Metformin and AF

HRTinAZ · 03-30-2008, 08:54 PM

Hi all!
I am new to this message board as I was just recently dx with PCOS in February. Quick background - I started 750mg of met on 2/29/08 and increased to 1500mg on 3/17/08. I got off the pill in 10/07 and have not had a period since, first time in my life (I just turned 30) I have not had a regular cycle (on or off the pill, most of the time off). I am wondering if anyone knows how long you are on metformin before you know whether or not it will help regulate your cycles. I am thin (I think

5'8 130lbs) and TTC for the first time.
Also, for those of you TTC - do most of you work with a RE... I have been working with a regular endo and have an appt with a RE in three weeks.
Last question, I have read that sometimes docs will start with provera to trigger a cycle and then met does anyone know why or why not?

Sorry for all the questions... thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Jodes · 04-02-2008, 12:53 AM

well, I started out ok on Met - I had two consecutive periods when I started it, but now it seems that it's not working anymore (or, going back to how it used to be pre-Met). I'm going on 3 months now with no AF and no ovulation. I'm come to grips with the fact that after 6 months I'm probably one of the ones it doesn't work for.

I have always worked with an RE when we were going that route. Good luck with your appointment!

And as for the provera -- I've taken provera at various times to bring on a bleed if it's been 3+ months since my last bleed. I'm not sure why it would be of benefit to do before starting Met. I guess it wouldn't hurt.

HRTinAZ · 04-02-2008, 02:03 AM

Thanks so much for your response Jodes... any input is greatly appreciated as I seem to be on information overload as of yet. :-)

sheepiegirl · 04-02-2008, 01:06 PM

Heart--welcome!

My doctor told me that it could take anywhere from 6 months to a year to see results from Met (obviously a lot of people see results a lot sooner). I didn't think I saw any results from it (it never gave me AF), and I was on it for a year (although some of that year I was actually pg, so that doesn't count for AF not coming!).

My dr. upped my dose from 1500 to 2000mg, so maybe you aren't at a high enough dose yet. I think too, that we're so used to drugs working instantly (like taking tylenol for a headache or whatever) that it's a hard concept to think that a drug has a cumulative effect to work, which I've heard Met does.

As for TTC, I only went to my ob/gyn, as he seemed pretty knowledgeable about PCOS, but I would have been sent to a RE if my last cycle had failed.

My doctor will prescribe provera to induce a period, but that was mostly so I knew what cycle day I was on. My doctor's plan included being on Met for a few months and then adding in whatever other drugs. So I guess if your doctor is thinking of Met as a fertility drug, he might do it that way (provera, then start Met).

Good luck!

HRTinAZ · 04-03-2008, 02:22 AM

Thanks Sheepie for your response! I appreciate the input... when my ob got my bloodwork back she referred me to an endo right away (guess she wasn't too confident with her expertise).

A big congrats on the BFP (a girl how exciting!)!

Take care of yourself and your little one!

TrishainAZ · 04-04-2008, 01:38 AM

I don't remember specifics about AF in particular, but it takes me exactly 3-4 months all 3 times to get pregnant on Met. And yes, I went to an RE... where are you?

HRTinAZ · 04-05-2008, 12:34 AM

Thanks for your response Trisha, I'm in North Phoenix. :-)

pennylane1979 · 04-09-2008, 10:25 PM

I am a thin cyster, and metformin has helped my mild acne, but it didn't bring back cycles for me. I got 2 BFN from 2 cycles of femara (like clomid), and then got DX PCOS, and got on metformin with femara, and got a BFP. So the results might not be soo obvious, but the metformin is there, helping in the background, even if it doesn't make you O again. I went to two dif. OBGYNs, and my 2nd referred me to an RE, which is when I got my DX of PCOS. My bloodwork isn't abnormal and I'm not IR, so I guess I was hard to diagnose without the weight/hair issues, and I controlled my acne with prescription face meds. When I went to RE, he did u/s, and to my surprise, I had polycystic ovaries (pearl appearance). I was only on CD4 when I went in, so I had just had AF. Now that I am TTC#3, I have only been to the RE. I like being monitored, so that I don't have to play guessing game. I started metformin two months before starting ovulation induction, and I no longer have the polycystic appearing ovaries... just normal follicles. Although metformin isn't my miracle drug, it does something right (DD). I'm curious to know if metformin brings back cycles for the thin cysters as much as it does for our other cysters...