Ovulation help for gay couples?

[safetydancer]

Hi everybody,

I came across this forum while googling my issue and hoped somebody here could help.
I'm in a lesbian relationship and last week I was diagnosed with PCOS. Whilst at the hospital the Dr commented that if I was in a straight relationship they would offer me tablets to induce ovulation but can't because I'm a lesbian. Is this NHS policy or was she being homophobic? My partner and I are desperate for another child and to be told "lose weight and see what happens" doesn't wash with me now that I know there is help available for straight couples.

If anybody else has experienced this or can offer advice, I'd be very grateful as it's driving me nuts to think I may never have a child.

Thanks all,
Sam

[TeniBear]

Hi Sam Sorry, I can't help from experience but I just wanted to welcome you to Bellybelly

Could the problem be that, because you're a lesbian, the expectation is that you'll need help conceiving? I know there are "at-home" ways of doing it, but maybe your doctor didn't think of those options and went straight for the medical ones in his mind? (Does that make sense to anyone but me? I've tried to reword that sentence a few times now, it doesn't work...)

There's quite a few ladies here with PCOS, so hopefully someone will be along soon to give you some advice that makes sense

[safetydancer]

Hi Sam Sorry, I can't help from experience but I just wanted to welcome you to Bellybelly

Could the problem be that, because you're a lesbian, the expectation is that you'll need help conceiving? I know there are "at-home" ways of doing it, but maybe your doctor didn't think of those options and went straight for the medical ones in his mind? (Does that make sense to anyone but me? I've tried to reword that sentence a few times now, it doesn't work...)

There's quite a few ladies here with PCOS, so hopefully someone will be along soon to give you some advice that makes sense

Thank you for your kind welcome! *waves*
When I asked her about it I told her that we'd be using donor sperm, I just think that the NHS are completely backwards when it comes to PCOS and gay couples. I realise this forum is Australian (I couldnt find a relevant british forum) so I'm unsure as to whether it's the same over there but in Britain women with PCOS, and indeed almost any fertility issue are told to just lose weight. I know that can help but how it can be treated as the be all and end all of the issue is beyond me

Once I find out whether it's policy or her, I intend on taking it as high as I can, because its high time members of the LGBT community were treated fairly and equally

(Completely irrelevant, but how cool are the smilies on this forum! )

[GlitterMum]

What a (input insulting word here)
Of course you still have the option of ovulation induction medication.
Just because you are gay, doesn't mean they can discriminate. Tell her to go jump. Finmd a new doctor.
I have PCOS and was givin Clomid to induce my ovulation. After 4 attempts it worked and we were blessed with our lil man.

Goodluck girlies, hope you have sum luck with a better doctor

xx
B

[Amity]

I think it has something to do with the legalities of home insemination. They can't give you something to induce ovulation if they aren't certain you're going to be "able" to conceive in a "legal" manner IYKWIM.

I'd check that out - bearing in mind that I'm from Australia rather than England...

[Sally2]

What state are you in, hon?
My Sal ( tummy mummy ) has PCOS and we were able to access any and all fertility support we wanted, including annonymous sperm at Melbourne IVF BECAUSE of her 'infertility'. So I am sure that you can get Clomid or access IVF or IUI through a fertility specialist in VIC.
Welcome to BB!

[kimandrach]

Hi All,
I am new to this forum (and to online chatting generally) but my partner of 10 years and I are now on our first cycle of IUI (just waiting for blood tests to show ovulation is near and go in for insem) and there seems to be so much info around but hardly any targeted at lesbian parents (except for all the boooks I just ordered online) and its hard to decipher what it all means, anyway I thought I would introduce myself and start participating to try and find others in same sitch to catch through the confusion, information overload and process with.

I have just stopped running as well (previously I was training with a triathlon squad) at our Dr's suggestion so feeling a bit flat and lonely without the daily runs to get myself set for the day.

Fingers crossed we will be pregnant in coming weeks but not really sure whether to expect it to happen the first time or whether it will take months. Hopefully the first because I am already over the waiting and not knowing what we can/ can't plan.
Fingers crossed
Inpatient
Kim

[levi78]

Hi All,
I am new to this forum (and to online chatting generally) but my partner of 10 years and I are now on our first cycle of IUI (just waiting for blood tests to show ovulation is near and go in for insem) and there seems to be so much info around but hardly any targeted at lesbian parents (except for all the boooks I just ordered online) and its hard to decipher what it all means, anyway I thought I would introduce myself and start participating to try and find others in same sitch to catch through the confusion, information overload and process with.

I have just stopped running as well (previously I was training with a triathlon squad) at our Dr's suggestion so feeling a bit flat and lonely without the daily runs to get myself set for the day.

Fingers crossed we will be pregnant in coming weeks but not really sure whether to expect it to happen the first time or whether it will take months. Hopefully the first because I am already over the waiting and not knowing what we can/ can't plan.
Fingers crossed
Inpatient
Kim

Hi Kim,

i reguarly read on here but hardly comment - wow sounds as if you are already not looking forward to the wait - i am now 5 weeks pregnant and i was just saying to my g/f the other day - the wait is so much longer for those of us that are charting from the beginning, testing, having bloods, financial cost - the list goes on - deciding and the like.

Brisbane seems a fairly relaxed place to have a baby - as opposed to Sydney - where i had my last baby.

Best of luck and try not to wish it all away - its a good little discovery journey although it is long and im regularly impatient...as they say its all part of the journey - i try and remember this... and one day you will wonder why it went so fast - i do regularly -

cheers
Levi