Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Community

Its ok *huggs*

First off, go to a free clinic/ planned parenthood/whatever, they shoudl be in the phone book, even if there is not one that is outright free, there should be at least one that does a sliding payment scale.

Sense you have PCOS, you need to have your blood sugar and insulin checked regularly- yearly at least. and you may need to be on Metformin (diabetic drug used off lable for PCOS with borderline insulin) This drug is very inexpensive- $4 for 1000mg a month (avarage dose) at Walmart, target, etc.

things to do non medicaly, to make having a baby later "easier" - keep your weight under control. I know having to eat cheaply makes that hard (been there a LOT) but at least try to maintain. If you have the options, try to avoide as much carbs and sugars as possable, and fatty meats. eat fresh veggies and fruit as much as possable. exercize, even if you are not overweight. take regular walks around the block, window/wish shop at the mall. etc.

If I had known this 13 years ago at your age... I went from 150lbs and great shape to 260 lbs and a slob in less than 2 years cause I didnt notice really. 10 years later I am still trying so hard to fix this. its easier to keep the weight off in the first place than it is to get it off after you put it on.

another thing you need to remember with PCOS...
It can cause depression. Its NOT YOUR FAULT!!!! (I have that written on my bathroom mirror) What you feel may be crushing you, but just remember "its the PCOS talking" and take a deep breath, and power on. (I find hugging the cats help)

if the depression is really bad, I would see about going back on a Pill (or novaring, but NOT the shots) for a year or 2, just so you can get your feet back under you, and during that time, still do the above like i said. The pill wont mess you up any futher than you are now, and it can help control the mood swings etc.
(there are several brands of pill that are $4 at walmart etc too.)

thanks so much!
this has given me a little piece of mind and i couldn't be more greatful. I'll do the best I can at taking the advise. I just pray one day I'll be a mother!
thanks again!

Hang in there! I know that you feel devestated, but it is very possible to get pregnant with PCOS.

I'm 22 and was just diagnosed with PCOS in '09. It took my husband and I 13 months to get pregnant. We tried for 7 months on our own and had to see a specialist for 6 months (3 months of actual treatment) and we got pregnant. We just had our little girl 10 weeks ago. There are a lot of things you can do to help your chances of getting pregnant, when you are ready to. I can give you a list of things I was told to do.

I would recommend that you get a hormonal work up done to find out everything about your type of PCOS that you can. PCOS is a broad diagnosis. It can be anything from insulin resistance to cysts on the ovaries to hormonal imbalances. You may have one of these things or none of them and still be diagnosed with PCOS. I would also really recommend seeing a reproductive endocrinologist when you are ready to try to conceive. Also, if you do want to get on the pill (it is the recommended treatment for this condition), you may want to consider going to a low cost or free health clinic like Planned Parenthood. You can usually get cheap BC there.

Also there are options before having to go to IVF. There are fertility drugs and procedures that are far less invasive such as IUI. The most common fertility drug is called Clomid. It helps your body mature and release your eggs. I won't go into detail, but just know that there are a lot of options for this condition.

Let me know if you have any more questions. I would be happy to help. Best wishes!

Hello Taryn. I am 22 and me and my husband have been trying for 1 year. I was diagnosed with PCOS in August 2010 and started Metformin. I am considering going on Clomid, I was just wondering if you had any words of advice! Thanks for sharing your story, it gives ppl like me hope! God Bless!

Hi blondiebon,

I am so sorry that you have been struggling with trying. It's such a hard journey to go through. I'm not sure where you are at as far as testing, so I am sorry if I repeat anything you have already done or knew.

I would recommend seeing a reproductive endocringologist or a fertility specialist if you aren't already. Second, if you are wanting to do Clomid I would really recommend having your husband get a semen analysis. That way you know if he has issues or not. If you want to keep trying on your own, I would recommend using pre seed. It's a sperm friendly lubricant. My RE recommended it. Also, if you can, try going on a high protein, low carb diet. Just losing a few pounds can really help out. (I know it's easier said than done). Also, the hot flashes on Clomid can be kind of a pain. Just be prepared for them, if you can! I had to dress in layers.

We chose to do Clomid. We got pregnant on our third round. The first cycle was 50mg and the second two were 150mg. We had cycle monitoring done with our RE. I went in for an u/s on cycle day 9 and it showed how many eggs I had maturing. Then again on CD15 to see how many I was going to release. We used to Ovidrel shot, which makes you release the eggs. We then chose to have the IUI done (but my husband had male fertility issues). This was just the plan that we came up with. Also, I researched it and it said that most women don't get pregnant on the first cycle of Clomid. If you aren't try not to get upset or stressed.

