I've been ttc for 3 &1/2 years without success. About a year and a half into this whole thing, we switched to ovulation induction w/ injectibles and my response was way high so we converted to ivf. This is when my RE realized pcos was at play. Prior to this my issue appeared to be anovulation. I got a period every 35 days or so but never ovulated. All of my ivfs (5) have resulted in over 25 eggs on low dose hormones. I'm 5'1" and 110 lbs, high glucose, high cholesterol, middle of the road insulin.
I'm only on 500mg of Met per day. I don't eat any sugar, no simple carbs, no caffiene. Do eat high protein, high fiber. Just started acupuncture but not doing the herbs right now.
I started the Met and diet right before my 4th ivf and actually got pregnant but it ended in a m/c. Not sure what else I can do so I'm curious what has worked for others. Anyone willing to share?
sorry to hear about your long struggle, I cant imagine the frustration. It took us 1 yr with meds.
What worked for us was a low dosage of gonal-f. They started me on 75 units but I completely over responded so the next cycle my RE lowered my dosage to 37.5 and it worked perfectly. After my IUI he also put me on prometrium-vaginal suppositories-for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
I hope you find what works for you very soon!
__________________ Heidi(25) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Dh(25)
6 rounds clomid (O'd each time), 3 trigger shots, 3 IUI's-all BFN
December07:Clomid+gonal-f+ovidrel+IUI=BFN
January08:Clomid+gonal-f+ovidrel+IUI=BFP!!!!! TWINS!!
9-13-08 (36 weeks): DD born 2:52pm 5lbs 8oz; DS born 2:53pm 5lbs 4oz
Isaiah 40:30&31
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So sorry to hear about your difficulties meds, IVF etc. It can be so frustrating and disheartening.
I was fortunate enough to get pregnant on my first cycle of feritlity drugs. Here's what worked for me Metformin for three months before trying fertility meds. My RE used this combination for me: Femara twice a day for five days, next I did Bravelle injections for nine days (he had to up the dosage once), followed by Ovidrelle trigger.
Hang in there!
__________________ Married to one awesome guy! Me (35), DH (40) One furbaby
TTC #1 Diagnosed 10/3/2007 by ultrasound Meds: 1500 mg Glumetza, Prenatal Vitamin 01/21/07: 1st round of Femara + Bravelle + Ovidrel 02/21/07: Received a BFP!! Due 10/25/2008
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Hi there. First you should find out why you are on such a low dose of Metformin. I have heard time and time again, most need 2,000mg to see results. I only O by myself on 2000mg, but with long cycles. I am thin and not IR, and met immediately worked for me in conceiving my DD. Prior to met I was totally anovulatory.
__________________
Ali (31) DH (33) married 4-04
7-05 bfp Met XR 2,000mg 1-09 bfp 2nd round clomid 50mg + Met XR 2000mg
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I am so sorry to hear of your ttc struggles. I conceived on 1000mg of Met. I too question why your dose is so low, have you tried going too 1000-1500? I would think you might have better success with a higher does of Met and a IR diet. ??
Also, it took me a year after being on Met. It took a bit of patience but every month I saw more and more improvement with my cycles, although I got pg on cd 48.
Thanks for the support. I haven't tried increasing my Met because my prescription is only for 30 tablets/month so I'd run out. I follow an IR diet - no sugar, no simple carbs (white stuff), only whole grains but low carb overall, hormone free meats, eggs, and milk, no caffeine, and very little alcohol. Any other suggestions?
I am trying to get back into an exercise routine too but my motivation has been lacking. I'm not overweight obviously (hence "thin cysters") but I'm getting up there in years (36 now) so my patience is thin.
I see my RE again tomorrow and I'm basically going to beg him to up me to at least 1000mg. What could it hurt, right? He's just of the school of thought - not IR, don't need much Met. So I have to convince him otherwise and will do my best. I really like him and he's been great but this is a sticking point where he & I just don't agree.
Well, Met didn't work for me, but if you're going to try it, you should def check into upping your dose to at least 1000 mg (most studies suggest 1500). I don't think 500 is going to do any good.
