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

If I'd not been monitored, I'd have not been able to have as many rounds of clomid as I did, or be prescribed metformin to help clomid to work. It is crazy that monitoring doesn't come as standard. If you have the opportunity to get it, take it. You get a real idea of what goes on in your cycle and how things work together i.e lining thickness and dominant follicle(s)
Good luck everyone!

There is a lot to support a sugar free diet to help reverse pcos symptoms. If you look back over the older threads, a previous poster has listed what she did/took and got pregnant (username danigrace)

Hi everyone
I have PCOS and am using clomid on days 2-6 of my very irregular periods. I just have no idea when I am meant to be fertile. I have read in places that it is 14 days after 1st day of period, then in other places I've read it varies depending on length of your cycle (which is always different for me).

The hospital did give me provera to bring on my first period but strangely it appeared by itself without needing the provera so I got straight on the clomid. I'm now wondering if I would be best to take the provera each month to bring on a period at a regular time and then know when I am fertile? I really haven't had any advice from the hospital and feel worried that my first 6 months on the clomid won't have been much use (started it at end of Dec and have took it 4 times due to timing of periods).

I keep looking at ovulation kits but have read on the back of them that they don't work with PCOS or fertiltiy treatment, has anyone had any success with them?

Sorry for the long post and number of questions just very eager for it to happen sooner rather than later as it's causing stress between myself and husband.

Thanks x

Hi popcorn they say diet is a powerful thing with pcos and it definitely can't do any harm so if you have the will power go for it. I had the same feelings about fertility treatment but just try and think of the end goal like you say. Some places offer good private packages, unfortunately mine didn't but if I were to go private the costs, being unmonitored, would only have been the cost of Clomid which was £15 for one month of tablets so doable. Id recommend getting all the tests done on the nhs if you can and keeping your referral going and then doing bits private to speed it along. 32 weeks is a crazy wait time!!!

I'll know whether Clomid is working unmonitored or monitored, I will just know later in the cycle. If my first 2 don't work I can discuss a higher dose and more rounds until I find that it is working. They will still do all they can to get Clomid to work. All im saying is those peeps that are unmonitored don't get down about it. Its the same 5 clomid tablets, same varying 3 dose strengths for everyone. Positive vibes only

Hi kmh you should take Clomid days 2-5 of your cycle, doesn't matter if it's a natural or provera bleed. Then you should DTD every other day. CD14 is typically when people ovulate but it can vary so start DTD CD9 and carry on every other day for as long as poss and up to CD21 if poss! If your period doesn't show after 35 days and you're not pregnant then you can start provera again as Clomid didn't work. If your period does come then Clomid worked but pregnancy unfortunately didn't happen and the cycle starts again, starting Clomid on day 2. Hope that helps

@SLady I have been given 2 rounds of 50mg clomid and then they will look at upping the dose and then i will be monitored once the dose has increased. I am like you, all other tests are ok. I have read a lot about clomid and multiples and that's my only concern with being unmonitored!! (Although it probably wont bloody work!) CD21 is exciting..have you tested yet?

Can i ask did you use OPKS whilst on clomid?

@Popcorn15 I know my medical insurance doesn't cover anything related to conception/IVF which was a real kick in the teeth. I have a friend in the police however which did so you will need to do some research. 32 Weeks seems like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things It really isn't. I had a MMC last year and i was convinced i would be pregnant again pretty soon, fast forward to today and I have been told i have PCOS and would struggle to conceive naturally?! Its been a long enough wait to get the prescription for Clomid. I have down days when i think 'why me' but then I know it will happen eventually so just try and enjoy the journey. xx

Sorry @SLady re read your post and thought you said 21 dpo!!

Your process sounds quite similar to mine amyl88. I think I'm more worried about it not working so haven't really thought about multiples, my doctor said it's very rare but i don't think I'd be too upset if it happened. I haven't used opks because I feel like they can be misleading and I have been DTD every other day so if I'm going to catch it I will. Plus I know they'd stress me out so I haven't bothered. When are you hoping to start your first round?

I am waiting for my next AF so should be end of next week and i will be starting on cycle day 2.
Did you get any ovulation symptoms after taking it? I am really excited to start as I have a good feeling!
I think you have the right idea re the OPKS, they stress me out as well! DH will be happy with all the action i have to say haha!

@SLady They advised against doing the trigger shots for the time being cuz he said my egg count is good but will try clomid first and then triggers if it doesn't work for me in 3 rounds of monitoring with clomid. But the money for monitoring racks up so I'll see what NHS says I might start a couple months with them and then go to private monitored in September with IUI.
I'm ok to fly just with taking clomid but if I go for IUI I don't want to invest all that money and then risk it. I got a quote for IVF for £12-£15k at the clinic in London. That's mental, and upsetting! I hope it doesn't go that route, so I guess it's good for everyone to keep our foot in the door with NHS.

