PCOS trying for first pregnancy. Looking for good advice and hopeful pregnancy stories

[mam1998]

Sorry second time posting as I think I've posted in the wrong category.

Posting on behalf of a friend
"
So I've been diagnosed with PCOS and I've been with my partner 5 years, my issue is my periods are that irregular that I can count on my hand how many times I've had a "natural period" in the whole time we've been together. We started going down fertility treatment route with the NHS and I had some tests done and had the dye test done and found that I have no blockages etc I just don't ovulate and get periods often. So my question is we're going to start trying again, I do have a bit of weight to lose before I can get help from NHS but does anyone have any advice or similar experiences to myself, can anyone recommend any supplements I could possibly try before hand or whilst I'm trying to lose weight? Any advice or help is really appreciated."

She had messaged this into a pcos support group but I feel awful that nobody responded to her, I'm really hoping to come across some helpful advice or even hopefully pregnancy story's to keep her hopes high. She hasn't had any children yet, hoping this is her year 🤞🏻

Hi there. Try coq10, healthy diet generally. Also start temperature tracking and learning about your cervical mucus so you don't miss ovulation when it does happen! For me this was most important

I came off the pill after 6 years and was diagnosed with PCOS - I had 2 natural periods in the first year and then started inofolic alpha supplements and started to have more regular periods over the next 12 months and my cycles became more regularly 35 days

we stopped using condoms and much to our surprise got pregnant on our second month of trying! I used ovulation tests for a few months before trying which helped as I ovulated later due to slightly longer cycles

PCOS is a very variable diagnosis and daunting to manage but I hope my story can provide some hope!

I was obese when I was diagnosed due to being unable to conceive. It was incredibly hard but the thing that made the biggest difference was losing weight, once I'd lost 10% bodyweight my cycle regulated, periods were frequent and I was able to start tracking ovulation. Before that I'd go 3 months with no period.

Because of the PCOS it did require me to go pretty much Keto, no carbs except those in green veg, no fruit, grains etc if she can get past the first 10 days of feeling starving like you could gnaw your on arm off then it settles and becomes a lot easier. She should make sure her diet is high in protein - meat, full fat cottage cheese, full fat Greek yoghurt, boiled eggs etc and plenty of veg grown above ground to fill the plate - asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms (also good for folic acid), green beans, baby sweetcorn, sugar snap peas, spring onions, peppers. She shouldn't worry too much about calories the first couple of weeks just on not eating carbs, she should notice that her appetite reduces as the sugar levels get more under control, at that point a calorie limit can be set based on TDEE.

Honestly if she can get support from the GP for medication like metformin that will help a lot with PCOS, it helps to increase insulin sensitivity which keeps glucose under control, which regulates hormones and reduces cravings for sweet foods.... but it is completely dependent on the GP being willing to help.

I second CQ10 and also Myo-insotol. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 22, I managed to lose some weight and got pregnant with my first baby at 25.

More recently, I came off the contraceptive injection with the intention to start trying for a baby. I still hadn't got my period back after 12 months so did some research and started taking those supplements. Had my first period about 6 weeks later and had regular periods (which I'd never had in my life) for about 9 months and then fell pregnant!

I don't have any medical advice as things have changed a lot in 20 years but I have PCOS and was diagnosed at 22. I didn't have that many symptoms except for very irregular periods. Until peri menopause, I don't think I'd had more than 100 periods in my entire life. They are annoyingly regular now however.

Anyway, I have 4 kids. First, naturally and didn't find out until midway through the pregnancy as I had been told I wouldn't conceive naturally. I had recently come off the pill though. 2nd took a while and I finally conceived with Clomid, 3rd, I was given metformin and conceived pretty much instantly and 4th naturally (and unintentionally!) 3 months after #3 was born.

My DD has also recently been diagnosed (she's not interested in having kids for a long time yet) and so I wanted to just let your friend know the same I say to her. It's not the end of the world and there is plenty of things you can do yourself to help your chances when the time comes. Good luck to your friend!