For me, it did take IVF to get pg, but that is partially b/c I got impatient with less invasive procedures. My RE is very good at treating PCOS patients, and it can be difficult with injectable meds b/c we overrespond so easily. On my injectable cycle (non-IVF), she had me on very low dose Follistim, and it took 28 days of stimulation to get 2 mature follies. She is a big believer in low and slow. Even in my IVF cycle I stimmed for 14 full days (instead of 10-11 like most women). If you are typically an over-responder, and your RE isn't changing your protocols much, you may look into getting a 2nd opinion. Sometimes the hyperstimulation itself inhibits pregnancy. How has your egg/embryo quality been in your IVF cycles? Have you done any frozen cycles? Have you done 3 day or 5 day transfers? Is your FSH high?
__________________ Whitney, 33
After soy, Femara, Follistim, an ectopic pregnancy, and IVF, FINALLY BFP 8/08 -- twins -- but lost baby B at 7 weeks Preterm labor at 25 weeks... baby boy is here safely at 36w3d!
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After reading so many other people's experiences, I can't believe I am finally posting my own BFP! What I learned through this whole experience is that you can't always trust your Dr., OB or endocrinologist to know everything. You have to do a lot of research on your own (this site is great for learning what other people are trying) and if you can you have to look at getting pregnant with PCOS as a process. The worst thing I did was think that clomid would work for me, because it did for my mom and so many other women the first time. When clomid didn't work and didn't work, I just got really depressed. I got obsessed with thinking in terms of month to month instead of seeing the big picture. It took me awhile to realize that infertility is just one part of my life, but it doesn't have to define my life.
The last thing I would recommend is taking a break from fertility from time to time for your relationship and it also helps you make better decisions on what fertility steps to take next.....that may seem impossible to do when you want to get pregnant ASAP, but mental and emotional health is so important. I truly think my follistim cycles didn't work, because at that point I was an emotional stress mess. I should have just waited until the school year was over (I'm a teacher), but I was too impatient and had tunnel vision.
pagreenthumb---definitely look into increasing your metformin. I was on a 1000, but after reading all the posts here just called my dr. and got upped to 1500. Also, if your dr. isn't up to date on treating PCOS, find someone new. I went full circle on doctors and am now back to my family physician. My endocrinologist wouldn't put me on metformin, but kept pushing me to do IVF. I wasn't opposed to IVF, but didn't want to go there until I tried absolutely everything else. I left the endocrinologist and went to see my family physician. I had printed out all the articles on metformin working on non-IR cysters for my appointment and I didn't even have to show them to her, because she mentioned metformin in our conversation before I did!
I will keep you and all the other trying to conceive cysters in my prayers.
1/07 off BC—no O
8/07 PCOS diagnosis, non-IR, thin cyster, 5'0, 130 lbs
9/07 Clomid, 50 mg—no O
10/07 Clomid, 100 mg—no O
11/07 Clomid, 100mg—no O
12/07 referred from OB to RE—more tests & labs—all in the normal ranges
4/08 Follistim, 75-150iu—overstim Canceled cycle
5/08 Follistim, 50-100iu, IUI, 2 follies, HCG trigger shot—BFN
6/08 Taking a break—totally burnt out! RE pushing IVF…not ready to go there yet.
7/08 Went Natural. Diet & Exercise, Metformin, 1500 mg & Supplements---Chromium, Calcium, B-complex, Vitamin D & Cinnamon
Started Adoption process
8/08 Totally surprised……. BFP! One month of metformin and vitamins!
Hi sorry to hear your trouble with your TTC journey
It took me 2.5 years to fall pregnant with my first due to my periods being so long, like every 4ish months. The month i was given 50mg of clomid is the month i feel pregnant naturally.
I was 116lbs back then & im 5ft 6. I lost that baby at 17 weeks & then fell 9 months later again naturally.
I just struggled because of how long my cycels were & i wasn't ovulating
Thin cysters - how did you get pg? 
