Please Help ! Doc wants me on Metformin but we want a baby!
Hey Ladies. This is my first time visiting this board. I have been reading and posting on the TTC board because that is were my DH and I want to be. However today I had my first appointment (where I told my OB that I wanted to try for a baby) and he wants me to start with metformin 1st and see if I can have a normal cycle by taking metformin. I am not IR... but I am overweight ( I weight 226 today and I'm 5'3''ish). I need so advise or maybe success stories or something because all the research I have done had lead me to believe that metformin would be something that a women wanted to treat the under lieing issues with PCOS not to get pregnant. I cryed all the way home from my apointment (I am so glad that I didn't break down in the doc office I came close). I am ready and TTC I don't want to go on a drug that may take 6 monthes for it to show any signs of working if it ever does... Please help if you can. I feel lost and I really don't know how to explain this to my husband.
I need so advise or maybe success stories or something because all the research I have done had lead me to believe that metformin would be something that a women wanted to treat the under lieing issues with PCOS not to get pregnant. I cryed all the way home from my apointment (I am so glad that I didn't break down in the doc office I came close). I am ready and TTC I don't want to go on a drug that may take 6 monthes for it to show any signs of working if it ever does...
I'm not TTC myself but I do know that plenty of women have conceived after being on Met (but yes, the research is mixed). And I also thought that if you can treat the underlying issues of PCOS then it would certainly help with TTC?
Did you doctor explain why he chose Met over other treatments?
Met or not, I hope you get that BFP soon!
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Metformin can help to lower the androgens (male hormones) in your body so that a proper hormonal balance can be restored. Your doc must have put you on it for a reason....never be afraid to ask your doc about anything as you have the right to know!!
Met was the reason that I was finally able to conceive my first daughter back in 2005!! I was pg within 5 weeks of taking it. I'm currently on it again but my body just isn't responding as well this time.
Met can take some time to work but I'm proof that it doesn't 'always' take the full 6 months to take effect!!! TTC can be a long and exhausting journey but in the end, you will be holding that precious baby in your arms.
We're not TTC yet, but my GYN explained there are several different "levels" of help that can be offered. His preference (although he is willing to take mine over his!) is to start with metformin now, and TTC when we are ready, if no success, then he'll start me on clomid. He also said that if I want to, I have the option of going to see him before we TTC and he will put me on clomid immediately...my personal preference is to try first as naturally as possible, but we'll see.
Metformin is not a fertility drug as such, but it can help with fertility - don't get discouraged until you try it! Good luck!
my doctor put me on metformin because it would help with balancing the hormones. which will help ovulation. I'm still currently on bcp but plan on stopping them after I lose another 15 pounds and then start ttc while on met. you should check out the met success stories in this same catagory. they women there are very insperational! good luck to you.
__________________ Erica (me)=25 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Aaron (dh)=25 ttc #1 Suspected PCOS in 2003 not "officially" Dx'd until 2009 also IR Rx's: Metformin 1500mg Zoloft 50mg a day for anxiety Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg for HTN Folic acid Vitamin B-12
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I wanted my doctor to put me on metformin, because of a study showing that metformin actually worked better than clomid to get nonobese cysters pregnant and keep them pregnant. She put me on clomid instead, but I insisted and she finally put me on met, too.
How long have you been trying? He might want you to go the requisite year before starting you on clomid or other fertility drugs.
If he really insists that you should only use metformin and he won't prescribe anything else, check the Alternative Medicine boards about soy isoflavones. They're cheap, you can get them at Wal-mart, and they act just like Clomid.
You take them early in your cycle (days 2-6, 3-7, 4-8 or 5-9 - I don't think it really matters which you pick), and you take twice the amount you would take of Clomid (i.e., the doctor would start you at 50 mg, so you'd start soy at 100 mg - though I think most women start with 160 mg because the pills are 80 mg apiece).
Then, if you're temping, you can find out if you ovulate - and then you're in the 2WW!
Thank you ladies for all the replies... My doc explained that he would like to treat the underlying issues with pcos and met. can do just that by helping to get my hormones under control first and then taking the next step if it is needed. I have done a good bit of research and DH and I agree that my doc did right by me in thinking that I should try metformin first. I was hoping for a quick fix and to get prego soon but maybe for whatever reason I do to wait.
Sorry you were feeling so upset after your appointment.
Treating those "underlying causes" of PCOS may be just what you need to be able to conceive. Think of it as step number one toward having your baby.
If this helps.....
We had been trying for nearly 3 years to become pregnant with baby #2. I was feeling as though it wasn't going to happen. I started seeing a new OB/Gyn, who put me on Met, saying she wanted to see if my body would respond to it, before we went on to fertility treatment (clomid). I also began some moderate exercise and a healthier diet. Within 3 months I had lost some weight, saw great improvement in many of my PCOS symptoms, was ovulating and having a period, and got pregnant. That pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. But I conceived again immediately following the loss.
For me, Met has been such a help! I feel so much better on it than off. And I'm not sure that we'd have our daughter without it.
So, in MY head, Met does equal having a baby. Wishing you lots of success.
__________________ Diagnosed in 2006 Metformin 2000mg, Seasonique DS 9/02 (After 1 yr of TTC) M/C 10/05 DD 9/06 (After 3 yrs of TTC)
M/C #2 Losing and getting fit with healthy eating and 60-90 mins of exercise 6X a week. (And loving it!)
