PCOS - Metformin and Folate (Folic Acid)

Heya Ladies,

I am new to this site, I read a few threads before registering on belly belly, just to get a feel of how others could help me and how I could help you!... Basically to cut a long story short - I was diagnosed with PCO at the age of 11, a doctors appointment that followed a few months later showed that I than was suffering from PCOS (the syndrome) I was put on Metformin and Cyprotorone to control my Insulin and testosterone levels - this however did not agree with my body at the time, I was still very young and I felt the side affects were unbearable. Anyhow I discontinued using any medication for a few years, I have always had the symptoms - (excessive hair growth, overweight, dark skins patches, supprisingly no acne!). I am now 21 and engaged to be married hopefully next year, my fiance and I desperate for a baby. I began taking metformin about 4 weeks ago which induced a period, but I am not sure if its just "bad blood" as my Endo likes to put it, or if I am actually Ovulating - Are there any tests that will show me if I am? I am also taking 1 tablet a day of Folate
(folic acid) which apparently helps setting up your body for conceiving?... Does anyone know if there are any adverse affects? - Taking Met and Folate at the same time? Im sorry to have babbled on for so long, if someone could enlighten me, I would be so thankfull!... Hugs to you all... Sam. P.S I am also walking everyday for half an hour in the evning after dinner to reduce in weight as well as being on a good diet!... yey to me!

Hi there, I took Met and folate and Clomid at the same time and was fine. Are you ok with Met now? did you increase the Met dosage slowly to not get the side effects? You can get a day 21 of your cycle blood test to see if you have ovulated your GP can do that for you. Also if you eat only Low GI your Met side effects will be less, I found if I ate cheese or hot chips or anything really fatty I got bad Met side effects.

Best wishes with your TTC journey!!!

Bel
xxx

Hey Belle,

Thanks so much for replying... Thats so uplifting for me!
Ummmmm.... The side affects have sort of worn off, it reallys depends what I eat, I found that if I eat dinner late and take the Met then the next morning I wake up with gripes and a bit of bloating - but it not too bad now.

I was worried because I actullay bought the Folate tablets over the counter and they were not prescribed by my GP, were they successfull for you?... Did you manage to conceive?.. If so how long did it take you?... Did your partner have to be present for you to be prescribed Clomid? Yes I will definately ask my GP to do that. I will be seeing her tomorrow morning!... I cant wait!

Hey Samantha

I just took the blackmores i-folate tablets with the Met, and yes we were successful with TTC on the 5th month after I started taking the MET (23 months of TTC) and we conceived Julia who is now 18 months old!

I saw a fertility specialist who prescribed Clomid and I conceived first cycle however miscarried so he gave me Metformin to help as my hormones were out of balance, my progesterone wasnt good enough to carry a long term pregnancy and I conceived 5 months after that. So the Met was the main help in conceiving my Julia. My partner was present when I saw my Fertility Specialist for support You can get Clomid from your gynecologist if you have one. The folate doesnt actually help your TTC it just makes sure that you have enough folate in your body to help the baby when it is forming. Some GP's dont prescribe Clomid.

Goodluck tomorrow morning! let us know how you go!

Bel
xxx

Hiya Belle,

Just thought I would let you know what was going on. I saw my doctor the very next morning, she weighed me and told me I had lost five pounds! - Very excited!.. Kept me going the whole weekend, Im now very gratefull for everything I have read online because it really gave me inspiration! Anyhow she advised me that constant bleeding is normal when you are going back onto Met and not to worry, just to make sure I drink plenty of fluids. She gave me a referal for an ultrasound for this Wed 09/04 just to see if there is anything else going on down there, aswell as this she gave my partner and I blood requests for this Sat 12/04 as this will be the 21st day of my cycle, my partner is also having a sperm count done - he is very nervous poor thing! I am so happy!- I took your advice and asked he for the blood test straight away! Now I cant wait for Wed - I keep hoping I will see my baby on the ultrasound, but I know from past experiences I have not been that lucky. We are both so happy something is being done about it now! How is Julia? Thanks for your helps Darls!....

Hi Samantha,

I am 31 and was diagnosed with PCOS over 10 years ago. I have been on metformin (850mg twice a day) since then. My DP and I knew we wanted to have kids and I had been told that we may need fertility drugs (Clomid etc) when we wanted to conceive, however my PCOS hadn't really been professionally managed for years - same dose all that time.

About a year or so ago, I decided to take things in my own hands and did my research went and saw a lovely GP to manage the PCOS and in doing that, had an ultrasound to check out my ovaries, severity and whatever. The ultrasound showed that I was ovulating i.e. fertile.

As such, DP and I fell pregnant (10w5d) accidentally. A happy accident though! Just through taking the metformin, I think it encouraged ovulation. So it certain does the trick in helping you ovulate - it ALSO helps with all the other symptoms of PCOS.

However, something the Drs may not tell you is that it can inhibit the uptake of B vitamins, so it's good that you are taking folate - just make sure your B vit intake is good too!

Good luck with it all! :-)

Edited to ALSO say - Iam continuing to take metformin through pregnancy - it significantly reduces the risk of miscarriage and the likelyhood of gestational diabetes. It is safe for PCOS ladies to take.

Hi Samantha,
Just thought i would pop in to tell you that i too have PCOS. I was diagnosed at 20 yrs old. I found that by keeping to a low GI diet and keeping my weight down i felt much better.I was on metformin as i was not ovulating regulary.I am now expecting baby no 3, so keep your head up.

Hey Ladies,

Thanks heaps for your stories, it does give me hope! - but sometimes I feel like its just never going to happen. I cannot imagine my life without children, but im a fighter like many of you on here - so I wont give up.

I just thought I would update you all on what happend at my scan and the results of my blood test and my partners.

His was fine, his sperm count came back in fine, so there are no problems there and we are both happy.

As for my scan - nothing!!!! I went back in there to find out I know have 25 follicles on my left ovary and 30 on my right, as appose to having none last August - it makes you wonder hey?! And plus there were no signs on ovulation, which was dissipointing but inevatible. I also had a blood test to confirm and that showed the same, although my sugar and insuline levels were fine this time round. Low estrogen and progestorone and high testosterone as expected.

Let me know how the pregnancy is going for both of you, id love to here your stories!

Love to all... SamXxXxXxX