PCOS and TTC

[quinn]

Hey ladies,
I recently found out I have PCOS. We have been TTC for about six months and nothing yet. It doesn't help that we are constantly being asked when we are going to have kids - I just want to scream WE ARE TRYING! I know six months isn't that long, but when you want something SO badly, it feels like forever.

I guess I just wanted to say hello, and perhaps hear about other PCOS and TTC situations.

Also - my doctor is sending in a referral for me to see the gynecologists about fertility options - what are your guys' experiences with that?

 

[wish4ababy]

Hey there! I too have PCOS and we have been trying for 8 months now, so we're basically in the same boat. You guys in America are so lucky as its really difficult to get a referral on this side of the pond if you haven't been trying to conceive for at least a year. I think the best thing we can all try to do is try to stick to a healthy weight (apparently a low Gi diet works best for PCOS sufferers, but I haven't tried it) and maybe using OPKs every month will help you track when/if you are ov-ing every month. Hope this helps, and remember to relax and enjoy rather than be anxious as this will only hinder. Patience is a virtue!! x

 

[wantanerd]

I am nearing the two year mark TTC with PCOS. I have been making a lot of progress over the past six months since starting to see a fertility specialist. With PCOS and insulin resistance, I watch my carb intake, I take metformin twice a day, and I started taking Fertilaid last month which has a few herbs in it that help regulate PCOS. This month, I got Af on my own and on a relatively normal cycle of 33 days.

PCOS can be discouraging in TTC but there are many women on this forum with children that have PCOS. Even though AF got me today, I am very hopeful this is my year to get pregnant. I do take fertility drugs to produce mature eggs and induce ovulation but that's what a FS does.

Good Luck!

 

[quinn]

Thanks ladies. They usually won't let you see anyone about fertility unless you've been trying a year - but my doctor called last week and said she would refer me due to the PCOS. I'm just going nuts seeing everyone around me get pregnant. Sigh.

 

[wantanerd]

We have all been there. It seems while you are TTC everyone around you gets pregnant but you. I had to wait a year to get referred to a specialist but I have military insurance but it has been great to be treated. Clomid didn't work for me so I am onto stronger meds but I am sure this is my year.

 

[ourfate]

Hey!! I was diagnosised about a week ago! And have an appointment with a fertility doctor on Friday! We have been ttc 8 months now, I can't wait to get things going so I can get my bfp!!

 

[wannabemummyb]

Like wantanerd I have pcos and insullin resistance. I take metformin three times a day, we've been trying for a baby for 18 months.
Fs told me to lose weight and go back in six months (sept) then if I'm not preggers they will probably put me on clomid

 

[caity86]

Hi there
I was diagnosed just yesterday! I actually found my GP really supportive and tbh we've only been TTC for like 2 months and I demanded testing cause my cycles have always been all over the place and I just had a feeling something was wrong , so now I have been reffered to gyno and on a low GI diet as from today. I know women who dont have anything like PCOS who have to wait 18 months of trying on the NHS for any kind of gyno referall so even tho PCOS Sucks majorly... every cloud and all that
xxx

 

[MrS. MaBrEy]

hey dear. i have PCOS and insulin resistance as well. im taking 1500mg of metformin (3 times a day) right now, about to go to 4 times a day and eat a low carb diet as well. if im not pregnant by juloy 25th i start on clomid. im seeing alot of changes in my body since starting the diet/metformin. 15 pounds in 3 weeks...i only need 4 more pounds to reach my 10% weightloss goal! so proud of myself lol. hopefully you find lots of comfort and support here. as you can see from my ticker and other replies we understand what your going through with having to wait it out. and the longer it lasts the worse it gets. feel better!

ps. we told people we were trying by telling them we were seeing a specialist. that shut everyone up fast quick and in a hurry!

