Metformin or Inofolic, PCOS advice!

[LooLoo1988]

Hello,

I'm just after some advice/opinions and any experiences whether good or bad that you can share!?

I have recently been diagnosed with PCOS, which came as no surprise as Iv had cysts removed in the past. Me and my other half are getting to the point of thinking of TTC, but I'm worried all the more now since being diagnosed late last year. I have bought two months supply of Inofolic, as I had seen recommendations, but don't know whether to carry on with that or whether to push for Metformin?
At the time of diagnosis I was told to lose weight to help reduce symptoms and my periods are slightly irregular, came off the mini pill June last year didn't have a period till November and have had cycles of 42, 31 and 46 days, my usual used to be 31 days. Can anyone advise what tests etc I should push for or if I should just lose more weight before I do ask for further tests or to be referred, I don't know where to start for the best really!? Iv lost 20lbs so far but it's slow, I'm losing motivation.
TIA

Hi I have PCOS and endometriosis but used to only have around 2 periods per year when I started trying then got put on metformin which increased that to around 35- 60 day cycles irregular but it happened!!
I don't think you need any tests just yet, you know you have PCOS, you're having cycles but they're not the most regular but it's not the worst. Once you're sure you want to try just get busy dtd every couple of days (at least starting from 2 weeks after cd1) to make sure you don't miss ovulation!! Try to relax and enjoy, you're having periods it's just you can't say "I need to dtd on cd14". Good luck if you decide to try

I would push for metformin. Risk of miscarriage is higher for women with PCOS but studies show this risk is reduced to that of a woman who does not have PCOS if on metformin.

As an aside, it really helped my periods settle, my skin got better and I generally felt better. We needed clomid to conceive in the end, had two chemicals but finally 20+6 from the seventh round of clomid!

Strange, my dr stopped my metformin as soon as I found out I was pregnant - was 5 years ago mind. I'm more for avoiding medication if you don't need it though - you're having periods pretty regularly (longer cycles) I would try without medication.

Okay, il keep going as we are at the moment then, as it is early days! Thank you for your responses, il keep them in mind x

I have PCOS and saw the doc at fertility clinic recently who advised they won't prescripe metaformin for pcos anymore. I've started taking inofolic

@hahaha88 I think different clinics/areas must differ. My gynaecologist prescribed me metformin for pco/ttc and my ivf clinic we're keen for me to carry on when I moved to them. I take myo-inositol too.

@seven201 you're probably right. What actually is the difference in myo-inostol abs inofolic, do you know? Is it just added folic acid?

Metformin worked a dream for me - after 6 years of TTC a locum GP mentioned in passing why I hadn’t been prescribed it before. Within three months I was pregnant (after being on the IVF waiting list for 2 years). 2nd time round only took one month. I took it through pregnancy but that was for gestational diabetes.

@hahaha88 yes I think that's the only difference. I didn't fancy the powder so bought tablet myo -inositol instead. I think it's cheaper too.

@fridaseyebrows this postcode lottery of whether you get certain meds is so frustrating.

@seven201 I think I might switch to Myo inositol after I've finished this batch of inofolic

@fridaseyebrows that's good to know 🙂 I think I will definitely ask about it when I see the doctor next!

@Hahaha88 how long have you been taking Inofolic for? Are you seeing much improvement with cycle or anything?
Have you been TTC long?

@EnglishRain when in your cycle did you start clomid? Were your periods regular? I few people have mentioned this to me so been looking into it, but told it's hard to get prescribed x

I have PCOS. I had 4 miscarriages before they diagnosed it and prescribed metformin. I continued the metformin for the first 16 weeks and carried to term. Just so that you are aware that the met is not just for fertility and regulating cycles but also to prevent miscarriage once you are pregnant.

I take my ova now as I am not ttc.

Good luck :-)

@LooLoo1988 my periods were much more regular on metformin. Generally 24-28 days. Sorted my skin right out too!

I think I was told to do clomid days 2-6 but I did go to 3-7 a few times. I was surprised how well I responded to it at the start, ovulating on CD11/12! That's why I pushed it back to 3-7 a couple times. The more cycles I did the less effective it seemed to be though, my cycles were more like 24 days the last few with borderline progesterone tests, and I didn't think I was ovulating. People say clomid has a cumulative effect, so I thought it just wasn't working for me, I did have one chemical about month three. I had six cycles, then about three months later used an extra packet I had, cycle seven, and boom!

@LooLoo1988 I don't think clomid is that hard to get prescribed either, but they do have to check you don't have blocked tubes etc first.

@Autumn29876 ahh so sorry for your losses previously. Great that it worked for you 🙂 yes, Inofolic is apparently good for during pregnancy also, I'm just trying to figure out whether it's worth me spending the money on that, or to try and get Metformin. I think they are very similar with what I know so far, but not hearing as many success stories with Inofolic as I am hearing from Metformin so definitely considering it and fingers crossed I can get it when I go next x

@EnglishRain ahh that's amazing! Well my last cycle was 46 days 🙈 but the one before that was my normal 31 days so I wouldn't know when to start the way they are atm. I am really hoping this Inofolic helps or possibly get onto metformin to try and sort my cycles otherwise 🤞🏼 and then could maybe think about clomid. I have been spotting half way through each time around CD16 so I'm presuming that's approx my OD!?

Do you have to start it just on your period and does it help you to get pregnant if You had eptopic

I've been on metformin for 6 months now. Still not pregnant (but recently found out there is now male factor too) my periods are very regular and I've lost 2 1/2 stone ! But my skin is no better, if anything it's worse