getting pregnant with pcos

[sophi]

hey everyone,
okay so im new to the site, so im not sure how it works as such but i would love some advice if any of you can give it to me,
i was diagnosed with pcos when i was 16, id never had regular periods and up untill i went on the pill a year ago, id be luky to have 2 periods a year.
i was put on the pill pretty much from diagnosis but because i was not regularly sleeping with anyone i forgot to take it and just decided to come of it, anyway nearly 2 years ago i had a constand heavy bleed for nearly two months, i went to the doctor who gave me tablets to stop the bleeding which didnt work and then put me on yasmin pill which sorted it out and since i;v had regular periods,
so my problem is, that i am at university, in my final year and will be graduating in 4 months, so me and my boyfriend will be moving in with each other once i have graduated. We both want children and have discussed coming of the pill to try now because we are both aware i could take me a long time to get pregnant if at all. However, i do not really want to get pregnant straight away incase the stress of my exams effects the baby.
i know a few of you will say why dont i just wait untill iv graduated, but the basic question i would like answering is, do u know if anyone has got pregnant straight away when coming of the pill when they have pcos, just so i know really what i need to do. Also if any of you could maybe help me with deciding whether i should use contraception for a few months in order to see whether my periods are still as irregular as they were before or to just start trying?
i know this is long, bu i hope someone can give me some advice.
its nice to know theres a place with people with pcos to help me when i need advice,
thanks in advance.

[tk1999]

Hi Sophi,
I have PCOS and was using an Implanon contraceptive up until August 2008 and my cycles (I am currently on my second) have been quite wacky. I think it depends on your body and its reaction to coming off the BCP... you may have issues - you may not. There is no easy way to tell but if you do not want to fall pregnant straight away then yes I would suggest you use alternate contraceptive methods other than hormone based - condoms etc.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.

[Aphrael]

Its so hard to figure out what PCOS does to your body. My sister had very irregular AF's heaps and really didn't think she'd fall pg (after she was dx with PCOS) but then she went on to fall pg naturally with 2 little girls with next to no effort (her first little girl she didn't even know she was pg till she was 4 months along).

Whereas with me I fell pg naturally twice but m/c'd and then needed meds to fall pg with my 2 little girls, I then went and lost 30kg's and fell pg naturally with my third girl due in Feb. I always used to have regular AF's, so my sis and I are totally different. I'm also more likely to add the weight on but my sister is so skinny I'm jealous!

Are you overweight? If you are then that might mean you need to lose a bit before falling pg naturally, it may also help with the PCOS symptoms. If you aren't overweight then I'd be using contraception until you finish Uni but coming off the pill does sound like a good idea so your body can get rid of all the medications before falling pg.

Best of luck

Cheers,

Beck

[Tess]

Hiya
I have PCOS too, I came off the pill (after 13yrs) and it took about 3mths for my period to return. I then had very irregular periods for 11mths when I fell pregnant. Unfortunately my son was stillborn at 24wks. However I fell pregnant 3mths later (without even TTC) with my daughter who was born this year.

Basically what I am trying to say is that it could take a long time but equally it could be very quick. You say you have on average 2 periods a year, it could be that you come off the pill and then immediately ovulate and fall pregnant!! I would personally come off the pill but use another form of contraception - especially until you have finished your exams. The last thing you will need is being pregnant during exam time - not just for the stress, but have you thought about morning sickness and insomnia!!!

Good luck with your decision.
Tess.

[lucylastic]

i came off yasmin this time last year and resorted to other forms of contraseption . . . because it did do its job and made my piriod regular . . . like clock work . . . . even after being off it for 12 months . . . my first missed period was a positive . . .. hope that helps

[mellybelly81]

Hi Sophi

I never had regular AFs and went on the pill about 5 years ago which regulated my cycles. Since going off the pill in April 08 it took 16 weeks for my first AF and I'm still on my second cycle.

PCOS can be so different for everyone so whilst you might have a similar experience to me and not fall straight away, your cycles may stay regular after you go off the pill and you may ovulate straight away, so using a non-hormone contraceptive is probably a good idea whilst you're still studying.

Good luck!