PCOS/infertility treatment

[OnMyJourney]

Hi!!

Has anybody gone through testing for PCOS or infertility? I just want to know how it went for other people! I'm feeling quite anxious about going to the DR's! They've referred me to the hospital to go and get an ultrasound to check my ovaries next week and they want me to have a blood test next week (a week before my period) and day 2 or 3 of my period! If it's found you did have pcos or infertility what was your treatment plan? And did it work? And how quickly did it work? What kind of medication? All of this is very stressful for me I never expected it when I started TTC!

Just to clear up my symptoms I have irregular cycles ranging from 33-90 days! My periods are always super painful on CD1! I never know when I'm going to ovulate (I take ovulation tests) I struggle losing weight and I have extra body hair and I also have bad acne! Been trying to conceive since March 2020! I don't drink smoke and I'm on a diet! I've tried preseed, conceive plus, vitamins, teas, special diets, period cups, legs in the air, sex everyday, nothing has worked for me so far!

Any stories, information, tips, help would be really appreciated! Thank you 🥰

Blood tests can be done according to calendar days; you do not have to wait until the next period. With checking for PCOS there is usually a day 3 test done to measure and compare your LH (luteinising hormone) level against that of FSH (follicle stimulation hormone). With PCOS there is usually far higher levels of LH compared to FSH.

They need to see your man and test him at the same time your own tests are being carried out. Its little point solely testing you to start with, both of you need to have tests done in tandem.

You need a diagnosis first and foremost and PCOS is certainly looking likely. With regards to the ultrasound it will likely be an internal one. A small phallic like shaped probe covered in cold gel is inserted into your vagina and this will give this sonographer a view of your uterus and ovaries. That person will take measurements and or otherwise not say all that much. The polycystic ovary can appear larger than normal (i.e walnut) size and have a string of pearls like appearance to them. Multiple follicles can be seen. Some are dormant, others pump out hormones and one may contain an egg. These cystic follicles may well disappear, only to be replaced by further cystic follicles.

For your own self completely ditch all the home ovulation test kits and all that other stuff you've been doing to date even though it may feel like you are doing something. Those do not work and can give rise to feeling even more shit and otherwise stressed. Do not heap more pressure on yourselves re timings; have sex when you both feel like it.

OPKs are problematic to use if PCOS is present because these measure LH. They also work on the principles that there is only one rise in LH every month and that such a rise is followed by ovulation. Both these statements are certainly not true. The kit basically measures the LH level giving a false positive result.

I would also look at Verity's website further re PCOS: the more you educate yourself about this the better you will feel when it comes to making treatment decisions. Knowledge here is power. There is no one therapy or treatment that will completely eradicate PCOS but if you can stay within a good weight range for your height, that can help somewhat with symptoms.

With regards to eating plans, some PCOS patients follow a low GI and GL (glycaemic load) eating plan and this seems to be helpful as well as being able to be done longer term too.

Many PCOSers are prescribed clomid as an initial treatment, if you are given this ensure that you are monitored whilst on it (ideally you should have both blood tests and or ultrasounds) otherwise you will not know whether its working or not. No monitoring is not acceptable!!. Ideally too you should be seeing the same set of people at each appointment, continuity of care is vitally important and it is essential the three of you can work as a team. Your man should attend the initial appointment at the subfertility unit, such appointments can and do cause great nerves and you can also ask questions and provide moral support to each other.

I was not given clomid as it was felt it was not going to help me so was on the funding list to receive injectible drugs. In the meantime ovarian diathermy surgery was suggested and I conceived as a direct result of this surgery. This is a very abridged version of what happened over the course of just over a year from the initial visit to the subfertility unit.

The previous poster has provided a pretty comprehensive and helpful overview!

I too have PCOS (but lean PCOS) and was prescribed a treatment of clomid during which I fell pregnant twice but both ended in miscarriages.

I have heard anecdotally from friends who have PCOS and struggle to lose weight that Metformin is alternative medication that could be prescribed and it has worked for them. It’s not a fertility drug per se but fertility specialists do prescribe it so do enquire about it as an alternative to understand the pros and cons.

In my case, the doctor said metformin was not appropriate, so we went straight to IVF and we have twins now 🙂

Thank you both for that info! It's good to know everyone's experiences! I've heard stories about Clomid and Metformin and I think I'll have to do some research and ask the doctor for more information! I think IVF is a long ways away yet and I think anything surgical will be a while away too, I really wanted to have a baby naturally but this is my last cycle before i get blood tests and ultrasounds (I'll be 9DPO on the day of ultrasound) but if not I'm sure I'll look into the treatment options with my doctor! If it fails after a year or so I'll look into IVF! It looks like a rough process but seems worth it! Especially when you end up with twins!! I would love twins! So cute!

But thank you guys your stories are very helpful :) xoxo

Apparently letrazole is better than clomid for PCOS I read on a journal.

I have lean PCOS. Diagnosed July 2018, put on metformin 1500mg a day in the August. Had a chemical pregnancy in the October. Started clomid Jan 2019 after having a hycosy that was clear. Started clomid 50mg and on cycle 4 had another chemical pregnancy in May. Accidentally got given seven doses of clomid and I randomly took the last one in the October after a couple months break. Got pregnant again, and had my gorgeous rainbow DD in July last year.

I would like a second and have no idea how that works fertility pathway wise, but I plan to ask for letrazole. You also don't have a 12 cycle limit like you do for clomid.