Thin w/PCOS = harder to get pg?

Amber913 · 01-28-2003, 04:12 PM

Hi!
I have heard on a few diffrent occasions that women with PCOS that are thin have a much harder time getting pg. Has anyone else heard this? Thank-you for any information.

blonde33ca · 01-28-2003, 05:24 PM

I'm not sure if this is true or not, it took me from October/01 until May/02 to get pregnant.

To get pregant I used vitex from February until may when I got pregnant. I also cut down on my carbs as it was nothing for me to eat 2 quarts of pasta for dinner, covered with butter and parmasean (can't spell) cheese.

Prior to getting pregnant I was 5'5" and weighed 125 pounds.

Hopefully this at least gives you encouragement.

KT1979 · 01-28-2003, 06:01 PM

I would agree with that, and so would my doctor. When I got pregnant with my daughter I had absolutely no PCOS symptoms and conceived within 2-3 months. Now that the PCOS has reared it's ugly head, it is proving to be next to impossible. We have been trying for 2 years now, and I don't think I have ovulated once within that time. What makes this doubly frustrating is that there seems to be no treatment for me. Clomid had absolutely no effect on me, and my doctor thinks that Metformin would be a waste of time for me since it's very unlikely that I am insulin resistent. He even went so far as to say that it could be counter-productive if it caused me to become quite ill and lose more weight. He really doesn't think it would be worth the gastrointestinal misery for me. My doctor believes that insulin resistence isn't the root of the problem for the thin PCOSers, and therefore, Metformin isn't nearly as effective for us. I know that's a controversial point of view, and there are many doctors out there who would disagree with that, but it does make sense to me. So basically, what does that leave us with then if we are Clomid resistent and cannot afford the injectable meds? Absolutely nothing except a few herbal remedies that may or may not be effective. I have personally found that being a "thin cyster" is very frustrating and aggravating. I feel like this is all out of my control and that the medical community has very little to offer me. Not a nice feeling.

Amber913 · 01-28-2003, 06:06 PM

Congrats to you and DH. It does give hope. Can I ask what is vitex? Did you take anything else? I can cut down on the carbs (I LOVE pasta and bread). I am 5' 7" @ 113lbs. I don't want to loose any weight.
We are strating the IVF process now. It is all very frustrating (SP, I can't spell either

).

Thank-you,

Amber913 · 01-28-2003, 06:18 PM

KT979,
My ins. did cover all clomid, & everything but the injections. Now we are moving to IVF and that is going to be alot of $$$$$ for us to put out right now. But I am 30 and so is DH so we feel this is the time to do it. It is very frustrating being thin and haveing this.
I am not IR and my doctor put me on Glucophage right away. It did make me lose some weight at first, but after a couple of months I got used to it. I take 1500mg daily. I have thought about taking the herbal route but my DH and have not talk about that yet. I hope all works out for you and your DH. GOOD LUCK!!!
And lots of ********baby dust************

Kittycat · 01-28-2003, 06:34 PM

I'm a thin cyster and Ive been ttc for 6 years now. Despite trying everything, Ive never been able to get pg. IMO thin cysters have a much more difficult time conceiving.

youlittletart · 01-28-2003, 07:16 PM

I really think it is case by case as all of our symptoms and the degree to which we are affected varies dramatically. For example, I am thin (5'11'', 135 lbs) , but my symptoms are mild so I don't think it will be that difficult for me. I have regular periods just longish cycles. I don't know if I O consistently, but I have been lately as evidenced by ultrasounds and blood panels.
Right now, I am on hte first month of trying a low carb diet and a lot of BD from CD 9-20...just so we don't miss it!

Even though my signature says we have been trying since July...we weren't serious, just not protecting.
If this doesn't work, then I will go for an HSG and consider met. even though I don't think I am truly IR (maybe slightly). I will also start temping.

Amber- did you have IUIs? What about an HSG? I am assuming your husband was checked as too? 30 isn't that old

. I would definitley consider herbs, but I wouldn't do them during an IVF cycle...maybe give vitex and dong quai a try for a month or two BEFORE moving to IVF.
Jen

waiting for first · 01-28-2003, 07:16 PM

I've heard the same about thin cysters having a tougher time. I think we are more challenging-no doubt. My RE said that the "end result" regarding %age who get pg who are thin vs. heavier is the same, but that thin pcosers are more challenging for him to manage because they can easily hyperstim esp. with injectibles. Don't know if that is completely true, but that was his response.

I'd love to hear what everyone else's docs say about this. I think it depends on how many thin pcos cases your doc has seen too. They have to realize they can't treat us the same ways they treat other patients if they are going to be effective.

