IC and PCOS

shandris · 06-07-2007, 01:10 AM

does anyone know of any direct relation between IC and PCOS...a lot of us cysters have lost our angels because of IC...are we at greater risk because of the PCOS? or is IC just that common?

SabrinaBusch · 06-07-2007, 06:06 PM

I thought about this too, i just wanted to bump it up

TACM · 06-08-2007, 01:08 PM

So sorry for both of your losses. There are just too many of us with PCOS, and IC. The only risk factor I had before I lost my twin girls was a D & C. I really think IC has something to do with a progesterone deficiency. I was on progesterone for the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy then stopped cold turkey. My loss happened at 21 weeks. Maybe that is why P17 works for so many women with IC.

SabrinaBusch · 06-08-2007, 08:16 PM

Can my doctor find out if progesterone had something to do with it? Can i do the 17p even if they don't know. Would it hurt anything to take it just in case??

AprilA7 · 06-08-2007, 08:34 PM

Ok, I know I saw an explanation of abbreviations somewhere, but I can't find it now. So I'm asking... What is IC? ? I can't get it into my head.

Thanks!

SheriKCMO · 06-08-2007, 09:09 PM

IC=Incompetent Cervix, usually translating to second trimester losses without explanation, often without warning.

Research needs to be done on this!! To me, it's crystal clear that there is a relationship. I hope that something is figured out so that true prevention can take place.

I don't think progesterone is the only answer but part of a larger picture. At present, I believe that a mechanical answer, the preventative cerclage, is the only adequate treatment for the next pregnancy, including cervical monitoring with u/s. If a combination of progesterone and cerclage are in place, even better, more than likely.

Progesterone is used for preterm labor now, which is a slightly different problem but often results in the same outcome.

Hugs to all with losses!

AprilA7 · 06-09-2007, 02:38 AM

Thanks, Sheri! My cousin had this problem and miscarried twins her first pregnancy. The doctor did the cerclage for the second go along with a lot of bed rest and it was successful. They've since decided to not risk more babies. She lives seven hours away, and I haven't been given all of the details, so I'm not sure if there were other problems, but I suspect a high incidence of pcos on that side of the family. I know her mother has pcos and her sister has several reproductive system disorders, the most serious of which has been very aggressive endemetriosis. So I wouldn't be surprised to learn she has pcos too.

It's an interesting question. I had planned to talk to the dr about it because my aunt asked me to. I just didn't have the terminology...

Reebekah · 06-09-2007, 04:26 PM

i think there is a connection, just not sure what it is. i lost my twins at around 20 weeks.....my grandma also lost twins in the 2nd trimester. for my last pregnancy, i was on progesterone for 12 weeks, had a cerclage at 11.3 weeks, and the pregnancy was successful. for my current pregnancy, i was not on progesterone at all, and i had my cerclage placed at 11.3 weeks...i am 21 weeks and so far everything is ok. for both my recent cerclage pregnancies, i had my progest. checked and it was ok. i often wonder what goes wrong though....it is REALLY a weak cervix....or maybe something related to insulin resistance/glucose....or maybe something with one of the other hormones....i hope we find out one day.

shandris · 06-10-2007, 07:20 PM

I am really interested in finding out more about the relationship between IC and PCOS. I know we are not the only group that has a rush of IC m/c's, but wow, looking on this board it is all too common. I know DH and I 'danced' a lot during my pregnancy, my sex drive was through the roof, and it has never been like that. I wondered if that had something to do with it, but the doc (as incompetent as he was) said no. Surprisingly, my progesterone level was fine during pregnancy, I do remember feeling pressure down there and everyone telling me it was normal...but I now know it wasn't. I was only 17 weeks, and Tyler was so small...if my cervix could not hold him then, I fear that I may need bedrest or something if I get preggo again. Sigh...why is this so dang difficult. We are all our best advocates and information systems. I did a clinical trial search for PCOS and no one has looked into this, nor is anyone doing it now. I wonder if it is something we can do to put it in a doc's head to look at this. PCOS is running rampid now...so many women are suffering from this syndrome it is outrageous. I think it has to do with our diet. Not just how we eat, but what we eat. I think the food these days are tainted and it gives some women big hips and it gives us major problems. I wonder what it is going to take to make doc's pay more attention to this syndrome. Has anyone had any experience with a cerclage that failed or was not strong enough...? For those who had a cerclage placed before and carried to term, did you have to go on bedrest at all?

Tensei · 06-10-2007, 08:09 PM

You know, I'm very interested in this, too. I realized recently that many Cysters have suffered IC, and there just HAS to be a connection.

Sometimes I worry that my D&C could also attribute to future problems. Gah.

Please let us know if you find anything!

AprilA7 · 06-11-2007, 01:08 AM

Hugs, Shandris! My cousin did go on bed rest the last couple of weeks of her pregnancy when she had the cerclage. But I think her blood pressure was running high and they were concerned about preeclamsia.

I think there are a lot of women out there with PCOS who have no idea they have it and may never know because of doctors like my previous obgyn. When I was going 3 months without AF, she popped me on bcp and told me it'd straighten me out, never answering my questions as to what could be causing the issue. Thank God I found a different doctor and now I know what was going on. When I look at the common symptoms of pcos and the fact that there's a a probable hereditary link or predisposition for it, I would be willing to bet many of my female relatives have it. Two I know do, but there are several who show very classic signs, including my cousin who suffered ic.

SheriKCMO · 06-11-2007, 04:44 PM

Shandris, I totally agree that pcos is a growing problem, and i would bet my bottom dollar that there will be more IC losses because of it.

I don't know what to do! I agree that our diet is a huge part of the problem.

And I was a lucky cyster who needed no bedrest at all. My cerclages held very well.

VivC · 06-15-2007, 04:45 AM

Hormonal imbalances are a risk factor for IC...that includes PCOS.

17P alone isn't enough - I know at least two cysters who lost babies while participating in clinical trials to test 17P as an IC preventative. If you have IC, you MUST get a preventative cerclage in future pregnancies! You MUST be monitored closely for cervical changes via U/S so that you can be put on bedrest if anything goes wrong.

My best guess right now is that, maybe, our hormones were screwy while we were still in the womb (DES, a hormone, also causes IC in offspring)...so maybe things didn't get put together quite properly, or the long-term hormonal imbalances made our cervixes ultraweak.

That's just my guess. Dr. Charles Glueck, a PCOS expert, has told me via e-mail that he does believe there's a link and hopes to do research at some point. I also know that the March of Dimes was funding research a few years ago at the University of Texas on IC and ALL of its possible causes, with an eye toward pinpointing women at risk and preventing it.