Moms with PCOS

The 1st time around we were being treated and discovering what the problem was so I was on Clomid. This time, I went off the pill after my August cycle and was pregnant by October. I think it depends on the person.

I know just how you feel on not wanting to take a pg. test out of fear of the dissapointment.

I have pcos and have concieved with fertility treatment and without. With DS we had infertility coverage and went to see Dr. Kevin Doody in Bedford. I highly recommend them! I was able to concieve on clomid only that time.

With DD, we no longer had fertility coverage. I did my research (a great book to read, but highly technical is PCOS The Hidden Epidemic by Samuel S. Thatcher, M.D., Ph.D.) and decided to try excercise, a diet very similar to what is recommended for diabetics and glucophage. I went to a regular endocrinologist who prescribed the glucophage. I started having periods within 6 weeks of starting all of these together and had a fairly regular cycle of about 32 days.

I wish you luck!

Well, I wish I could say I was completely drug free, but that wasn't the case for me. My PCOS is rather severe and I wasn't ovulating at all. However, I was determined that I wasn't going to do anything more invasive than regulating my hormones enough to provide a proper environment for pregnancy. After taking some progesterone to actually have a period and start a new cycle, I took a pill for 5 days to cause ovulation (Clomid). This was difficult to convince my then endocrinologist/infertility doctor. Every visit was a re-explanation of why I wasn't going to do the 8 sonograms they wanted and the IUI with every every cycle. But after 3 months on Clomid (without any further interference, simply timed intercourse) we were pregnant with my now 20 month old. I totally understand your not wanting to take that test. We'd tried for so long and every month was a disappointment. I even took one test too early the month we were pregnant (because I just knew) but when it came back negative instead of waiting 3 days to take a second test, I waited 5 weeks. I couldn't bear to get another negative. But I was right the first time... we were pregnant. The dr was a bit surprised because everybody who comes to them is obviously anxious and couldn't believe I called back so late to tell them it was positive. Anyway, I decided to take the Clomid only route again and it only took one month. We are due in September.

My understanding is that Clomid is merely an "infusion" of the hormones needed to cause ovulation (which I apparently lack altogether). But don't let a doctor tell you that you have to go through the whole regimen with them. You can "blindly" (i.e. without blood tests and sonograms every few days) take the pill and use timed intercourse (with ovulation tests or other natural techniques to know when you ovulate). I would recommend also checking out the Nebraska doctors that another post mentioned. It is a total health program that will allow you to learn just about everything there is to know about your body and cycle. You'll know exactly when you're fertile.

Good luck. And if you just want someone to talk to while you're waiting for that test result, let me know and we'll chat.

M. K

With my first, I had to take Clomid, a trigger shot and have IUI. With my second the only thing I was on was Metformin (Glucophage). So it wasn't totally drug free, but close.

I have PCOS, and after 3 years of not being able to get pregnant, we did a round of Clomid - unsuccessfully - and I swore never again. I ended up going to a chiropractor who helped me regulate my cycles through adjustments, a few supplements, and a hormone cream, as well as deep abdominal massage to break up the scar tissue caused by the cysts. He worked with me on my diet and with his help and my determination, I was able to conceive my now 2 1/2 year old son. Then, 9 months later, I was surprised to find that I was pregnant again with no extra effort at all. It is possible to do without the drugs. Find a doc who will provide support to the whole body and not just the hormone cycle. There is hope!

God bless!

I know how you feel - it is not fun.

I have PCOS. I took so many pregancy tests and was discouraged every month. I was on fertility drugs for 2 years. Clomid, Follistim and Lupron injections 2x's a day. I took the highest dose of Metformin you are allowed and still nothing. In 9/08 - on all of the meds (which I had to stimulate 7 extra days and $2,000 in meds) - we produced 8 follicles and did an IUI. That resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. After that - I was so depressed and discouraged. I was taking all of these fertility drugs and my emotions were crazy. We took a break and I saw an acupuncturist that specialized in Women's Health. After 1 month of treatment, my PCOS was regulated and 2 months later, I was pregant. NO DRUGS!! We are expecting our first son to arrive the first week in September. If you want more information - e-mail me : ____@____.com

~ J.

B., I work with a nutritional supplements Company. The products are very safe even pregnant wormen take it as their prenatal vitamin. I will be happy to share more information.