Beth

ImJenniferJ · 01-28-2003, 07:50 PM

I have no pcos symptoms--I think I have poly cystic ovaries but not the "syndrome". My ovaries have the "string of pearls", my periods are very unpredictable(leading me to medical help after only a few months off the pill & hence my diagnosis)& I have the LH/FSH ratio that indicates pcos. My testoserone is very normal(47)& when not pg I am 110-113lbs & a size 1.(I'm 5'4"). I got pg w/ twins my 2nd IUI/clomid /HCGcycle(I didn't even O the 1st time). This time I got pg my 1st clomid/IUI cycle(using dhs frozen sperm b/c he was away on business at the time of O)& did not need the HCG as I surged on my own!! Both times I conceived I used progesterone suppositories from 3dpIUI until 12-13 weeks of pg. I respond very well to clomid(but no ohss)but it screws up my mucus so IUI is needed. After the birth of my twins I actually had a few normalish cycles & my RE spotted a mature follie on u/s a month when it was to early to get pg again but it was encouraging. Also, this time the morning of the IUI that got me pg I had EWCM for the 1st time but the "spermsicle" was all of dh I had & it worked. Both times I conceived I had HSG the month or 2 before. Hope this helps..
God bless
JJ

Amber913 · 01-28-2003, 08:06 PM

Jen,
Yes I did have IUIs with both Clomid and Inj. I had the HSG test done right before this past cycle. And my DH was fine. He had 60 million (WOW)!
My symptoms are very mild also. If the blood work did not show my LH/FSH, etc. I would not think I had PCOS. I have some acne (not much), & I don't O on my own. Periods are irregular too.
I will bring up the Herbal meds. to my DH tonight.
Good luck to you all!!!!!!!

KT1979 · 01-29-2003, 08:54 PM

Thanks for the encouragement and baby dust Amber913. I wish we could one day afford the injectable meds, but I really can't see it. I hope everything works out for you and your husband as well.

Tammy-Lou · 02-26-2003, 01:21 PM

Hi all.

Im also a thin cyster and it took me 3 years to fall pg, and it happened naturally. I haven't got lots of the symptoms, just irregular AF.

Infact before they would consider giving me any treatment they tested my dh to rule him out (he didn't talk to me for a week after!! he he). He was fine and 2 weeks later it just happened out the blue.

I must say though (I have no idea if this contributed or not) but I gave up smoking completely and took a licorice pill everyday for a month before I fell pg.

Wishing you good luck.

wuns · 02-27-2003, 10:01 PM

I am also a thin one. Prior to my dtr I weighed about 115lbs at 5'4". It took injects/Met with the IUI to get there after trying various things and it was about my 13th cycle in total. I did conceive on clomid around the 4th cycle but lost that one.
I am now prg with #2 and prior to TTC this one I weighed about 105 lbs this time going in. All it took this time was Met and only 25mg of clomid and good ole fashion sex! First round in!

Hope that helps.... T

Candace · 03-04-2003, 12:35 PM

I was 25 when we decided to attempt to have a baby. At 28 I finally conceived after I stopped clomid. I had a spontaneous ovulation without the drug after coming off of it. Interesting thing is we used no protection after having our first child and I concevied naturally when my daughter was four months old. We have two children. We used progesterone supplements both pregnancies due to low progesterone issues. I was 110 lbs then and we struggled to conceive for about three years. I am now 128 lbs and have been on the pill for about 2 years trying to keep my hormonal levels at a more even keel.

Blessings to all of you!

Candace
Age 36
2 children 7 and 8
Married 16 years
Glucophage XR 2000 mgs 2 years 4 months
Yasmin
Feeling great!
Diagnosed with PCOS at age 21 no symptoms except annovulatory rediagnosed at 34 all kinds of symptoms including weight gain

Pale Pink Aura · 04-09-2003, 01:30 AM

Well I can't speak for all thin cysters, but it was NOT easy for me to become pregnant. I'm completely anovulatory. Clomid worked once, then I miscarried, then it didn't work ever again and started screwing with my brain (BAD!!! mood swings). With injectables I overstimulated on a tiny little doseage, so I went to IVF and REALLY overstimulated on the same small doseage (they collected 25 eggs, cancelled the cycle and I ended up sooooooo sick). I did eventually get pregant after risking the injectables again for a frozen embryo transfer. Didn't overstim that time and it worked and I now have a beautiful little girl to show for it all. So it took years, a lot of hard work, a lot of cash but it did work and it's so worth all the sacrifices we made. :-)