Pregnitude/Inofolic Success?

[Elphabaa77]

Thanks Elpha --

So perhaps it helps with the quality of eggs but not the quantity of eggs??? But as you said we don't want more than one egg unless we are doing egg freezing or something...

I do notice my temps are higher and stay higher when I take inositol....

I guess I'll stay on it again this month but really be diligent with temping so I can pin point my ov more accurately - I got lazy and only did OPKs last month for the first half.

I'd like to believe it is doing something good - but am concerned that the research with non-PCOS women seems to be non-existent....

Overall the idea of Pregnitude is fairly new and the research does mostly show improvement in PCOS women. However, it shouldn't really hurt anything. Myo-Inositol is part of the B vitamin family. So it is a natural supplement just in an easier form for our bodies to use. You may not benefit as significantly as PCOS women do, but it does seem you are seeing some positives.

 

[Cutler101]

I ordered me some last night & it'll ne here today . I hope it works cause ive been ttc for 7/8 months with no luck

 

[Elphabaa77]

I ordered me some last night & it'll ne here today . I hope it works cause ive been ttc for 7/8 months with no luck

Do you have PCOS? I have been trying for almost 9 months with no luck. I have been on Pregnitude since the beginning of last July. I have noticed changes while taking the Pregnitude. For instance, my cycles have gotten shorter. I also no longer spot before AF shows. Before, I would spot for 2-3 days prior to her arrival, which is a sign of a progesterone deficiency in the luteal phase. All of which I attribute to taking Pregnitude. My doctor and I thought I could ditch Metformin and stick with Pregnitude only, so we gave it a shot this past November. That did not go so well. I still ovulated early, but my luteal phase was a mess and ended earlier than normal. Also my sugar cravings were through the roof! So, I am now back on Metformin and things are 'normalizing' again.

If we do not conceive this cycle, I am having an HSG test done on February 5th to make sure my tubes aren't block and my husband will have a sperm analysis done that same day. If his numbers are good and my tubes are clear, we start Clomid at the beginning of my next cycle.

I am sticking with the Pregnitude though. I have seen things with it that Metformin could not do alone, so I truly believe it is making my eggs better!

Good luck!

 

[minuet]

I don't have Pregnitude, I just purchased the active ingredients - myoinositol and folic acid.
You can get myo-inositol as a powder very affordably, and there are plenty of studies out there comparing myoinositol to metformin in PCOS.
The studies all showed that inositol performed better than metformin! Resulting in higher rates of spontaneous and continuous ovulation, and pregnancy.

I'm taking 1500mg of metformin, but after doing a bunch of reading I'm going to add 4g inositol also. Highly anxious to get cycles on track and get pregnant!

 

[Elphabaa77]

Good luck to you! I take both Pregnitude and Metformin. My general practitioner and I 'thought' I could stop the Metformin last November, but boy did things go wonky for me. Immense sugar cravings and my temps were pretty erratic. Also, my luteal phase for that month had a couple of temps below coverline and only lasted 10 days. I started the Metformin back up and everything went back to what has been normal for me. Was really hoping to ditch the Metformin completely, but couldn't. The Pregnitude is helping though!

 

[minuet]

That's good they are working for you, but I understand. It'd be nice to dump the metformin.

 

[Bma11]

found this thread. I am currently on my second box of pregnitude. I started taking it for egg quality. So far, so good. I did have a longer cycle which was odd because I'm always normal. So, I thought I was pregnant :/

Anyways, I do have a question. When they diagnosed you with PCOS what tests did they do?
My RE says I don't have PCOS. But I'm not so sure. Just because I'm a small girl doesn't mean I can't have PCOS, right?

 

[Titi]

bma-I don't know much about pcos but I had a puppy with polycystic kidneys and you could see it ALL over....so I am thinking your lap would have ruled that out?

I started Pregnitude last cycle too and also got a bfn. I did have a longer luteal phase which was odd.

I don't have pcos but I am taking for egg quality as that is likely our only problem.

 

[Bma11]

I thought so too with the lap especially. My AMH is 5.5! That's high and usually means PCOS. So , I've been reading.

Yea, I think the pregnitude messed with my cycle, hoping this cycle is more normal, like I'm used too!!

 

[heidimaria]

Hi!!! I loved finding this thread.. i was just on google searching pregintude and found it. We have been ttc for almos 6 months now.

After i got off the pill i noticed something was wrong with my periods and eventually was diagnosed with PCOS. That's when i found out i didnt ovulate. I live in South America and my doctor here suggested we try to balance my hormones first so I would ovulate on my own.. we have been doing that for 6 months and even my periods are way shorter (from 80+ days to 40) and other than that.. no pregnancy yet.

