TTC #1 with PCOS

BMWwife

Hello Everyone. I am new here to the forum and TTC for the first time. My DH and I have been married for a little over a year. I am going to be 26 in a few days and he is 30.

I was diagnosed with PCOS at the age on 14. I have been on BCP for the majority of the time since then. I stopped taking BC Sept 2008, but we continued to use condoms. I have only had 2 cycles since then (last one was in April). In May I switched OBGYNs.  The new Dr ran some general fertility blood work then. The test results came back suggesting that I would indeed need some assistance in getting preggers, but my insulin levels where fine. We discussed going on Clomid when the time was right for us.

DH and I have decided that we are ready and threw out the condoms this week. YAY!! I called my OBGYN yesterday to tell her that we want TTC and that I hadnt had a cycle since I saw her last. She advised me to take a HPT (BFN- no big shocker there)and she would call me today to discuss a fertility plan then. Well she called me today she said she rather have me come in to office then discuss the medication over the phone. I couldnt get an appt until Aug 20th b/c of my schedule. So I guess I'm just waiting until then.

I'm very excited and nervous at the same time. My entire sexual life I have been nervous-nelly about getting preggers and now that I want to I'm afraid it will be a long road. Sorry if I rambled but we've made the decission not to tell anyone in our family we are TTC to help keep the pressure off of us, and I am just dying to share with someone.

aj5oh00

Welcome!  I know EXACTLY how you feel!  I'm 26, with PCOS, TTC #1.  The most important piece of advice I can give you is to go ahead and meet with a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) as soon as possible.  You could really even skip the appt. with your OBGYN.  I started with my OBGYN and because they aren't specially trained in fertility it caused me to develop cysts on my ovaries and pushed us back several months.  Most RE's are VERY familiar with PCOS and will get you on the right track right away.  Good luck and let me know if you have any questions

BeccaLandes

It is definitely exciting when you start TTC.  I am glad that you are hopeful, and I hope that your doctor can help you get pregnant.  Since you have PCOS and irregular cycles, you might want to see a reproductive endocrinologist, whose job it is to get women with endocrine problems (like PCOS) pregnant.  I'm sure you'll have plenty of questions in the coming weeks, and this is a great place to ask them.  Welcome, and good luck!

Anasara

Welcome!  I am currently being ruled out for PCOS.  I have had regular, apparently ovulatory cycles since going off BCPs & no symptoms to speak of.  However, my RE found that my insulin was on the border of normal to high even though my glucose was normal; my FSH was also on the border of normal to high.  So, I'm getting an internal U/S next CD3 & will probably then be moving on to medicated IUIs.  I'm on Metformin now; there was a bit of an adjustment tummy-wise the first few days but things seems to have settled down now.  GL!

ABColeslaw

You know, I think the best advice I can give you is as follows.  When I was 25 I thought I have all the time in the world to see a regular gyn about my PCOS and advice and help getting pregnant.  That lasted two months.  Then I went to an endocrinologist  (If you have pcos you should be seeing one reg anyway)  I let that last for two and a half years.  And now I'm a breath away from 30 and my fertility being cut further and just now thinking "maybe I should have seen a reproductive endo sooner" 

Do yourself a favor, cancel your appt and go see a reproductive endo.  Your hormones need to be regulated by someone who has been trained to do it.  Don't waste your time, energy and emotions.  I know you're excited now just to be starting.  But I promise you as the months go by, you'll kick yourself in the rear.  

Heres hoping that you'll have an easier time than me or any of the other girls on here with PCOS.  And heres hoping that if you choose to stay with your gyn, that shes the best gyn in the world.  

 

Good luck!

BMWwife

Thanks for the encouragement!

I had been seeing an RE since I was 14.  I changed Drs this year for a couple of reasons. 1. Insurance changed and for best coverage I needed to see a provider that practices at the hospital I work at. 2. My old RE refused to discuss TTC until I maintained a weight loss. I know that is the healthiest way TTC but I have battle my weight for years which she saw through out my visits. I decided that Yo-Yo dieting was not the way I wanted to live.

 When I met my new OBGYN I discussed all of this with her and whether  or not she would be able to help be concieve. She said that she would most likely try me on clomid first and if that did not work then send me to a RE. I'm going to give this OBGYN  a chance I really like her and she is one of the most popular  Drs in our hospital.

 

 

jastl32

Welcome! Hope your stay here is short. 

I'm totally with you - it's amazing how we worry all those years about getting pregnant, and then when it's time for us to, we realize it really isn't that easy.

I, too, started with my obgyn and she is who diagnosed me with PCOS. While there are some out there who can help you, like pp's said, you will have better luck with an RE. I found my obgyn just wasn't giving me the time/attention I needed. After one cycle on clomid with my obgyn, I went to a specialist. I feel like I'm on the right track now and getting the answers/direction I need.

Good luck! Let us know how your appointment goes.  

ABColeslaw

Sounds like you've thought this out so good luck!  Just do yourself this one favor.  Make a deadline for yourself.  If you don't feel right after a few months, don't feel badly about moving on.  And if it does work, yay for you!

aj5oh00

Hollysmoffett:

Sounds like you've thought this out so good luck!  Just do yourself this one favor.  Make a deadline for yourself.  If you don't feel right after a few months, don't feel badly about moving on.  And if it does work, yay for you!

 Agreed!!  I was afraid to go to RE for insurance purposes but a lot of insurance covers PCOS appointments with an RE.

BMWwife

Insurance is definitely one of the reasons I want to wait it out with an OBGYN for a little bit. Currently we are on my husbands insurance and it has drastically changed and is hardly covering anything before we meet our very high deductible. In October we can switch to my insurance that will cover everything with no deductible. So I would say my time line is October. If by then I feel like OBGYN just isnt going to cut it I will pursue finding a new RE.

aj5oh00

BMWwife:

Insurance is definitely one of the reasons I want to wait it out with an OBGYN for a little bit. Currently we are on my husbands insurance and it has drastically changed and is hardly covering anything before we meet our very high deductible. In October we can switch to my insurance that will cover everything with no deductible. So I would say my time line is October. If by then I feel like OBGYN just isnt going to cut it I will pursue finding a new RE.

 Sounds like a good plan!  Good Luck!

halfnhalf

Good luck!  I have PCOS too, and know some people IRL who do as well.  Some have used OBGyns, and others have used RE's.  It does seem like the RE's are probably the MOST helpful, but there are OBGyns who know what they're doing and specialize in infertility - and sometimes even PCOS.  So give it a shot - what she described sounds pretty typical (starting with Clomid, etc) and just make sure you feel comfortable and clued in.  And remember, for some people it happens really fast (be ready!) and for others, it just takes some time (be ready for that, too!). 

Good luck again!!