Happy 4th!

A.

With my first child after two years of trying Metformin did the trick for us. The second time around I got pregnant immediately with no intervention what so ever. Good luck!

I have a book you must read. It's called What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause by Dr. John Lee. You can overcome PCOS with the right combo of bio-identical hormones. There is even a fertility clinic in Nebraska that has an 80% success rate of fertility simply with nutrition and bio-identicals that follow his research suggestions (it's Catholic, so no birth control and limited fertility interventions that follow the churches respect life policies - that means no IVF and such and still such a high success rate!)

I did not have PCOS but the book has helped SEVERAL friends of mine to overcome their symptoms and one was able to get pregnant. See my latest post to another fertility question to get a few other resources.

Please call if you want to get the skinny version before buying a book or sorting through research that I am happy to summarize!
Blessings,
L.
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Just wanted to add that I have a friend with 1 ovary, PCOS, and was on BC........she's now 15 weeks pg (unplanned to say the least)................so it's definitely possible.

Hi B.,

Don't worry. I have severe PCOS with every unfortunate symptom and I wasn't ovulating at all even on clomid but Metformin did the trick.

First, my OBGyn put me on one dose that ended up being to low. He referred me to a IVF specialist but he just increased my metforim dose and we were pregnant within two weeks. The second time, I just start with the higher Metformin dose and I was pregnant right away.

PCOS can get worse btw so you should get treatment for the long term as it has some serious effects on your body. I take Metformin regularly now along with supplements.

Good luck and stay relaxed!

Hi B.,
I was diagnosed with PCOS several years ago and was told that I might have fertility issues. However, I was able to get pregnant without trying. Actually, I thought my chances of getting pregnant was slim because my cycle was irregular once I got off the pill. I was very surprised when I took the home pregnancy test (twice) and it was positive. I wish you the best.

I have PCOS and used fertility drugs to get pregnant. I have at least 4 friends who also have PCOS and have gotten pregnant without the fertility drugs. It took one of my friends 8 years. Another one got pregnant after she lost a lot of weight. The least invasive round of drugs are not too bad. I'm very anti-drug, but did fine with what was prescribed for me and now I have a little boy!

Bandi
I have had that for years and I got preganat even after they told me that there was only 1% chance. Unfortinalty I also have other feritity problems so I had miscarriage. But now I have a beautiful 10 month old baby girl!

Go ahead and take the test-- good luck!
J.

I'm wondering if your 1st two pregnancies were easy to conceive.

I was diagnosed with Endometriosis and PCOS when I was 21. I now have 3 beautiful children naturally conceived. The biggest thing is that you need to let go and stop stressing. Stress is a huge pregnancy preventer. We were told before our first child that I would have to have surgery and that without it we wouldn't have kids. We opted not to do that and decided that if it was God's will that we not have children, we could live with that. Once we quit worrying about it and moved on, I got pregnant (like within 3 months). We were then told that I needed to conceive within 18 months of having our first child or our chances of getting pregnant would be nil. I wasn't ready at that point, so again we opted not to even try. When we were ready (when our first was 3), we tried for 4 months before getting pregnant. Our third child, born 3 years after the 2nd, was an unexpected gift. God Bless

I have PCOS and was told by my OB/GYN that I could start off by trying Metformin (Glucophage) to see if I could start ovulation without trying Clomid since I didn't want to use fertility drugs. I didn't like the side effects, so I chose to stop taking them myself after consulting with the doc. While my results are not typical, I took Metformin for about a month, maybe a little more, and was blessed to get pregnant soon thereafter. Our son was born in 2006 and our 2nd child will be born in July 2009.

You've gotten great information so far and I hope that something works out for you. :)

Hello,
I have POS and they told me I would need the drugs and opt not to take them and got pregnant without them. I think stress causes you not to get pregannt with it. It took me 2 years for my first son and one month for my second and I had POS for as long as i can remember. I went through all the testing and also had a blocked tube which I am unsure if the dye helped it or not. I also tried acupunture which I am unsure what helped or if it was stress. I quite my job since it was very stressfull. I still do the acupunture which helps the pain.
My advice IGNORE everyone and try to relaze. Good luck!

K.
mom to 6 and 10 year old boys.

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