TTC with PCOS

[Rosie2]

Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum - hoping I’ve found a community to help through what I’m sure is to be a bumpy road ahead ☺️

So I’ve been off the implant and on metformin for PCOS for about six months in order to try and help get pregnant. Not been actively trying until last month, but hoping it won’t take too long!

Was wondering if anyone else has previously/is currently TTC while having PCOS? I’m really worried that it’ll stop me from getting pregnant. I’m about to turn 31 and I’m worried that I’ve not given myself enough time given the likely problems with conceiving when you have PCOS 😞

Any advice would be very welcome! x

 

[IVW]

Hi Rosie and welcome to the forum

Firstly don’t think having PCOS will hinder you at all, it definitely won’t - I personally think, you have much chance as a woman without it

My sister has PCOS and it took her, I think, as she wasn’t overly tracking, maybe 6 months to get pregnant, so about average really.

Are you testing when you are ovulating etc?x

 

[Rosie2]

Thank you IVW! ☺️

I’ve got some ovulation tests and tried them last month but didn’t get anywhere? (Was away this month and forgot to take them with me!) But have been told they don’t always work for PCOS - the hormone changes may not be the same as normal women, so it may not be significant enough to be detected. As I didn’t get any positive results last month I’m not sure if I’m using them wrong, or if I just didn’t ovulate? Have been using an app to track periods for about a year so it estimates ovulation dates and tried to confirm whether the app was correct.

 

[IVW]

Thank you IVW! ☺️

I’ve got some ovulation tests and tried them last month but didn’t get anywhere? (Was away this month and forgot to take them with me!) But have been told they don’t always work for PCOS - the hormone changes may not be the same as normal women, so it may not be significant enough to be detected. As I didn’t get any positive results last month I’m not sure if I’m using them wrong, or if I just didn’t ovulate? Have been using an app to track periods for about a year so it estimates ovulation dates and tried to confirm whether the app was correct.

ahhhh that might well be the case, although there is a month, so i have learnt, that woman may not ovulate, so it might have just been coincidence that month you just didn't.

Its not overly expensive to keep testing each month with the strips, so i would just keep going with them around the time you think you might be ovulating, just to see if your body can pick up the hormone.

Eventually we all come to learn what our bodies are doing every month x

 

[Rosie2]

Oh ok - thank you for the heads up! I’ll keep trying and see if I can figure it out. I’ve got the strips which are fairly cheap. When are you supposed to use them - like what time of the day? Worked out which days to test, but had lots of conflicting information on what time of the day and how many per day I should do? Sorry for all the questions!

 

[chattychar1990]

Hello and welcome to the forum Rosie.
With the opk's i tend to use them around CD10 and do them once a day with SMU and then around the time my app says i am about to ovulate i do them 3 times a day. SMU, lunchtime and then evening when i am home from work.
Good luck with your journey x

 

[Rosie2]

Thank you, that’s really helpful! Will give that a go this cycle and see what happens ☺️

 

[IVW]

Oh ok - thank you for the heads up! I’ll keep trying and see if I can figure it out. I’ve got the strips which are fairly cheap. When are you supposed to use them - like what time of the day? Worked out which days to test, but had lots of conflicting information on what time of the day and how many per day I should do? Sorry for all the questions!

I will just echo what Char says tbh, but you have probably read around 2pm is the best time to test, but lets face it, when you are working, thats not the most convenient time. Everyone is different at the end of the day and you dont want testing to consume your life, easier said than done i know

The month i conceived i got my blazing positive at 8pm and then same again the next day at 8pm - as that was when i just got back from the gym, so was pleasantly surprised, considering how much liquid i had taken on-board that it was as positive as it was

But to get the best chances of catching the day of ovulation, just test 3 times a day and you are unlikely to miss it x

 

[Rosie2]

Thank you, that’s really helpful! Will give it a go and see how I do ☺️ Could be a challenge at work but will see how I go. Maybe I’ll try and work from home for a couple of days to try and get used to it, and maybe take away some stress

 

[chattychar1990]

Thank you, that’s really helpful! Will give it a go and see how I do ☺️ Could be a challenge at work but will see how I go. Maybe I’ll try and work from home for a couple of days to try and get used to it, and maybe take away some stress

Depending on your work environment, i have a throw away cup stored in the ladies bathroom for when i need it during the cycle. I just pee in it dip my stick and then leave it to dry while i am washing out the cup. I sometimes just wait around in the toilet to see the result or i put the stick back in the package and check back at my desk.

I also have a little zip up pouch that i keep my opk's in and just take it the bathroom with me. x

 

[Rosie2]

That's a great way to do it! We've got large communal toilets so might not be necessary. I actually found small plastic shot glasses (very thin disposable ones) which I was going to try and use while at work, I might be able to sneak those in with me. (You should have seen the look on the cashier's face when I bought folic acid, pregnancy test, and shot glasses! lol!)

 

[Princess81]

I have pcos and it took me a year with my first, needing ovarian drilling.
On our 5th cycle this time but I’m expecting that more intervention will be needed. Not an easy journey x

 

[Princess81]

Feel free to PM me with any questions x