IUI/IVF timings — Lean PCOS infertility

[mangotango1]

Hi everyone,

I have “Lean PCOS” (I assume it’s “Lean” as I have none of the other physical symptoms of excess hair/weight gain) and as a result only have a period maybe once a year, if I am lucky. I had an ultrasound about 2/3 years ago confirming it which counted a large number of ‘cysts’ on each ovary (about 75 on one and over 80 on another). Bloods were fine. I know in the US you have to have both to have a diagnosis but in the UK it’s a bit different. I have been off contraception for 3 years now, and whilst we haven’t been “trying” necessarily, at the same time we haven’t been careful either. If that makes any sense.

After a recent smear test I spoke to my GP about wanting children in a couple of years and she said that basically I should assume it will take around 2 years going through to motions of it all and to factor that in to planning.

I’m 28 at the moment and with this in mind we are thinking of maybe getting things started towards the end of next summer/before Christmas 2022.

Where I live offers 4 rounds of IUI and 1 round of IVF. We already meet the other criteria (good BMI/non smokers etc). I was just wondering what you would advise for next steps, really, and how long things take from initial appointment and beyond.

I know it varies area to area and things will be different now with a backlog of COVID delays. I live in Cornwall, which means things generally take longer than anywhere else too.

I’d really appreciate any tips or info on timescales as I’m quite anxious about everything and I like to plan — I don’t want to leave it “too late” and everything is a little overwhelming.

[Harriet787]

Hi, I also live in the UK and have PCOS, normal BMI, 29 years old and only had about one period every 6 -12 months. I can advise that my GP referred me to a menstrual disorders gynaecologist at my local hospital and they did both transvaginal scans and a couple of blood tests before diagnosing me with PCOS.

They will not send you for these tests if you haven't said that you have been off contraception and been trying for 2 years with no successful pregnancies. Once these test results came back I then went through a long NHS 'process' before getting referred for IVF. The start of the process was to take metformin to see if my period returned, after 3 months they did not return so I was given a higher dosage and they did start to come about every 6-10 weeks but were not regular.

The next stage of the process was my partner being referred for a sperm analysis. He had to have 2 sperm analysis and they must wait 3 months before the second test is done to confirm the results are accurate and not a fluke. Surprisingly my husband had low sperm motility, which was a shock because he is incredibly fit, healthy and only 31 years old.

Once these results were back I was then referred for a HyCoSy (about a 6-8 week waiting list) which tests that your fallopian tubes are open and working. Once these results come back they were then going to try me on Clomid for 6 months, however due to my husbands sperm analysis results it was unlikely to work so we skipped past that stage.

We then got referred to a more senior gynaecologist (about a 4-6 week wait for an appointment) who referred me back to my GP advising that all these results meant that he advised we had IVF. Once your GP receives this letter (allow a number of weeks for admin) they will then refer you to an IVF clinic in your area. The IVF clinic then has to apply to the local CCG for funding for your IVF (takes about 8 weeks for approval).

My advice would be that if you want to have a child I would suggest getting this 'process' started sooner rather than later, as you will find that from the day you first visit your GP and say you are trying for a baby it could be 2-3 years before you actually start IVF treatment, as they ensure you have tried everything else first.

The IVF treatment itself then takes a number of months, and it might not work first time around so could be even longer.

I hope that helps explain the process I went through, and helps you make a decision as to when you want to start the conversation with your GP.

Best of luck

[mangotango1 in reply to Harriet787]

This is really helpful - thank you so much!

[Marmo]

I know that some REs have BMI limits for IVF. Our doc Elena Mozgovaya was very up front about this. She told me that weight loss may help with the treatment. But that my weight is certainly not my fault. This is because progressing pcos made it much easier to gain and much harder to lose. She also said that given my history of irregular periods when I was younger likely meant that I would have ovulation issues regardless of my weight. But after all doc insisted on my losing weight before moving on to IVF with donor eggs.

Also I wrote my opinion on another thread I guess. So this is how they explained the occurrence of brown discharge in Biotexcom clinic, where we passed DE IVF treatment 1.5 years ago. Brown discharge is discharge tinged with old blood. And women possibly fear, if they’re pregnant or not. (Honestly I did too). For whatever reason, some blood in your uterus took longer to come out. And as it gets older, it turns brown. That means you end up with either brown spotting or a brownish-colored discharge. The meaning of it is the following. If you’re pregnant, brown discharge more than likely does not mean something is wrong with you or your baby. In most cases, it’s completely harmless.