Raise your hand if you thought you’d get knocked up as soon as you threw out your birth control.
Now raise your hand if that wasn’t remotely the case.
Lots of hands are up, aren’t there?
I stopped hormonal birth control a few months before Papa Y and I got married because of a blood-pressure scare. Even after being given the green light to go back on the pill, I decided not to refill my prescription. My husband is nine years older than me, and I knew we weren’t going to waste a lot of time. Besides, I wanted my body to have some time to adjust to being pill-free.
Month after month, I waited for my old, reliable 28-day cycle to re-emerge. But it didn’t. 33 days. 36. 45. 40. One cycle was even in the 60s. I started charting seriously. And still I waited, thinking that it was just taking a while. Eventually, things would get back to normal.
Finally, as the months passed without regular cycles or a pregnancy, it dawned on me that something could be wrong. My research pointed to one distinct possibility: PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
PCOS is a weird bird. There is no magical test to tell you whether you have it. There are a lot of symptoms, but you don’t need all or even most to be diagnosed. Despite the name, your ovaries may or may not have cysts. And a lot of doctors still disagree on how or whether to make the diagnosis, which makes who you see all the more important.
Some of the common symptoms include wacky or absent periods, excess body hair, acne, and weight problems. I had the wacky periods and a little pesky fuzz on the chin, but my weight was normal and I only had the occasional pimple. Still, in August 2010, I hunted down a doctor who specialized in PCOS and infertility – at least he would be up to date on the latest research and willing to discuss it as a possibility, even if it wasn’t actually the problem.
As I rattled off my history and symptoms, he immediately agreed: PCOS was the likely culprit. On one hand, I was relieved. On the other, I was frightened. So many women with PCOS struggle for so long. I had no idea what to expect.
He ran some labs to check my hormone levels – all were normal. At first, I thought that meant he would take back the diagnosis, but it turns out that your hormones can still be out of whack with totally normal labs, and he was mostly ruling out other possibilities like thyroid problems.
The only question that remained was how aggressive I wanted to be. My doctor explained that Clomid is the normal first step for women with PCOS. It’s supposed to jump-start ovulation more reliably. But he also said that Clomid is a lot more effective when used in combination with Metformin, a drug commonly prescribed to control blood sugar in diabetics. PCOS often goes hand in hand with insulin resistance, and controlling one helps control the other.
Essentially, I had a few choices: I could refuse the drugs completely, try to eat a more balanced diet, and see whether that helped. Even though I wasn’t overweight, just a small weight loss often helped regulate cycles in some women, he said. Alternatively, I could start Clomid and see how my body responded. Or I could hop straight to Clomid and Metformin.
Ultimately, I decided to try Clomid and Metformin right away. After all, Papa Y didn’t want to be hobbling into his kid’s high-school graduation with a cane, and my wacky cycles meant we could try forever and never be sure of the timing. Plus, I lived two hours from this doctor, and wanted to minimize the number of appointments.
Figuring I had nothing to lose, I also followed the Insulin Resistance Diet. Basically, I started to balance my carbs and protein in a certain way so that my body could process sugar without going into overdrive. It certainly couldn’t hurt, right?
Over the next month and a half, I lost ten pounds(!) and patiently waited for the beginning of a new cycle. I took the Clomid and steeled myself for all the horrible side-effects I’d read about – hot flashes, moodiness, nausea. Fortunately, I felt like my normal self. And after what seemed like an eternity, almost two weeks after the first pill, an ovulation test confirmed that it was go time.
During the two-week wait, I tried my best to talk myself down. No way would we be so lucky to hit the jackpot during our first round of interventions. We had a big trip to New Zealand coming up, and I distracted myself with travel plans. Caving? Sure. Glacier hiking? No problem. The chances were slim I’d have to cancel anything.
Roughly 10 days after ovulating, Papa Y persuaded me to take a test. It was early, and I was reluctant. I lectured him on how early it was, but he reminded me that a) pregnancy tests were cheap and b) he had the patience of a gnat.
So I humored him. I wasn’t even testing in the morning. What a waste!
(… You see where this is going, right?)
There was a second line. Faint, but definitely there. My hand shook as I showed him. Cue us rushing to the store for three more types of pregnancy tests.
Pregnant, pregnant, pregnant.
Seeing double -- success!
Suddenly, I had some travel plans to alter.
By no means do I think that the drugs and diet changes were a magic bullet – we definitely had luck on our side, and I am well aware that there are women who have done all these things without such quick results. There is always a certain amount of luck involved. But I do think seeking out a doctor who knew his stuff and was willing to be aggressive paid off. Knowledge is power.
Anyone else out there diagnosed with PCOS? How have you responded?
