that she doesn't think will come to anything. Uterine lining was good so she's positive.

Excellent news Horton did she say you'll definitely ovulate? Did she give a timescale?

Not heard of N.A.C before. Might check it out. Did your doctor recommend?

Sounds like lots of exciting things happening! Surely this month one of us will get a BFP (I’m out!!) so leaving it up to you ladies!!!

That's what I keep telling myself Sunny I really hope at least one of us gets a BFP before Xmas. We need some good news on this thread! How you feeling today?

hopeislost thanks for the inositol advice. I won't start clomid until the new year so going to try that next cycle. How do you take it, it looks like a protein shake?

Interesting you say about doing inositol separate @Hopeislost - I couldn’t justify inofolic but that’s much more reasonable! Does anyone know if you can take it while also on metformin? Google seems to suggest they do similar things so don’t want to ‘overdose’ as such.

I know I ovulated this month for the first time since starting ttc in June so psychologically getting my hopes sky high. I know that’s a dangerous game but can’t help it - going to be devestated I think if I’m not pregnant when I test at the weekend as been telling myself once I ovulate it’ll be easy...

Can i ask what do you take the inofolic for?

@shortgreengiraffe It's not that thick. I just pop a spoonful in a glass of water.

@LG93 I am also on metformin. There are studies that show the combination to be more effective
e.g. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22334228

@AmyL88 It is meant to help with regular menstrual cycles and ovulation
e.g. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5011528/

Thanks all!

@SLady: It'll be between today and Sunday. My Acupuncturist recommended that I take it (alongside a few others).

Evening ladies,

How is everyone doing?
I know a few have mentioned inositol recently. A doctor I know who works in fertility said there had been promising results between women with pcos taking inofolic and pregnancy.

I asked my consultant about this (they work in the same dept ) and he said yes it had shown to have worked but there's no solid evidence and he'd rather me just take metformin for now... however I don't know whether to just order it and take both ? I'm desperate :(

Had a massive baby bomb today. My brother announced his fiancé is pregnant with an unplanned baby. I'm super excited to be an auntie but it's knocked me sideways. Still no IVF date yet ....

This is the inofolic link for those who are interested inofolic.org.uk/products/

Having said that - the ingredients in that product can be purchased seperatley for much cheaper. However it gives some hope that it could work ... right?

@Sunny1984 great to hear you are interested in the meet up too! I hope more ladies can join in too! I will be setting the date to Jan 21st so once all the holidays and business calms down so we can all start the new year on a positive note and support each other so the January blues don't set it. It's going to give me something to look forward to that's for sure. I can't wait to connect with so many of you! Once I get more numbers I'll search for a venue to have a lunch at in London on the Sunday.

Happy Saturday, hope everyone has a lovely weekend planned.
How’s everyone doing?
SLady thanks for asking, I spent a lot of the last few days crying with frustration! I’ve had the most unbearable period pains but no bleeding, I’m CD 32 and know from scan I ovulated on day CD14 I’ve done 2 tests both BFN. I spoke to my current hospital and they have said this will be my last Clomid before I need a 6 month break and they can’t offer me anything else, the referral I had to a different hospital has been lost! The secretary said because I’m out of area I might need to apply for funding from my CCG I give up!! What CD are you? Will you test early? I’m keeping everything crossed this is your month.

ElizabethCatherine I would still love to meet up but feel like the worst daughter right now as I completely forgot it’s my Mum’s birthday on the 21st 🙈.
If anyone wanted to meet for a coffee or lunch another time I’d love to do that! When is your transfer planned for? What clinic are you under?
*
Elly* should you be starting IVF in Jan? I think if my final round is unsuccessful we will, hopefully if we can find the money, start the ball rolling in Feb!

I’m going to need to get some clinic recommendations soon! I just don’t know where to start!!

I hadn't seen that you had all arranged to meet up - that's a lovely idea for support! Unfortunately it too far away to meet up then but I hope it helps you all :)

Yeah they said end of jan early Feb to start IVF so we might be going through it all at the same time sunny. My clinic said they don't send out letters until 4 weeks before my appointment so I don't expect to hear anything until first week in January really.

I'm CD 26 today. Had no positive ovulation tests but had some weird pains in my lower left side last night. Had no EWCM really but have had lots of creamy CM throughout my cycle. I highly highly doubt that I will ovulate naturally, but what would you do? Would you do a pg test at any point or should I just forget about it now until my IVF appointment?