@Popcorn15 don't cut out on carbs and things just choose your carbs wisely :) healthy swaps for good carbs! Just try and stay away from gluten loaded white bread, chips etc and go for more sweet potatoes, gluten free or rye bread, brown or wild rice over white and quinoa and buckwheat etc. Carbs are fuel for our body just need to be mindful in which forms we are taking them in as. Obv have a treat to it once and awhile just not every day. Lots of dairy alternatives out there are great too. Staying away from cows milk is a big one, it's loaded with hormones. The only type of dairy I have is ghee which is a clarified butter loaded with omega 3 and fatty acids, great for people with dairy sensitive and lactose intolerant, cook veggies in it with some pink salt and even in my bulletproof coffee :) . Lots of good almond, coconut milks out there too

Exciting amyl88 I have gone through lots of different emotions this month from thinking it's definitely worked to thinking it definitely hasn't, driving myself mad! Definitely good to keep the positive thoughts going! I got a bit of EWCM but was for quite a long period of time and also had backache on one side which lasted about a day. But I'm not sure that was anything. Yesterday I've come down with something, got flu like symptoms, achy everywhere so feeling pretty rubbish :(

Yes definitely good to keep your nhs referral going elizabethcatherine that's what I did and mixed it with private too to speed things up a bit and give me piece of mind. Yes it's £200 per scan in my area. I know it is upsetting but try not to think too much about that yet, one step at a time, fingers crossed Clomid does the trick for you
I've cut out dairy, mostly because of my skin but also because of the hormones. Do u use an alternative for yoghurt? I just can't give up Greek yoghurt I love it too much!!

@SLady Oh I do love a good Greek yogurt too, fage is my fav, I do have it now and then I think that's the healthiest one you can get packed with beneficial bacteria and loaded with protein! Just the plain one. My fav dairy free is coyo although that stuff is expensive. It's just a lot of the others are packed with unnecessary sugars. Definitely stay away from soy and soy milk - soy inhibits our bodies ability to absorb the nutrients from the foods we are eating!

Can i ask for those on Metformin and Clomid what is the difference? My Dr did mention metforim originally but nothing more has been said. I always walk out of my appointments kicking myself i didn't ask more questions.

Clomid = makes your ovaries work hard to produce a dominant follicle so you ovulate

Metformin = manages your insulin levels (a common pcos symptom which causes hormonal imbalance) sometimes clomid doesn't work on its own due to insulin resistance. Sometimes metformin is enough on its own for your body to ovulate naturally.
Clomid almost forces your body to do it.

Thanks @Boggle Good to know. I am pretty new to the diagnosis of PCOS, even though i have been trying for a long time.

I did have a MC last year after falling pregnant naturally and i read online the increase in insulin can cause miscarriages so not sure if that relates to me or if it was coincidence.

How are you getting on looking4hope? Are you testing today? I'm with you on the creamy CM, I know Clomid is meant to dry you out but it's having the opposite effect on me (TMI ALERT)
Still feeling like ive got the flu, kind of hoping it's a symptom but more likely just ill

SLady, thank you for asking. I've been quiet because work has been crazy this week. I did test this morning with a FRER and got a big BFN. Yesterday evening I had a lot of sharp pains in the pelvic area and a bit of red blood when I wiped a few times, but nothing on the pad. It's brown now. I was so upset, thinking that implantation failed or it's a chemical. Did the test just so I could find out if I was indeed pregnant, but still in limbo. Still massively bloated, areolas still very enlarged... don't know what to think. I'll test again on Monday in case yesterday was implantation day, but not feeling very optimistic. The creamy CM is a very good sign! When do you plan to test? I really, really hope you get some good news.

Are you 10dpo today? It could be implantation. I have my fingers and everything still crossed for you looking4hope!
I plan to test on Tuesday but I am getting so impatient/eager! I'm going to try and have a nice weekend in the sunshine and forget about it. Hope you can manage to have a nice weekend too

I'm 12dpo today. With the previous pregnacy (the one ending in MC) I got a positive on 17dpo (managed to wait until then, now I'm an impatient twat ). We'll have friends staying over for the weekend and a nice bbq tomorrow, so hoping it will take my mind off things. Have an amazing weekend, enjoy the glorious weather!

Here here on being an impatient twat too
Thank you! Fingers crossed for a good week next week for us looking4hope!!

SLady, I think I'm out... have been spotting intermittently since Thursday evening. Just wearing a liner, but it's definitely not normal at 14DPO. My temperature dipped today, so it's either a chemical or my cycle got really messed up this month. I just want AF to come now but not cramping like I usually do. All the symptom spotting really made me crazy this month, seems it was all in my head after all Hope you're having a brilliant w/e in the sun, keeping everything crossed for you on Tue

Hows everyone doing today? I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine!

I have my third consultation tomorrow, following pcos diagnosis and then sperm analysis being bad. I'm just so worried that second sperm analysis won't show any improvement and we'll be going on to ivf... And I have no ideas what questions to ask - my brain just goes blank before these things!

@FloofyFloo have they told your other half to take supplements to help with his next SA? Mine is taking vitamin D, E and proxeed. Proxeed is supposed to be really good got it off amazon

We were told they would try IUI before thinking about IVF. Because with IUI at least if his isn't strong enough to travel where it needs to go they can "wash" the sperm and take the best bits of it and then put it in the exact right place at the right time with monitoring to see when it's perfect. My doc seemed quite confident about that