The next step!

ColleenG · 05-03-2008, 01:19 AM

Hey everyone:
A little about me: I'm slightly underweight with polycystic ovaries and little to no ovulation, no other symptoms. We've been ttc for 4 years.
So I've been in discussions with my doctor, and we've been trying to figure out how to manage my case.
I'm not sure that DH and I will go on to IVF: we had one chemical pg naturally, done 3 rounds of clomid, and 3 rounds of fsh/iui (with the last one ending in an ectopic). I think the physical and financial cost may just be too much for us. So right now, we're thinking of doing some things to help mitigate the physical symptoms of PCO and hopefully give us some opportunities to have a baby.
I'd love to get some impact from you guys about what you think of these options, and any history on why you think this way.
Thanks so much!

Colleen

Laura32 · 05-03-2008, 01:27 AM

I am no expert, Colleen, but I have heard that most experts now consider ovarian drilling to be too risky (possible damade to the ovary). I would definitely try Metformin first, as well as trying to gain a little weight, if you are in fact underweight for your height. Good luck!

carriebabbie · 05-03-2008, 06:29 PM

I'm all for least invasive first. Metformin has been very helpful to women with PCOS.

Tummy · 05-03-2008, 07:48 PM

From your history it seems clear that you CAN get pregnant, it just hasn't all worked out right. I agree that it can't hurt to try Met. I would steer clear of ovarian drilling. I think you just need to have more ovulations, and thus more chances to get pg, so whatever is required to do that (I don't O at all on my own either) -- my RE does up to 6 rounds of FSH/IUI before encouraging IVF, especially if you don't want to do IVF anytime soon. If you O'd on FSH before, I'd try a few more. But adding Met can't hurt either. JMO. Good luck!

ColleenG · 05-03-2008, 10:15 PM

I just realized that I forgot to post that I'd been on met in the past - haven't tried to ovulate on it alone, just taken it while doing other methods (like clomid and fsh/iui) - it makes me tired

and I get some GI symptoms - nothing too horrible, but enough that when the doctor told me I could probably take it or leave it while doing these treatments, I left it.

If you guys have taken met, have you really noticed a change? It seems like it's not as effective for those of us thin cysters with few other symptoms. Maybe that's just a mistaken impression though...

Colleen

oh, and PS: the RE won't do any more fsh/iui because the last one resulted in an ectopic - even though my tubes are clear, no signs of any scar tissue or endo, he doesn't want to risk it

Natalie'smom06 · 05-06-2008, 03:51 PM

I am not yet working with a RE, but am on Metformin. I would highly encourage you to start with taking metformin for 3 months. There have been some good studies, that 3 months on metformin could induce O all on its own. IMO - If your Dr says PCOS thin cysters do not need Metformin, find a new Dr!
I O never ever without meds. I O'd right away 1st time I took Met, conceived, and now have my DD. Now we are ttc again, met doesn't seem to be working as good as last time though. I am on met now 7 weeks, and I have to make it to 3 months before my Dr will add any other meds.

PBLayzod · 05-06-2008, 03:53 PM

I vote for Met.

See my signature for why.

sheepiegirl · 05-06-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natalie'smom06

IMO - If your Dr says PCOS thin cysters do not need Metformin, find a new Dr!

That seems a little drastic. Doctors have differing opinions on the value of Met and PCOS and thin cysters.

Personally, Met never brought AF to me. I was on it for a good 10 months or so and never got AF (and some of those months I was on clomid). I think that it's definitely worth it to try for several months (meaning at least 6), but that it doesn't work for everyone.

I never had bloodwork done while on Met to see if it helped me in that way, but as far as I could see it had little impact on me, aside from making me tired and bloated.

TrishainAZ · 05-06-2008, 10:10 PM

met works for me.

ColleenG · 05-07-2008, 10:55 AM

I trawled through a bunch of threads here, and it looks like (and this is completely unofficial and unscientific) if your hormone levels are somewhat normal, then the met is less likely to help you if you're a thin cyster. I guess that's why I've been on the fence - I've been on it before and really didn't notice that much of a difference (although I wasn't on it for more than 3 months or so) and my hormone levels are all pretty normal - only goofy thing is my lh/fsh ratio.
So we'll see - I picked up the Rx last night and had my first dose. Nothing but crabbiness so far (my moods shift on my blood sugar levels pretty badly) but I'll work that out.

sheepiegirl · 05-07-2008, 12:08 PM

good luck, colleen! I'm from SD too!

PBLayzod · 05-07-2008, 12:10 PM

Coleen ~ My RE didn't put me on Met to help me conceive. We were saving and planning for IVF. He wanted me on Met to reduce the chance of miscarriage for when we did IVF. I just happened to conceive on Met alone after just 2 cycles. Maybe it was just luck. Maybe it was the Preseed. Maybe it was Met. I'm just glad it worked.