Hi everyone, I dont post very often but have always found various message boards on this site full of great advice and support.

Me and my partner are about to start trying to conceive, I have recently been diagnosed with PCOS but suspect I have had it for quite a while. What I want to know is, if AF is present each month (between about 30-33 days cycle) does that mean that the PCOS is not affecting my fertility? Does PCOS affect fertility directly, or indirectly due to the absence of AF?

I suppose I'm just unsure of how you can be infertile with PCOS... With a monthly period does that mean I can still conceive or will there be other factors? (I already have one child, he is 6, so I know that I was at least fertile back then). I just want to get the facts straight really.

Sorry that this is a bit mumbled, I wasnt sure how to put it

Thanks

Kelly x

Hi Kelly

First off good luk with TTC - I know it can be a rollercoaster of a ride waiting to get that BFP. I got diagnosed with PCOS just before I got my BFP - Infact the dr had said that we wouldn't get PG naturally because my hormones were so messed up but then Morgan decided to prove them all wrong!

There is actually a board specifically for PCOS on ivillage where you may be able to get better answers than here so you may want to check that one out http://messageboards.ivillage.co.uk/iv-ukhlpcos but I will try and answer from my own experiences.

From the research I did when TTCing I learned that polycystic ovaries describes ovaries that contain many small cysts (about twice as many as in normal ovaries), usually no bigger than 8 millimetres each, located just below the surface of the ovaries. These cysts are egg-containing follicles that have not developed properly due to a number of hormonal abnormalities. In PCOS, these follicles remain immature, never growing to full development or ovulating to produce an egg capable of being fertilised. For the woman this means that she rarely ovulates (releases an egg) and so is less fertile. In addition, she does not have regular periods and may go for many weeks without a period.

PCOS can lead to women being over weight which can also cause problems in TTCing and drs often reccomend that women lose weight - I don't know if that applies to you.

I hope you get your BFP soon. Let us know how it goes and do check out the PCOS board - they can help support you as they have all been where you are today.

Edited to add: I forgot that ivillage have a good info sheet on PCOS http://www.ivillage.co.uk/pregnancyandbaby/fertility/infertility/articles/0,,5_182768,00.html

Love

Hi Hun

Just thought I'd share my story with you of a fellow PCOS sufferer.

Came off Pill at 21. At 22 1/2 Had a missed mc, and 2mths later thought I was pg again but was getting pains on my left hand side. I was told I was not pg but had cysts meaning PCOS. My cycles were anything from 33-65days and 7days bleed sometimes longer.

I was refered to a specialist who stated that due to me being off pill for 2 yrs that I should of got pg within this time. I did all the blood tests etc over a course of 4mths, which resulted in  me being told that I dont ovulate, and I would need help in getting pg, with 1st Clomid. 1st month = pg with dd1 who is now 3 1/2. Then after 1yr of having dd1 we wanted another baby, went back to specialist etc had all the bloods to be done again had the results and was told I was already pregnant!!!! I did it on my own without the clomid.

I followed the same guidelines I was told about when given clomid. Watch for change in cervical mucus, also do daily temperatures. I joined fertility friend which enabled me to record my daily temps and body changes.

So this year when wanting baby number 3, all I did was watch out for cervical mucus and I would usually get pains around the time when I would ovulate (sounds mad as all test showed I didn't ov), and got pg in the 1st month!!!.

Scan in early pregnancy  unit at 8wks showed 1 ovary heavily covered with cysts due to the PCOS and the consultant was very shocked on how I even managed to get pg by myself TWICE.

It's not all about the sex part of it it's about reading your bodies, and covering all the bases in order to help yourself get pg.

HTH

 

Thank you all for your advice ladies :) AF was due 2 days ago and so far not appeared (32 days) We are going to try when I should be ovulating which should be between about 10th-15th november. I cant be sure when exactly unless I get tested or try an OPK. Either that or will have to BD every night lol.

I hope this happens for us sooner rather than later.

BTW I wanted to mention that I am diabetic. I take metformin 3 times a day for it. Do you think this will help improve the PCOS?

Kelly xx

PS: yummymammy3 your story is so inspiring! :) x

Hi

Metformin is often given to women who have PCOS and are trying to get pregnant. I have a friend who was prescribed it this week.

If you don't want to use OPK's you can track when you ovulate in other ways - basal body temperature (check out the fertility friend website for infor on temping and charting)  or the changes in your cervical mucus (when it looks like egg white you are at your most fertile).

Good luck.

Love