PCOS

[wishingforababy]

Hello!

I've been trying to conceive for what seems like a life time. I am 22 years old, my partner is 31, his sperm has come back normal. (60 million) I have a 31-32 day cycle. My periods are quite heavy, but no more than 12-16 pads for the entire period. The majority of my bleeds are for 4 days, then no bleeding for 1-2 days, then bleed for one or two more days. I am ovulating, well the OPK tells me I am having the LH rise. (does that mean the hormones are going up but not necessarily an egg is being released?)

I have been for a transvaginal ultra sound. Basically I have been diagnosed with PCOS. Feeling good (ish) about having a diagnosis, but up and down about it as well. I am desperate for a child after loosing a baby boy last year. I am starting to feel like he was my wonder baby, and maybe it wont happen again!

Can anyone tell me the next cause of action after diagnosing? Whats the prognosis? Am I going to be able to get pregnant naturally? Is IVF an option for PCOS? Drs are rubbish and tell you very little, and leave me wondering everytime I see them, its almost like they want to get you out the door asap.

Thanks in advance

Beth

[[M]umma[M]ia]

I too have PCOS. It is controlled well by dieting and lifestlye changes. I was TTC for 2 years and feel pregnant when i started taking "clomid".

[AliCat]

Hi Beth...

I also have PCOS. My weight wasn't an issue however I would go for months on end & not get a period. After being diagnosed I tried Metformin & Clomid but neither worked for me, saw a different fertility specialist & we decided to try IUI. All was going well with that until too many follicles enlarged so we went straight onto IVF. Second time around & we were blessed with a daughter. We are hoping that by some miracle we will fall pregnant again naturally but we have given ourselves a shorter time-line & if it doesn't happen we won't hesitate in doing IVF again.

PCOS doesn't make it impossible to fall pregnant you might just need a little help. Good luck

[dcas]

Hi Beth,
I to am new to here and have also been diagnosed with PCOS in Feb 09, I was also becoming frustrated with the doctors as for awhile I knew something was wrong with my body and they sent me away and told me to keep trying for another 6 months. I demanded a referal in the end to an Endocrinologist I had chosen. The Doctor ended up doing as I asked and I ended up see Endocrinologist Dr Doug Lording at the Cabrini Hopspital in Melbourne.
He was fantastic and wanted to help me without making me jump through hoops first (I hear some doctors ask you to do the diet and exercise for awhile first).
I saw Dr Lording in March and he put me on Provera to induce my period as I hadnt had one since early Dec 08 and also gave me the drug Clomid to induce ovulation. I have since finished my first cycle on Clomid and am expecting to ovulate any day now.
It is hard to try to come to terms with it all however once you read alot about PCOS and see that with both knowledge, diet and medication it is still a good posibilty to fall pregnant. The lifestyle change that helps the effects of PCOS is to follow a Low GI Diet and do some exercise. I have lost weight doing this and feel so much better.
I will keep you posted if this first cycle on Clomid is successful or not.
However remember its your body and tell the Doctor what you want them to do, I did !

Good Luck,
Dani

[mitzy81]

I too have PCOS, I have seen several GPs only to be told.... keep trying. I went to a family planning clinic, saw a lovely GP who understood what I was saying (I get 3-4 periods a yr if I am lucky) and my point was how do I fall preg when I get 3-4 chances a year, providing I am actually ovulating. I have been taking metformin on and off for 3yrs. I was referred to a fertility specialist, he told me he mainly treats PCOS people and said he sees no problem in me becoming pregnant (and soon). I had about 5litres lol of blood taken today, go back for results and ultrasounds next Monday, and he said providing all is ok with results (I had same tests done when I was diagnosed, few yrs back) that I can start on clomid. No mucking around it seems. I would suggest trying family planning or womens health GP's because they seem to have more time and understanding than your average family GP. Well that is in my case. Good luck.

[FabFiona]

Hi Beth,

I have PCOS and as you can see from my ticker, I've just found out that I'm pregnant. We tried for three years and then out of the blue I got pregnant in Oct last year. That one ended in early miscarriage but this one is going strong so far.

A few things that I did that helped:
1. Vitex - a herbal treatment that helps regulate your cycles, although it seems you are reasonably regular with your periods. I would go for months and months without a period.
2. Low GI diet - this helps regulate the insulin in your body which then affects the hormones (I know, not a very technical explanation!)
3. Regular exercise - You don't mention your weight, but common to PCOS is being overweight. I worked out like a trojan and never lost a thing, but it still made me feel good and healthy.
4. Metformin / Clomid - I never tried these, but I know they have worked for other women.
5. IVF

There is some good information on the PCOS Association of Australia website.

I know it can seem overwhelming when you are first diagnosed. I have always found the internet (especially belly belly!) a better source of information than any doctor I've seen which is sad. However don't despair - you will get there.

[FabFiona]

I also noticed that you are Melbourne based. The Royal Women's Hospital has a program to help women with PCOS manage their symptoms and address their fertility issues. It's called the Big Girls Group. I was actually all set to start with them and then fell pregnant!

There is further information about the program here, but you might need to call to find out how to get in. I just went to my GP and got them to send a referral.

[HotI]

is it possible to have PCOS if your only symptom is not-very-often periods?

[FabFiona]

is it possible to have PCOS if your only symptom is not-very-often periods?

I would think so. PCOS has different levels of severity and displays in different symptoms. Me - I have excessive weight, irregular periods and get horrible hair on my face.

The best way to get an initial indication of whether you have PCOS is to ask for some type of glucose test. I forget the name of it but you have to go in, have a blood test, drink this gross stuff, wait an hour, have another blood test then wait an hour and have another blood test. This looks for whether you have increased testosterone, which is an indicator of PCOS. Another way to get diagnosed is to have a vaginal ultrasound, which will have a look at your ovaries.

[mitzy81]

I am like that..... no periods, little bit of excess weight, no cysts on my ovaries, plenty of eggs but none coming out! It affects everyone differently.

[Shadow26]

I just thought I would share my PCOS story. I was diagnosed years ago (I'm 26 now). I also had insulin resistance - so I took metformin for a couple of years as I exercised and ate a bit better (no major change). I lost 25+ kilos - the insulin resistance went and my cycle was regular again. Over the next couple of years I gained all the weight back - but I now have more muscle and less fat than before (always fighting the fat!). I then was told I have ovarian cysts.
My partner and I tried to concieve and were surprised that within 6 months I was pregnant, I have three weeks to go before our son is born. Everyone will experience something different - I guess it is a matter of being positive and experimenting with what might work for your individual body.
Mel.