Pcos - referral to fertility clinic - now what?

[Imhereforthecake]

I have PCOS been TTC for 4 years now. I do t have periods at all.
I finally have a referral to a specialist. I've had a telephone appointment with a nurse and booked in for a scan and bloods next week.
DH has had a semen analysis which was normal apart from some being oddly shaped?!
All my friends have conceived naturally and I feel really alone - I have no idea what to expect next? Does anyone have any experience please?

@Imhereforthecake Hi there. I didn't want to read and run.

I'm in a very similar position to you except that I've only been diagnosed with PCOS a few months ago. I was aware that I wasn't ovulating for the past, almost 2 years (the time we've been TTC). I'm 40 and DH is 37. We have no children.

DH also has low morphology (oddly shaped sperm). The issue with low morphology is that the sperm find it hard to penetrate an egg.

BUT, it's not impossible is the % isn't 0. DH is 2% (normal range is anything above 4%). I was put into Clomid last year and once I was ovulating, I actually fell pregnant within 3 months despite the low morphology. Unfortunately I had a MMC at 10 weeks but that was likely due to my egg quality as I'm older.

The most effective treatment for low morphology is IVF with ICSI (ICSI means that they inject the best sperm directly into the egg, so that it can be fertilised). This also will solve the issue with ovulation as the IVF drugs will effectively cause a super ovulation so that they can collect multiple eggs. I would guess now that you've had your tests, your consultant may suggest that plan of action.

They may offer to try something like Clomid first for 6 months to induce ovulation - it's entirely dependent on the consultant and your DH's morphology %.

We have opted to now jump straight to IVF with ICSI and have a consultation this coming week to agree on a plan (we've went private as NHS is shite here and I'd be too old by the time it would be my turn). My main current obstacle is that since the MMC I bleed for 50 off days non stop and now I'm on CD60 with no bleed in sight. Prior to the MMC I had very regular periods every 26 days (albeit I wasn't ovulating) - so I'm hoping that won't slow down our treatment plan as I want to start ASAP. This year has just been completely wasted due to all the bleeding/non bleeding/wait lists.

I know how alone this can all feel. All my friends have had their children naturally and can't relate to what we are going through at all. Happy to chat to you - you aren't alone! Feel free to ask as many questions as you want to 😊

@Imhereforthecake hiya I’m in exactly the same boat as you I have been trying for 5 years my husband has low morphology but not low enough to worry about. (What we were advised I think this was completely wrong)

I was referred to a gynaecologist and i was put on clomid for 6 months I ovulated but didn’t conceive I was then referred for a l laparoscopy which is an operation we’re they can reduce the pcos (cysts) the doctor also found I had endometriosis, adenomyosis which he advised he treated. We tryed again for another 3 months and nothing. I was then given letrozole for 3months. I have just had my first ICSI cycle and this failed unfortunately but we have a frozen embryo We can transfer so just waiting for a follow up consultation.

This is my journey so far with pcos via the NHS

@MimiArm i wish I had gone straight to ICSI like you as I feel the other things were a waste of time as husbands sperm has low morphology.

I feel the same everyone has had kids and we are still waiting I think the main thing is the never give up feel free to ask me any questions too completely understand how you both feel ❤️

@Imhereforthecake Hello dear, and I am truly sorry that I have to welcome you to this part of this forum. PCOS here as well, apparently it's a very common cause of infertility, so you're definitely not alone!

Here you will find many people going through what you're going through, and people that have been through and are on the other side happy -so there is hope!!-.

Good luck with your tests, and let us know how things go from here :)

Thank you all for your replies. It's comforting knowing I'm not alone.
We have a consultants appointment in 2 weeks to discuss results of bloods/scans etc. So hopefully will know our options!

Good luck with this appointment! You are not alone, dear, we're many out there all over the world.

So I thought I'd do a little update to say we have had to cancel our consultants appointment for Monday. We have had a massive surprise! Feeling quietly thrilled / terrified!! Fingers crossed he/she wants to hang around!
Just thought I'd let you know to say - it can happen!!