Diagnosed with PCOS

JBT1116 · March 2016

I went to the OBGYN on March 3rd for a routine physical. While there we discussed some issues I've been having (irregular cycle/AF, rapid weight gain, infertility, skin tags, anxiety/depression/stress, sleep apnea/snoring, decreased sex drive, etc.). She drew labs and scheduled me for an ultrasound for the 17th.

I went back yesterday to have my US and it only showed 1 cyst on my ovaries and my A1C and Thyroid were normal. However, my FSH/LH were totally backwards. She said after ruling out everything else it was clear that I have PCOS. I was already prepared for that answer so I didn't freak out.

I asked her about Metformin but she said that I was way past that and recommended that I start Provera and Clomid to induce ovulation and if it didn't work we would bump it up next month and try again.

Is there any information or success stories out there that will make me feel hopeful about this next step?

Tulips29 · March 2016

Hi there. PCOS is no fun and I'm sorry you have to deal with it. I have it as well, and it's been a struggle for me since I was young. There are plenty of success stories of women getting pregnant with provera and clomid alone. I have 2 friends who were able to conceive naturally this way after a few months of pills. For me personally, it has not worked. BUT, I have also been diagnosed with PCOS when I was around 15 when my cycles just stopped showing up. I tried 7 months of provera/clomid + 3 rounds of IUI's with no luck so now I'm on the IVF bandwagon. I'm not saying it works for you, but I would suggest a more in-depth consultation with your doctor. It might also not hurt to talk to an RE if you see that provera and clomid aren't working for you. Good luck!

LizzieJ13 · March 2016

Hi @JohnnaToo - sorry for your diagnosis. I also have PCOS. Fortunately now that you have a diagnosis, you can do what it takes to get things working! I would agree with @Tulips29 that seeing an RE might be a good step. As soon as I said I wanted to have children, my OBGYN got me to an RE which I am very grateful for.

As for the Metformin, it might be "past that" in terms of it working on its own to help you get pregnant, but it's my understanding that it can help other fertility meds (Letrozole in my case) work better. It doesn't seem like it would hurt, and it's very inexpensive. Good luck to you, you've come to a great board!

em01092 · March 2016

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis love. I also have PCOS, which was suspected for a long time but recently confirmed. The only symptom I didn't have was irregular periods.

Anywho, I would question your doc about the "being past" Metformin bit. Metformin may or may not help you get pregnant, but it can help your PCOS in general. It can make it easier to lose weight. It affects the way your body reacts to insulin, which may or may not be an issue for you.

Did your doc say if your ovaries were enlarged on the U/S? Mine were like, 3 times larger than normal apparently. Left was 18 cm and right was like 9cm. Also I know you said you have irregular periods but do you know about when in your cycle you would have been for this u/s?

Personally I would suggest seeing an endocrinologist for this condition. They are experienced with people who have diabetes, and while PCOS is not diabetes they think PCOS is insulin related somehow. They can help you properly monitor your glucose and see if you are insulin resistant. My A1C was normal too but my endo still gave me a Rx for metformin. I lost about 10 pounds over 2 months after starting the medicine without doing anything different lifestyle wise and 10 more once I started diet and exercise. It has also helped my energy levels. I used to crash after noon without a second cup of coffee and often times after eating anything, not just heavy meals or junk but even salads.

Also *trigger warning* a friend of mine got pregnant naturally with PCOS after 12 years of trying. She opted not to do anything beyond a few cycles of Clomid and leave it up to chance/God.

JBT1116 · March 2016

@em01092 Thank you! She said that if I had been actively trying for 6 months or so then she would consider Metformin as an option. But because I haven't been on BCP's in like 5 years and not gotten pregnant then likely Metformin wouldn't be enough to do the job so she prescribed Provera and Clomid.

She said my ovaries were not enlarged and there was only one cyst. Yesterday when I had the US I SHOULD have been 7 DPO but it's really hard to tell.

I work for my PCP and he said that I need to be on Metformin so I think I am going to ask him about it today before I leave.

JBT1116 · March 2016

I actually just got my PCP (who I work for) to write me for Metformin because I've read a lot about I need it whether or not I'm trying to conceive.

mwendell24 · March 2016

Hey there @JohnnaToo... I'm with you in the PCOS boat. Mine had been suspected for a long time, but only recently diagnosed officially. My GYN had actually put me on metformin before the recent confirmation to see if it would help. It did not help on its own (hence your doc's "way past that" comment perhaps?), but when it came time to see an RE he was glad that I was already on it because he thought it would help. Like @LizzieJ13 and @em01092 said, you can use both Metformin and the other hormones/clomid to try to get pregnant... **trigger warning** just make sure you stop taking the Metformin if you get a BFP.

HarryPotterandCats · March 2016

Please please please do not take Clomid from an OB. You need to be monitored on that frequently.

I also have PCOS. I would try your hardest to get on Metformin. If you are set on starting fertility meds I would STRONGLY suggest to start working with an RE. My RE would not put me on Clomid because she said I would end up like Jon and Kate plus 8. Your eggs are there but just need a boost. Letrezol is typically the bedt option for women with PCOS as it has a lower chance of multiples (until you get into a higer dose) and less side effects.

Please do some research before you take Clomid. It has a lot of nasty side effects. If its not being monitored properly you can really do some damage to your reproductive system.

srh18 · March 2016

I also have PCOS and have had a very positive experience with clomid (though not ideal obviously, as I'm still not pregnant). But I have physiologically responded well with no side effects at all. My RE has never even brought up metformin. After reading this thread I may ask about it if I get a BFN next week. Does anyone have good information or a good resource that I can check out about the benefits of using it with clomid?

dreamcatch-her · March 2016

I don't have any resources on clomid, but I do have personal experience, and I've heard different stories of other people's experiences. Clomid has side effects that Letrozole does not. The mood swings are difficult for a lot of people, including myself. The Letrozole, in my opinion, works 10x better. I had no results with clomid. I watched this girl on YouTube about her fertility journey, she also had no results with clomid, that her regular Doc prescribed, but when going to a specialist, she was given Letrozole, and was pregnant on first cycle. She also went on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

hope this helps!
Goodluck!

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