Trouble TTC

Diagnosed with PCOS

Hey Ladies,
Today at the doctor's office I took an ultrasound and discussed my history.  I was diagnosed with PCOS.  I am now taking Medroxyprogesterone (aka: provera) to see if AF will start.  She said my lining was thin which I was surprised because I had take two different doses (50 and 100mg) of Progesterone before this new prescription.  I have been researching PCOS.  If anyone has it or has conceived with it what advice can you give me.  Also, I am researching ER doctor's in my area. Do you think they could help more than an OBGYN?  Any advice, suggestions, personal testimony dealing with this is greatly appreciated.

me 28-DH 30
dated DH - 2001
married DH- 4/4/2009
off BC & TTC - March 2013 
diagnosed with PCOS on July 29, 2013
SA-  low sperm count, low motility, and forward progression 
Medicated cycle #1 with 100mg clomid cycle (October 3)-  No ovulation or mature follies were present on U/S day 14. IUI was cancelled.
BFP on 11/23/13!! Due date is July 20, 2014!
Yeah! DH and I did it on our own without any treatments or procedures. We are excited about our miracle baby.

Re: Diagnosed with PCOS

  • Sorry I meant RE not ER

    me 28-DH 30
    dated DH - 2001
    married DH- 4/4/2009
    off BC & TTC - March 2013 
    diagnosed with PCOS on July 29, 2013
    SA-  low sperm count, low motility, and forward progression 
    Medicated cycle #1 with 100mg clomid cycle (October 3)-  No ovulation or mature follies were present on U/S day 14. IUI was cancelled.
    BFP on 11/23/13!! Due date is July 20, 2014!
    Yeah! DH and I did it on our own without any treatments or procedures. We are excited about our miracle baby.
  • I was diagnosed with PCOS too. I started1500 mg of Metformin to help regulate my cycles, which it did. However, I have not gotten pregnant yet. RE's are in the business of getting you pregnant and OB's are in the business of taking care of you once you are pregnant. Have you had blood work or any other testing?
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  • ErinSaysErinSays member
    edited July 2013
    If you can see an RE, definitely do it! I have PCOS and my OBGYN would have just written me a scrip for Clomid and sent me off. My RE monitors my cycles and also has me trigger ovulation to take the guesswork out. I would have used Clomid for 6 months without knowing that my response was poor if I had stuck with my OB.
    Me (34) & DH (45) - NTNP since June 2011
    RE: 12/1/12 - Me: PCOS; DH: Low T
    2/13: DH's T went from 190 to 777!
    Cycle 1 1/25/13: Clomid 100mg + Trigger + TI + Progesterone = Ectopic pregnancy
    3/7/13: MTX injections put me on the bench.
    Cycle 2 6/7/13: Clomid 100mg CD3-7 = No response
    Cycle 2.1 Clomid 150mg CD 19-23 + Trigger + TI + Progesterone = BFN
    Cycle 3 7/21/13: Clomid 150mg + Trigger + IUI #1 + Progesterone = BFN
    Cycle 4 8/25/13: Bravelle 75-112iu + Trigger + IUI #2 + Progesterone = BFN
    Cycle 5 9/23/13: Bravelle 75-225iu + Trigger + IUI #3 + Progesterone = BFFN
    Onto IVF - starting injects on Christmas Day

    image
  • You ladies are awesome and thank you for responding.  This makes it a little less overwelming knowing that there are other people with this who cares about helping others.  I will be looking into RE'S today.  I do feel my OBGYN has written prescriptions to help, but she doesn't really sit down and explain in depth about PCOS and procedures.  When I go there I wait in the waiting room for about an hour and get to see all the wonderful glowing pregnant women wishing it was me.  I feel its all about the quantity of people they see instead of providing quality feed back.  When I can get an appointment with an RE I plan on bringing my lab results and ultrasound pictures, but should I bring anything else what should I ask, and what should I expect?  Also, how often do you go to the RE? If you have insurance what would the co pay and will insurance cover a RE?

    KLN and ERIN- How long did it take you to find the correct dose to regulate your period?  

