Trouble TTC

PCOS and Gluten/"Healthy" diet

I'm so frustrated with the lack of information out there about PCOS. You can Google pretty much any other health topic, and I feel like there are days and days of information to sort through. Meanwhile, I feel like PCOS has a couple reputable articles out there (that I've read 10 times) and then a plethora of websites that look quite frankly scammy/fake. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've looked at those as well.

While the fertility issues suck, what I want more than anything is for my body to behave normally! I've read a lot about gluten free diets, and some people swear that it regulated their cycle. That being said, their irregular cycles were like 40 days where I'm over here not having had a visit from AF naturally since God knows when. I'm just curious if any of you tried going on a healthy diet and if you saw a change in your cycle or not. While I want to get pregnant, ultimately I want to be healthy!
DX PCOS + mild male factor
TTC since Dec. 2015
Current Treatment: Metformin, Provera, Letrozole, Trigger, IUI
Past Treatment: Clomid + Metformin x 3 BFN
Letrozole 5 mg + Trigger shot + IUI = BFP!
Beta confirmed 8/22
EDD 5/1/17

Re: PCOS and Gluten/"Healthy" diet

  • The only time I've had close to a regular cycle (aside from being on bc) was when I was eating very little healthfully and exercising hardcore. It was unattainable for me, though and still, I wasn't completely regular. Just more so than I had ever been. I haven't ever read anything about gluten free and my Dr hasn't said anything, but I think there is definitely some wisdom in maintaining a healthy weight.

    I agree with you about wanting to have a body that works properly, even aside from trying to get pregnant. It's been frustrating to have such jacked up cycles even when I wasn't necessarily trying to conceive.
  • A paleo or keto type diet is supposed to be the best, mainly for the PCOSers who have insulin resistance. I haven't found or heard anything about diet/exercise for those who don't have insulin resistance.

    It doesn't hurt to try and see how it affects your cycles!

    I personally try to get exercise in and eat more whole foods and less processed foods. I haven't noticed a difference in cycles but I do in overall health. :)
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  • You might want to try the Soul Cysters website for additional PCOS information and recipes!  There is information out there but I agree it's not easy to find.


    Married for 7 years, TTC for 4 years
    dx:  Diminished Ovarian Reserve
    2 Clomid IUI's + 4 injectable IUI's= 5 BFNs and 1 mc




  • All good things to think about. I definitely eat healthfully compared to most folks I think. Now, I do still enjoy a good french fry but I try to bake those at home and only enjoy them once in awhile. I drink mostly water except for my one cup of tea or coffee a day. and I exercise regularly, even if it is just a twenty minute walk around the neighborhood. Good news is that my day 2 labs finally came back and everything is normal on those. Still, sometimes I wish I could sit my body in a time out and tell it to get its sh*t together!
    DX PCOS + mild male factor
    TTC since Dec. 2015
    Current Treatment: Metformin, Provera, Letrozole, Trigger, IUI
    Past Treatment: Clomid + Metformin x 3 BFN
    Letrozole 5 mg + Trigger shot + IUI = BFP!
    Beta confirmed 8/22
    EDD 5/1/17
  • My doctor put me on basically a paleo diet, without specific carb restrictions but at about 1790 calories (my BMI was 31 and my insulin looks prediabetic, though my glucose is fine). So I don't eat Any grains, and I aim for about a 50-30-20 fat-protein-carb ratio. I exercise about 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week, either isometrics or run-walk. So far I've lost about 8 lb, while still having cheat days (12-inch county fair corn dog with cheese curds and ice cream, anyone?). As much as I love pasta and bread, its not so bad anymore. At least I can have a steak and blue cheese salad :D

    That's been about 8 weeks now, and my bbt chart (after finishing high Vitamin A for chronic mono) was picture perfect, ovulation and all. Except it was still 48 days :p. Haven't seen that in the 2 years I've been TTC. My periods technically average about 50 days now (38-72), but before my mc in November, they were exactly 90 days after BC. We'll see if this next cycle goes well, but so far my bbt has been Very stable, and it used to be super rocky.

