[Nicoyaangel]

Hello ladies!

Well, I need your help! So, today I called my dr. office so I can start taking medication to ovulate!

Here is where I need your help. I dont know if any of you may know the answers to the following questions but it would be very helpful if you can pick and choose the questions you do know. This is my first time EVER calling my dr. for ovulating pills and I hear sooo many things out there. My dr. keeps trying to push me to take birth control pills so here are my questions:

1. Do you think they are going to have me take the bc pills first OR can I go straight to taking the meds I need?

2. What is out there? I have heard of clomid and metformin. Anything else?

3. Maybe there is some questions I should be asking my dr. But what? I don't know what to expect.

4. Any success stories out there?

5. Will they deny me anything for this because I am overweight? Will they make me lose the weight first?

Ok I think thats all the questions I have right now. I know I have to lose the weight as well and I am on my way to doing that. I know that will help. My thing is I dont want to take the bc pills. I took those for sooo many years. My teen dr. had me on them before I was sexually active and its annoying. I cant remember to take the pill because its not in my routine plus I just want to get this ovulating thing going.

I dont have access to a computer like I used to. I am using my moms right now. But if you would please post some suggestions or anything that can help me. None of my friends close by have this problem so I turn to the ladies here to talk to

Thank You

Molly

[Lifeguard]

Hey Molly,

I cannot necessarily answer all of your questions but I tell you what has been happening with me.

I was finally diagnosed with pcos last February - it took me a long time to finally see my dr. about my fertility because I was certain I would just be told to go home & lose weight & come back when I had done so. I pleasantly surprised that she did not do so & instead sent me immediately for additional testing & referred me to a ob/gyn in the area who specializes in infertility.

My dr. also started me on metformin - 1000mg a day. After about 6 months when I still had not seen any change in my cycles & my weight was still not shifting down (despite my best efforts) I asked her to up the dose to 1500mg based on this being a successful dose for 2 other friends of mine. (At this point I was still waiting to see the specialist).

It has now been 4 months at 1500mg & I have lost 35lbs (this is NOT due to just the metformin - I have made MAJOR changes to my exercise routine & some further changes to my diet). I have noticed some changes in my cycle but as my life has been particularly chaotic & stressful during this time period I am waiting for things to settle before I get too hopeful that it is working.

I finally saw the specialist in October. She sent me for more testing & gave me a prescription for clomid. Again, she said nothing but encouraging things about my weight & I was very positive that the clomid would do the trick. Unfortunately due to a move out of the country I could not do the testing she wanted me to do to ensure the clomid is the correct dose & so I have not started the clomid as of yet. Come January I plan to find a dr. here who can pick up where she left off.

I have 2 friends with pcos. One conceived very quickly after just using the metformin. The other has other medical issues but lost a lot of weight with the metformin & then conceived with injections (sorry, not sure of the drug name at the moment.)

The reason your dr. may be pushing the bcp is because for a lot of women with pcos it can regulate their cycle & help them with other symptoms (including weight - for some people). But I truly believe everyone must decide for themselves whether or not this is the correct course of action. For me I will not take bcp ever again because I firmly believe it was the catalyst that started my pcos symptoms & the severe depression I have fought with for 10 years. With the research I have done on my own about pcos I have found out that the bcp with only progestrin are not beneficial & in fact detrimental to many women with pcos. The bcp I was on when I was younger fit into this category & would be the case for most young women as the progestrin only bcp are considered to be more gentle & easier on your body.

Good luck with your quest to ovulate. If you are met with much resistance by your dr. - find another one, 'cause there are dr.'s out there who are supportive & understanding & will not deny you the service you want based on your weight.

[Skinny4baby]

I did six cycles with clomid and did concieve on the 6th one..but it was ectopic. I am currently trying Femera...last cycle I had two follicles. The side effects are less with Femera. But you will have to get it from an RE I am sure...as it is not for ovulation, but it induces ovulation in women.

[Nicoyaangel]

Lifeguard - that is the exact same reason why I don't want to take bcp. I feel that's what cause it for me. Also, when my mom was pregnant with me, her dr. Gave her some medicine to make her period come because they didn't know that she was pregnant. I also think that has something to do with it. My testosterone level is high that's why I have the facial hair and everywhere else on me. I really hope she doesn't have me take the bcp. I will go to another dr. if that's the case. *sigh* we really want to conceive so I really hope this works.

[tamaralynn]

I don't have any advice - but just offering some good luck!!!

[LoveMySgt]

I' love to post more on this later but I don't really have the time now.

I would defenitely ask about Femara. It's actually a cancer drug but induces ovulation in women. I never O'd while on clomid (13 rounds) but I did ovulate on my 3rd round of femara. Unfortunately, I never got pregnant while using fertility drugs but I do have 3 WONDERFUL children whom I never thought I would have.

more later!

and... I know I can't post an outside link here but try SoulCysters for more info on PCOS, there forum is GREAT!