    KLN- Besides the ultrasound, I had two blood test which showed all signs being "normal" (at least that is what the doctor said) It showed the Progesterone levels, TSH, LH, FSH and Prolactin.  I am unsure what I am looking for when I am reading all these numbers and feel really ignorant.   

    me 28-DH 30
    dated DH - 2001
    married DH- 4/4/2009
    off BC & TTC - March 2013 
    diagnosed with PCOS on July 29, 2013
    SA-  low sperm count, low motility, and forward progression 
    Medicated cycle #1 with 100mg clomid cycle (October 3)-  No ovulation or mature follies were present on U/S day 14. IUI was cancelled.
    BFP on 11/23/13!! Due date is July 20, 2014!
    Yeah! DH and I did it on our own without any treatments or procedures. We are excited about our miracle baby.
  • I also have PCOS, but they wont consider any medications for me until my DH does his SA... guess i'm confused by that but whatever... whats an RE? Reading what KLN said... the RE is more aggressive then the ob/gyn?? Does anyone have trouble with insurance with paying for those kinds of specialists or infertility treatments?

    **siggy warning**

    Me: 30 dx w/PCOS 7/13

    DH: 31
    TTC 11/12
    started Metformin 9/13
    HSG, tubes open but narrow uterus... f/u with RE 3d u/s everything 'normal'
    2/14: hopefully 1st IUI... timing off before trip, waiting until 4/14
    3/27: POAS= BFP!!!
    3/28: beta#1: 108
    4/2: beta#2: 799
    4/11: u/s 6w1d EDD 12/4, 1 little penguin!

    7/7:  We're having a girl!
    12/11: after lots of labor/delivery/nicu excitment baby Piper Mae born 1859 @ 8lbs, 21.5"





  • mmb248mmb248 member
    I was diagnosed with PCOS (insulin resistant) by my ob/gyn in March 2012.  She prescribed 1500mg of Metformin every day and after 6 months I started ovulating.  I had my first appointment with my RE 4 weeks ago. 

    Be thankful that your dr won't consider any medications until your DH does his SA.  Lots of ob/gyns will prescribe Clomid, a powerful drug to stimulate ovulation, before testing is done, which is dangerous.  What's the point in taking drugs that could mess with your system if your DH could have problems that need to be addressed?  You can produce all the eggs in the world, but without his sperm, you're subjecting yourself to serious drugs for no reason.

    I'm lucky.  My insurance covers the metformin like it would any other prescribed medication, and it covers my RE and all fertility treatments/drugs at 70%.  However, other women with the same insurance company aren't covered at all.  Totally depends on your insurance plan.
    imageimage
    Me: 33     DH: 38
    TTC since August 2011
    DX:  PCOS and subseptate uterus
    August 2013:  Clomid + Trigger + IUI TI = BFN
    September 2013:  Clomid + Trigger + TI = BFN
    October 2013:  Clomid + Trigger + IUI canceled
    November 2013:  NTNP
    April 2013:  Femara + Trigger + IUI = ???
    image
  • mmb248 said:
    I was diagnosed with PCOS (insulin resistant) by my ob/gyn in March 2012.  She prescribed 1500mg of Metformin every day and after 6 months I started ovulating.  I had my first appointment with my RE 4 weeks ago. 

    Be thankful that your dr won't consider any medications until your DH does his SA.  Lots of ob/gyns will prescribe Clomid, a powerful drug to stimulate ovulation, before testing is done, which is dangerous.  What's the point in taking drugs that could mess with your system if your DH could have problems that need to be addressed?  You can produce all the eggs in the world, but without his sperm, you're subjecting yourself to serious drugs for no reason.

    I'm lucky.  My insurance covers the metformin like it would any other prescribed medication, and it covers my RE and all fertility treatments/drugs at 70%.  However, other women with the same insurance company aren't covered at all.  Totally depends on your insurance plan.

    This. 

    I was dxed with IR PCOS and prescribed 1500 mg metformin.  I agree that it is not a good idea to start any kind of fertility drugs or treatment without having all the tests and information.  Like PP said, you can take all the meds in the world but if your DH has MFI issues the meds will not help. 