So once my next period finally comes (Day 42 today) i will start clomid treatment. Has anybody taken it? terrified about side effects????!!!

Anyway I was at the US last week and went to a fertility specialist with my husband and he approved my current treatment... but he did say i should also take pregintude.. so i have been taking it for some days now... had to buy 4 months supply because they dont sell it here!!! i really hope it works...

these ttc is taking a toll at me (and my marriage). its the first thing i have ever really wanted that i cant accmplish by simply pouring blood, sweat and tears to it.

all my friends are super fertil and i just can talk to anyone about it (they just dont get it). so i hope this forum works so i can take it out of my chest.

 

[minuet]

found this thread. I am currently on my second box of pregnitude. I started taking it for egg quality. So far, so good. I did have a longer cycle which was odd because I'm always normal. So, I thought I was pregnant :/

Anyways, I do have a question. When they diagnosed you with PCOS what tests did they do?
My RE says I don't have PCOS. But I'm not so sure. Just because I'm a small girl doesn't mean I can't have PCOS, right?

PCOS is a syndrome, or a collection of symptoms that vary.
So you can have ovaries with cysts on them - classic PCOS

or not have ovaries with cysts on them and still have PCOS

So be SURE your RE isn't ruling PCOS out on ovaries alone.

Usually diagnosis is from a collection of symptoms or tests like:

- test FSH/LH on day 3 of cycle
PCOS will have FSH way too high compared to LH. Normal is basically equal. In PCOS it is often FSH is 3 times higher than LH ( my fsh is 15, my LH is 4.1)
- irregular cycles
- no ovulation ( confirm this with basal temp charting
- spotting in the days leading up to period ( usually indicates low progesterone if you actually ovulate)
- fasting insulin blood test - in PCOS you'll have insulin resistance ( anything over 10-12, tho some people say normal should be even lower than that)
- fasting insulin is way high, but fasting glucose is within normal range - this is insulin resistance
Now if you've had insulin resistance untreated for a while it could have developed into diabetes, in which case you'd have diabetic levels of fasting glucose
- skin tags
- weight gain, especially sudden or large amounts unexplained
- difficulty losing any weight, even with dieting and lots of exercise
- infertility. Not conceiving with unprotected sex. ( in my case we haven't been preventing in 3 yrs of marriage, and no pregnancy or miscarriage)
- repeated miscarriages. Low progesterone is to blame for this one. If you suspect you have PCOS and have a BFP, demand that your progesterone is checked, to ensure it is at levels to sustain a pregnancy
- carb cravings, hunger headaches, constantly hungry, heartburn, fatigue, feeling tired all the time or after eating
- high testosterone ( free AND total) on a blood test
- high cholestrol, especially LDH
- high blood pressure
- abnormal liver enzymes
- fat collecting around the middle, even if a slender person. Having a roll of fat around the belly, especially one you can't shake, is a huge indicator of insulin resistance and needs to be addressed immediately
- day 3 Prolactin blood test - a lot of PCOS have high prolactin
- day 3 estradiol blood test - a lot of PCOS are estrogen dominate

I purchased all these blood tests myself privately online at Life Extension's website. You get it done through Labcorp, which is a legit lab, and get the results really quickly. If your doctor won't order the tests for you, order yourself through Life Extension and then find a doctor who will look at them and diagnose you correctly.

 

[minuet]

welcome heidi. I understand what you mean about it taking a toll - it takes a terrible toll. I hope you find some needed support here on the forums.

 

[Bma11]

found this thread. I am currently on my second box of pregnitude. I started taking it for egg quality. So far, so good. I did have a longer cycle which was odd because I'm always normal. So, I thought I was pregnant :/

Anyways, I do have a question. When they diagnosed you with PCOS what tests did they do?
My RE says I don't have PCOS. But I'm not so sure. Just because I'm a small girl doesn't mean I can't have PCOS, right?

PCOS is a syndrome, or a collection of symptoms that vary.
So you can have ovaries with cysts on them - classic PCOS

or not have ovaries with cysts on them and still have PCOS

So be SURE your RE isn't ruling PCOS out on ovaries alone.