 

[wannabemummyb]

Hi there
I was diagnosed just yesterday! I actually found my GP really supportive and tbh we've only been TTC for like 2 months and I demanded testing cause my cycles have always been all over the place and I just had a feeling something was wrong , so now I have been reffered to gyno and on a low GI diet as from today. I know women who dont have anything like PCOS who have to wait 18 months of trying on the NHS for any kind of gyno referall so even tho PCOS Sucks majorly... every cloud and all that
xxx

I also had that attitude too..... It sucks having pcos but it meant I got to see a fs when I'd only been trying for under a year. My GP told me that in our area you normally have to tic for two years before referral!

 

[wantanerd]

I got clomid during the first three months of TTC b/c of PCOS. It didn't work for me but I still was prescribed it due to my tendency to not ovulate.

 

[pinkflamingo]

Hi
I have PCOS too and am on Metformin. We have been ttc for nearly 20 months now, but 6 months of that has been taken up with a mmc and getting over that due to complications. We also found out that DH had been on meds (for epilepsy) that had been causing low morphology and low motility! So in that 20 months we have prob been ttc for about 4 months without any issues!!!!

I got referred to a FS after only 6 months due to having PCOS, so I think it just depends on your Dr. I questioned the 12 month rule and they said that it was encouraged to stick to that, but at the end of the day it was down to each Dr as to whether they feel there is sufficient reason to refer their patients.

At our first FS appointment they took our history and my weight and height. I was prescribed the Metformin and told to lose some weight ( I am even heavier now though since the mmc. Just been comfort eating like a pig!!). They said they would send a letter for DH to have a semen analysis and for me to have an HSG.

By the time I had my 2nd appointment I had had the mmc, and not been able to have the HSG as I had fallen pregnant during the cycle before I was due to have it. DH had his SA but the results were poor (we now know due to his meds). Dr arranged a HSG for me to check that everything was ok, and another SA test for DH. The results for both these tests have been good.

Next appointment is 7th of July, so will see what happens next....

One thing that does confuse me is Metformin and whether to take it when pregnant. Lots of women on here have done and lots have been told to come off it. I was told to come off it, but then others say that they were told that taking it up to 12 weeks can reduce miscarriage. i think the confusion lays in that there is no actual proof that it reduced miscarriage and so some doctors rather that you come off it. It's difficult to know what the right and wrong thing to do is!

Good luck hun and try and stay as positive as you can.

 

[Michelle78]

I was diagnosed with PCOS last August. I had been TTC for about a year when I went to my regular OBGYN to see what was going on. He started me on 50 mg of clomid and told me to come back if I hadn't gotten pregnant within 3 months. I went back in 3 months, at which point he did an ultrasound, which showed I had PCOS. Once I got the diagnosis, I was sent right to a FS. When I got to the FS, they ran a bunch of blood tests, which showed that in addition to the PCOS, I have elevated prolactin levels. As if the PCOS isn't enough of a hurdle to ovulation, high prolactin can keep you from ovulating as well. The prolactin issue is easily controlled by meds, though. Once all the tests had been done, and a SA for DH, the FS went right to IUI. I got pregnant on the 2nd IUI, but unfortunately miscarried at about 7 weeks. I am getting ready to do my 1st IUI since the miscarriage, and while I am nervous, I am excited too! Hopefully this time I get a nice sticky bean!

 

[pinkflamingo]

Good luck Michelle! I am sorry for your loss. It is so hard when we have been ttc for such a long time. getting the BFP is such an amazing moment and then to have it taken away is awful.

We must stay positive though and as you say, hopefully that sticky bean is on its way to you very soon.

xx

 

[Michelle78]

Thanks pinkflamingo. I am sorry for your loss as well. It was so tough to have to go through the miscarriage after all we had gone through to get pregnant. Now that I am getting ready to start TTC again, I just focus on the fact that I know I can get pregnant with the right treatment. I hope all goes well at your July 7th appt.

 

[pinkflamingo]

Thanks pinkflamingo. I am sorry for your loss as well. It was so tough to have to go through the miscarriage after all we had gone through to get pregnant. Now that I am getting ready to start TTC again, I just focus on the fact that I know I can get pregnant with the right treatment. I hope all goes well at your July 7th appt.

Thanks hun. Fingers crossed that we can all meet up in on the first tri threads really soon

xxx