Pelvic scan... left feeling full of anxiety & questions.

[Lavander29]

Hi everyone,

Today I had my second appointment at our local fertility centre.

After being told that my OH has low motility, morphology & low sperm count we have waited for follow up appointments.

Today I had a pelvic scan. I have always had regular periods and didn't expect them to find any problems.

However that sadly was not the case. The sonographer told me that it looks like I have polysistic ovaries.

I am 29 and thought that people with this syndrome find out at a much younger age, so I was left gob smacked and have felt physically sick all day.

Has anyone else got this combination of fertility issues?

Or have any words of support/ encouragement?

I am a dance teacher, so I spend my evenings with adorable little ones every night- I think this week is going to be particularly hard.

We now have a long wait before we get to actually see the fertility doctor at the end of February.

Thanks in advance x

[Cinderella5]

Hey, I cant help out too much although Im sure others can here. What I do know is that there is a difference between having PCO and PCOS....it may just be that you have PCO as opposed to the syndrome?! I know how nervous these appts can make us when we dont have the Dr there to ask but you'll have time to research and list questions for when you do see him which is a bonus! Ive found this link that may help explain...xx

dralexpolyakov.com.au/blog/...

[Lavander29 in reply to Cinderella5]

Thank you so much for this lovely reply! I can not tell you how much you have put my mind at rest! I honestly had no idea there were two different types of polysistic ovaries. The link was so informative- honestly thank you.

I am a bag of nerves at the moment- I feel like we are going to get bad news every time we walk through those doors. I think that's what's making me the most anxious about it all- we are in such early stages, and already I am finding so incredibly difficult.

I am finding the bad news hard to handle, and I am finding the announcements of other people's pregnancies unbearable, I don't think I could cope with failed IVF or a miscarriage. I don't know where everyone finds their strength 😪

Xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Lavander29]

Aww you're welcome! This is a really supportive group to be part of and we all understand the fears and anxieties that treatment brings especially when you are waiting on results. Unfortunately it doesnt get any easier but going into this with a balanced view, knowing it may not work is the best way. I know a couple of ladies who were absolutely shocked their treatment didnt work and the success rates arent great to be honest. We are all stronger than we think doing this and somehow we find the strength to keep going......this forum really does help a lot and linking in with others that have cycles at the same time helps too. Ive made some good friends here and we support each other by whatsapp etc too. Good luck, you got this!xx

[Kitcat12]

Hi lovely, I also had a diagnosis of PCO (not the syndrome just the cysts) and my partner has sperm issues, as he makes antibodies against his sperm. Just like you, I was quite shocked to get this diagnosis as I didn't have any of the typical symptoms but that's quite common without the syndrome. Our ICSI cycle was a massive success, and I'm due to give birth to our son in a few weeks. I hope treatment goes smoothly for you and try not to let your diagnosis overwhelm you x

[Lavander29 in reply to Kitcat12]

Oh a baby boy! Congratulations! How wonderful ♡ you must be so excited to meet him.

Thank you so much for your reply and your kind words. You've definitely put my mind at rest.

Can I ask how long the whole process was? I know it differs in each county.

We have been trying for 18 months, and have to wait until the 2 year mark in Bedfordshire before we are offered any treatment, but I wonder how long the whole process will take?

Also how traumatic was the ICSI?

I am terrified at the thought of treatment xx

[Klndmr]

Hey hun. Nothing to be scared about don’t you worry. I have polysistic ovaries and we did just fine with stims. Trust me you have nothing to worry about. When the time comes your consultant will choose the best protocol for you and everything will be great! Don’t stress yourself, you have quite a journey ahead of you so keep positive, keep your head up and support each other.

Every issue can be resolved 🥰🥰🥰🤞🤞💕💕💕xxx

[Lavander29 in reply to Klndmr]

Thank you for your kind words!

I am a nervous wreck already.

Before this last appointment I was actually starting to feel much more positive. The whole thing was such a shock- that we weren't going to be able to conceive naturally. I found it so hard to accept. I am also terrified of needles and hospitals, and find the treatment side of things a real worry. But I was just slowly coming to terms with it I think. Then the appointment on Monday just threw me straight back into a world of panic. And now I just feel like we are going to have bad news everytime we go.

I know there is a whole world of difficult times to come, I'm just not sure how I'll cope to be honest.

Thank you again xx

[Bluelady-sing]

At least you were diagnosed early. Mine was age 35

[Lavander29 in reply to Bluelady-sing]

I'm so sorry to hear that.

I hope your journey has a good outcome ♡

Sending lots of love xx

[cggregory]

Hi, just to echo everyone to say that there is a huge difference between Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and polycystic ovaries. Having polycystic ovaries is not a problem or a disease itself; it’s a variant of a normal ovaries. If you have polycystic ovaries, you could have PCOS but it’s not a foregone conclusion. My understanding is that the key indicators of PCOS are irregular periods and high LH levels. I have one polycystic ovary but very regular periods and normal LH, and my doctor said this is normal.

Hope this helps ease your worry ❤️

[Lavander29 in reply to cggregory]

Thank you so much for your reply!

It really did help.

I managed to climb down off of my tower of panic yesterday after reading everyone's lovely messages.

I can't tell you how nice it is to have people out there to talk to, and to reassure me that everything is going to be ok.

I know we've got a long road ahead of us, I just need to learn to be strong enough to handle it.

Thank you again xx

[Liz22]

Hey chick I have no experience with PCO but I did have irregular periods and very few follicles on my left ovary which I could tell the clinic thought was bad. My husband had to have surgical sperm retrieval for azoospermia and because of that they had low motility but the clinic when we had ICSI gave them some kind of sperm red bull (cannot remember what it’s actually called lol!) to give them a little nudge - I found this funny as let’s face it you got to take the laughs where u can in this tricky journey! Hope sharing that has maybe helped a bit. I found our fertility clinic amazing, they will be able to tell you what it all means and what’s best going forward. Don’t loose hope - the odds seemed stacked against us at one point but I got my little miracle in the end xxxx

[Lavander29 in reply to Liz22]

Oh how wonderful!

It's so good to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel!

I am most nervous about the treatments themselves to be honest, plus the thought of them not working. I found it really hard to accept that we weren't going to fall pregnant naturally in the first place- like all of my dreams had been shattered into a million pieces.

I think I am coming to accept it now though.

I agree you definitely have to find the humour in it all, otherwise you'd go mad.

I find it impossible to cope when there is no One to answer questions. I almost wish the technician hadn't told me a thing on Monday, as a 6 week wait for results is unbearable, and I am dreadful at thinking the absoloute worst. That's why I am beyond grateful to you ladies for reaching out and putting my mind at rest.

So thank you once again xx

[Liz22]

No problem at all glad to be of some help! I’m the same I wanted to know absolutely everything right now! I remember being utterly devastated when we were told there was absolutely no way we could conceive naturally, it’s heart wrenching. Try and keep busy and keep talking to people about it as it will help keep your mind from getting cluttered with it all! If that makes sense! So many lovely people on here. Keep in touch. Wishing you all the best xx