TTC WITH PCOS

[swirls3468]

Hi everyone!
Just thought I'd make a thread for anyone TTC with pcos. I have not formally been diagnosed with the condition but pretty sure I am due to my irregular periods and the way my ovaries look on a scan.
I came off the pill August last year and had regular periods and then they just completely stopped in January. I had to have a tablet to induce a period in the end.
Anyway it's been a while now and hard to try and conceive when you know you probably aren't even ovulating.
Any body in a similar position?
Also anyone has any tips/ supplements that might help?

Thanks 😁

Hi all
Wow so much to catch up on!
Okay so firstly congrats to @fifi1989i. So pleased for you. Thanks for the warm welcome @ForeverHopeful67

@Tink2019 Re clomid and ovulation – yes it did regulate me and I did ovulate with it. So my cycles are all over the place. If I am lucky I’ll get a period every three monthsish and I will have a long bleed every year without fail…around 45 days. I took clomid for about 7 months back in 2016, 100 from day 2-5 of my cycle and I would ovulate around day 18 which I know is late but was deff an improvement for me!

I had a follow up with my doctor today actually and he said that the preferred meds of choice for women with PCOS is Letrozol or something. So if I wanted to try ‘naturally’ again he would put me on that as opposed to Clomid this time. Hope that helps, shout if you have any more questions.

@Newbie0818 You can fry chips on my Tzone its so oily ☹ My pores are HUGE. Apparently retinol products will help but I’ve heard they shouldn’t be used when ttc and you clearly have shares with La Roche LOL
Xxx

Thanks for the info @zoeyj, I'll have a google of Letrozol. I think it's me with the shares in La Roche...bloody love the stuff 🙈😂 x

@Tink2019 Oh oops haha! Sorry getting confused.
I think it's pretty much the same as Clomid but yes have a good google. xx

Thanks @swirls3468

@zoeyj it just makes you feel so gross doesn't it :(

But letorozole reduces estrogen. Puts me on edge as it's a drug used to treat breast cancer.

Hiya lovelies,

I know there's been a bunch of advice and support in this group already but is there anything else anyone is trying out while TTC with PCOS? Any tips or tricks?

I am feeling a bit down because my appointments have been cancelled (one to check any blockages in my tubes in May was cancelled) and consultation where I should have found out about LH levels and the HyCoSy results and other tests in August now in Jan 2021! I reached out to my GP to discuss Metformin or Clomid and she said I have to wait for the specialist to prescribe those because as yet we don't know how much my PCOS is affecting.

I've been off the pill and not using protection for almost 18 months and I am trying to live healthily but I have also gained some weight during lockdown which I am struggling to lose again until I can get back to my usual gym routine.

I've started supplements recommended (Selenium and CoQ10) and using pre-seed lubricant but I just feel in the dark with it all really.

Work is stressing me quite a lot too as it's become very busy, lots of demand and pressure on me and my team and it's probably not helping.

I am trying not to overthink and obsess but it's so hard without those appointments, it makes it even more unknown.

Hello @Croselle

You sound really similar to my situation. I did have a fertility / gynae referral which I had a phone call for but they basically said yes we think you have pcos but need to do lots more bloods and go from there and then I'll get a follow up appointment in 4 months time!! Which is ages. But I'm gonna try and relax now about it as 4 months will soon roll around.
I've tried lots of different supplements , I mean a lot over the past 10 months and not sure if they've worked or not but some gave me a bad stomach.
I am now just taking a pre conception vitamin and inositol: it seems good so far but not sure if I'm ovulating or not.
I too will probably going down the clomid route if everything else is ok.
But I feel so impatient because I doubt I will get pregnant naturally.
What do you do for a job?
Mine is also very stressful and end up in a bad mood some evenings which doesn't help.
Try walking to start with ( exercise wise) such as nice nature walks just for an hour a day. Good for the mind and body!

Anything you want to vent or ask about go ahead. Xx

@swirls3468 Thank you, really appreciate the reach out and support. I am sorry to hear you're going through a similar experience :( it's rubbish!

