PCOS/Insulin Resistance SupportSupport for us with any of the following: Insulin Resistance, Syndrome X, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or other endocrine disorders.
Hello everyone. I'm almost 34. My husband and I have been married for 12 years and no kids. I have pcos and i'm very overweight. I know some of it is due to the pcos, but a lot is due to my poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Recently my grandmother (who raised me) became terminally ill. All the kids and grandkids have been by her side. It's got me thinking. We have no kids. When we're older, who is going to be by our side? We have wanted kids badly for years, but due to recent events I realize it even more.
I know I have to lose weight. I have started exercising. I got a fit bit and have been walking quite a bit more than usual. I'm cutting back on my eating.
I basically wanted to know if anyone else my age, overweight with pcos have been successful getting pregnant after losing the weight?
You're right. Sure the vanity part is a nice plus, but my goal is to control this pcos and hopefully have a family. I really look forward to reading other people's stories. It reminds me not to give up. I can do this!
My experience isn't quite the same as yours. But, I did get pregnant with my third child after losing weight, meds and secondary infertility issues.
I was able to get pregnant on my own twice in a short period of time. My two oldest kids are 19 months apart. But, after my 2nd was born, my hormones went really wonky. My PCOS and thyroid hormones were raging. One month I gained 35 pounds....yeah, in a month!!! My cycle was crazy....bleeding for weeks on end one month, then no cycle at all the next and then back to the forever period. The stress from having a toddler, an infant and some messed up hormones was not a good combination. It took a lot of bloodwork, tests, appointments, specialists, etc. But, things started to get back to normal. Except that I weighed about 50lbs MORE than I had at 9 months pregnant a year after my second was born!!
At the time, the last thing I wanted/needed was another child. But, the doctors had all said if I was TTC I would need to try chlomid or IVF or some other method because I wouldn't be able to have any more kids on my own. Eventually, while on Glucophage (metformin) and spiro and watching my sugars and carbs, I lost some of the weight. I never got back down to pre-pregnancy weight. I never got under 205. But, I did eventually get pregnant naturally again after years of met and the weight loss.
There are seven years in between my second and third children! In that time I was only on Yasmin for 6 months after my 2nd was born! So, basically we started to get comfortable with the idea that I couldn't have more kids without some kind of medical intervention. Then, when I lost weight...surprise pregnancy.
Secondary infertility isn't exactly what you are talking about....but, with more than 6 years of using no type of protection. We definitely had the infertility issues and I sincerely believe it was the weight loss that made it happen. I had been on the meds for awhile...but, it wasn't until I got serious about taking off the weight and managing my carbs that I ended up pregnant with my third.
I forgot to mention that I was 33 when I ended up pregnant with my youngest.
Thanks for the reply. It feels good to know that somebody has been successful even at my age. I was down to 260 at one point about 2 years ago. I still wasn't ovulating so then I got the good old give up attitude and did just that.
I have tried the clomid before and have been on metformin as well. The clomid for some reason gave me EXTREMELY heavy period. I had to get a D&C after taking it. I didn't ovulate, but I was pretty overweight.
I'm currently trying some natural meds for thyroid and a natural form of metformin. I've been taking cinnamon tabs 3 times a day. I learned cinnamon helps control blood sugar. I'm going to lose this weight then hopefully things will happen.
At the VERY least once I lose the weight I would be able to get IVF. The doctors wouldn't even consider me for IVF at this size.
At the VERY least once I lose the weight I would be able to get IVF. The doctors wouldn't even consider me for IVF at this size.
I was diagnosed 11 years ago and have been TTC conceive for many years. I am 31. I am starting my 3rd round of IVF next month. It is really hard on fertility having PCOS. My Dr. says for my height to have a ¨more¨successful IVF I need to be about 135lbs. I know I wont be there this next month, but am hoping to be 145 or 150 when I start. First round I was 155, second time 170.
It´s hard, to me it´s like a second kick. Being overweight sucks, but not having children because I am overweight is even more depressing...haha. Work hard to get off some weight girl, and never lose hope.
"Nothing will ever taste as good, as a baby will feel!"
WOW that hits home to me. I've heard people say nothing tastes as good a skinny feels but that never struck me. Nothing will ever taste as good, as a baby will feel! That's my new motivator! That is an AWESOME frame of mind. I know I'll use that. Thank You!
