Baby or health? Petrified of coming off medication to conceive.

[coral_jo]

Since last year my pcos has been managed really well with a combo of Yasmin pill/ spironolactone 75mg and diet.

I’m nearly 35 and my consultant had ‘the talk’ with me today about how I need to get a move on if I want to try to conceive. She advised coming off the Yasmin and spironolactone and switching to metformin to be in a position to try to conceive. This is what I’ve been working towards, but I am absolutely terrified of coming off medication, as when I tried last time I lost a lot of hair, grew hair, got severe cystic acne all over my face, stomach pains and hormone rage/depression and ballooned in weight. It was one of the worst times in my life, I got up to 15 and 1/2 stone, was incredibly unwell, run down, sluggish and unhealthy that I actually ended up with sepsis from tonsillitis.

That crisis point scared me so much, I couldn’t live like that anymore, so since last year I have worked hard to lose weight to lessen symptoms and possibly conceive and now 12stone 4lbs and feeling so much better, healthy and energetic. But now it comes to the moment to come off medication and I feel like I’m stuck and cannot do it. I’m petrified of all the symptoms coming back, but if I don’t come off and try I’m worried I will miss the boat (if haven’t already) to try and have a child.

My husband is incredibly supportive, he says my health comes first and he is very worried I’ll become very unwell again. I don’t want to go through that again and it worried him and my family so much. We both want a family, but we are both conflicted cos my pcos symptoms are so severe and my health is such a concern. I think if I didn’t have PCOS we would’ve started a family by now. This isn’t about trying to conceive, I know there are potential problems there, it is the Pcos symptoms I’m worried about.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Any other experiences? Anyone tried coming off medication to conceive? Did all your symptoms return?

Thank you and hope I don’t sound dramatic, but I really don’t know what to do.

[Hols969]

Totally understand where you are coming from, luckily I am not spotty but when I came off yasmin I gained 3 stone over 3 years and turned into a yeti!!!

It is a tricky one but I suppose the decision is how much it will affect your mental health - I was really quite depressed I realise now when I was TTC - We only have Noah and it took 3 years to conceive which is why we only have the one, I think I would have rather chopped my legs off than go through it all again tbh. For me I felt though that if I had at least tried for a baby and if it didnt work so be it, I would hate to in a few years time have desperately wanted a child and missed the boat.

I was 36 when I conceived Noah, the one (and only) good think about pcos is our egg quality remains better for longer so we can conceive later than the norm so age wise you are ok but you do need to come to a decision on if you really want children - if you had no symptoms would you come off the pill and try for a family, if yes then that is the route you have to take without fear of the symptoms.

1/3 of fertility issues are men now so make sure your partner has a good diet etc. My hubbie went on the Boots Vit C and zinc tablets as his sperm was dodgy and borderline for IUI which is how we conceived Noah in the end. He is 12 now and is soooo worth it

[coral_jo in reply to Hols969]

Thanks so much for replying, I really appreciate it. I think if I didn’t have symptoms then I probably wouldn’t hesitate coming off the pill and trying. When you were trying did you get any pcos symptoms apart from weight gain? I know no one is the same but I’m just interested in hearing other experiences.

[Hols969 in reply to coral_jo]

Weight gain, hairy, mood swings, very up and down, I think TTC is quite stressful anyway tbh even though you know it may take a while you sort of hope you will be the lucky one - then fertility drugs, it was hideous but was all a means to an end. My periods were actually pretty regular though anything from 2-11 days late but having a period doesnt mean you are ovulating sadly (the learn things when you are ttc) and I know lots of ladies who have ovulated without a period and got pregnant and have no clue how pregnant they are as no period to date it by!!

The first 6 month window after coming off the pill are the biggest chances of conceiving so before coming off the pill make sure everything is as good as it can be for both of you diet wise, get your partner on the zinc tablets anyway just to add a boost.

I would also look at the fertilityfriends website and learn about taking your temperature and the body signs to look for as it is the only accurate way with pcos to see if you are ovulating as the ovulation kits generally dont work for us.

I am dubious about metformin tbh as it is primarily a diabetes drug and not licenced for use in the UK for pcos. Now some pcos ladies are insulin resistant and metformin does help but lots are not so you should be tested for IR before being put on it (I am not IR).

Weight is a struggle - I was 3 stone overweight when I conceived Noah and put on 3 stone (my pregnancy was fine tho) but am now only a stone heavier than I was in my 20s (I am 49), I constantly monitor my weight and diet though to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease that can come with pcos but mainly due to being overweight.

I personally would go for it, try not to overthink things as your pcos symptoms may be much more reduced anyway because you are lighter than previously so just keep your diet on track and exercise to help with your mood.

When pregnant you can either get hairier or less hairy as well - I was so hoping for the less hairy option .... nope I got even hairier, and when Noah was born my hair started receding/falling out blah blah .... but after a year I went back on the pill and all went back to normal It is worth it I promise!!!

[AK89]

Hi coral_jo

I came off the pill last year to start trying for our first baby and I completely understand your fears!

The worst for me was the amount of weight I've gained once I stopped the pill - at the time of my wedding (last July), I was 72kg which isn't great but is ok for me as I've always been heavier! Now I stand at 86kg with no change to my diet or exercise, the only difference in my life is no pill!

I've increased my exercise and am trying to decrease my calorie intake as per the advice of my GP to try and monitor my weight.

We have now been referred to the fertility clinic and am waiting for my second appointment to discuss my options, although they've already warned me at my first appointment that they will not provide any treatment if my weight doesn't come down to 30BMI.

It's all a nightmare, but I know it will all be worth it in the end if I manage to conceive a baby after all of this. I would advise the same to you, if this is something that you want. You never want to look back with regret

Hope this helps!