    My insurance covers metformin and covered all of my testing but does not cover treatments.  So IUIs or medications that are specifically for fertility we are OOP.  It definitely sucks but it is what we have to do. 

     

    @Imlee15 an RE is a reproductive endorcrinologist.  Their sole job is to help GET you pregnant.  An OB's job is to keep you pregnant once you get there.  If you are going to do fertility treatments I would always recommend an RE since they have the specialized skill and knowledge to deal with fertility issues.  Whether it is covered by insurance, depends on your policy and carrier. 


     

    **************SIGGY WARNING**************

    BLOG

    Me 32 :: DH 41

     TTC since November, 2011

    DH's SA : Excellent

    Lap and Hysteroscopy June 2012

    DX: PCOS, Stage III Endo, slight Adenomyosis, blocked tube, and probable LPD

    Treatments:  6 Months Lupron Depot injections; 1500 mg metformin; 3 cycles of Clomid + TI = BFN

    3 endometrial biopsies all were "out of phase" 

    September - December, 2013:  Break to lose weight and get healthy

    40 lb weight loss but still not ovulating "in phase"  

    February - March 2014: bcps + follistim + trigger + TI = BFP

     Beta #1 (12dpo): 30; Beta #2 (18dpo): 500; Beta #3 (25dpo): 7,000!!! 

    1st u/s 4/16: One beautiful hb at 144 bmp 

    2nd u/s 4/29: hb at 166 bmp.  Graduated from RE!!

    TEAM PINK! 

    Baby girl arrived on Thanksgiving day weighing 7lbs 6oz and measuring 20 inches

    image 

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    image


  • Thanks for the info... I understand not starting clomid or ovulating meds, but if metformin is as great as they say it is and is better for me in the long run in preventing other health problems (cardiovascular/type 2 diabetes/gestational diabetes, etc) then I feel like I should be taking it while we are doing the other work up stuff. My DH gives his SA in a couple of weeks and as you all know the waiting game sucksssssss.... I hate sitting around doing nothing, it's driving me crazy! You can only keep yourself so busy/active before you run out of things to do. (i'm painting my house, room by room... sigh lol) Between that, working and trying to stay in shape I don't know what else to do. Retail therapy would be nice sure, but our insurance company covers nothing related to infertility and knowing how much things could potentially cost has me not wanting to spend any money on things that arent necessary. Any suggestions for other things to do?

    **siggy warning**

    Me: 30 dx w/PCOS 7/13

    DH: 31
    TTC 11/12
    started Metformin 9/13
    HSG, tubes open but narrow uterus... f/u with RE 3d u/s everything 'normal'
    2/14: hopefully 1st IUI... timing off before trip, waiting until 4/14
    3/27: POAS= BFP!!!
    3/28: beta#1: 108
    4/2: beta#2: 799
    4/11: u/s 6w1d EDD 12/4, 1 little penguin!

    7/7:  We're having a girl!
    12/11: after lots of labor/delivery/nicu excitment baby Piper Mae born 1859 @ 8lbs, 21.5"





  • I have PCOS, and have been on different doses of Metformin over the past 9 years and none have made any difference.  In May this year, my RE put me on 2,000mg and in June I OVULATED!  I was completely anovulatory before that, I never got AF unless I was on BC or had taken Provera.  I was also completely unresponsive to the Clomid the my OBGyn prescribed.  Assuming your issue is insulin resistance, which is a most common cause for PCOS, most drs would prescribe Metformin.  Did anyone mention that to you?

    I also agree on seeing the RE.  Mine was the one who upped my dose of the Metformin and it seems to be working.  According to my charting and OPKs, I believe I'm about DPO 3 today, so we'll see!  Hoping and praying for no need for the IVF. 

