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Fertility / Infertility  (Expert Forum)
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PCOS problems
Questions in the Fertility/Infertility forum are answered by doctors affiliated with USF Health. Topics covered include fertility or infertility issues, egg quality, fertility drugs and side effects, fertility tests, genetic testing, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), ovulation, relationship issues, risk factors, sperm count/quality, and surgery.

PCOS problems

by dragonflysar21, Apr 27, 2007 12:00AM
My dr diagnosed me with pcos almost a year ago.  I was put on metformin to try and make me ovulate, however that medication did not work for me.  Then the doctor told me to loose weight before I could even try to get pregnant.  I understood with pcos it was a lot harder to loose weight?  He prescribed me birth control pills, but one of the side effects is weight gain, I don't understand why I have to take the birth  control if it has that side effect, especially since im trying to loose weight?  I changed my diet and  have been exercizing regularly and have lost only 10 pounds  :(   Is there anything else that I could try?

by Forum-M.D.-SP, Apr 27, 2007 12:00AM
Yes, there are other ways to help you to get pregnant. PCOS is one of the commonest problems we see in infertility. Metformin by itself sometimes helps women ovulate more regularly, but not always. Clomid is a fertility pill, and clomid and metformin together will work the help women with PCOS ovulate approximately 65%-70% of the time. Combining clomid with metformin is often our first step for women who are trying to get pregnant but not ovulating. If that does not work, fertility injection drugs work 90%+ of the time. For sure you cannot get pregnant while on the birth control pill.

How much do you weigh? Getting pregnant is easier, and safer, the less overweight someone is, but there are plenty of overweight pregnant women. Weight loss is a difficult, challenging problem. It is sometimes helpful to see a nutritionist as well. Modest weight loss often makes periods regular and ovulation start up again. You may want to consider stopping the birth control pill and if your periods are not regular on their own starting fertility medicines as I have described above.

Good luck!

Member Comments (7)

by Elisa0407, Apr 28, 2007 12:00AM
i like you are overweight and have PCOS..i was put on met in nov. but wasent ovulating..since than with diet and excise ive lost 30 lbs im still overweight but just losing 10 lbs it can incrase your chance by 10% and to me any % is a lot..just this month i was put on clomid first round 50 mg i dint ovulate on my own but i had 2 perfect follicles so i got a trigger shot im currently on cd17 and i have 2 dpo i got my finger crossed that i will get my BFP soon my RE was really optimist he said that my follicles looked really good and that clomid did its job!! so get off bcp now!!! and get on clomid girl!!!!
good luck and sticky baby dust to you & ME!! :)

by dragonflysar21, Apr 29, 2007 12:00AM
Thanks for the info.  I tried to get ahold of my gyno but his nurse told me that I HAD to stay on bc until I lost more weight.  I am down to 200 now, but I just didn't understand why they refused to make my appt.  The bc makes my moods sooo horrible my husband is having a hard time dealing with it.. poor guy.  I did everything they told me to, but it still doesn't seem to work :(

by anuj271, May 03, 2007 12:00AM
my wife is detected with pcos & we r trying for child for past 3 yrs
her lh - 4.25
     fsh - 4.55
but after cc challenge test lh - 18
                       & fsh - 5.53
also she has antispermanibodies - 15
now uor doc is giving her inj. decapytyl 0.1 mg for lat 25 days &
recently in ultrasound her ovaries size was 28 cc
kindly let me know whether we r on right track or not & what r the chances of concieving

by Loubie, May 24, 2007 12:00AM
To: Hello, just looking for some guidance.
Hi, Im a 31 year old female who suspects that I may have PCOS. But would greatly appreciate some guidance.

I have not menstruated for the last 3 months and have been gaining a lot of weight despite exercising and a meagre salad and vegetable and protein diet for the last few years, I did have low blood sugar levels but they appear to have corrected themsleves as long as I avoid Carbohydrate foods.  Over the last 3 years my hair has thinned increasingly and I have an abundance of facial hair growth and body hair, when I do menstruate I bloat across my stomach and breasts and resemble the early stages of pregnancy, I also gain up to  7 pounds in weight and move up a dress size at this time. I have suffered anxiety in the past and am also prone to mood swings which correlate with the bloating. I have also noticed an increased pigmentation and darker patches on my face in the last 3 years this is accompanied by small skin tags  in my groin, neck and armpit area.

I have vivited my doctor several times over the years and have been informed that it may be my age etc, I have had thyroid tests and blood sugar tests which have all been fine and my smear tests always require a repeat test. Yet come back normally eventually.

I am feeling slightly concerned as the weight gain, oily skin, hair growth and bloating do not seem to effect my colleauges and friends and despite exercise and a healthy diet i cannot switch the weight across my middle etc.

Is it possible that I may have PCOS? and if so how do i proceed with obtaining a correct diagnosis?.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Loubie

by Keepingfaith23, Jun 15, 2007 12:00AM
I have PCOS and endometriosis. I am 23 years old. I am 5'5 and 120 lbs. I had the laproscopic surgery in January where they got rid of the 20 cysts in my ovaries and got rid of what endometrial implants that they could see. The doctor says I'm responding well supposedly to the Metformin but I'm still not ovulating and I now have 3 more cysts. The doctor says that the cysts are too big and it causes too much of a risk for me to take Clomid. (we were wanting to get pregnant, but it's not looking too possible) My progesterone level is only at 7.2. I don't understand why they aren't giving me progesterone, either natural creams or synthetic drugs. I'm just sitting around waiting and they keep checking to see if I'm ovulating each month and checking my levels and doing ultrasounds each month. They know my levels are low, like they have been since back in September 06. Nothing has changed and they aren't doing anything different. I'm getting frustrated. I know it is a syndrome and they can only do so much but I feel like a sitting duck. Shouldn't they be focusing on getting my levels up somehow. I understand fertility drugs are too high of a risk for me right now but they could be giving me progesterone injections, couldn't they, or am I high risk for that too? My whole concern isn't just being Barren for life, I am really concerned about the long-term risks. Endometrial cancer, diabetes, hyperplasia, heart disease, etc... I need reassurance that my doctor is on top of things.

by Keepingfaith23, Jun 15, 2007 12:00AM
To: Need some reassurance
I have PCOS and endometriosis. I am 23 years old. I am 5'5 and 120 lbs. I had the laproscopic surgery in January where they got rid of the 20 cysts in my ovaries and got rid of what endometrial implants that they could see. The doctor says I'm responding well supposedly to the Metformin but I'm still not ovulating and I now have 3 more cysts. The doctor says that the cysts are too big and it causes too much of a risk for me to take Clomid. (we were wanting to get pregnant, but it's not looking too possible) My progesterone level is only at 7.2. I don't understand why they aren't giving me progesterone, either natural creams or synthetic drugs. I'm just sitting around waiting and they keep checking to see if I'm ovulating each month and checking my levels and doing ultrasounds each month. They know my levels are low, like they have been since back in September 06. Nothing has changed and they aren't doing anything different. I'm getting frustrated. I know it is a syndrome and they can only do so much but I feel like a sitting duck. Shouldn't they be focusing on getting my levels up somehow. I understand fertility drugs are too high of a risk for me right now but they could be giving me progesterone injections, couldn't they, or am I high risk for that too? My whole concern isn't just being Barren for life, I am really concerned about the long-term risks. Endometrial cancer, diabetes, hyperplasia, heart