I really need and want to let go and relax about it all, I have days where I feel zen and other days where I build up all this worry about what's going on. I was diagnosed with PCOS in November and because no pregnancy has happened in over a year I guess they want to explore what else is going on but yeah having to wait on these appointments is the biggest cause of my worry I think.

I've heard a few people mention Inositol, which do you use? There are so many available!

I am a Product Manager at an Education Tech company and we're working on a lot of deadlines at the moment. The business has had an influx of activity due to Corona and so, therefore, are pushing us all harder to deliver more without extra people available to do it.

Before lockdown my routine was 2 dance classes, 1 boxfit and 1 pilates a week and sometimes the odd walk or swim.. I LOVE to swim!

Now it's the odd 30 mins here and there and some walks in the countryside. I find it hard to exercise indoors as my flat is small and get very hot! I am not really good or into running but I try and force myself to do some jogs here and there but none of it's effective, my diet got a bit rubbish too early on so trying to sort that out and eat less again! Nightmare haha!

Hello,

How is everyone doing here? Its been quiet for a while.

I got a couple of calls and my HyCoSy scan and gynae appointments are being rescheduled finally! Feeling a bit of relief now!

@Croselle That's really good! When are your appointments ? What criteria do you need to get that scan?
I had my gynae appointment over the phone and she took a history of us both and said she would send a load of blood tests out. I've already had a scan for pcos which she said they look boderline but mainly one ovary.
But I've had a follow up appointment come through for 29th October which is agessss away. But I guess at least I am in the System.
How did your appointment go?
Hope you are well xxx

@swirls3468 my HyCoSy is now booked for first week of September which feels like ages away but it's already been almost two months since I was due to have it so have to be patient I guess.

Back in November I saw my GP after realising how irregular my periods were and being off pill for year and not falling pregnant. Had a gynae initial appointment in Feb and he did blood tests and told me my partner should have a SA done. Then booked me for the HyCoSy I think the main criteria is length of time off pill and the irregularity of my periods. I've had occasions where its been over two months without.

They also said the gynae would be in touch in the next few weeks either by phone or call me.

How are you feeling about it all?

I got a book which I've been finding really interesting. It's called the impatient woman! It's amusing and full of info from a gynae fertility doctor not specifically for PCOS but useful still.

Fingers crossed for us all!

Hi @Croselle it's good to hear about your scans and tests :)

I'm just waiting here... 16dpo and I'm just not sure what's happening. Had brown spotting yesterday and the day before, but my temps are up and down so not sure if af is on its way or not. The joys of the unknown eh? No cramps or spotting at all now, cd51 and I'm so fed up of waiting all the time 😒

@newbie0818 Sorry you're feeling so fed up, I feel you. Have you had any appointments or any chats with you GP? cd51 is rough, my longest was about 70 odd days but the past few months have been more around 36-41 days so I hope that indicates some improvement. Keep your chin up!

I know, it's so tricky when you have irregularities in cycles. I go on my app but I don't think it's reliable for me. About 2 or 3 days after my last period I had EWCM and my cervix was soft and high and then that happened again the other day but I find it all confusing. I must admit I stopped temping a week into this cycle as it was dipping and raising so erratically it made me really nervous!

@Croselle thanks, it's so annoying isn't it. I haven't had any more apt's since the one where they diagnosed me, and it sounded pretty much like they didn't want to know until I was unsuccessful ttc for a few years.. it's all so confusing! Fairly sure af is on its way though.

@newbie0818 gosh it really surprises me how different GP's are about it, some seem to be so unempathetic! Sorry to hear that. My GP was really good about it when I said it had been a year and how bad my cycles were she got me straight onto a referral. I would push for it if you can, it's not fair for them to make that call really, a few years! Gosh! That's a long time to wait without any answers or clarity.

It's annoying really @Croselle glad yours has been helpful! She was quite harsh with the diagnosis to be honest, she mentioned something about poly cystic ovaries so I said to her "so what tests will I need done to pursue a diagnosis" as she was being quite unclear, and she just went "oh no, you meet the criteria, you've got a diagnosis now". I was like "oh, ok".
I will push for it definitely, once we get to August that's officially a year so I might go to my husbands gp as from previous experiences he's a lot more proactive. He's the one that got me my blood test despite laughing off pcos ironically.