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Question about metformin. I have taken it before. MY Dh and I have been trying to conceive for over 2 years.I have had 3 miscarriages since last Nov. The last one ending in June after we saw the hb. I was taking Clomid 150mg. I took Femara this cycle bc last cycle Clomid for the first time didnt work. I dont think i conceived this cycle. I am 12dpo and negative HPT and spotting everyday. I take prometrium,baby aspirin, and follgard. I am thinking about asking for met again. I have read it helps egg quality and the dr said he believes thats what caused my last one. The first 2 were chemical pregnancies. I have been going to weight watchers since the end of August and I have already lost 30 lbs. I hope that will help too. Heres my question sorry.....can I just start met or do I have to take a cycle off and start it and then start back trying? WELSCH GIRL- How much weight did you lose before you noticed your PCOS symptoms getting better and you conceived? When I lost 23 lbs I had lost my 10%. I now weigh 205ish and am 5'6ish.I havent really noriced anything different though. I never have periods on my own unless I am on bcp,provera, or if I take clomid and ovulate and dont conceive.
Thanks!
__________________ Grace:23 PJ:28 married Nov,11,2006 2 chemical m/c- Nov 08 & March 09 m/c 8w,baby stopped growing at 6w,June 09
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Jenn,
Welcome! One good thing about Met is it helps a lot of women loose weight and sometimes that is enough to start ovulation. However, make sure you start at the low dose and work your way up over several weeks to reduce GI side effects. Also, if you are temping and using OPKs, you'll be more aware of whether/if the Met is working. However, if I were you, I would make an appt with an Reproductive Endocrinologist if you have any fertility insurance coverage because the RE can run all the tests and get everything ready to start a medicated cycle as soon as you've done your 3-6 months on Met. Sometimes it can take a couple months to get the initial consultation with the RE plus another month or more of blood tests etc on various days of the cycle. There's no reason to try for a year before you go to a specialist if you have PCOS.
__________________ Me: 31; DH 31
PCOS Dx 2000
Married 2005
TTC since 8/08
Started Met 1275 mg 3/09, 1700 mg since 7/09
HSG 10/09 - R tube open, L tube unknown (maybe spasm?)
Clomid round 1: cd 3-7, 50 mg, July 09, No monitoring, No O.
Clomid round 2: cd 3-7, 100 mg, Aug/Sept 09, No Monitoring, No O.
BCP Reset - Oct. 09
Clomid round 3: cd 3-7, 150 mg, Oct/Nov. 09, No O.
Nov/Dec. 09 TTC Break; Acupuncture and natural cycle.
IVF round 1 in Jan/Feb 09....
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I hope that will help too. Heres my question sorry.....can I just start met or do I have to take a cycle off and start it and then start back trying?
You can start taking Met in the middle of a cycle, although it may be easier to see if it's working if you take it at the beginning.
__________________ Me (22) DH (27) 2 furbabies Buddy the dashund Samson the chiweenie
Diagnosed with PCOS 10/2006 IR 10/2009 Excessive weight gain, irregular periods, acne
Met 1000 mg Inositol, multiviatamin, b-complex, chromium, fish oil, calcium, and CLA
10/2009 first cycle on met 120 mg Soy cd 1-5 2ww
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Those of us with PCOS are unfortunately at higher risk for miscarriage, AND THEN, if we don't miscarry, we are at higher risk for pre-eclampsia/HELLP. (I found this out the hard way.) Your risk also goes up with weight. So...you definitely WANT to treat the underlying issues first and hopefully you'll get pregnant while you are treating it. Since you are on metformin, I would recommend taking a folic acid supplement too because I have heard that they suspect met can interfere with folic acid absorption.
Good luck! I hope met helps you quickly and that's all you need to get pregnant.
__________________ Me (25) DH (29)
Angel baby Olivia Caetlyn born at 23 2/7 weeks gestation due to severe HELLP syndrome.
I didn't read all the responses, but after 26 months of ttc and 1 miscarriage I got pregnant my first month on glucophage. She is now 3 1/2 years old and very ornery! I was a part of a different TTC message board at the time and everyone kept urging me to take it because women would usually get preg the first month. And I had my famiyl doc and OB tell me the same thing from thier expierences (both had 20+ years exp). So I'm not a weirdo or lucky or anything, there's no guarentee but a good chance it will work sooner than you might think. Good luck!
Hi there,
Just wanted to let you know that my miracle twins are a direct result of Metformin. I was put on it to treat my IR symptoms, and I got pregnant. It has been a miracle drug for me. I have never had a period on my own and thanks to met I have regular periods and lost 25 lbs. I know it is frustrating, but if you can stick with the met you will probably see some positive results. Hang in there.
I started Met about 9 days ago. Started at 500mg & bumped myself up to 1000 2 days ago. Man, I am really feeling the effects of this drug. Does it get better with time? I considered going back to 1 for awhile but I dont want to take a step backwards. My dh & I have been trying to conceive for about 6 months, I know doesnt seem long but once we finally decided we were ready we wanted it right away! Im just wondering if the symptoms get better with a little more time, right now Im running to the bathroom with cramping. At first I thought it was period cramping because its low in my abdomen & my lower back even ached. But so far no period. I was put on met due to insulin resistance. Hopefully this regulates everything & helps us to conceive. Any help would be wonderful.
Please Help ! Doc wants me on Metformin but we want a baby! 
