PCO but not PCOS?

[Destiny08]

Hi everyone,
I have been trying for my second baby now for 2 years (in the UK) and had an ultrasound today. The technician said I do have polycystic ovaries, but from blood tests and the fact that it looks like I ovulated this month, it doesnt look like I have PCOS.

can PCO explain why I havent been able to conceive? And being in the UK, would my GP consider giving me clomid or something to get things regular?

basically! Does anyone have any idea where I go from here?
Tia

 

[sarahuk]

I think PCO and PCOS are slightly different.

What I do know is that GPs are not able to prescribe clomid that has to be done by a fertility specialist.

PCO could explain issues with TTC, I would actually ask for a referral to the fertllity department at your local hospital. They will be able to do more testing and get you started on clomid if they think it will heal xx

 

[Destiny08]

Anyone else?

 

[eeyore666]

Hey im in the uk also i was dignosed with pcos 2yrs ago i wqs sent to the fertility clinic only after i asked for it with in a yr they helped my AF become more regular
also although my blood works were all good and only one side is affected and i do ovulate each month im still struggling to concieve each month DR wont put me on meds due to only the 1 side being affected though which sucks
i take speriment tea which helps with pcos so it could help with pco aswell

 

[Lunabelle]

Hi Tia,

I was just diagnosed with PCO as well! The doctor said I may not ovulate every month (which causes the cysts as the eggs don't fully develop). And my cycles are irregular, which makes it hard to know when I ovulate if I ovulate and therefore it can take longer to get pregnant. I saw 2 doctors about it and the first one said to try 6months and the 2nd a year before going in for fertility treatments. We decided to try at least till the end of this year on our own.

I believe my mum has it too as she's been told she has a lot of cysts in the ovaries but has never been diagnosed with it. It took her some time to get pregnant but she can't remember how long. And she had one miscarriage. In the end she's had two healthy pregnancies.

The second doctor i spoke to is one of the best in the field and he said there isn't a higher risk of miscarriage with pco. But he did say there is a risk of developing diabetes during the pregnancy as it's somehow related to insulin... He told me to avoid especially carbohydrates and raw sugar.

It's great to know there is someone else with the same problem! How long have you been trying to conceive? The doc I went to is absolutely adorable and i left his office feeling so happy and not worried at all. He also said that if I can't get pregnant it is a very easy pb to solve with medications.

I believe we can get pregnant! When did you ovulate? It's great that you know you ovulated! I havn't tested with opk yet and i havnt charted yet. I'll do those things next month. Good luck, let's hope for the best!

 

[Destiny08]

Hi! So glad to have found someone else! I think it may be pcos but I'll find out on Tuesday where to go next.

I've been trying just over 2 years for my second fell pregnant very easily with my first quite young so it looks like my PCO has developed since having her. But my cycles are anywhere from 19 - 69 days.
I know PCO/PCOS can affect blood pressure. I had pre eclampsia during my first pregnancy - no idea if thats related.

Just very confused! As it seems if you have pcos, it's simple enough for most and you get medicatioon etc. Im thinking as it's been 2 years, I'm going to insist on medication, as untreated, PCO can develop into PCOS and PCOS can cause heart disease, diabetes etc later on in life! I might also eventually be able to have a baby lol which is a plus.

my friend started trying 2 weeks before me, and her son is now 16 months old. I love him so much,but he is a constant reminder of how long its taken. My other 2 close friends have an 8 week old and a 2 week old now too! And all 3 of them already have 3 year olds like me.

But I'm so relieved to finally have an answer!

 

[Lunabelle]

And to actually reply to your question, I'm sure your doctor can prescribe you something to make you ovulate, but as you ovulated this month naturally I don't know if you need it? How old are you? I believe it's best to discuss the next step with a gynecologist that specializes in fertility treatments. I'm sure he will be able to help you!

You already have had one pregnancy, so remember that this is not the end of the world, it can be fixed! Did it take you long to conceive you first baby?

 

[Lunabelle]

Yes exactly now you have an answer and you can take the next step! Luckily it is a fairly common problem and therefore the treatments for it are quite good!

It could be that when you have short cycles those are the months that you ovulate and when you have longer ones you didn't ovulate.. Do you have more long or short ones or everything in between? My cycles mainly vary from 26-36, but in the past six months i had one cycle that was 43 days. In the time that i have been tracking them every cycle has been a different length. On which cd did you ovulate this month?

Let me know when you hear about your results!

 

[Destiny08]

This month was quite good really! Ovulated on CD 22. I have everything in between to be honest, but it seems to go in phases. For about 4 cycles, I'll have 19-22 day long ones, then another 4 of 40-70 day ones and then 1 or 2 around 30-40 days. Absolutely no way of telling without ovulation tests when im going to ovulate.

and you?

I'm 24 - so around the age Pcos develops. First baby was conceived around my 20th birthday and was very easy (and unexpected!) Which is why when conceiving this baby started taking so long, it flagged up that something's changed and isnt right.

I guess ill find out on Tuesday!

 

[Lunabelle]

I'm 27 and trying to conceive my first. We have only been trying a few months. But it's very good that ovulated! Im so nervous to do the opk and charting next month! Scared to find out I don't ovulate at all... But guess it's better to know.

Good luck for your appointment on tuesday!

 

[katherinegrey]

I just want to say I have pco not pcos and I have two naturally conceived boys. First took nine months ttc and the second only three months. Temping and opks worked for me telling me when I ovulated. My cycles were between 28 - 36 days long so slightly irregular and I tended to ovulate later in my cycle, earliest cd16 latest cd22.
Good luck! It's definitely possible to conceive naturally though

 

[sarahuk]

Is it the case then that with pco you do ovulate but its just very hit and miss, and with pcos that your ovulation struggles and thats why they medicate it?

I had a friend with pco and no medication (shes had 3 healthy babies - 2 of which were naturally conceived twins), and then had a friend with pcos who had to have intervention

xx

 

[Destiny08]

From what I have seen, there are 3 symptoms of pcos drs look for
polycystic ovaries
irregular periods
high levels of male hormones

it says on the nhs website that in order to be diagnosed with pcos you need 2 of those. I have irregular periods and PCO. I think to have irregular periods, there needs to be a large amount of difference. For example! Before DD I had cycles that were either 28, 33 or 35 days. So whilst they were irregular, they werent so wildly irregular that they caused concern. Now they are anywhere between 19 and 69 days. So theres a huge difference, which means theyre irregular.

but to answer your question! I do believe people with PCO ovulate more often and more easily than those with PCOS

 

[sarahuk]

Yeah the ladies Ive met over the years on here with PCOS have had incredibly long periods lasting months and months. Cant be easy xx