So I have PCOS with irregular periods (not super super irregular but I usually get around 9 periods a year and my cycles have varied from 18 days to 72 days in length! Although they are usually between 30 and 45 days in length)

i do not have a hormonal imbalance as all my bloods came back normal, but was diagnosed with PCOS because I have cysts on ovaries and irregular periods.

husband and I have been trying for baby #1 since August and I’ve had 3 periods in that time. I really truly thought it would take a long time to get pregnant especially as close family members have had to have IVF. Well, I got my positive test yesterday! Was shocked especially as I don’t feel any different to normal!

anyway, I obviously don’t know if this was a contributing factor, but I have been taking myo-inositol (I use the free soul one) for the last few months and I definitely think it has contributed to regulating my cycle as since i have been taking it my cycle has been more or less 32 days in length which for me is way shorter than normal! It could be a complete coincidence that I got pregnant after a few months on it but personally I think it has played a factor. Obviously do your own research on it :)

I have PCOS. First baby was conceived using a combination of metformin plus letrozole under NHS fertility services. Took 3 cycles of letrozole to be successful. I was 34. We had been trying for around a year before then but I was only having 2-3 periods a year at that point.

Second baby was a natural conception when I was 37. I went back onto metformin but did not use letrozole. The only thing I did differently was lose a significant amount of weight inbetween the two babies. I was still classed as overweight but had lost 12kg by doing the Fast 800 diet.

By the way, if she is having fewer than 3 periods a year, she needs to ask for more active management of her PCOS. I was referred to endocrinology who helped me devise a plan but in some hospitals, it's the gynae team. This is because fewer than 3 periods a year can have long term increased risks for other gynae issues. So maybe after you've completed your family, something to think about addressing.

Hi OP, I was diagnosed with PCOS in my late 20s but knew it was a likely diagnosis from late teens. I present slightly unusually in that I have never been overweight, not hairy (I.e. lack a lot of standard PCOS symptoms) but do have irregular/totally absent periods, hormonal imbalance, and ovarian cysts. I’ve got a wee boy and pregnant with my second (also had two
miscarriages). I seem to fall pregnant ok when I do ovulate, but I don’t ovulate very often (every 6-12 weeks now and that’s a big improvement on my 20s). When diagnosed I was told it was highly likely I would need fertility treatment but I have been lucky and gotten pregnant naturally each time.

I’ve found being at the higher end of healthy BMI (around 22-23 for me) and getting older has helped moderate my periods (sorry, not very helpful!). I’ve not taken any supplements other than a standard women’s multivitamin from boots (has folic acid etc in), but eating sensibly makes a big difference, so regular, balanced meals at a similar time each day, healthy snacks, avoiding processed foods and refined carbs/sugars, but nothing radical. Tracking ovulation didn’t work for me as I seem to get a few peaks before I actually manage to ovulate so I was getting really stressed trying to time sex and then finding I hadn’t ovulated anyway, even if the tests said I had. We just reverted to making sure we were having regular sex every few days.

PCOS is often a bit of an umbrella term for a set of symptoms so different things work for different women and your friend should speak to her GP about what may help. I think the key thing for your friend to remember is that the vast majority of women with PCOS who want a baby do get there in the end, it’s just a longer journey and they might need help. Wishing her all the best.

I did not have periods for a year, started taking myoinitisol and had one within the month. Around 6 months of irregular periods and then they settled down to every 35 days. Conceieved first month of trying after 9 months of myoinitisol beforehand. Sadly ended in miscarriage, conceived again c.6 months later.

Hi lovely,

im 32 was diagnosed with PCOS at 13, I was trying for a baby for 7 years last April I had an appointment with my Gynaecologist who told me I would never conceive naturally and required fertility treatment. Well last July as I was awaiting a referral for fertility treatment my gynaecologist requested I have full blood tests taken which showed I was severely anaemic and had very low iron and folate levels. Within one month of starting iron and folic acid tablets I conceived naturally while still awaiting a referral for fertility treatment.

im now currently sat here holding my 10 week old baby girl so hang on in there it will happen for you 🥰 also I just want to add that I had the most amazing pregnancy I felt so well compared to the years of feeling rubbish each month due to my PCOS and had no complications

sending you lots of baby dust