Anyone on Met NOT TTC?

SugarMama · 12-09-2006, 07:09 PM

Hi all.
I just got my (second) PCOS dx and me and my dr decided to start me on the Dianette pill which is supposed to help with spots and facial hair (won't know until I've been on it for at least 4 monts...)
I hesitated going on Metformin because we're not TTC at the moment, so I'd have had to take a BCP anyway (thought I'd skip one pill and just take th Dianette)...
my questions is, in everyone's experience, did they go on Metformin to treat PCOS symptoms and go on the BCP at the same time, or did you start Metformin to get pregnant? Or how did you prevent pregnancy whilst on Metformin?
I've got really bad Acne, Hirutism, no periods and want to lose some weight, so Metformin might have been the obvious choice, but as mentioned, I don't want to get pregnant rght now...
ANyway, would be great to hear from y'all
Thanks,
Marie (24, type 1 diabetic for 11 yrs)

bec415 · 12-09-2006, 08:42 PM

I'm on metformin and not TTC. I went on met to control insulin and hormones. My problems: acne, excess hair, mid section fat, irregular periods. Its supposed to help balance your hormones so if theyre where they need to be, you'll be getting your periods. So I guess if you had irregular periods before met, you're more likely to get pregnant now. You should talk to you doctor about what birth control options would be best for you. I don't know about met specifically, but I was told by a doctor years ago that when you're on bcp's (for the sake of not getting pregnant) and you take other meds with it, it won't work.

cc9455 · 12-09-2006, 10:45 PM

I am just on Met, no BCP and not TTC. Will probably TTC in a year or so, but I want to try to get my hormones somewhat back in balance before I do that as well as lose some weight.

kittykisses · 12-09-2006, 11:47 PM

Just 3 days ago I went to a doctor for strep throat and ear infections. She took one look at me and announced I was PCOS and IR. Now, I have known about the IR for 20 years and the PCOS for 8 years, but no amount of talking or testing ever convinced a doctor I was right.

I was started on Met 500 mg Wed. (12/05). I have had a little diarreah and some nausea, but they were very temporary. I am not TTC and I was wondering the same as you, am I the ONLY one not TTC on Met?

I'm not worried about BC, I am well past spontaneous pregnancy age. If you are worried, I would just use condoms or foam or maybe both. You probably will not ovulate until your periods are regular anyway.

molly1971 · 12-10-2006, 01:31 AM

I am not TTC-had a hysterectomy

, and I am on Met.

newfiecyster · 12-10-2006, 10:12 AM

I am also, on met and not ttc. I am on to it help my insulin resistance and to help my hormones.

soaper woman · 12-10-2006, 12:44 PM

i'm on met and not TTC and i can't take BCP (age and HBP). i was originally put on met because a NP thought i might be PCOS and said it'll help me get pregnant. i still needed clomid though and i've been on it pretty much ever since. i'm done making babies and an endo i found who deals with PCOS said she prefers PCOS patients who aren't TTC because she can treat it more aggressively. i'm also on spiro (For facial hair & hair loss)which can cause your period to go whacky and she said if i didn't get a period, i'd have to go on BCP because it's imperative that women get a monthly cycle...especially if when they do get a cycle it's heavy (cancer risks). i think i'd have protested the BCP if i had to take them though. going off BCP 15-16 yrs ago is when all my major PCOS problems started (gained 80lbs ina few months to name the biggest) and i've never been the same since. but that's just me...i'm sure the doctor will want my daugher on BCP to helpher out (she's a mini-me with her physical symptoms)..not sure how i'll deal with that yet as i don't want her to go through what i have because of them BCP. now i'm rambling...lol

CaraMia886 · 12-10-2006, 11:37 PM

Hey,

I asked my dr exactly that question recently. Basically, I am on Met to treat the IR portion of the diseases (PCOS and IR are separate but inter-related). However, a side-effect is increased fertility because your ovaries can go back to doing their job!

I'm on BCP because I am not TTC and also, to help prevent the cysts and regulate me. I'd reccomend Yasmin. It's good for young people, low-dose, and it has a diuretic in it (can we say thank goodness for no water retention??)

It's usually a dual aproach because it's 2 diseases you're treating. Sometimes if you're lucky the cysts will go away, but more often than not, no.

Hope this helped

SugarMama · 12-11-2006, 08:19 AM

Thanks for all your replies!

Bec> I'm not on Metformin (yet)

CaraMia> I think I might go back to get my doc to prescribe Met as well as the BCP doesn't help you ovulate after all... it can only help with my diabetes (ie decreasing insuline resistance wouldn't be a bad thing and i'd just have to decrease my insulin).
I've been on Yasmin before and didn't really like it ...I'll see how I do on the Diane 35 (Dianette here in UK). If my symptoms don't get better, I'll push for the Met... luckily I've got a doc who seems happy to put me on Met!

I just thought I shouldn't take something to help me ovulate if I'm not TTC, but after reading the the BCP only helps treat (some of the) PCOS symptoms, not the cause I am more inclined to taking Met as well... we'll see what my doc has to say about my change of heart!

Marie

Eva37 · 12-11-2006, 09:33 AM

i also have met, but am not ttc. So pleased that you have an understanding dr.
eva

annem84 · 12-11-2006, 12:12 PM

I am on 1000 mg of Met, Yasmin and am NOT TTC. Dont plan to for at least the next 6 months. If you aren't on a BC--please be careful if you aren't planning on children right away--the Met makes the ovaries work better (can we say Amen!) so therefore the fertility could bounce back to positive...that is why I am on both...

Satine · 12-11-2006, 12:18 PM

Met is not a drug to help you conceive, it is a drug to help regulate insulin and hormones therefore makes the ovaries work better and making you be able to conceive...I am on Met and not TTC...I am also on BCP, and have been for years with many other drugs so the doc who said bcp pills do not work with other meds is wrong ...it could be med specific but I have only no problem, knock on wood, ha ha

tk26225 · 12-11-2006, 12:25 PM

I'm not TTC and my doc put me on met too and will be putting me on Yasmin, I have the same symptoms as you described. These meds are the typical treatment approach for PCOS as I understand it (regardless of TTC or not).

luvmyjs · 12-11-2006, 02:48 PM

I am on Met and not currently TTC. I have never ovulated without taking Clomid so I never use BCP or anything else for that matter. But my doc did warn me that Met could possibly make me ovulate and get pg.

satin_patriot · 12-11-2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soaper woman

it's imperative that women get a monthly cycle...especially if when they do get a cycle it's heavy (cancer risks).

Thanks for the reminder!!

I'm single, not TTC, and I'm on met and BCP.

Bec-- The problem's usually with antibiotics/antivirals. There's not been any link between met and a decrease in BCP effectiveness, at least not one that's been proven and published. Alcohol can also decrease BCP effectiveness.