Friend w/ PCOS

Good Morning everyone. if you can give me any information regarding the following situation i'd really appreciate it. i'm going to tell you as much information as i know, but as it isn't regarding me - it's about my friend - so i only know the information 2nd hand.

my friend has PCOS and just started going to the dr. to monitor her cycle and boost ovulation. she has pretty long cycles (i think goes till about 40-45 days or so)and doesn't believe she actually ovulated prior to this month. the dr. gave her clomid and checked to see that her eggs were growing and getting ready for ovulation. at first he wasn't sure whether or not she'd actually O as they weren't growing the way he would have liked them too. in the end she did ovulate but pretty late in her cycle. she ovulated around June 15th or so. She expected her af last week and first day it didn't show she went to the dr. for blood test. the blood test came back positive. she went to the dr. again yesterday and her hcg levels came back at 250 and nothing seen on u/s. the dr. is not very positive about this pregnancy and is worried about possible ectopic. she hasn't had much in the symptom dept., but she hasn't started bleeding or anything and has regular cramps (like af). she's going back to him on friday to check #'s again. now this would be very early on in her pregnancy - i mean she found out and went to him last week wed. the 28th and this was first day of missed af and she ovulated on/about 15th - which would put at only 13DPO. and going this week it really only makes her about 5 weeks pregnant or something...

[Berko]

(continued from previous post)

what are numbers supposed to look like at 5 weeks and why would he suspect ectopic?

also, she's nervous about pcos relating to ectopic pregnancies. i told her i thought ectopic was a fluke and just happened that it implanted over there instead of making it's way to the uterus, but does one thing have to do with the other? if you can give me any information on this or thoughts on what's going on. i've m/c, but never this early on so really i'm not sure what's making the dr. think that this pregnancy won't hold. please give me any information you can so i can relay it over to her. i want her to have peace of mind (as much as she can in this situation) and am trying to be there for her, but don't know much about her exact situation. thank you so much in advance for all your information and advice.

If need be this forum can be used as open forum.

[Trudy80]

You seem like a lovely caring friend and she is lucky to have you in her circle of support.  I have PCOS and have been ttc for just over 2years.  I was not ovulating due to pcos and too was having long cycles.  I tried clomid to change my cycle patterns and get ovulation but after three failed attempts went onto self injection fertility treatment. On the second month of this i fell pregnant but as of the 5th week they couldnt detect anything on the v u/s or abdominal u/s.  I was advised of all scenarios due to the higher risk of m/c with pcos.  My doc thought i was having a ectopic pregnancy because he couldnt see anything then wen the hcg started to slow he was certain that was wat was happening to me but the scans shuld still be able to see an ectopic in the tubes which in my case he couldnt.  this heartache of not seeing the baby or any abnormal pregnancy went on for a further 4 weeks and my hcg slowly climbed giving little hope (nevertheless hope).  I read so many sites regarding PCOS and the main piece of information I come to gripes with was that the eggs produced from PCOS sufferers are so much weaker than that of a 'normal' womans.  I was preped for a laparoscopy and possible dnc and went for a final scan at just past 9weeks and the v scan picked up a 4week old sac in the uterus.  two days later i started to miscarry naturally and by the 5th day pain was too much and doc thought i might of still had an ectopic so went to surgery. he did dnc and found a mass in my uterus and left the other procedure until he found out wat the mass was he removed.  It was comfirmed later that week that i had a miscarriage in my uterus and everything else was clear.  I have now just past my first af cycle and in my waiting weeks to see if i have ovulated naturally or if i need to go back onto treatment.  Everyone with pregnancy and pcos are different, I just wanted to share my story. My cousin has had pcos and two full term pregnancies and one was threatened ectopic and turned out to be false alarm.  dont pull the wool over her eyes is all i can say, make her aware of the absolute worst scenario and live for the best positive outcome! That is what made my prolonged enevidable wait that ting bit easier to handle rather than think and have everyone say how rosey everything is. as for hcg at different times try this site: http://www.conceivingconcepts.com/learning/articles/hcg.html.  As for pcos, google it and there are hundreds of different things to look at.  Keep positive as it is only early days.  Sorry to woffle on but I am a believer that PCOS can be beaten!  ~~~~sticky baby dust to you both~!~~~

[Berko]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so sorry for your loss though and all the heartache in the constant trying and hoping. I don't have PCOS, but have m/c twice so I do know some of what you're going through. I'm glad though for you that it wasn't ectopic and that your body rid itself naturally. I'm going to relay the information over to my friend and check out that website for more info. I really hope that everything ends up okay with her. do you think that the dr.'s preparing her for it b/c with pcos higher risk or b/c she really has something to worry about? do you have any idea if 250 hcg is low for about 5 weeks pregnant? i would think it's really early to see something anyway on an u/s (even transvaginal). i mean i probably went for my first u/sounds at about 5.5 weeks and saw tiny little blip of something so couldn't it be just too early? are PCOSers more prone to ectopic? if yes, why? thanks again for answering anything you can. i've been in the ttc club longer than her so i really wish i could give her some answers or ideas to calm her a little. i can give her the emotional support and help her through with any info i know about personally and have learned since being on this site, but don't know too much about pcos and ectopic pregnancies.

