Ovarian drilling?

[Princess09]

Has anyone had the procedure and if so,did it help regulate periods and increase ovulation?xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Princess09. I didn’t have ovarian drilling; it wasn’t around when I had my treatment. Instead I had a wedge resection of my ovaries. They cut out a piece of each ovary to allow free ovulation. Fortunately, it did work for me. However, I have known many ladies who have undergone ovarian drilling who suffered from polycystic ovaries, and it worked in quite a few cases. Besides opening up areas to allow eggs to “escape” it can reverse your hormones FSH & LH so that they work better and hopefully encourage ovulation to occur naturally. Hope it works for you if you do decide to go ahead with it. Diane

[Princess09 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks diane,im currently on my 1st round of clomid,I was offered that or the ovarian drilling and im beginning to think I shouldve tried the op first.im on day 18 now and shoing no signs of ov and feeling very down.do u know how long a cycle on clomid can be?my periods are so hit and miss.i havent got a gynae appointment until november an feel a bit lost.xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Princess09]

Hi. The treatment with Clomid is pretty standard treatment prescribed in order to try and get you to ovulate regularly, so it always good to try first. I don’t know if you know much about it, but it doesn’t actually work on your ovaries. You have 2 glands in your brain called the pituitary and the hypothalamus. These 2 glands in ladies with polycystic ovaries, for some reason don’t work together to send a message to your ovaries to ovulate. Clomid gets them on “friendly terms” so that the proper message gets through. This can take a few rounds of the drug before anything positive happens, with your menstrual cycle hopefully regulating it to between 28-30 days. Most women on Clomid do feel rather premenstrual and low, this is normal, so try not to worry too much about the way you are feeling at the moment. Remember to, that this is just one of many treatments that can be offered you, so if this doesn’t work, then something else probably will. I assume that you have been prescribed up to 6 cycles of Clomid, so that will give you your best chance with this treatment. Also, Clomid does tend to thicken vaginal mucus, so often you can think it is not working, as the “egg white like” mucus can disappear. I always say to make sure you have regular intercourse while on the drug, so that you cover when you do ovulate. This could be a little earlier than usual or a little later. Your consultant will be looking after you I’m sure, so let’s try and be more positive, as who knows this may work, and if not, then another option will be available for you. Diane

[Princess09 in reply to DianeArnold]

Im trying to be positive but I feel disheartened after I went for a scan yesterday.i thought I mightve ovulated over the weekend,I felt sick,had pains I my ovaries,felt hot and had alot of clear,sticky discharge but when I had the scan(which i thought was a tracking scan,I asked the lady what she could see and she said there was 1 small follicle on my left side.wouldnt she have been able to see if I d ovulated?I had clomid a few years ago 50 mg and it didnt work and this time im on 100mg+metformin and im worried its not going to work.i know theres a long way to go but I feel like ive been left to it and because my periods are so irregular I dont know if or when I ll ovulate.xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Princess09]

Hi. Oh dear! The nurse should have been able to see whether you had ovulated or not, but if there was only one follicle still visible, it doesn't seem that you had. I was pleased to read that you are on Metformin too, which often helps the Clomid to work better. You have just had one cycle so far, so lets hope one of the others works for you. I know it's such a long wait all the time, but if it doesn't work, perhaps they will recommend that you try IVF? They can then regulate all your hormones better. Diane

[Princess09 in reply to DianeArnold]

My cycles have been between 5 and 8 weeks since being on the metformin but it doesnt necessarily mean ive ovulated does it?can you still have a long cycle on clomid?sorry for all the questions.x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Princess09]

yes, that's typical of PCOS - long cycles. You can still ovulate somewhere within that cycle, that's why it is important to have regular intercourse to cover when it does happen. Just remember, that if this doesn't work other treatment should give you a better chance, such as IVF, where your hormones can be regulated more efficiently. Off home now, will be back on Friday, so if you need to ask anything else, I will be here then, and it's no problem. Diane