Since this is the featured forum, I thought I'd post a "roll call" thread and see if we can get this board moving a bit!

So, chime in if you have PCOS. Tell us how long you've known about your PCOS, what you've been doing to treat it, and where you are on your TTC journey.

I've known I had PCOS since I was about 12 years old. I was on bcps from about 12 on, but about 10 years ago, I added metformin. I went off bcps in June, and I've still been on the metformin. I moved on to Clomid in September to help with ovulation. It thinned my lining a bit, so the doctor had me move on to injectibles. We are also dealing with male factor infertility, so the doctor wants me to have more eggs and do IUI as well. Even though I've been off bcps since June, this is really only my 4th month trying (we were careful first month, and we had to take a 2 month break to have a fibroid removed).

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I found out a year ago that I have pcos. I had been trying to get pregnant for 6 months and when nothing was happening my Dr did some tests and gave me the news. Worse day of my life! I just finished my first round of Clomid and I don't know how much more I can take. All my friends are getting pregnant. Being happy for them is so difficult when I have been trying for so long. I guess it is the jealousy coming out in me.

I was feeling the same way. When found out I had PCOS...I just got my BFP, 3rd round of Clomid. I also have endometriosis. Hang in there and try to stay positive. I know what you mean about feeling jealous of other people. I had to go to many baby showers (one was just after I got AF when I was SURE I was preg). Prayer works... Best of luck. It took me over a year, now Im praying for a safe, sticking pg.

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Megan and Kyle TTC for a lil over 1 year

LEts see...

Endo, PCOS, and sometimes bad luck...

Keeping faith in God.

Clomid cd 5-9 October-BFN
Clomid cd 5-9 November-BFN
Clomid cd 6-10 December, IUI December 6 and 7, BFP on December 19...Merry Christmas to me.
"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." MAtthew 21:22, and yes, I did believe...





8-1-04

babydoll - are you on metformin also? it increases the effectiveness of medicines like Clomid.

I've always had PCOS, so the diagnosis didn't really bother me. 65% of women with PCOS who don't get pregnant on their own will get pregnant with the help of Clomid. And I belive something like 80-90% of the remaining will get pregnant with additional help.

I was never worried about getting pregnant with the PCOS . . . but we now are dealing with male factor infertility (that was a nasty surprise) and I find that much more frustrating.

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I found out in may of last year that I have PCOS. I am on metformin. I have not taken the met in a few months. The next cycle A am going full force with everything again.

I had a tubal reversal also.

I would be great to see some traffic here and get more info on PCOS.

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I tried metformin a few months ago-before I was taking the clomid. It seemed to be making me sick so I didn't continue taking it. I am thinking about dealing with the sickness of it and forcing myself to take it. I have just heard this week about taking it with clomid.If you have taken it any advice on when to take it. How long before I start my next round of clomid should I start it.

I am just going to share this little bit of history about myself with you all. It still burns me up so I wanna see if I was right or wrong in your eyes... I was going to the Dr who found my "string of pearls" and I tried Femera and another drug I can't think of right now. After 2 months of that she made me feel awful. I was looking for support from my Dr after 2 months of failure on these meds.She told me she did not want me on Clomid at all since twins run in Philip's family. She said "nothing is wrong with adoption or test tube babies. My babies were test tube babies." Nothing something I feel you say to an emotional women! So I took it very hateful and like she was giving up after two months with me. Never once did I feel she was going to talk me through the next step.I felt like she was trying to make all MY decisions for me.
So I switched Dr's and she actually give me a plan for if this doesn't work.

A few tips about taking metformin:

1) Try the XR instead of the regular - it is a bit easier on the stomach.
2) Ease into it. If you full dosage is supposed to be 1500, start out taking 500 for a week. If it is making you sick, stay at that dosage until you adjust, then up it to 1000 for a week - same approach.

My doctor had me start off for 2 weeks at each dosage level - I really didn't have any issues, so I'm guessing that helped a lot. Also, if you can stick it out, the side effects go away. So, don't be afraid to take your time getting up to full dosage!

