I was diagnosed yesterday. I actually began to suspect that I had PCOS by reading a secret on PostSecret.com. I looked up PCOS, and I had almost ALL of the symptoms. I fit the description to the T with the exception of being overweight. My doctor was surprised that I knew so much about it when she diagnosed me.
My question is, do women with PCOS have trouble only conceiving, or both with conceiving and carrying children? My husband and I are very worried about this, and it has put a strain on our still very new marriage. He wants a lot of kids, but I am afraid I may not be able to give that to him.
I'd suggest reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility as soon as you can get a copy. I'd also recommend that you start charting your temperature and other fertility signs even before you start trying to conceive (if you aren't already). Then, you'll know from the beginning if you are ovluating and such. If you aren't, you can get help sooner rather than later.
Again, PCOS doesn't always equal infertility and miscarriage.
__________________ Pam (34) Rob (37) Otis the Doberman (3)
TTC #1 since 01/03 2003- Clomid - HSG - SA 2004- Lap - Gonal-f 2005- Break 2006- Saving for IVF - Metformin - BFP 10/06
Katherine Olive was born July 16, 2007!!!
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Thank you so much for sharing. I'm so glad to hear that there is hope after all. I can't even express how grateful I am to have come across this forum.
I was recently diagnosed too, and I have a cousin who has PCOS. I don't have much experience with it yet (I am on Clomid trying to get pregnant--2nd cycle of Clomid) but she has gone through a lot.
Clomid didn't do anything for her at all, she got pregnant with AI with quads but lost them at 21 weeks, and then did IVF and got pregnant with twins and lost them at 19 weeks. I know other women who go on Clomid and it works for them and they now have healthy babies!
So, I guess I don't know what else to say except that its different for every woman. I hope in your case you can try Clomid and it will do its job for you!
I guess only time will tell. I'm not yet TTC as I have one semester of nursing school left to finish, but I'd like to start trying soon after. My husband is very upset about this. When we got married, it was with the "knowledge" that I would be able to give him the big family that he wants. Since the diagnosis, he's been distant, not having much interest in me at all. I know that makes him sound horrible. He's not, but he does want a big family. After only 6 months of marriage, I'm having fears about being left. Has anyone else been through this?
I guess only time will tell. I'm not yet TTC as I have one semester of nursing school left to finish, but I'd like to start trying soon after. My husband is very upset about this. When we got married, it was with the "knowledge" that I would be able to give him the big family that he wants. Since the diagnosis, he's been distant, not having much interest in me at all. I know that makes him sound horrible. He's not, but he does want a big family. After only 6 months of marriage, I'm having fears about being left. Has anyone else been through this?
How are you cycles? Did your doctor tell you that you were infertile or something? PCOS does not always equal infertility. Plenty of PCOS women have "oops" babies and have conceived naturally. For some of us, it took a little extra effort, but I got pregnant with this (my first) baby on my first month of Clomid.
I don't know what your husband thinks this diagnosis means, but apparently he is under the impression you are barren. This is generally not true. Also, since you aren't actually trying to get PG right now, it would be a great time to start taking control of your fertility. You can chart/temp or use OPK's to see if/when you are ovulating. Has your doctor put you on metformin? For many PCOS women it is a huge help, and many doctors put all PCOS women on it, whether they are TTC (trying to conceive) or not, but it seems to be especially useful for women who do want to get pregnant. Many women who use metformin find that they start ovulating on their own within several months of starting it.
Good luck, and welcome to SC!
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Truth is, he's about as likely to have fertility issues as you are. If you do have problems, make sure he gets checked before making you feel guilty about it.
If you start charting now, you can jump right to medical assistance on the first cycle if it looks like you need it. You'll see a lot of worst case senarios around here. Don't let that scare you. It's the nature of the internet.
__________________ Pam (34) Rob (37) Otis the Doberman (3)
TTC #1 since 01/03 2003- Clomid - HSG - SA 2004- Lap - Gonal-f 2005- Break 2006- Saving for IVF - Metformin - BFP 10/06
Katherine Olive was born July 16, 2007!!!
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I've been TTC for 11 months, and I'm now on Femara, a fertility medication, along with my regualr dosage of Metformin. Femara, according to my doctor, sometimes does better for PCOSers than Clomid, the most popular fertility medication out there.
OK, so my older sister conceived her son after 2 months of trying and her daughter after 6 months of trying, and she has PCOS, as well. She has never taken any medication in the aiding of her conceiving. Her PCOS symptoms are less severe than mine, as she ovulates on her own. PCOS affects your ovulation. You can be like me and never ovulate, or you could be like my sister and ovulate once in a while. Those are the two most common as far as I can tell.
Women with PCOS have something like a 45% better chance of miscarrying than a "normal" person. I know that's scary. Scares me every day. But yy sister has never miscarried. It all depends upon you, what meds you are taking, and genetics (there are probably tons more factors, but I believe those are the big three). Metformin, a diabetes medication drs. use to treat the insulin resistance associated with PCOS, cuts that possibility of misscarrying in half.
The thing is this: We can worry and worry and worry some more about TTC and miscarrying, but when it comes down to it, being diagnosed and knowing the possibilities is the best because the drs. can watch you and you can be careful. And we have to keep living our lives, PCOS or not.
Talk to a good Reproductive Endocrinologist, one specialized in PCOS (that part is super important!), as OB/GYNs, as great as they can be, sometimes don't know how to treat PCOS. REs deal specifically with hormones, so they can help a lot. Some OB/GYNs are specialized in PCOS and are great, too, but I go to an RE.
My father is a Dr. and diagnosed me early on but I didn't start paying attention to my PCOS until I got married 3 years ago. If you are pro active with your treatment it will be much easier when you want to start trying. One thing I've learned is a lot of Dr's think PCOS is just a fertility issue and won't treat is more. It affects everything and so it's good to become knowledgable on treatments and eating habits that are good. Good luck to you!
I guess only time will tell. I'm not yet TTC as I have one semester of nursing school left to finish, but I'd like to start trying soon after. My husband is very upset about this. When we got married, it was with the "knowledge" that I would be able to give him the big family that he wants. Since the diagnosis, he's been distant, not having much interest in me at all. I know that makes him sound horrible. He's not, but he does want a big family. After only 6 months of marriage, I'm having fears about being left. Has anyone else been through this?
There's not a day that goes by, for me, that my husband of 7 months will leave me for some one more fertile. He started out like your guy did and we ended up in a big fight and I spilt my guts to him. I didn't relaize it was BOTH of us that were pushing each other away. He's more understanding and keeps on re-assuring that he won't leave, no matter how hairy I might get or if we end up being childless.
Give him a lil bit more time and maybe try and look stuff up together or bring him to a doc appointment and have him ask your doc questions about what you have. He just might be afraid of the unknown and he doesn't know where to go. And/or he might be feeling as though he's usless in helping you feel better.
Men are weird and sometimes are hard to read. Just remember to keep the communications line open, even if it might lead to a fight (in a good way, like figuring stuff out and getting everything on the table). He might not know how to deal with this.
I had problems getting pregnant, my doctor put me on metformin and slowly increased my dose and 4 months later with 30lb weight loss (I was obese) I became pregnant. Once I became pregnant I stayed on Metformin for the first 3.5 months to try to prevent a miscarriage. Hope this helps! Good Luck! (My doctor also said if I did not get pregnant right away that she was going to give me metformin and clomid at the same time,I am also insulin resistant. )
Questions on Getting Pregnant 
I'm so glad to hear that there is hope after all. I can't even express how grateful I am to have come across this forum.