Usually diagnosis is from a collection of symptoms or tests like:

- test FSH/LH on day 3 of cycle
PCOS will have FSH way too high compared to LH. Normal is basically equal. In PCOS it is often FSH is 3 times higher than LH ( my fsh is 15, my LH is 4.1)
- irregular cycles
- no ovulation ( confirm this with basal temp charting
- spotting in the days leading up to period ( usually indicates low progesterone if you actually ovulate)
- fasting insulin blood test - in PCOS you'll have insulin resistance ( anything over 10-12, tho some people say normal should be even lower than that)
- fasting insulin is way high, but fasting glucose is within normal range - this is insulin resistance
Now if you've had insulin resistance untreated for a while it could have developed into diabetes, in which case you'd have diabetic levels of fasting glucose
- skin tags
- weight gain, especially sudden or large amounts unexplained
- difficulty losing any weight, even with dieting and lots of exercise
- infertility. Not conceiving with unprotected sex. ( in my case we haven't been preventing in 3 yrs of marriage, and no pregnancy or miscarriage)
- repeated miscarriages. Low progesterone is to blame for this one. If you suspect you have PCOS and have a BFP, demand that your progesterone is checked, to ensure it is at levels to sustain a pregnancy
- carb cravings, hunger headaches, constantly hungry, heartburn, fatigue, feeling tired all the time or after eating
- high testosterone ( free AND total) on a blood test
- high cholestrol, especially LDH
- high blood pressure
- abnormal liver enzymes
- fat collecting around the middle, even if a slender person. Having a roll of fat around the belly, especially one you can't shake, is a huge indicator of insulin resistance and needs to be addressed immediately
- day 3 Prolactin blood test - a lot of PCOS have high prolactin
- day 3 estradiol blood test - a lot of PCOS are estrogen dominate

I purchased all these blood tests myself privately online at Life Extension's website. You get it done through Labcorp, which is a legit lab, and get the results really quickly. If your doctor won't order the tests for you, order yourself through Life Extension and then find a doctor who will look at them and diagnose you correctly.

Wow!! Thank you so much. I have all testing done. I will now go through all my records to see what I can find. I had to do all blood tests before doing fertility treatment. I recently had some sort of panic attack which I think was due to the Chinese herbs. But I had blood tests ran to see if anything was abnormal. Like diabetes, insulin, thyroid and some other things.
Some of the things you mentioned make me raise my brows because

**carb cravings, hunger headaches, constantly hungry, heartburn, fatigue, feeling tired all the time or after eating

Sounds like me !!!

 

[heidimaria]

welcome heidi. I understand what you mean about it taking a toll - it takes a terrible toll. I hope you find some needed support here on the forums.

Thank you minuet this is my first day on the forums and so far its been really helpful

its just good to talk about it i guess, thank u all

 

[minuet]

Wow!! Thank you so much. I have all testing done. I will now go through all my records to see what I can find. I had to do all blood tests before doing fertility treatment. I recently had some sort of panic attack which I think was due to the Chinese herbs. But I had blood tests ran to see if anything was abnormal. Like diabetes, insulin, thyroid and some other things.
Some of the things you mentioned make me raise my brows because

**carb cravings, hunger headaches, constantly hungry, heartburn, fatigue, feeling tired all the time or after eating

Sounds like me !!!

I hear you. I was sick of always being hungry and tired and etc etc. Metformin has helped with that considerably. It has really curbed the appetite.
I can eat a meal and not be starving in a few hours. I can eat breakfast and work until lunch without crazy heartburn.
Mind you, if I don't eat protein with the carbs, I'll be starving quick. That's why I said it is so essential to eat plenty of protein.
Or if I didn't mention it, read ' The INsulin Resistance Diet'. It does an excellent job of explaining how the right combination of protein and carbs will not only keep a person full, but help them lose weight.

 

[Elphabaa77]

My general practitioner back in 2006 put 'suspected PCOS' in my charts, yet she never really mentioned it to me. She did put me on metformin, but all she told me was that it may help my periods to become more regular. She did mention my insulin resistance, but at the time I had no idea it could be a sign of PCOS. She was a 'student' doctor in a learning hospital, so I guess what do I expect? There were always real doctors overseeing her.

I moved about a year later and was able to go back to the family practice in my hometown where my Mom is a nurse. She was the first one to mention the 'suspected PCOS' in my chart to me. She told me that the fasting blood sugar test I had done indicated PCOS. They never really did anything else, just stuck with it. As far as I know, I do not have cysts, so I am non-traditional PCOS. I used to have quite a few annovulatory cycles, but ever since I lost 80 lbs in 2009-2010, my cycles have returned 'regularly' to me. They were 35 days when I had the weight off, but when I slowly gained the weight back the days went up. Before I found Pregnitude, I was having 42-45 days cycles. My first cycle on Pregnitude was 48 days, so definitely longer like the rest of you discussed. The cycle after that got shorter and I am now back roughly where I was when I lost the weight. I typically ovulate right around day 25-26 and AF shows around day 36-37. It varies a little, but Pregnitude has helped. I have been on it almost 9 months now.