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Hi! I am new to these boards, although my DH and I have been TTC for over five years. . .I was diagnosed with PCOS last summer and my doctor immediately started me on Metformin. I was VERY depressed about it, because we also have male factor and this seemed like a double-whammy. We just finished our first round of Clomid, HCG trigger and IUI. I will go in on Friday for my beta to see if it took!

GL! I hope your IUI is a success. I just found out that ours was a - we are doing one more IUI. We are also struggling with MFI - it really is a kicker. PCOS is one thing, but the MFI is so much more difficult, and when you get hit with both . . . well, that was tough for me. So, I really do understand that.

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Just another tip on taking the met.. before bed is when I took it. That way the stomach issues were not while I was at work in the morning. I had to stay away from greasy foods.

Good luck! Hope that helped!

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Hi
I'm chiming in with my story. My name is Kara and I'm 32 years old with 2 daughters aged 3 and 5. For as long as I can remember I've had screwed up cycles. Was put on pill at young age not due to sexual activity but because my dr wanted me to have regular cycles to prevent problems later in life when I wanted to start a family.
1st daughter was actually conceived ON the bc pill and was not discovered until nearly 7 weeks pregnant. She's now a healthy 5 year old.
2nd daughter was conceived on 50mg Clomid taken days 5-9 and only took 1 month of trying (happened 1st month we tried) She's now a healthy 3 year old.
Wasn't aware there was a name for what I have until I got copies of my medical records and the letters PCOS (mild type) was mentioned in there. Did some research and just realized I don't ovulate regurarly or maybe even not at all. I did use the fertility monitor for one month to track my cycles and didn't get even one high reading let alone peak. When I was on the clomid we used the monitor and I had several days of high readings including the peak so obviously the clomid was doing the trick. Took 6 preg tests cuz I didn't believe it happened so fast.
Am currently on bc pills so I get a period regularly as if I didn't take the pill I may not get a period for 11 months (no kidding) and even had to take medicine to jumpstart getting my period again after finishing breastfeeding my girls.
My hubby and I are going to start trying for baby #3 in August 2008. I have a pre-pregnancy physical in June, see infertility specialist in July to discuss my case and get script for Clomid (we recently moved and I had to switch dr's otherwise I'd just see my old Dr and she'd get me on Clomid) and start trying with Clomid in August.
I hate not knowing when/if I ovulate to be able to track my cycles but I was fortunate when on Clomid to not have any side effects. We are hoping for a boy this time but of course will be happy with a healthy baby boy or girl. I have had several recurring dreams that we will actually conceive twins and are aware this is a possibility with my age and twins running in my family. Whatever happens..1 baby or 2 I will be happy with whatever the number. So that's my story and looking forward to getting to know all of you.

Kara

Kara - I'm glad to hear the Clomid has worked for you!

My doctor told me that it is important to stay on the metformin all the time, not just when we are ttc. Apparently, people with PCOS have a higher rate of diabetes/heart disease, etc. but if treated with metformin, those risks pretty much disappear. So, I just have stayed on the metformin for the past 9 years.

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I was diagnosed last year, but when I changed REs the new one said I don't have PCOS. I've always had very regular periods. I did have some cysts revealed by LAP, but nothing serious. It's hard when you get multiple opinions to know who's right.

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Cindy (37) Mike (36)
Married 9/7/03
TTC #1 for 3+ years
male factor
LAP 2/06 - normal
IUI #1 w/ injections 9/10/06 - BFN
IUI #2 w/ injections 12/28/06 - BFN
IUI #3 w/ clomid 1/21&22/07 - BFN
1 year break
IVF #1 w/ ICSI 3/08 16 retrieved, 13 mature, 11 fertilized
5 day transfer 3 blasts - BFN
1 frozen embryo
IVF #2 converted to IUI due to poor response
IUI 6/28 & 29

Yes, that is frustrating. I think part of the difficulty with PCOS is that there isn't just one "pass/fail" test that you can take . . . it is kind of a spectrum of symptoms, and different doctors will treat different combinations of synmptoms as PCOS.

I was always regular, too, but my bleeding would get longer and longer when I was a child. This time around, my cys seemed to get longer and longer each month . . . but I only had 4 unmedicated cycles, so it is hard to know what would have happened.

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