Hellobee Series: Mrs. Yoyo part 1 of 16
1. Taming PCOS by Mrs. Yoyo2. Birth Story: Part 1 by Mrs. Yoyo
3. Breastfeeding: Rocky Beginnings, Part 1 by Mrs. Yoyo
4. Getting Over the Little-Boy Blues by Mrs. Yoyo
5. (Still) Swaddling by Mrs. Yoyo
6. On the Road with Baby in Tow by Mrs. Yoyo
7. He's not adopted by Mrs. Yoyo
8. Feminism, motherhood, and Facebook by Mrs. Yoyo
9. Baby Growth: It’s Not a Contest by Mrs. Yoyo
10. Review: Baby Connect for iPhone by Mrs. Yoyo
11. Resentment by Mrs. Yoyo
12. Confessions of a non-worry wart by Mrs. Yoyo
13. The Reluctant SAHM by Mrs. Yoyo
14. Digital Inadequacy by Mrs. Yoyo
15. The Most Dangerous Phrase in Motherhood by Mrs. Yoyo
16. Baby gear: Save or splurge? by Mrs. Yoyo
kiwi / 500 posts
I was also diagnosed with PCOS. It took many, many years before I ever knew. It had to take TTC for me to realize there was something wrong. Years earlier, I was diagnosed with a retroverted uterus just a month after I was married. I knew from that that TTC could potentially be an uphill struggle, but we were still young and it didn’t even cross our mind. 2 years after that, we were started to get serious about starting a family and I began charting. I was always aware of my inconsistent cycles and yes there definitely have been times where I’d go as long as 60 days too! But I also read that most woman aren’t on a 28 day cycle so I shrugged it off. When nearly a year went by and still nothing, I got serious and knew I had to discuss with my GYN at that point. She fired off a few questions, I did have issues with adult acne, did have the excess body hair, the irregular cycles, but I was also stick skinny my entire life. She did an ultrasound of my ovaries and staring back at me were all these different size cysts. She was fairly comfortable making the diagnosis that I had PCOS. She didn’t seem discouraged at all by this because she says many, many PCOS women go on to have happy, healthy children. She wanted me to go back and try again for another 6 months naturally. If it didn’t work, we would discuss more. Well, I went back home and continued to chart, I did BBT, I peed on sticks and tracked my fluids for months! In 6 months, there was maybe 2 times where I was fairly certain I was in my ovulation window. I think DH and I were getting so tired and sex after awhile felt like a chore, and a task. It was all I could ever think about, talk about. It was getting so depressing. So we went back and I told her I wanted to try clomid. She agreed, but she never told me about the Clomid/Metformin combo. She just put me on clomid and told me how to take it and when to start trying.
I think the opportunity came about 3 weeks after my visit. After over a year of not preventing, then actively trying, we had no expectations anymore. When my period didn’t come when it was supposed to, I hesistantly took a pregnancy test. When the 2nd line faintly started coming to view, I think it was the single most miraculous moment of my adult life. It’s funny thinking back because I can still remember the moment of conception now. We got lucky. We got our beautiful daughter on our first round of clomid. I am forever grateful.
pea / 15 posts
I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS as well. Once I went off birth control, I never got a period. I’ve been through two cycles of the lowest dose of Clomid, one where I ovulated, one where i didn’t. I’m on the third cycle of an increased dose of Clomid and we are baby dancing like crazy so we don’t miss any opportunity if there is one! My doctor never mentioned taking Metformin with it, If this cycle doesn’t work, I’m going to a different doctor for a different opinion. But I’m hoping I won’t need to…
I’m going to look into the diet changes so thanks for sharing that!
So happy that it worked out for you on your first try!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
My closest friend has PCOS and has been on Metformin. She will be starting Clomid soon. I’m glad to know that it can work because she has been trying longer than I have to have a baby.
cherry / 123 posts
My hand is up! I thought it would be a breeze getting pregnant, especially because I’ve known so many people who’ve had “oops!” pregnancies.
I was diagnosed with PCOS in August. We weren’t TTC at that point but after getting the diagnosis, we decided to go for it since it sounded like it would take awhile to get pregnant. My doctor initially just put me on progesterone to regulate my cycle since I wasn’t having a period. She thought that might kick-start me into ovulating. – but it hasn’t worked, so I went in a couple of weeks ago to see my doctor again and we are going to try Clomid starting in January, although she has never mentioned Metformin. I’m cautiously excited to try the Clomid here in a couple of weeks.. I’m hoping we’ll have a success story as well!
Thanks for your tip on “The Insulin-Resistant Diet” – like you, I am a healthy weight, but I know my eating habits could be better, and at this point, I will try anything! I just went on Amazon and they have a used copy for $5.48 – I think I’ll order it!
I feel encouraged after reading this post – thank you!
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
I was not diagnosed with PCOS, but had many of the symptoms. I tend to blame the pill, as I was on it for 6 years without a break, but I guess I was always just looking for something to blame. It seems like my cycle did start to regulate after I had been off the pill for a year, but we started clomid soon after, so it’s hard to know for sure.
Thanks for sharing your story!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@anewme: So great to read another success story
@livingbrighter and loveletter: Crossing my fingers for both of you! I found the diet fairly easy to follow, but was stunned to discover how many carbs are in everything, ugh!
apple seed / 3 posts
I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS since September. I’m currently on Metformin and trying out holistic herbs and acupuncture. I’m still trying to adjust to my diet which is driving me all sorts of crazy. Thanks for the book recommendation!
I’m really glad you brought this up and it comforts me a little more knowing a lot of people have to deal with PCOS just like I do.
pear / 1556 posts
@imirlee: I was diagnosed in September too!
Right now I am on Metformin (I definitely have the insulin resistence), and am eating a low carb diet (although it’s been harder with the holidays!). I love hearing success stories, it gives me hope.
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@imirlee and sunshine 1810: Hope you both have success stories of your own soon.
coffee bean / 37 posts
I haven’t got PCOS, but I have been undergoing treatment for endometriosis for the past eight years so I can totally empathise.
I’m so pleased it’s worked out for you x And I hope it works out for the other ladies on here
guest
Congrats! I was diagnosed with PCOS 3 years ago but had it many years before that. The funny thing was, my PCOS was caused by insulin resistance yet my doctor never once suggested that I change my diet at all.
Last July, I finally took the plunge and decided to stop the birth control and Metformin. I was sick of feeling awful and being pre-diabetic. I began with a cleanse and went very low carb. By August, my period started. By September, I’d lost 17 pounds! I felt amazing. By March, we were pregnant with our first child. By June, my OBGYN confirmed that I was no longer pre-diabetic and my glucose test showed I was no longer insulin resistant. Today, I’m 15 weeks pregnant! All that happened within a year. Not because I was on medication but because I changed my diet.
I always encourage friends to try a more balanced diet when TTC. The results are truly miraculous.