    But good luck to you and let us know how you make out and if you learn anything new that you can share!
    Me 31 ~ DH 30
    IVF/FET #1 - BFP!!
    <3 CJW 6/15/2014 <3
    DX - PCOS 2004
    FET #2 - scheduled for 11/24/15
  • Just called around for RE's and my insurance covers nothing!!!  UGH!!! I am hoping AF will come with this new med.  If not DH and I will be saving up money.  I concur with you Imlee the waiting game SUCKS!!! Just curious what type of insurance plan covers some of the RE's cost.  I can tell you all Blue Cross/ Blue Shield doesn"t.  

    me 28-DH 30
    dated DH - 2001
    married DH- 4/4/2009
    off BC & TTC - March 2013 
    diagnosed with PCOS on July 29, 2013
    SA-  low sperm count, low motility, and forward progression 
    Medicated cycle #1 with 100mg clomid cycle (October 3)-  No ovulation or mature follies were present on U/S day 14. IUI was cancelled.
    BFP on 11/23/13!! Due date is July 20, 2014!
    Yeah! DH and I did it on our own without any treatments or procedures. We are excited about our miracle baby.
  • CONGRATES on ovulating. I am so excited for you.   As far I know I do not have insulin resistance issue which I guess is why she prescribed provera and not metformin.  I am IR and cannot ovulate on my own. I guess if this med. doesn't work to start AF she may increase the dosage. and then will prescribe something else until I am ready to see the RE.  If you don't mind me asking what was the first visit like with the RE? What kind of tests do they do and what should I expect when I see a RE for the first time? Thanks for all the info and I will definitely update everyone if I learn anything new.  

    me 28-DH 30
    dated DH - 2001
    married DH- 4/4/2009
    off BC & TTC - March 2013 
    diagnosed with PCOS on July 29, 2013
    SA-  low sperm count, low motility, and forward progression 
    Medicated cycle #1 with 100mg clomid cycle (October 3)-  No ovulation or mature follies were present on U/S day 14. IUI was cancelled.
    BFP on 11/23/13!! Due date is July 20, 2014!
    Yeah! DH and I did it on our own without any treatments or procedures. We are excited about our miracle baby.
  • mmb248mmb248 member
    KatieN123 said:
    Just called around for RE's and my insurance covers nothing!!!  UGH!!! I am hoping AF will come with this new med.  If not DH and I will be saving up money.  I concur with you Imlee the waiting game SUCKS!!! Just curious what type of insurance plan covers some of the RE's cost.  I can tell you all Blue Cross/ Blue Shield doesn"t.  
    That sucks that your plan doesn't cover anything IF related.  My Blue Cross/Blue Shield covers 70% for 6 IUI cycles and 3 IVF cycles.  All testing (HSG, b/w) is covered at the regular 80% rate.  DH's BCBS plan covers 90% of everything (even IF), but I can't get on his insurance without proving that I'm unemployed or my employer doesn't provide insurance.
    imageimage
    Me: 33     DH: 38
    TTC since August 2011
    DX:  PCOS and subseptate uterus
    August 2013:  Clomid + Trigger + IUI TI = BFN
    September 2013:  Clomid + Trigger + TI = BFN
    October 2013:  Clomid + Trigger + IUI canceled
    November 2013:  NTNP
    April 2013:  Femara + Trigger + IUI = ???
    image
  • I found out "my" insurance plan doesn't cover it because the employer decides what types of coverage that the employees can have.  Unfortunately, RE's are not covered for my insurance plan.  I meant to put my instead of "all".  Sorry about the typo.

    me 28-DH 30
    dated DH - 2001
    married DH- 4/4/2009
    off BC & TTC - March 2013 
    diagnosed with PCOS on July 29, 2013
    SA-  low sperm count, low motility, and forward progression 
    Medicated cycle #1 with 100mg clomid cycle (October 3)-  No ovulation or mature follies were present on U/S day 14. IUI was cancelled.
    BFP on 11/23/13!! Due date is July 20, 2014!
    Yeah! DH and I did it on our own without any treatments or procedures. We are excited about our miracle baby.
  • KatieN123 said:
    You ladies are awesome and thank you for responding.  This makes it a little less overwelming knowing that there are other people with this who cares about helping others.  I will be looking into RE'S today.  I do feel my OBGYN has written prescriptions to help, but she doesn't really sit down and explain in depth about PCOS and procedures.  When I go there I wait in the waiting room for about an hour and get to see all the wonderful glowing pregnant women wishing it was me.  I feel its all about the quantity of people they see instead of providing quality feed back.  When I can get an appointment with an RE I plan on bringing my lab results and ultrasound pictures, but should I bring anything else what should I ask, and what should I expect?  Also, how often do you go to the RE? If you have insurance what would the co pay and will insurance cover a RE?