    So, I'm a big fan of paleo/primal for PCOS. To me, from what two docs and lots of reading have said, it just seems to make sense, biologically. Especially if one is overweight or even a little IR. And if nothing else, I'll be way healthier than I was, if I use other interventions later.
    image
    Me(28) and Husband(39): 10/5/2013, TTC since 10/2013
    Metformin 7/2014, BFP 8/14/2014, MC 11/1/2014
    Dx: PCOS, cycles 38-72. As of 6/2015 trying to lose weight and fix cycles with diet and exercise!!
  • @clt2pwm11, my body deserves a huge time out. It definitely needs to get its sh*t together. And it needs to stop wanting tacos and cupcakes. That would make staying healthy a lot easier.  

    Congratulations on having good labs!
  • @Osteoblastic see this is what  like to hear! That sounds so positive. I am trying to get off the pasta, but I'm really struggling. It is my favorite. I do eat the whole wheat pasta which has to be better than the white enriched pasta, but still. Even though my labs suggest I'm not IR, I definitely can feel a difference when I do eat a heavy carb meal. I'm sure everyone feels a little bit sleepier after a carb-y meal, but I seriously have to take a nap most of the time. I can't keep my eyes open. This just doesn't seem normal to me!!
    DX PCOS + mild male factor
    TTC since Dec. 2015
    Current Treatment: Metformin, Provera, Letrozole, Trigger, IUI
    Past Treatment: Clomid + Metformin x 3 BFN
    Letrozole 5 mg + Trigger shot + IUI = BFP!
    Beta confirmed 8/22
    EDD 5/1/17
  • @clt2pwm11, if you want any support or someone to vent to about diet, I'm here :) I never, ever thought I'd have will power about food, but somehow this time it stuck. Probably because the naturopath told me I'm 40% fat, despite not appearing that chunky. That and really wanting that BFP :)
    image
    Me(28) and Husband(39): 10/5/2013, TTC since 10/2013
    Metformin 7/2014, BFP 8/14/2014, MC 11/1/2014
    Dx: PCOS, cycles 38-72. As of 6/2015 trying to lose weight and fix cycles with diet and exercise!!
  • I am new here but I would like to share my experience. I have PCOS with insulin resistance. I can honestly say I have done a ton of diets and the only way I have been able to lose weight and improve my cycles is with the help of a professional nutritionist and endocrinologist. I am not sure if you have insulin resistance or not, but if you do, it's a huge mistake to cut of certain things like for example carbs. Usually people tend to cut out carbs or anything else for that matter and when you have certain imbalances it can do more harm than good. I am scared to cut off anything before asking a professional, it's hard with an imbalance it's usually different than with a regular metabolism.The best investment (because my insurance won't cover a nutritionist) I did was get professional help, if you can I highly recommend it, there are specialist in hormone inbalances and can really make a difference.
    *BFP warning*
    *Child mentioned*
    TTC #2. Daughter born July 17th of 2013. 
    PCOS, Endo, Insulin Resitance. 

    HSG done Sep 17- tubes unblocked! SA done- came back good! Hysteroscopy done Nov7- No uterus issues 

    On 2550mg a day Metformin. 
    Round 1 of Clomid- 100mg CD3-7  BFN- Clomid left a huge cyst, AF arrived after 40 day cycle- BFN
    Round 1 of Femara- 10mg CD2-6 Mid cycle scan showed two follies (31mm and 27mm), trigger shot- BFN
    Benched out December- BFN
    Round 2 of Femara- BFP!!! First beta at 10dpo- 28 Second beta at 12 dpo- ? 
  • Oh, and I second Soul Cysters (even though it's great here!) Because they have specific posts you can Google that list research studies. I spent too much time there over the weekend :)
    image
    Me(28) and Husband(39): 10/5/2013, TTC since 10/2013
    Metformin 7/2014, BFP 8/14/2014, MC 11/1/2014
    Dx: PCOS, cycles 38-72. As of 6/2015 trying to lose weight and fix cycles with diet and exercise!!
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