PCOS and Metformin

[Suzie84]

Hi guys,

Needing some advice, or if anyone else is in a similar situation, I'd love to hear.

I was recently diagnosed with PCOS, after my husband and I TTC for approx 12 months. However, I only have cysts, no other symptoms. I am not overweight, have normal periods (every 29-30 days), no excess hair growth or acne etc.

Also, had a 21 day progesterone test and I am ovulating. My doctor has recently prescribed Metformin 500mg once daily, increasing to twice daily after the first week.

I guess my questions are: Why would I have been prescribed this if I have regular cycles? I know it has something to do with regulating insulin (my family has a history of diabetes), therefore regulating periods, but I'm just a little confused.

Has anyone else been on this and conceived?

I guess I am just impatient, but really want to get our family started.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

 

[Shiner0924]

Suzie84,

I also have pcos and my only symptoms are irregular periods and cystic ovaries. I was on metformin to help conceive. It did nothing for us, however it did help regulate my cycles while I was on it. Pcos is caused by a hormonal imbalance no matter what symptoms you may be experiencing. The metformin is to help balance that. Best of luck to you!

 

[Palladium]

Metformin is normally prescribed for diabetes/pre-diabetes. It helps improve your sensitivity to insulin. Because a lot of women with PCOS also have insulin resistance, metformin can help with regulating your cycles and improving fertility, even if you are not overweight.

I don't have PCOS but I do have insulin resistance and am overweight. My doc put me on the same dose of metformin as you about 6 weeks ago, and I've already lost 6 kg and I seem to be ovulating better according to my blood tests, so I'm hoping this will do the trick for me.

 

[Lirpa11]

Hello!

I have only just been diagnosed as well. I went off the pill 11 months ago and I had regular periods for 7-8 months and then I had a 45 day cycle, and I am now on CD 51 with no sign of AF.

I have been referred to a fertility specialist to help get my cycles back on track. Goodluck!

 

[Suzie84]

Thanks for your replies.

I guess I just have to play the waiting game and see if there is any improvement. (just getting a little impatient)

Thank you once again for your help.

 

[Bee Bee]

I assume the doc did a blood panel on you? O: In order to be diagnosed with PCOS you need to have two out of three symptoms; those three being: cystic ovaries, insulin/hormone issues and/or lack of ovulation. So, my guess is that he found that you have an insulin resistance.

So, he would give you metformin because cystic ovaries are usually the cause of insulin issues in PCOS women. Also, just having insulin resistance for a long period of time can lead to diabetes so it's better that you fix it now. Also, once you fix the insulin issue, the cysts tend to subside. The only other cure for such a thing would be BC but obviously us TTC women don't want to do that lol.

PS. Have you started the metformin yet? You are on a relatively low dose so you might not have any side effects. Either way, I hope you feel good on it! I am currently on 2000mg and it makes me sick as a dog sometimes If you do end up feeling sick, eating a low carb diet tends to help.

 

[Suzie84]

Thank you so much for that info Bee Bee! You've helped me understand this better

He prescribed extended release, so I wouldn't feel the side effects. But I dont know if this also makes the product weaker.

I've been taking it for three weeks now, and feel completely fine, no side effects at all (which is good)

Another thing I am finding hard is the timing. I can't actually tell when I'm ovulating (stupid I know!) I've tried a few diff brands of OPK's, and never get a clear result. So this makes it a little hard also. Does anyone have a preferred brand?

Thanks again and good luck to you all xxx

 

[Palladium]

Glad the metformin is helping, I was really lucky and get no side effects as well.

Apparently OPKs often don't work well for women with PCOS, and personally I find them really annoying to use. You really have to be careful about getting a good strong sample at the right time of day, and I just don't like to dehydrate myself for 3 days trying to get a reliable test.

You might be better off with temperature charting, although that only tells you after you've ovulated. But it can help you get an idea of which day you usually ovulate and confirm it once it's happened.

 

[Suzie84]

oh happy to hear its worked well for you too. I recently increased the dose to 2000mg a day, and now feel a queezy but thats it.

Yeah same, I feel like i'm just wasting my time and money with them.

I was thinking about temp charting, but as you said, it only tells you AFTER ovualtion.

Also, as this is my first cycle on Metformin, I am a little curious....... is it supposed to make AF regular? I was due yesterday, (based on a 30 day cycle and as I said in previous post, every 29-30 days), but AF is still not here, and I dont feel the usual AF symptoms. I actually dont have any. I took a HPT today and got a BFN should I take another in the next day or two, or could it be my body adjusting to the meds?

 

[Palladium]

Metformin can help regulate your periods, but that's not it's main function. I have found that my cycles are more regular with it though. On my own I tend to ovulate fairly late, but with metformin (and no clomid) I've been ovulating bang on day 14, and this month I've actually ovulated a little early (day 12).

If you don't know exactly when you ovulated then it's a little hard to say if you're actually late or not, but I'd wait a couple of days and then test again if AF hasn't shown up.