Hi,

I have PCOS.i haven't taken metformin for to assist fertility, but do unfortunately have fertility issues as a result of PCOS - irregular periods (nothing for over 2 years), not ovulating etc.

It is rubbish and the various symptoms (not everyone gets them) are very very annoying - hair issue, weight management etc. If you are not within an ideal weight range try to fix that as it does make a huge difference (I'm currently working on this myself) to some symptoms.

One positive is that due to PCOS you will probably have a better egg reserve than other women your age. When I had tests last year (37 years old), results said I had the reserves of a 20 year old!

I've just bought / started reading a book called "8 steps to reverse your pcos" by a Fiona McCulloch. I'm not sure if it will be any good but might be worth a read especially if you have just been diagnosed as it does actually explain quite a lot.

Good luck.

I have PCOS. My symptoms are the cysts (obvs) and weight, skin, body hair issues. I have always had very, very regular periods.
Our infertility is unexplained and, through multiple rounds of IVF and various scans and tests, not considered related to my PCOS.
I've taken Metformin for many years. It definitely helps with my PCOS symptoms (contentious research wise but anecdotally it makes a huge difference to me). It didn't make us conceive.

Maybe try to get your head around how Metformin might help - all to do with insulin insensitivity and how lots of excess sugar in your blood stimulates excess hormones that then cause more cysts. Many people with PCOS control this through low GI diets etc and generally watching what you eat. If I combine healthy eating with Metformin, that's when my symptoms are best.

I guess it all depends what the reasons for someone's infertility are. Polycystic ovaries and PCOS are pretty common and lots of people with PCOS still conceive naturally. Having cysts on your ovaries does not necessarily stop them from producing eggs and cysts come and go, they're not a static thing. Sounds like your erratic periods might be the thing causing problems. If you track when you ovulate (and if you are ovulating) then you might have a clearer idea. I think this might be the sort of situation where things like clomid are considered, but I was never offered this because of regular periods and so I don't know a lot about it.

Try not to panic as you're at the start of the journey and it might take a few different turns to try to figure out what's going on. Sometimes you never know, you just make the best guesses based on the evidence available. As much as it's understandable, you'll burn yourself out if you get too anxious about this from the beginning :)
Good luck!

Hi Alice, I believe the test re ovarian reserve is undertaken via a blood test. Might be worth asking about. They did the test due to my age when weighing up whether to try ovulation induction (Clomid and pregnyl injections), or go straight to IVF. As the results were positive we tried the Clomid route. After over 2 years of no periods we were successful on the 2nd round, but unfortunately I went into early labour at 20 weeks and things didn't work out. We will hopefully try again in the new year. Good luck.

Hi I was lucky with metformin and got pregnant quickly when I started taking it. I know it’s scary when you first get told you have PCOS especially after trying for so long but it can work and I really hope it works for you x

I have PCO (diagnosed after ttc with extremely irregular cycles) and got pregnant very quickly when prescribed clomid. PCOS can make things more difficult but it is not a fertility death sentence, there are lots of things you can try. Best of luck on the metformin.

I have it with weight gain, and excessive hair. I took a real interest in my nutrition years before having children and this has always made a difference to my symptoms. Never had Metformin though. Have two children, got pregnant very easily with both.