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know about. I would be happy to help! I wish you the best of luck in the world. Keep me updated!

why would u want to get on birth control if u want to get pregnant birth control stops you from getting pregnant and i also got on the pill for this guy i was seeing and i was on it for a little over a year and then i got off from it cuz i wasnt having sex with anyone and then i had sex with this guy i was seeing missed my period for 6 months actually so i thought i was pregnant and then i started and then a few months later i met this other guy and we did it and i had missed my period for 6 months again except this time i didnt have it again at all my doctor thought it was just a hormone thing and put me back on birth control and after i found out i had pcos i thought the reason i got it was probably cuz i went all that time on birth control without having sex and you probably got it from being on birth control too.

BCP are used with PCOS patients to regulate their system to get them in line to being able to funtion normaly, think of it like training wheels.
Neither BCPs nor fequency of sex cause PCOS.

There are a few birthcontrol methods that can take longer than normal to get out of your system (Deproprovera shots mostly) but the Pill, nuvoring etc are safe to take even with PCOS.

Taylove11,
Thanks for the support! I would really like to see that list you mentioned if you don't mind. Also if I can ask you this, Does pcos make your periods late? I've heard that it can but only with severe symptoms and I don't have any cysts or anything wrong with my blood (had it checked about 9 months ago) and im 80% sure im not pregnant but ive been off the pill for a month and still no period. I don't even think its possible to get pregnant that quick and I'm worried there is something wrong. I know I'm probably worrying over nothing but hey, I'm a woman, its my right! lol sorry bout all the questions

No worries at all! I'm happy to help. PCOS can certainly make your periods late. When I first got off of the pill, I had a 31 day cycle, then a 46 day cycle, then 92 days without a period, then 112 days. My doc said it was because of PCOS. If you are missing your period still after three months, I would go to the doc. There is a medicine (prometrium) that you can take to make you have a period. It can be harmful to not have a period.

When you are ready to try to conceive, these are the things my doctor recommended to me;

1.) Have your partner have a semen analysis performed. In couples that are trying to conceive but having troubles, 50% of the time the male also has an issue.

2.) Start taking prenatal vitamins.

3.) Depending on your current weight, try to lose weight. Some women with PCOS are of normal weight (I was/am) but some women are a little overweight due to the condition/insulin resistance. Losing as little as 5 pounds can make a huge difference in your fertility.

4.) Go on a high protein, low carb diet with lots of fruits and veggies. Avoid eating processed foods.

5.) Avoid caffiene. 1 caffienated drink per day is okay.

Also a common misconception is that you have to wait 3-6 months after coming off of birth control to start trying. My doc said that while this used to be believed, but recent studies have shown no harm to a fetus if conceived right after coming off of BCP. Some women wait this time just for their bodies to regulate after coming off the pill, but women with PCOS usually won't regulate themselves (hence being put on the pill in the first place). My doc said that the first month after stopping the pill is usually a womans most fertile.

Also, check out these websites when you are ready. They really helped me. www.fertilityfriend.com , and www.preseed.com The second one is a sperm friendly lubricant. Also, using ovulation prediction kits can really help you understand your body. Every woman is different, but using these can help you predict when you will ovulate so you can concentrate when to have intercourse.

I wish you all of the luck in the world. Let me know if there is anything else I can try to help you with. Good luck!

a million times thank you!
but how do I get all these check-ups and doctor visits on a tight budget? I'm still paying for the doctor visits from being diagnosed almost a year ago, and I have insurance! the free clinics around here are very, for a lack of a better word, run-down. I want to see a good doctor that actually knows what they're talking about and knows what to check for. I think I'd have to travel, which I can't afford at the moment. I know I couldn't afford a baby obviously but I need to know if I'm healthy

oh and I also wanted to say, I'm sorry about your struggles. I'm assuming all your tries finally paid off? I'm glad sorry to be self absorbed only talking about myself. I've never been able to talk about this kinda thing. but anyway take care! I'd offer help and advise but I'm sure your way ahead of me! lol

Thank you! You're not self absorbed in the least. We did just have a little girl 12 weeks ago.

I'm not sure what insurance coverage you have, but if you can go to a family doctor, you should just have to pay the co-pay if you go in for not having a period. The doc should be able to write a prescription for the meds with refills (that way you don't have to keep going to the doc). On my insurance, I have a $20 co pay and the prescription at Walmart was only $5. I'm sorry you don't have great clinics there. The only other thing I can think of is trying to watch for free health fairs. Where I live, they have a bunch of free health fairs in the winter. It's usually advertised on the local news station.

It stinks that healthcare is so expensive. Another thing is that you can call around to different doctors and see if they would be willing to do a reduced payment plan with you. A lot of docs will set up low payments. I know it stinks going in debt just to see what is wrong... I hope that you can find something that works for you! Best wishes!