So my PCOS symptoms are basically insulin resistance, being overweight (and having a hard time taking it off this time around, and my irregular cycles that used to be annovulatory. When I was at my absolute heaviest back in 2005, I did notice facial hair on my upper lip. It's been gone since I have lost some of the weight. No real tests to confirm that I have PCOS, but no real reasons to doubt it at this point either according to my general practitioner and my OBGYN. The metformin and Pregnitude help the symptoms I have.

Heidi- I am starting Clomid tomorrow!!!!
I hear a lot of stories about how Clomid doesn't work for women with PCOS, so I am scared it won't work for me. A lot of PCOS women say that there is better luck for us with Femara, but my OBGYN won't prescribe Femara. She told me I needed to go the Fertility Specialist for that. So we are trying Clomid first, then I will be referred. I am to take Clomid 50mg from days 5-9 of my cycle, then she wants me to take Estradiol from day 10-21. Clomid depletes estrogen in the body leading to a possible dry up of fertile cervical mucus and uterine lining, especially if taken for multiple months. Supposedly the Estradiol offsets this. We'll see what happens! I was told to start taking OPKs on day 12 which is super early from my normal cycles! Then when we get a positive, we are supposed to have for the next 3 days. She is also wanting me to come in 7 days after my positive OPK for bloodwork to confirm I ovulated and check progesterone levels.

I have been prepping my body by taking my metformin and clomid regularly, as well as prescription prenatals. I am HOPING Clomid will be the final boost! Had an HSG test done and one tube is clear and the other is questionable, but the RE who did the test said that he is 95% sure it was just a clot, since I was finishing up my cycle. He thinks if the test was repeated, both tubes would be clear. Hoping he is right!

 

[heidimaria]

Best of luck Elphabaa77!! I am now on prometium so i can force af to come. Hopefully it will happen soon and then I would finally use clomid my doctor in the US (i am in Latin America) said he prefers i use Femara but that medicine is not available where I live so I must try only on clomid! fingers crossed

btw tks for the Estradiol tip. I'll ask my dr to see if I just take it too. So far he just said 50mg of Clomid on cd 5-9.

baby dust!

 

[Elphabaa77]

Best of luck Elphabaa77!! I am now on prometium so i can force af to come. Hopefully it will happen soon and then I would finally use clomid my doctor in the US (i am in Latin America) said he prefers i use Femara but that medicine is not available where I live so I must try only on clomid! fingers crossed

btw tks for the Estradiol tip. I'll ask my dr to see if I just take it too. So far he just said 50mg of Clomid on cd 5-9.

baby dust!

Same to you!

 

[Bma11]

Minuet-
When I original went in to the fertility specialist they did all blood work so it wasn't necessarily day three. But my
FSH-3.10
Lh-4.27
Prolactin-10.5
Progestrone -.461
Estradiol-127.
I can't find the tests for the raised testosterone. But when I went to get blood work, I was doing crossfit for a while. And that is heavy lifting and heavy lifting produces testosterone and makes my hair grow and just testosterone in general. Since, worrying whether I have PCOS or not, I have no idea what ideal levels of all this stuff is besides the AMH, which mine is 5.5. Just so confusing. But I will make sure he isn't just ruling out PCOS on ovaries alone like you said.
Day 3- my lh was 6.03 and FSH 5.96. This was back in September when I did my very first clomid, ovidrel and IUI cycle. I was on 100mg of clomid and I only produced one follicle each time!

 

[minuet]

Minuet-
When I original went in to the fertility specialist they did all blood work so it wasn't necessarily day three. But my
FSH-3.10
Lh-4.27
Prolactin-10.5
Progestrone -.461
Estradiol-127.
I can't find the tests for the raised testosterone. But when I went to get blood work, I was doing crossfit for a while. And that is heavy lifting and heavy lifting produces testosterone and makes my hair grow and just testosterone in general. Since, worrying whether I have PCOS or not, I have no idea what ideal levels of all this stuff is besides the AMH, which mine is 5.5. Just so confusing. But I will make sure he isn't just ruling out PCOS on ovaries alone like you said.
Day 3- my lh was 6.03 and FSH 5.96. This was back in September when I did my very first clomid, ovidrel and IUI cycle. I was on 100mg of clomid and I only produced one follicle each time!

You'd have to do some research to see what LH and FSH are supposed to be throughout your cycle. But my understanding is that it is to be tested on Day 3, and fertility clinics do it on day 3. They also test estradiol on day 3.

If your tests were on day 3, your lh and fsh are good, almost equal - that is good.

Your estradiol is quite high for day 3 though, that could mean you are estrogen dominate.

Your prolactin is good for day 3 also.

This is the reference I've been using https://www.fertilityplus.com/faq/hormonelevels.html

If I were you I'd have my cholestrol, glucose and insulin tested, as that can tell you a lot. Plus even for your general health you should know if you have high cholestrol or insulin so you can get it under control.