Advice on PCOS

[Ash_P]

Hey all, I`m new here. Been reading through some of the other posts and im hoping some of you may be able to give me some advice. My husband and I decided to try for a baby just over 2 years ago and unfortunately nothing happened. I was later diagnosed with PCOS. We are still trying and hoping but still nothing. I`m just wondering if anyone in a similar situation has had any such luck and may have some advice for me. All replies welcome. Thanks

 

[ClaireLR]

Welcome!

I have PCOS to. We were not trying not preventing for 3 years and I fell pregnant but unfortunately mc. I'm now on my first round of Clomid.

Have you had tests done to check that you are ovulating? I thought I was as I got + ov tests but my CD21 tests were only borderline.

Best of luck, a few of the ladies on here have PCOS so you have some to the right place!! x x

 

[Katethinking]

hello.. I'm new too and have PCOS too, was diagnosed about six years ago but not ready for baby so didn't worry too much. Now still not ready (am 32) but starting to get worried about being older and health generally as have also had fibroids... both conditions are very common they tell me but will they cause problems if I do finally (!) get the nerve...? All replies very welcome... x

 

[Bexy]

Hi Ladies,

I was diagnosed with mild PCOS after tests following ttc for 12 months. Unfortunately no luck on the preggo thing yet (despite trying loads for over 2 years now including 3 months on Clomid)

The do prescribe Clomid for PCOS to make them little eggies mature better and it has proved successful for other PCOS ladies so fingers crossed you will one of the lucky one!

Take care and good luck!! x

 

[chele]

So since your doctor diagnosed PCOS what are they doing about it now? Do you ov regularly? x

 

[Ash_P]

I had my 21day test done twice to check if i was ovulating once it said it was and once said it wasnt. I`m in the process of looking for a new gp as im really dissappointed with the way they have been dealing with it. I bought one of the electronic ov tests did it for the past four months and yesterday for the first time it said i was ovulating. I have asked about clomid but my gp said he would like to wait for a further 6-12 months of trying. We`ve been tryin for just over 2 years and I`m starting to lose my patience. Its so frustating when u want something so bad and it doesnt happen. everyone says dont think about it and it`ll happen but its very hard to get it outta ur mind. xxx

 

[chele]

ah chick. it's so annoying that at the end of the day the decisions lie with these people and so often they dont take the emotional side into consideration. Glad ur looking for a new gp - they all differ so much. And people and their comments - yeah they don't understand either. that's why you have us girls here!

good luck with getting a new gp to get some answers.

Meanwhile my faith this month is with agnus castus - i'm open to all options

 

[a_missy]

I had my 21day test done twice to check if i was ovulating once it said it was and once said it wasnt. I`m in the process of looking for a new gp as im really dissappointed with the way they have been dealing with it. I bought one of the electronic ov tests did it for the past four months and yesterday for the first time it said i was ovulating. I have asked about clomid but my gp said he would like to wait for a further 6-12 months of trying. We`ve been tryin for just over 2 years and I`m starting to lose my patience. Its so frustating when u want something so bad and it doesnt happen. everyone says dont think about it and it`ll happen but its very hard to get it outta ur mind. xxx

I really hope you get more help from a different GP, let us know how you get on

I've just been told I probably have PCOS I started spotting between periods and having awful pain in my lower pelvis on one side. It happened every month for 4 months and I insisted something was wrong until finally they sent me for a scan. The Dr who scanned me said shes 95% sure my ovaries are polcystic but I'm waiting now to see the Gynaecologist to get his opinion and hopefully discuss whats next. The Dr who scanned me said she didnt think I was ovulating on my left side but there were signs of ovulation on my right side.

I dont know a lot about PCOS yet I'm just looking into it obviously but I dont appear to have any of the main symptoms. I have regular periods, I've had spotting in between but my period still comes on time every month. I'm not overwieght infact I've lost weight because of another illness I have (i appear to collect illnesses hahaha) and I've not experienced any sudden excessive hair growth. It's odd.