    KLN and ERIN- How long did it take you to find the correct dose to regulate your period?  

    KLN- Besides the ultrasound, I had two blood test which showed all signs being "normal" (at least that is what the doctor said) It showed the Progesterone levels, TSH, LH, FSH and Prolactin.  I am unsure what I am looking for when I am reading all these numbers and feel really ignorant.   

    I took 1500 mg of met. I got it through a regular endocrinologist since it is considered an endocrine disease. I saw her for almost 2 years before moving onto an RE.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I spent 18 months under my OB/GYN's care for IF before seeing and RE - I feel like I am in much better hands now!  My RE was able to diagnose my PCOS and come up with a treatment plan to get me on a more regular cycle -- I've been seeing my RE for years, and she wasn't able to diagnose it!  Even if insurance doesn't cover an RE for you, check to see if it covers diagnosis of IF - you can have your OB order a semen analysis, an HSG test for you (to make sure your tubes are clear),all the hormone tests, a full thyroid panel of lab tests, etc. (some of the easier things to test, to make sure there aren't other issues going on). 

    I take Femara (letrazole) every month to help keep my cycles regular (with so much less side effects than Clomid), so even if you just took Femara under your OB's care, you wouldn't need u/s monitoring (like you would with Clomid).  If after several months things aren't working, then you may want to pay for an RE visit.  Good luck!

    TTC since July 2011
     
    Me(33): normal HSG; diagnosed with mild PCOS

    DH(35): normal SA
     
    *6 cycles no meds, July-Dec. 2011, all BFN
     
    *Clomid for 3 cycles, Jan-March 2011: BFP March 2011
     
    *MC at 6 weeks

    *2 cycles off
     
    *Started TTC again July 2012 with Clomid, 6 cycles from July-Dec. 2012, all BFN
     
    *1 cycle no meds: BFN
     
    *1 cycle Femara: BFN
     
    *1st RE visit March 2013 - first IUI in April 2013 with Femara, Menopur, and Novarel (BFN); second IUI in May 2013, same protocol (BFN); two cycle break;  third IUI in August 2013, same protocol (BFN)

    *1st IVF cycle, October 2013 (Synarel, Menopur (75 iu), and Gonal-F (150 iu)) -- BFP!!  Saw two babies at our 5wk5d u/s on Oct. 28th!  EDD=June 25, 2014

  • Thanks for all the input!  It really helps.

    me 28-DH 30
    dated DH - 2001
    married DH- 4/4/2009
    off BC & TTC - March 2013 
    diagnosed with PCOS on July 29, 2013
    SA-  low sperm count, low motility, and forward progression 
    Medicated cycle #1 with 100mg clomid cycle (October 3)-  No ovulation or mature follies were present on U/S day 14. IUI was cancelled.
    BFP on 11/23/13!! Due date is July 20, 2014!
    Yeah! DH and I did it on our own without any treatments or procedures. We are excited about our miracle baby.
  • KatieN123KatieN123 member
    edited July 2013
    You are awesome!!! Thank you for posting.  I will check into that. Maybe I could ask for a second opinion of why I cant get a AF? or  a follow up for PCOS to get AF started since its a medical condition.  I will call if provera doesn't start AF.

    me 28-DH 30
    dated DH - 2001
    married DH- 4/4/2009
    off BC & TTC - March 2013 
    diagnosed with PCOS on July 29, 2013
    SA-  low sperm count, low motility, and forward progression 
    Medicated cycle #1 with 100mg clomid cycle (October 3)-  No ovulation or mature follies were present on U/S day 14. IUI was cancelled.
    BFP on 11/23/13!! Due date is July 20, 2014!
    Yeah! DH and I did it on our own without any treatments or procedures. We are excited about our miracle baby.
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