Forgot to mention, where abouts are you? I'm down South in Bournemouth where the gps seem to be notoriously unhelpful 😖

Hey everyone :)

I was diagnosed with PCOS last week, starting Metformin and Provera on Monday...

I've lost 2 stone and BMI is now 29, so still high but definitely lower. I'm taking Inosotil already.

Is it worth doing OPKS? I never get a result from them...

@Croselle Thats interesting , the whole process has taken quite a while then if you went to the gp in November. I think with covid as well it's just slowed everything right down.
Start of September actually isn't too long to wait.
Have you heard of the AMH blood test? Not sure whether to request it. You do have to pay for it at my trust it's about 80£ but gives you some light on the amount of eggs and quality of eggs too.

I'm finding it ok just want a baby so badly , it's really hard some days. I find myself scrolling through baby clothes online lol like a nutter 🤣 but obv won't buy anything.
I started taking that infolic about a month ago now and I've gone from no periods to cycles that are 25 days and now this one only 21 days!! So god knows what's going on.

I'm gonna have a go at the temperature thing this month and see how that goes. Because I haven't got a clue if I'm ovulating or not. I think that's what gets to me the most. Am I wasting my time with my hips in the air after sex lol if there's no bloody egg!! Hahaha
But seriously I can't wait to get all this sorted.
Xxxx

@Newbie0818 definitely push, sounds like it's a good shout to go to your husband's GP. It's a shame that they lack empathy really, with things like this. Starting and wanting a family is such an important thing for most women. I am in South East London, some GPs are rubbish but with this, they've been really good so far! Well, all apart from when I reached out a couple of weeks ago for advice and was told to wait for the consultant so that was a bit off.

@swirls3468 Yeah, I think they had an appointment sooner initially but I couldn't make so then had to wait until Feb for the first consultant appointment. Oh I've not heard about that blood test but I'll look into it, thank you for the nod!

I know, I am the same in terms of reading up and seeing baby posts or items and just wanting to get things! There's a tiny pair of Elephant slippers I really want when I have a baby haha I love Elephants!

I think when my next AF arrives and it's a new cycle I will restart the temping but I have tried to check out my CM more and what my cervix feels like too. It's hard. I had some twinge pains to the sides late last night and I wondered if I was ovulating, I didn't have the right CM though but my app FLO says yesterday was the day but just never know! It's so hard isn't it?!

I started reading a book called 'The Impatient Woman's guide to getting pregnant', it's not exactly aimed at PCOS but has been a really interesting read so far and lots of useful advice on research on what can aid ovulation and fertility! It's also quite an amusing book which makes it lighter to read.

@FatThighsBlueEyes welcome! It's good you have your diagnosis and have been put on medication. Good job on the weight journey too! I think my BMI is creeping up a bit borderline over it should be because of lockdown laziness but I need to be careful! I am hoping I'll be given something like Clomid or Metformin but I haven't had results back from any scans or tests yet to inform that decision.

Thanks for the welcome :)

Going to start the Metformin on Monday. Does anyone else chart their temperature?

Also, if you have been prescribed Clomid, did you get it prescribed by a GP or fertility clinic?

@FatThighsBlueEyes I had started to but found it difficult to understand and read but next cycle I will start again and give it a better go I think.

No meds for me yet but my GP said the consultant had to prescribe them so will have to wait.

@FatThighsBlueEyes I chart. It's not always easy to understand what's going on, but helps to show when I ovulated. Happy to answer any q's you have 😊

I've been prescribed Clomid by a fertility clinic, but not starting it until baseline hormones have been tested.

@Croselle I think I will :) the covid situation hasn't helped either has it 😣

@Newbie0818 it definitely hasn't at all has it. Well let's keep updating each other and here if you want a vent.

@FatThighsBlueEyes thank you! Any tips you have for temping with PCOS definitely up for knowing 😌