Pcos

[Katybaby87]

I was told today that I have mild PCOS, with 14 follicles on my left ovary and 11 on my right. My cycles vary from 28-38 days. It was a shock because they previously told us it was male factor issues... we already tried 1 IUI before we realised this. The consultant says we don't need medication at this stage but I'm wondering whether IUI can be successful with PCOS? How will I know for sure that I'm ovulating?

Does anyone know anything about PCOS? I don't think I'm typical based on the symptoms online as I have low BMI and i have about 10 periods a year, not particularly heavy or painful. But my AMH was a bit high. I do have type 1 diabetes but I thought PCOS was more common with type 2...

So confused and worried now it'll never happen

 

[maythe4thbewit]

Hey I have PCOS, have over 20 cysts. On each ovary along with typical symptoms such as overweight, high testosterone, excess hair on my face etc, heavy painful periods, irregular cycles, rarely ovulate. Average cycle length tho is between 28-34. Im not on medication at the moment. Have a bit of weight left to loose before clomid. As for diabetes, I thought type two was more common to! Although I don't have diabetes and am no where near being pre diabetic so that's as far as my knowledge goes on that matter.


You will need to get your hormones, like progesterone, LH, and FSH tested on certain cycles days to see if you are ovulating. You can also start charting tour basal body temp or bbt, which gives you an indication if your are ovulating and when. If you want to know more, or anything specific, ask away. I was diagnosed with pcos ten years ago, so have fairly good knowledge of it I think. As for IUI PCOS shouldn't affect this to my knowledge.

�� anything specific you want to know?

X

 

[Katybaby87]

Thank you! I have so many questions... it was such a shock I didn't really process it during the meeting with the consultant so didn't really ask him much about it

Is blood tests and temp the best way to know if you're ovulating? I've been using ovulation test kits which seemed to match up to ewcm and when AF seemed to arrive but not I'm worried I'm not actually releasing a follicle or that there isn't an egg in side it. The consultant didn't seem too worried, but I'm wondering if that's because they will use the trams vaginal scan to see if one matures properly or not and since the last scan showed I did maybe he thinks I am ovulating okay? He hasn't asked for any hormone tests which seems weird

Does it get worse as you get older?

How are you finding the clomid? I think he doesn't want to give me that yet as I have so many follicles too many might grow!

 

[maythe4thbewit]

Hello, yes if he thinks you are ovulating then there is probably no need to do the tests. If you do chart your bbt at home you can see for yourself and reassure yourself that you are ovulating. You can use the opks and see if they match up with your bbt. Aa for TV scan, he might do it, I'm not sure.

As for clomid, I haven't started yet. Still have weight to loose before I can start it. He probably doesn't want to give you clomid as he thinks your already ovulating and so there would be no point.

Yeah, before you see him next you should right down s list of your concerns and or questions you have for him so you can discuss it with him then.

I don't know about pcos getting worse as you get older. As far as I'm aware, many people with pcos have more eggs when they are older compared to normal because they haven't released as many as the normal person.

Is there anything else you would like to know? X

 

[phonixgirl]

Hi

Mine is a similar story. I'm 8 stone, regular periods and no other symptoms. When she told me my left ovary was polycystic looking, it came as a shock!

I do get a lot of spotting before my period though and my cycles are only 24 days. Doctors don't seem concerned but I am.

Be careful if you do take clomid. I had it and over-responded (apparently it's a symptom). I had 8 mature follicles on 50mg and 5 on 25mg! Ovulation was very painful and I was drifting in and out of consciousness.

I was worried I wasn't ovulating too but all tests including temping, scans and blood tests say I am. Nobody is sure why I'm not pregnant, I can only think my hormones are really messed up...

 

[Katybaby87]

Thanks Both!

@maythe4 Apparently the scans are normal before IUI to make sure there's a follicle maturing and there isn't too much risk of multiples so I'm definitely having those, I just read somewhere that with PCOS your body can release a follicle but there might not be an egg in it? I'm probably just panicking over nothing but we've been ttc for several years now so trying not to lose hope. Good luck with the weight loss! I'll have my fingers crossed for you

@phonixgirl I'm glad I'm not the only one! That sounds awful! If we end up going for IVF I'll need to be careful then. I was already worried about that part because of my diabetes so will be extra careful. I think mine is more on one side too. Weirdly my cycles tend to be two normal length ones like 28-30 days and then 1 long one like 36 days and I wondered whether one ovary was more dominant (hopefully my right one that's less affected!) what are the next steps for you?

 

[snowbee]

I have pcos too. I am slightly overweight, have irregular cycles but very light and generally pain fee periods, no acne but excess hair. My ovaries are both very swollen with multiple cysts, if I ovulate it tens to be from the left one, which is slightly less swollen. I don't have a problem with insulin resistance and my LH is not raised. Pcos is one of those things that is so varied there really isn't a 'normal'!

I've had 7 rounds of clomid and have an 8 week old little boy, so don't despair.

You are right, just because there is a follicle doesn't mean there is an egg. I found a combination of opks (if you have raised lh you can buy less sensitive ones) and temping helped me confirm ovulation or not.

It doesn't get worse as you get older but it can have phases of being worse than others. Diet can play a big part, for me low gi, high fat seems to work best. I'm not really strict about it but use as a general guide rather than a rule.

 

[phonixgirl]

It was awful - my IUI cycles those months were cancelled and I had to sign something basically saying we wouldn't have sex for the rest of the month! With the 5 we did anyway but I still didn't get pregnant somehow...

I have found temping tells you a lot. My LH is ok too so I always get truly positive OPKs but temping confirms it and tells you a lot about your cycle. It sounds like you might be the same as me. I hate PCOS, I really do, and I don't even have half of what some ladies do.

 

[Katybaby87]

@snowbee congratulations! That's so exiting. From what I've read it seems like you're right about it being a very varied condition... if we're not successful this month then I'll start temping. I have the stuff to do it it's just what with the diabetes and opk testing and scans I was feeling a bit overloaded and obsessed! But if it gives me piece of mind then it'll be worth it

@phonixgirl how many did they want to realise with the meds? Have you tried with a lower dose or moved on to another treatment? I think my LH is normal as the opks seem to be spot on. I just don't know whether to continue with the IUI of skip straight to IVF, the consultant said the success rates with IVF would be much higher if we get a good egg because OH is fine but I'm scared about side effects of the meds...

 

[phonixgirl]

I think it's 3 or 4 max. I tried 12.5mg later myself but that just made me bleed. I ended up doing natural IUIs, just taking progesterone, but none of them worked. Injectables with IUI is another option if they are willing and has worked for others with PCOS. I wouldn't do it naturally like I did.

I have also had 1 fresh and 2 frozen IVF cycles which didn't work. Everything looked great on paper so I've stumped the drs! I've just had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy to check everything is ok down there. They didn't find anything but I still wish they'd done it before we started - so if you can, have it checked at the start. They can find all sorts including endometriosis. Xx