TTC with PCOS since January

[Turbocat]

Hello,

I have just registered with mumsnet as I am looking for some guidance as me and my Fiancé are trying to concieve. We decided after 13 yrs of being together that now is the time to start a family. I got diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17. I am now 28 and desperate to start my own little family. I have undergone some recent tests and i have 14 cysts on one ovary and 12 on another yet I have ovulated every month but I am having problems trying to pinpoint when I actually do ovulate as my periods vary from month to month. Some months is 28 days and some are 31 day cycles. My Fiancé has had a fertility test and come back normal.

I am looking at maybe seeing my gp about clomid ?

Has anyone any stories or guidance please. Has anyone got PCOS and conceived naturally ? If so did it take along time.

Thanks everyone for ready x

[MildDrPepperAddiction]

I have PCOS and have 2 DCs. I was initially referred from GP to fertility clinic while ttc DC1. Clomid did not agree with me at all however I think they will usually try this first. I ended up with injections and conceived ds on first month with them.

After ds my cycle started to regulate however consultant put me on clomid again and this stopped all ovulation/periods. Started on injections however they didn't work either. I went to see a homeopath then and was pregnant within 6 weeks. I know that route is not for everyone but it worked for me.

Best of luck ttc and hope you get your bfp soon

[Turbocat]

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Re your cystic follicles that unfortunately sounds typical. Polycystic ovaries can also appear larger and thicker than normal size, the normal sized ovary is about the size of a walnut.

With PCOS, ovulation is not likely to be happening regularly if at all due to the cystic follicles on the ovaries. Some of these are dormant, others contain hormones and one may contain an egg. These usually disappear too only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. It is also quite possible to have periods without ovulating.

PCOS is not something that GPs should try and treat themselves; many PCOSers do need the help of a hospital subfertility unit in order to conceive.

Clomid is often the first line of treatment for PCOS but not all PCOSers by any means are actually suitable to take it. I was not. If you are given clomid you must be monitored whilst on it (GPs would have no time to do this for you) via blood tests (clomid can affect LH levels markedly) and ultrasounds to see whether an egg has actually left the ovary. No monitoring is completely unacceptable as you then have no idea whether its working or not. Also clomid resistance can happen too with some PCOSers.

It took us just over a year to conceive after referral (I ended up having ovarian diathermy surgery and became pregnant as a result of that procedure) and I was referred after 6 months of ttc without success (basically I'd had no periods at all in that time). GP did no tests but just referred me.

//www.verity-pcos.org.uk is a helpful website.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

[Turbocat]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I am hearing a lot of very different things regarding clomid.

I have never not had a period. They are fairly regular. Well within a few days from 28 to 31 day cycles.
My gp basically said that my follicles burst and release an egg but as they burst so often the egg hasn't yet matured enough and that is why I can't seem to concieve.

Do you think I can suggest another form of treatment and bypass clomid from by gp ??

Also I have just purchased a basal body temperature kit from amazon. As with PCOS ovualtion is really hard to predict. So another option might be charting ??

Thanks again Joanna x

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi,

Some PCOSers can and do ovulate occasionally but many do need help to conceive as ovulation is either non existant or too sporadic.

To my mind GP should now refer you; PCOS is not something that should be messed around with by GPs at all. I don't think as well that GPs are allowed to prescribe clomid these days although I will stand corrected. It is quite powerful stuff and you should be monitored whilst on it. GPs have no time to monitor properly.

GP is partly right but not all these cystic follicles by any means contain an egg. Some are dormant and others release hormones.

Charting and PCOS can be very uneasy bedfellows. Would suggest using the BBT for a max of three months and if your chart starts looking akin to the Rocky Mountains then would cease charting; its impossible to interpret such a chart with any degree of accuracy and could just add to any overall stress. In such circs you'd be better off having blood tests and internal ultrasound scans done to see what your hormone levels are like and to assess the state of your ovaries.

I would ask GP to refer you now as you already have a PCOS diagnosis; hopefully you won't need such an appt but better to get the ball rolling now.

I wish you the very best of luck!.

[Ipp3]

Um, have I understood right, you have only been trying since jan so only under three months? And you menstruate every month within a three day variance? And you are 28. That sounds pretty hopeful to me! I have pcos and very irregular periods (once only three times in two years). I conceived naturally after 9 months aged 39, after having three periods within 5 to 7 weeks of each other. Our consultant said clomid can thicken mucus making it harder to conceive. I never took it. If you are menstruating as regularly as you say you might want to speak to a consultant about whether you would be better off just keeping trying naturally and having frequent sex at your three day variance time slot!

[Turbocat]

Hi,

Thanks so much for your advice. Yes to all the above correct ipp3.

I know after only trying for 3 months I may be jumping the gun a little but with PCOS it's hard to think that natural conception will or would happen.

I know everyone is different but I guess I'm looking for a little reassurance and guidance on how to deal with this.

Although I having been trying for only 3 months I have told my gp I have been trying since August of last year. To help speed things up a little.

I guess I'm to keep on trying. It's annoying that I can actually pin point ovualtion. That for me I think is the hardest part.

And thank you attilathemeerkat you have helped a huge Amount x