Anything else I should be doing?

[Sianey90]

Hi all...
I'll give you a little background story so you know where I'm at...
My DH and I have been TTC for 14 months now (I'm realising that this isn't a lot in comparison to some other couples on this part of the forum). I have PCOS and subsequently I have incredibly erratic or non existent periods. I went over a year without one and then had one bought on by taking Provera. It was so heavy I could barely move, everything about it was unbearable. A day 21 blood test (I think it was day 21, so many numbers in my head lately it's so confusing!!) proved I hadn't ovulated at all despite the period.
I had 3 rounds of Clomid, all unsuccessful.
I then had a completely natural period in December (again it was fairly horrific!) I have no idea whether I ovulated that time round. I haven't started trying to track my temperature yet but I have done Ovulation tests but I've never had a positive one.
My DH has a very low sperm count. First time round it was 0.75 million per mil and the second time round they couldn't test as there was barely anything there. I can't remember all the other figures in the results and I'm not currently at home to check the paperwork.
I also had a Hycosy which found that my tubes are all clear and fine.
We have been told by the fertility specialist that it's almost certain that we will not conceive naturally and that our best best is to try ICSI.
However, I am overweight and need to lose around 3stone before they will even put us on the waiting list for this! Losing weight is proving to be near on impossible for me at the moment which is beyond frustrating! Oh and I have taken metformin but it made me ill and I couldn't continue with it.
Anyway, we are trying everything naturally that we possibly can to help us to conceive without IVF.
Hubby takes; Macca root, Well Man fertility, Zinc, Selenium and Omega 3.
I take; Seven Seas trying for a baby, Royal Jelly, Agnus Castus, Vitamin D and Soy Isoflaves.
We've also cut out, alcohol and reduced our caffeine intake.
My question to you oh wise ones is: 1) Is there anything else we should be doing, vitamin or diet wise? 2) Is there anything that the doctor or specialist could give my DH to help improve his sperm count? 3) Should I ask to try Clomid again for a while? 4) Do we need anymore tests done? Hubby has had some blood tests and they were all fine as far as I can remember.
Sorry for the essay but I'm in some desperate need of advice from people in similar situations to us. I hope someone can help and advise and that you haven't fallen asleep half way through reading this!! .x.x.

 

[Dee28]

Hey lovey, sounds line you are totally doing all the right things, the only man thing I would chuck in to the mix is pycnogenol which is proven to help spermies, it's a super antioxidant.

There are a few ladies losing weight before they start their IVF journey, I think there was a thread in ttc at one point, might have some tips/support xx

 

[Sianey90]

Thanks Dee28 I will certainly look into that one! Poor guy has to swallow so many tablets bless him! I'm just lucky he's so willing to try everything .x.x.

 

[Lara_M]

From my experience if you have PCOS you are more than likely insulin resistant. Hence the metformin helps to regulate insulin and hormones and cycle. If you can't have metformin you should banish refined sugar from your diet, make sure you have protein with every meal and limit the amount of high GI foods, the Low GI diet would be great for you but you have to stick with it. This is how I eventually conceived after a long long time of trying and I finally found an amazing consultant who got me their in the end. Look up insulin resistance and pregnancy, miscarriage, PCOS
Good luck x

 

[Sianey90]

I will Google that thank you Lara_M .x.x.

 

[LMT]

Hi there, I'm in a similar ish boat. Have been trying 14 months also and have PCOS. Hubby also has had a low count last 2 tests and we are waiting for his next one in mid February. I had no periods for 11 months after coming off the pill and then have had two since but about 60 days apart! Madness. If hubby's test comes back improved, they've said they'll start me on clomid in March. Not sure what to expect though. I'm hoping its the answer to my prayers bit obviously like you, it doesn't work for everyone. So hard when there is so little you can do to improve your chances. I have hubby on conception vitamins but weaning him off his 10 cups of tea a day was the hardest! Good luck xx