PCOS-How long did it take you?

ashmdp12 · September 2012

My husband and I have been married for 5 months now. Even though we don't plan on having kids for another 5 years, I have had babies on the brain from the moment we said "I do".

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15. I've been on birth control since then (10 years). I never really experienced symptoms other than irregular periods until about 2 years ago. My gyno put me on Metformin and it helped...I also lost 60lbs! The only downside to the Metformin is it wants to make me ovulate, so we have been using two forms on birth control to prevent anything from happening. I've done some research on PCOS and infertility and I've heard stories from both ends of the spectrum; it's either no big deal trying to get pregnant or can't get pregnant and/or have had many miscarriages.

So I went in for my well woman a few weeks ago. I mentioned to my gyno how we want to wait to have kids and how I'm not sure if we should start trying now because it could take years to conceive. She told me that it would only take 3-6 months once I stop the birth control because the Metformin would kick in and I would start ovulating again.

My question is...women with PCOS...how long did it take you to conceive?

RissKay · September 2012

I have friends who got pregnant on the first try when the ovulated the first time with the medication.

cellomusic11 · September 2012

1 st month with my first son

6 months with my second

2 years with baby # 3

kstand85 · September 2012

It took my husband and I 2 months of trying, but we had an early miscarriage (at 6 weeks). This pregnancy took us over a year of trying. I wasn't on any medication though.

bearkatjen · September 2012

It took 8 cycles. 6 of those were not on Metformin. The 7th cycle I started Metformin, but I was still building up to my full dose of 1500 mg. 8th cycle was my first cycle at 1500 mg of Metformin and we got a BFP. I stayed on Metformin for my whole pregnancy, as it lowers the risk of miscarriage at least in the 1st tri.

Before the Metformin I was having a regular 28 day period, but I showed signs of Oing on day 17. My NP said without the Metformin, i was not producing enough of progesterone or something.

I know for other women, it's a feat to just ovulate, so I don't think my problems were as severe as what many other women deal with when it comes to PCOS.

This second pregnancy was a surprise, an excellent reminder to be extra careful on Metformin until you are ready to try.

MrsCarroll.6-10-07 · September 2012

I just responded to your post in 3rd tri.

Lucky2K13 · September 2012

One month. I can't take birth control pills and was not on any medication. I consider myself extremely fortunate though.

mz07 · September 2012

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 24, and my doctor put me on Metformin right away. His thinking was that Metformin treats the underlying problems of PCOS, which is NOT just irregular periods, but a whole host of hormonal problems. So I'd been on metformin for 8 years before my DH and I tried to get pregnant, and we got pregnant on the 1st try. I never had to worry about adding in hormonal birth control or something else since I didn't get married until I was 30, and after that we used NFP.

TimingisEverything · September 2012

I don't think there is a set answer for this. I have PCOS and I am on my third pregnancy and I have three different stories.

#1, pcos caused me to just not ovulate and not have a period for 6 months. the doc ended up having to put me on pills to get me to ovulate and have cycles so I could try. I wasn't focused on conceiving, just on getting my cycles normal and before I had my first official period I was ku without trying.

#2, I was ovulating on my own but my cycles were all over the place. I was put on clomid to help regulate things. took me 13 cycles to concieve.

#3, preventing and still got ku.

KatieKim0815 · September 2012

With this baby it took us a year to get pregnant on Metformin, successfully. We had a miscarriage and a chemical pregnancy during that year before we saw a heartbeat with this pregnancy!

Unfortunately PCOS does have a heightened risk of miscarriage so for me this was the case though it isn't for everyone!

Allycat11 · September 2012

It really can vary.

DH and I spent 1 1/2 years of not preventing before our first BFP, that pregnancy ended in a m/c.

After the m/c it took 6 or 7 cycles of charting with perfect timing to conceive this LO.

hmontty · September 2012

I was diagnosed with PCOS at about 24 years old and was put on metformin right away, and I have been on it ever since. It did make my periods regular and my weight control much easier, along with other wonderful changes.

I was married at 30, and about six months later (now 31), we decided to try. We conceived on the first attempt. I stayed on the metformin. However, we did miscarry at about 10 weeks, with light pink spotting starting at 7 weeks. A blood test revealed that my progesterone was way too low. I was told this was a symptom of a bad pregnancy and just to try again.

We tried (and tried, and tried) for a year with no results. We went to a fertility clinic at that point and were put on several months of Clomid, to no avail. We then did three rounds of the "turkey baster," also to no avail. The good thing that came from all this was that the doc discovered that my progesterone levels were ALWAYS too low either to get pregnant or, if pregnant, to maintain the pregnancy.

He wanted to move me to IVF, but I thought, why? Just give me progesterone supplementation, and we will try on our own. That's what we did, and after two years of trying with no success, we conceived after two months using progesterone. I remained on the metformin the whole pregnancy and on the progesterone until week 14. That baby is now a healthy and happy 18-month-old girl.

Fast-forward: we decided to try again last spring, and we conceived on the first attempt using progesterone (and still metformin). That baby is now my current LO.

So my personal PCOS experience is that yes, metformin helps a great deal, but other issues can also impact what will happen with your fertility. I have no idea if the low progesterone production is a PCOS thing or not, or maybe I just have two separate issues at once, but I was able to overcome them easily with the right "drugs" and have one perfect daughter and another very healthy, easy pregnancy to show for it.

I always advise my friends, especially if they are older, to start trying sooner rather than later because you just never know what road bumps you are going to encounter -- and if you encounter those bumps, getting around them can take several years sometimes.

Good luck!

