Should I request Metformin?

KEERA68240 · 05-08-2009, 05:56 PM

I was just diagnosed with PCOS two days ago. I ahve been ttc since Aug 08, not af without provera and no O in sight. DH is deployed right now, so I'm sitting around until Dec doing nothing about anything, as the dr said dont worry until he comes home. She wants to do Clomid for 3 months and then an RE consult.

I've been reading a lot on the web and this site that a lot of thin pcos patients dont respond well to clomid. I asked her before about Met and she said its only for heavy pcos patients. Should I ask her to start Met before dh comes home(I know it usually takes 3-6 months for full effect, I could do this while dh is gone) before going the Clomid route? If I do try Met, how many cycles should i ttc on it (in theory I would have already done the initial 3-6 months before he comes home) before switching over to Clomid?
Thanks in advance for the advice,
Jen

heyTHEREbrittany · 05-10-2009, 05:13 PM

I'm currently on Metformin and I can tell you that you will really have to assess your lifestyle before even considering the switch to this medication. The side effects are truly dreadful. I can't even consistently take my full dosage because of how it effects my body. It will give you upset stomach and awful diarrhea. I am in college and I literally had to get up about 3-4 hours before class just to eat and take my Metformin or I wouldn't be able to make it to class, and if I want to take my evening dose I have to plan very carefully so that I have a few hours where I can be home to deal with the side effects.

Also it often has an effect on blood sugar levels which for me have been very noticeable but I know some people don't experience them as badly. I understand that you may want Metformin for it's potential benefits for fertility but you should consider wether or not your life will permit you to actually consistently take it.

Hope that helps.

GovtProf · 05-10-2009, 09:51 PM

Met has for me, been amazing. (but then again, I am only taking 500mg and I have had no side effects) 30% of people have the side effects that "heytherebrittnay" described and I feel sooo bad for them

Yes, upset stomach is really no fun at all! I would give the Met a try though because it can REALLY help with TTC and all the other symptoms that go along with PCOS (blood sugar, hirsutism, hair loss, etc) Met is NOT just for obese or "heavy" cysters. Met is the first line of defense for anyone of any size, IR or not, with PCOS.

PuggyMama · 05-12-2009, 01:26 AM

Hi KEERA68240,

Like you I am a thin PCOS Cyster. I am trying clomid for the first time this month. Both my RE and OBGYN told me that they do not recommend met for me. I keep asking after reading about the success of met for a lot of women on these boards but I keep getting the same answer. Its my understanding that what heyTHEREbrittany wrote is true - for some of us thin cysters, the side affects aren't worth it and that clomid is the first thing for us to try. Here's hoping there's a baby in our future!

Baby dust,
Kate