[Berko]

Thank you so much for responding. I'm happy to hear that things are finally going well for you in terms of pregnancy. after all you've been through i'm glad to hear you're moving along with your pregnancy. i think that my friend has a milder case of PCOS - but i don't know all the details so not sure exactly what. i'm really hoping that all this worry about m/c or ectopic is a false alarm and that this pregnancy progresses and everything is healthy and well, but in any case i'm happy that at least she got pregnant. she was so worried that she wouldn't/couldn't ovulate and after only 1 month of being on clomid it worked. she is with a very good dr. - i know this b/c i recommended him to her - i've been seeing him for the past few years and he's a really great dr. and a great person. i can't believe their are drs. out there who would tell someone there's no hope. i've heard lots of stories of people who were told never and it worked. but i'm happy for you that you're now with a dr. who's positive and helpful. i would suggest after you deliver your beautiful baby (G-d Willing) you march your bundle of joy to your old dr.'s office and proudly show him or her off.

[Jenny77]

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 21, I'm now 28. I truly think that every case of PCOS is different and some are more serious than others. I went on the pill for 6 years after having irregular periods and as soon as I came off the pill, I had extremely regular periods. My doctors have always told me very strongly that PCOS does not mean you have a higher chance of M/C, it just means you'll probably have a harder time getting pregnant because you O less than someone who has a regular cycle. I did get pregnant last year and had a m/c, a blight ovum, but was told it had nothing to do with PCOS and was just one of those things. Tons of women have a m/c the first time without any real reason as to why it happened. I got pregnant again in jan and am 24 weeks now and no problems at all this time. But like I said, I do feel like there are different magnitudes of PCOS, some women are treated pretty easily and others it can be grueling. I wish the best for your friend and I'm glad she has a good friend like you to give her support to. I have also had different experiences with different doctors, make sure your friend has a doctor that has a positive attitude about PCOS too. My first doctor just put me on the pill and did not want me to get off until I was ready to TTC, I asked her once if I could try to go off the pill and see if I'd be more regular, and she said to me very sternly,"There is no cure for PCOS,you're not going to get better". Wow, Well, A couple years later, I had a new doctor and asked the same question and this new doctor was very open to trying it and listened to my concerns and just said to try it and see what happens. Some doctors just don't want to deal with PCOS and don't seem to care that much, but others are wonderful and supportive to the woman and are there to help her and let her be involved in her treatment options too.

[Berko]

sorry i just reread post and realized that you said you started to m/c naturally but then had d&c - sorry about the mixup on my end. i hope it wasn't too painful and now that your af showed up hope you get a new healthy bfp real soon!!

[gracie_newmum]

hello everyone,

i hope that this thread will give me some reassurance regarding my condition. Im 23 years old and a few doctors over the years had told me i have PCOS. 3 years ago, doctor1 told me I have PCOS, was put on te Pill to regulate periods, and after a year, I had an u/s and to my surprise and joy cysts were gone. I continued on the Pill, and stopped since december last year. I got married last April 2006, and ever since i havent had my period. So last June 15, I went to Doctor for an exam, she did a transv u/s and found out that i have polycystic right ovary. I was depressed since i found out that it is back. She did tell me that I have a mild case since I am perfectly fine, just regular weight, no hirutism (abnormal hair growth), and no acne. How would she know for sure then that my case is indeed PCO? What if they are just polyps?

Anyhow, up til last Sunday which was 16th of July, my period hasnt come (note: Since 2nd week of April) althought my breasts feel very tender and sensitive, so i thought my period was coming. To double check,. I bought an HPT -- to my pleasant surprise it is POSITIVE.

My husband and I rushed to the doctor, and from my story, the conception must have ahppened from the time i had an ultrasound last 15th of June till 16th of July, therefor I am maybe 2-4 weeks pregnant. Took three more HPT's to be sure, and they ar all POSITIVE. The doctor doesnt even want to confirm if I am pregnant or not, she jsut wants me to come back in 2 more weeks. The positive hpts doesnt stop me from worrying about my case. I will have to wait for the next u/s next week to see if she could see something already.

What are my chances of having a healthy pregnancy if I have PCO on the right ovary? Please pray for me, I would love to be a very young mom and prove to PCO sufferers that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

very anxious and hopeful,
Grace

[Berko]

i don't know much about PCOS and pregnancy but i just wanted to wish you lots of good health and happiness with your pregnancy. i would also suggest that you copy and paste this question in a new forum or in a forum higher up on this site so that other women will see it and be able to answer you. I happened to be scrolling through old posts and saw this one, but most people i think just check the posts from more recent dates. i'm sure you would get plenty of answers for your question and lots of info and advice. good luck.