82Sonia · September 2012

I have PCOS but am not overweight at all (I know that excess weight can adversely affect your fertility). I was put on Metformin in September and got pregnant in April. We were planning on moving onto IUI in May if nothing had happened.

onlymeggan · September 2012

Pregnancy #1- Clomid and 2 cycles BFP, blighted ovum and D&C

Pregnancy #2- Metformin 2 cycles BFP, 10 lb 1 oz beautiful baby boy

Pregnancy #3- Metformin 1 cycle BFP, Still baking Big Smile

sensoregurl · September 2012

Pregnancy #1 - just over a year. I conceived on the cycle before we were going to start fertility treatments.Pregnancy #2 - surprise while nursing. Ended in miscarriage though.This pregnancy - about 5 months. I don't use metformin though. PCOS is different for everyone. Some never conceive. Some really don't have trouble. Good luck!

PnkDingo · September 2012

M/c at 16, diagnosed at 17 after years of symptoms and no real answers, on metformin from then until 21 when I had a m/c. Hadn't known I was pg. The metformin wasn't helping regulate my cycle and only made me physically Ill, so dr decided to let it go. Wasn't trying for or trying to prevent a pregnancy from 21 on, had another m/c at 23, had decided a month before my BFP, 27 now, that I was Ok with not having biological children and started researching adoption options. So far, so good with this pregnancy. Sorry so short typing on phone and it goes funky on me a lot.

shandorfml2 · September 2012

I have PCOS, not on metformin. Had more serious symptoms, took my 5 months with temping/charting

luckymom3 · September 2012

I have PCOS - lean though so weight was never the issue - I was on BCP before DS and it took us 3 months to conceive him without medication or any medical intervention.

For this LO, ......well, look at siggy.

Good luck!

ungraceful13 · September 2012

It took 9 months for us but we didn't find out about the PCOS until 5 months. Metformin helped me lose weight and ovulate. We were also dealing with MFI.

seaoxwife · September 2012

My first it took 6 long years and one miscarriage, then another 4 years before i got pregnant again and miscarried, again a long wait and got pregnant again in april of this year and miscarried again, I got pregnant again right after the miscarriage and I am currently 15 weeks, super excited and still worry sometimes but baby looks great so my fingers are crossed. Good luck!!!!!!

aklawrence1 · September 2012

I either wasn't ovulating or it was so random that I could never even guess, so we tried for about a year and a half with no real luck. One M/C that my dr said was probably a "fluke" but my progesterone levels were also affected, so it was difficult. We had to use Clomid, but once we started that, 3 cycles. I'm sure everyone is different but it can happen!

Jezebell26 · September 2012

There is really no clear cut answer. Everyone is different. I was on metformin and changed my lifestyle and never ovulated on my own. It took 2.5+ years to get here from IVF #3 with two miscarriages. I had no medical reason for my m/c besides my weight and PCOS. I was also diagnosed at 16 and was on BCPs to regulate it. When we were ready to try I started immediately with a Reproductive Endocrinologist and did all the basic testing and had my PCOS confirmed and we started with treatments. How your body will respond to those treatments, I can not answer. I have seen women with pcos get pregnant on their own, with clomid, with timed intercourse, with IUIs, with IVFs and FETs. I had no response to clomid, I over responded to injects and it was decided I needed IVF to get pregnant. I had a lap surgery and moved forward. It was not easy but I knew I wanted to start a family and would do whatever it took. I stayed on metformin throughout first tri and am now being screened for GD. It is up to you with your comfort level and how aggressive you want to be. We never thought it would take us this long to be successful and we started a little earlier then we were comfortable with. We now regret not starting sooner. It isnt a bad idea to come off the birth control and see what your body does, with and without metformin. You could use condoms and other methods or abstain during your ovulation. If you are not ready for the medical aspect then try ovulation predictor kits to see if you are ovulating on the metformin. I cant stress enough to get a reproductive endocrinologist when you are ready. OBs are not trained in getting you pregnant, especially with a medical diagnosis of PCOS. Best of luck and PM me if you have any questions!

ETA: After my second m/c I changed my entire lifestyle. I lost 50lbs, was on met, found new dr's, had a new clinic, new protocol and had the best cycle ever. We even have three snowbabies waiting for us!

Jbosarge85 · September 2012

I might get flamed for saying this but some women with PCOS are never able to conceive. My sister in law has been actively trying for 3 years, she's been on all sorts of oral medication as well as injections. She was doing a serious of shots and oral medication and going into a specialist every week and her egg just wouldn't grow large enough to be released, so they told her there is nothing more they can do. It's a hard, painful thing to deal with and I hope you don't have to, but there is a possibility of never being able to conceive.

jastl32 · September 2012

I have PCOS and am not insulin resistant so I never took metformin. It took a year of treatments to get pregnant with dd. With this pregnancy, it was somewhat of a surprise BFP when I went off the pill and it was my second month off it.

Lariah14 · September 2012

I have a friend w/ PCSO and it took them 2 years.

buttaflly227 · September 2012

I've had PCOS forever and it's been pretty mild, just irregular periods and the occasional burst cyst! I thought it would take like 2+ years to get pregnant because my doc said it takes a healthy normal couple usually a YEAR so I was like we should try asap so I don't get old lol. (I'm 24 but want 4kids) and you never know how long it'll take etc. Bottom line, it took TWO WEEKS. I was SHOCKED. If I knew it would have been that easy I'd have waited another year or so but I'm grateful still SOO grateful.

Do what feels right but if you start trying now, be ready to be pregnant now too!

P.S

I got pregnant with NO help of any kind but gravity