I have a lot to lose. I've lost weight before. I dieted. I realize now I can't diet, I have to change the way I live. I have to make a change for good! The last time I lost weight I started around 330 and got down to 260 and GAVE UP! I gained it back. I'm sick to my stomach when I think of how far that was and I gave up! I know I can lose the weight. Even if IVF doesn't take for me I need to know I lost the weight and it was a possibility.
I'm a bit younger than you. I got pregnant (on the second attempt) after losing weight. Our situation was a little different, because we were doing a donor IUI so there were some medications involved for timing, and my progesterone was low enough that we had to supplement it for the first 12 weeks, but baby boy is due in 5 or so weeks.
donkeykick, I started losing at a weight very similar to yours after a doctor told me the reason I couldn't conceive (after a year of trying, and at the age of 32) was my weight. It was so devastating for me to hear at the time, but it really kicked me into gear and today I am SO grateful that it was what motivated me to begin losing.
Incidentally, it turns out my weight wasn't the reason I couldn't conceive, but instead the endometriosis that was discovered following an ectopic pregnancy back in June. Because of the severity of the endometriosis my only safe option for a pregnancy is IVF, so that's what we're doing now. We've done two cycles thus far (one fresh, one with a frozen embryo), and we're gearing up to start a third (this time we'll be transferring two frozen embryos).
I know the issues are different, but for what it's worth - if you do have to go the IVF route, the general guideline is that a BMI at/below 27% is where IVF is most successful statistically. I made that one of my mini-goals as soon as I found out that I'd need to do IVF, and I thought that when I saw the fertility doctor that he'd make me wait to start the IVF until I got my weight lower, but nope - I was 20 lbs heavier than that 27% BMI at the time of my initial consult, and he was fine with moving forward considering the healthy habits I'd already been implementing for a while. Every doctor will recommend something different, of course, but I just thought I'd mention it.
Also: Under the age of 35 is still considered pretty young by IVF standards. Should you have to go that route in the future (and you may not have to at all!), the stats would say there's a good chance it will work for you.
Last edited by chickadee32; 04-09-2012 at 12:57 AM.
"Nothing will ever taste as good, as a baby will feel!"
WOW that hits home to me. I've heard people say nothing tastes as good a skinny feels but that never struck me. Nothing will ever taste as good, as a baby will feel! That's my new motivator! That is an AWESOME frame of mind. I know I'll use that. Thank You!.
Thank you for saying that! I think it is so true, and I think about it often when I want to binge...haha. I start the meds tomorrow for this 3rd round (today 157lbs). I am nervous and feel like it will never happen, but I am ready and I really hope it does. I should have the transfer mid-may and I hope to be 150 at that time....AHHH!
Just remember what your goal is, and take one day at a time.
I was able to get pregnant at 260 pounds while on metformin. I have gained weight and have secondary infertility right now. My little one is 2 years old. I am 31. I am going to see my doctor for the first time in 2 years on May 2nd to discuss my failure to lose weight and my infertility. I feel blessed to have my son don't get me wrong but I want at least one more and I need to be healthier for him.
Just remember you're not alone. So many of us are struggling with pcos, weight and infertility.
Thank you for saying that! I think it is so true, and I think about it often when I want to binge...haha. I start the meds tomorrow for this 3rd round (today 157lbs). I am nervous and feel like it will never happen, but I am ready and I really hope it does. I should have the transfer mid-may and I hope to be 150 at that time....AHHH!
Just remember what your goal is, and take one day at a time.
I have been trying to walk 3 to 4 miles every morning. Some mornings I just don't feel like it, but I do. This morning I really didn't feel like it, but I thought of your signature....I walked 5 miles
I was 28 when I had my kid. I was still obese at 220 when I got pregnant but I had been working on taking it off. I ballooned to 262 tho and dealt with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia and all kinds of swelling.
If I could have gotten down to more normal weight I would have!
Hang in there -- do you cycle at all? I charted mine and the best I ever got to was 60 days cycles. I know she was conceived on day 51 or so. I used www.tcoyf.com to help time sex for conception. The book was very helpful. Metformin helped get me to 60 days, and charting helped me conceive from there.
Otherwise it's hard trying to sync up the timing for TTC when you are irregular like me!
PCOS, Weight Loss, Pregnancy
It took a lot of bloodwork, tests, appointments, specialists, etc. But, things started to get back to normal. Except that I weighed about 50lbs MORE than I had at 9 months pregnant a year after my second was born!! 