We've been trying for over a year now and I can only guess thats why we've had no luck. I'm scared but I'm trying to stay positive until he explains it to me in more detail

 

[Smurfette]

There are loads of things that can be done if you have PCOS. I have it and am now on the waiting list for IUI. A friend at work recently gave birth to twins after being given Clomid because of her PCOS. There are loads of celebs who have PCOS and have had successfull unassisted pregnancies as have millions of others - it's not the end of the world even though it feels like it when you're told you have it.

I know how frustrating it is but try and find a dr who has some sympathy with what you're going through and try being a bit pushy if you're not getting what you want.

Try and stay as positive as you can as often as you can and try not to throttle the people who just tell you to be patient and that they 'know it will happen soon'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[highlandlass]

hi

don't be too despondent with the diagnosis - I have pcos and am trying for no 2 - if ovulation is your problem (at one point I had 2 periods a year for 2 years running!) I went down the natural route - chinese herbs and acupuncture and got my periods back to 40-60 days which was pretty good.

After a holiday I then went to conceive the first month of ttc - I was very lucky so it can happen.

Have you tried the verity website? there's lots of good advice on there - diet can really help (although I never seem to get to grips with that bit) but have a look and see what you think

 

[Little L]

I didn't have any periods for 5 years because of PCOS and thought that I had no chance of having a baby. I started exercising to lose weight in September and got my BMI down to 25 by Xmas, I also went on to a low GI diet because the PCOS means that you are insulin resistant which affects the hormones that make you ovulate. I started taking a load of Vitamins, Chromium, Vitamin B complex and Agnus Castus from my health food shop. I had my first period in January, another one in February.

Then in March I didn't get one. Because I am pregnant! Hurrah!

There are lots of good books on how to 'manage' your PCOS, Good luck.

 

[Eala]

I would definitely try a different GP, or ask to be referred to a specialist. It doesn't sound like your GP has any intention of taking the situation seriously.

I have PCOS, and was put on Metformin (a drug used to treat diabetes), and also started taking Agnus Castus. I was suddenly able to lose weight (as the Met fixed the insulin resistance) and I went from having no periods to having a 28-31 day cycle. Day 21 progesterone tests showed that I was ovulating.

We were then told we'd need ICSI as my DH's results weren't that great, and given a less than 1% chance of conceiving naturally. The Monday after our ICSI screening appointment, I found out I was pregnant - so much for their statistics!

PCOS is a manageable condition, but you do need to have a doctor who recognises the impact it can have. Quite apart from fertility issues, the endocrine problem that's part of the syndrome can lead to other, serious conditions. It's ridiculous when you think that between 1 in 5 and 1 in 10 women will have it, and GPs still don't take it seriously!

Interestingly, it's possible to have the syndrome (pcoS) without having cysts on your ovaries. And you can have polycystic ovaries (PCO) without having the syndrome - which is why some ladies don't have any symptoms.

One thing which is worth mentioning is that home ovulation tests (which work by testing for the LH surge) are not reliable for women with PCOS, normally . Our hormones tend to be so out of whack that the tests just don't work well. I'm not sure if this still applies if you're on any kind of treatment to balance out hormone levels (like Met), but I generally avoided them anyway. I could tell by saliva (under a microscope) and CM if I was ovulating, in the end

Good luck, and try not to worry too much. I've got lots of friends with PCOS, and I'm the 4th or 5th to conceive - some had fertility treatment (from clomid to IVF), and some (like me) had a miracle natural conception. You'll get there

 

[kimini26]

I was diagnosed with pcos just over a month ago. I've tried to read up as much as possible. My doctor put me on metformin 1500mg/day. Often metformin alone is enough to induce ovulation within 3 months, almost always after 6 months. If not they usually add clomid which my ob/gyn told me was my next step. The most important piece of information I read was that women with pcos have a much higher miscarriage rate when they don't take medication to control insulin resistance during their pregnancies and also have a higher rate of gestational diabetes when off meds for pregnancy. The statistics are scary 41-65% vs. 12%(pretty avg.) when medicated. So if I do manage a BFP after ttc since nov. 2007, well I think I'll stay on the metformin.