Fertility /Metformin PCOS Questions.

Hello.
 
I just got back from my OBGYN visit and I talked to her about conceiving after my weight loss is complete. I had told her that I would like to be placed back on Metformin as I have PCOS to help with conceiving. My Hubby and I have tried now for 10 years to conceive, but never sucessfully did (I feel because of my weight and the PCOS).

I only had a period maybe twice  year and I did not ovulate at all. I am not even sure I am ovulating now. I have lost over 120 pounds and I have had a normal 28-30 cycle since August of 2009. I have tried those ovualtion answer tests and I did have an LH surge last month with the cervical mucus and all, but then I was told by another fellow PCOS pal that the Ovulation tests don't always give accurate reults for women with PCOS.

I had my RNY labs done last month and my insulin resistance was checked. It was within normal range! This made me so happy, but my OBGYN is now telling me that I shouldn't need Metformin if I am no longer insulin resistant and having normal cycles. I guess after 10 years of trying I just don't feel I can get pregnant anyways so I may need the help of the meds, maybe even Clomid. How can I tell if I am ovulating for sure if I have PCOS? Is the OBGYN correct? This was my 1st time seeing her. I wasn't convinced. I just want things to work. I have tried so hard to make a change and fix me.

Don't lose hope.  Let me tell you about my story with PCOS/fertility.  I kept having painful cysts on my ovaries back in 1999.  Finally in 2000 my gyno decides to do exploratory surgery and during the course of the surgery he drained the cysts, found my fallopian tube was attached some place it wasn't supposed to be and corrected it.  After surgery he told me I had PCOS but never explained it and never mentioned it again even when my weight started shooting up.  Eventually he told me I would not have children unless I was prepared to have heavy duty fertility treatments.  I did.  I also did in vitro.  Nothing worked.  Life went on...years passed and I finally found a Dr. that would treat my condition.  He put me on Metformin and I took it for over a year.  I met my current husband, explained that I would not be having children without the fertility treatments.  3 months later I was pregnant.  My Dr. explained to me that it was the Metformin that was responsible for my pregnancy.  My OB made me go off the Metformin and my pregnancy progressed normally...I had a boy that was 6 weeks early but in good health.  6 months after the birth of my first child I got pregnant again and miscarried at almost 12 weeks.  I waited 6 months and tried again.  I had more problems with my second pregnancy than with the first.  Too much amniotic fluid, too much weight gain...etc.  My water broke early and it was another c-section for me and luckily my son was okay.  After that pregnancy my hormones were insane and still are.  I tried going on Metformin again but didn't have luck tolerating it this time around and it didn't feel like it was working.  Since having my second son I have gained another 40 lbs.  I was in such shock when I found out that I was even pregnant to begin with for my first pregnancy that I must have taken 6 pregnancy tests and still didn't believe the OB until I heard a heartbeat.  I did not get pregnant until I had become resigned to the fact that I was not going to become a Mom.  I don't know if that had anything to do with it--less pressure or what.  I will tell you that the year before becoming pregnant the first time I got back on the pill and did the Metformin at the same time.  The pill masks the PCOS...not sure if you were aware of that or not.  Don't give up!!!

I have not had surgery yet, but have a lot of experience with PCOS. I was diagnosed after a year of trying to conceive with clomid through my OB. I went to a specialist (a reproductive endocrinologist), he took one look at my labs, did a ultrasound (which clearly showed the "string of pearls" configuration of follices in my ovaries, and said, "Okay, here's what we're going  to do." I started metformin, clomid, and HCG trigger shots, did insemination, and got preganant with my son after the 2nd cycle. Three years later we decided to try again, got pregnant twice with two miscarriages (most likely NOT related to the PCOS, my MD said, just bad luck!), but then tried again and got pregnant with my now 17 month old fraternal twin girls. So I had a really good outcome with everything. I'm not sure if my PCOS was totally because of my weight because my periods were always troublesome, even as a young girl when I started (and not overweight). But the one weird thing with me was that my periods were ALWAYS regular!! I had them every month, 28 days apart, and those stupid ovulation kits ALWAYS told me I ovluated!! The best thing I did was go and see a specialist. The metformin made a huge difference in my labs. But your insulin resistance being normal, and your periods now being normal is a awesome leap!!! I wouldn't hesitate to talk to your OB or even see a specialist if your insurance allows you to. I can honestly say, that there has been no greater stress in my life than that of infertility. It makes you sad, bitter, mad, hopeless, and makes you feel like your body is failing you. After everything you have gone through to make a healthier "you", you deserve to have this happiness. I hope everything goes well for you, and look towards professionals who seem to want to DO something, rather than sit around and "wait". That attitude drives me nuts!! Good luck!!

Jaime

I too have had PCOS for 20 years,  I was told that It would be very hard for me to get preg. and that losing weight would help.  After my father died I went to a diet place in town and lost 76 pounds and my OBGYN put me on CLomid and continued my metformin.  He did presterone test on the 22- 24 day of my cycle.  it would tell him if I ovulated.  After 15 years of trying to have a family I found out I was preg when I was three weeks along on New Years Eve.  (It was day 33 of my cycle).  I can be done, My doctor told me that I needed to be watched closely because of poss problems with my overies .  Do not give up, the children are worth the wait, even when they are having tamtrums.  We plan on trying to have one more, I will be 41 while preg and 42 by the time it gets here.  It is not in my hands we can only do so much. 

They are right about the ovulation tests,I was told it was because our hormones are all messed up anyway. 

Hope this helps, do not give up

Beverly

I'm not IR I am only diag with a mild PCOS but I still take 1500 mg a day of Met.  I just started taking again as we are trying to get pg again.  Before that I was not taking it of course because I am not IR.  I have also tried the OPK's and not sure if they are working or not. lol lol  My first pg was after 10 years of fertility treatments and a total surprise! I had just turned 40 lol lol I am know fixing to turn 43 and we are trying for 1 more.  lol  I am going to have the progesterone test this month so the dr can see if I am ovulating but usually that day (the day they do the test) is a hit or miss.  Unless you know for sure that you are ovulating they are just guessing on the date to run the test.  And it HAS to be run a certain amnt of days after you ovulate.  I wish you the best!
Denise