She's just found out she has severe polycystic overies....

[Worm'sMum]

Hi,
I wanted to get some advice for my sister. She is 22 and just found out she has severe polycystic overies, she has something like 10 in one ovary and 15 in the other. Because of this, she can't ovulate properly and needs to be on the pill in order to get her period. It makes me so sad as she dearly wants children of her own. I'd love to here some advice or positive stories that I can pass on to her to help...:fingerscrossed:

Thank you!:)

[~beckkles~]

Hi Worm,
I have polycystic ovaries it isnt a fertility disaster but it does require finding people that have alot of knowledge on the subject.
When I started out all those years ago I had a laproscopy and hyterscopy to check my other bits out whilst they were there they drilled holes in my ovaries ( which didnt hurt) and later went on to use clomid. Metformin is also a drug that is bringing good results too...I'm not insulin dep but many women are! She should find a good reproductive endogrinolist she will sort out all the hormonal imbalances. I went on to do IVF only because DH was a contributing factor also..something good to get tested early other wise it is alot harder.Also PCOS have an increased mc rate which progesterone can help compat.. But I have a beautiful healthy girl to show for it.
Good luck to your sister I hope she overcomes this hurdle
Bec

[Jules16]

A friend of mine had amazing results with a chinese herbalist/acupuncturist in Preston, Melbourne. She had a very severe case and now fell pg first month of trying.

[Worm'sMum]

Thank you so much for your reply's!
Morganj - that is fantastic for your friend...I will pass that info on to my sister, she is in QLD but I'm sure there's plenty of herbalist etc like that up there too.

Beckkles - thank you, and I'm so happy to hear you now have a beautiful baby girl! I will tell my sister and hopefully she can get started into looking for a good reproductive endroginolist?

Hearing both your positive outcomes gives me hope for her.

Thank you!!:kiss:

[LittleBoysRock]

I am 23 and gave birth to my first child in July last year. I was told in July 2004 that I would never have children due to PCOS...

I used a cream called Subvene ( also called endau). You rub it into your stomach or thighs for 21 consecutive days and then stop for 7. I got AF for the first time in 7 months 3 days after I started using it. 3 Months later...pregnant with DS.

I am now getting ready to TTC #2 but I have found out it might be harder this time as the cream isnt working.

Goodluck to your sister, please tell her that it isnt impossible, that others have proved the Dr's wrong so so can she!! :hugs:

[cmd'smum]

Hi Worm,

I have PCO as well. I was on my second course of Clomid when I fell pregnanct with my now 14 month old daughter!The Drs also told me I couldn't conceive naturally however I did with my second pregnancy which was a surprise :eek: (even though I m/c :crying: ) and we conceived 3 months after I had stopped B/F my daughter, fancy that, we wern't even trying!

Yes having PCO can sometimes increase your risk of m/c but thats not why I m/c!

So there is hope! I think Drs give you the worst possible scenario to cover themselves too sometimes I guess? Then again my GP told me that "he doesn't know why but after having their first baby so many women with PCO find it easier to fall pg subsequently."

Although PCO isn't the best condition to have at least if you can't get pg naturally then there are medications to assist you to fall pg!!

Lots of luck to your sis!

[Worm'sMum]

Thank you lady's so much for your advice and personal stories...I spoke to my sis tonight and she is feeling much better and more positive esp since I passed on all your words of wisdom. She's now just trying to convince her DP to seriously look at starting the ball rolling!!!:fingerscrossed:

Thanks again, I really do appreciate being able to chat to people like you, and get advice!:D

[zoepiglet]

Hi has your sister had a insulin resistance test???? if she has then she should ask about metformin as a treatment for pcos. Often metformin allows you to utilise the insulin in your system and helps balance hormone production and encourage ovulation.

to be honet 10 and 15 follicles isnt a severe case of PCOS. They usually say that PCOS isnt confirmed by ultra sound unless you have over 15 on each ovary.

Both my partner and i have pcos, we have insulin resistance, excessive bodily hair growth, either irregular, non existent or continual periods, weight issues etc...

My last scan showed i had 8 and 15 follicles which was considered within normal realms. For me metformin and a low gi diet worked great....i started to ovulate and have regular cycles and have now been off the metformin for around a year or more and continue to have regular cycles.

I conceived twice last year but unfortunately ended in miscarriage.

I am now also on the subvene cream and will See how that helps with the next cycle and attempt at conception.

My partner has been on a higher dose of metformin but it doesn't seem to have worked for her. She is now taking a course of provera to kick start a cycle and its hoped that a few assisted cycles may help kick things back into a regular cycle.

Make sure your sister gets her endometrial lining thickness checked every now and then if she is not having regular cycles, there is a link now between not shedding the lining properly monthly and cancer. My partner has had to have regular scans as she actually bled daily for a year but never really shed anything, this resulted in a d&c to remove all the lining and now is made to have at least 1 cycle every 3 months.

The other thing i have been recently told by a doctor if to take a calcium supplement as well as the subvene as it helps reduce uterine and ovary irritation, might help with the pcos as well.


PCOS does not mean you are definitely infertile, with treatment it can be regulated and can in fact be reversed. it can cause conception issues but not necessarily so and with some help normal pregnancies can occur.

Many women with pcos conceive naturally not even knowing they have the condition, i think they reckon its 1 in 4 or maybe 5 women who have it now.

Get her to see an endocrinologist for tests....if they don't suggest anything then make sure she asks about metformin in the first instance, then about any other hormone balancers you can research, like subvene and then if nothing helps there they often use clomid as a next step to help conception.

There is hope, research all you can and it will help


:smiliedance:
Zoe

[Pebbles]

I have Polycystic Ovaries. After 12 months of trying for a baby I had tests done and they diagnosed me with PCOS. My FS gave me a 2% chance of ever ovulating naturally and therefore put me on Clomid. I fell pregnant first cycle on Clomid but unfortunately m/c our little one at 8 weeks. That was 3rd Jan. I was waiting for AF to come back so that I can go back on Clomid and try again but it never came...
I found out this week that I am pregnant again! I ovulated naturally and fell pregnant. It is a miracle but obviously miracles do happen.
Good luck to your sister... :hugs:

[plumptobump]

I agree with the above posters in that there is a lot of treatment options available. If she is wanting to conceive, I wouldnt put her on the pill as that only masks the problem and creates a breakthrough bleed, but doesnt help her get ovulating once shes off it again. I would get her dr/gyn to give her a referral to a fertility specialist and like another poster said, get her insulin levels checked as this is usually a common problem with pcos that needs to be addressed. Good news is that now she has a diagnosis, she can be on her way to treatment. :)

[nicoleE]

Hello Wormsmum

there is some good advice here.

I have over 22 cysts on each ovary (they stopped counting) and dont ovulate on my own so need fertility drugs to make me ovulate so I can have a chance at conceiving. You can read my TTC diary on the link in my signature. I am now just over 7 weeks pregnant so it does certainly happen. Both my sisters also have PCOS and one of them has 2 daughters conceived on fertility drugs as well.