Ttc journey & Metformin

I have been trying to conceive for 14 months now. In September I was diagnosed with pcos and proscribed metformin to regulate my periods. Today I start my second week of taking it, I’ll be increasing the dosage from one pill a day of 850mg to two. The side effects the first week were ugly, bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, headache and dizziness (sorry if tmi) but they’ve subsided now thankfully. We’ll see how this second week goes. Also I just got my AF today as well, let’s hope this is the cycle I ovulate and get pregnant! 😆 I’m tracking my cycle by taking my bbt every morning, let me tell you it’s not easy I can’t seem to wake up at the same time (that’s with an alarm 😅) or I’ll move, or my silly husband will hug me and move me before I’ve been able to take it - oy! Lol, but I’m figuring it out. I should mention my husband also had some fertility issues, he has a low count but after doing a more thorough test a few months after his count is much better, lowest of what you would consider a normal count. We’re with a fertility specialist now who is just great, she’s given us hope, I was so relieved to know that we had other less invasive options than ivf. We’re really hoping metformin will work out, we’re also eating healthier, taking prenatal & multivitamins and exercising every now and then. I will keep you all posted and hope that my experience can be helpful for someone else, as other women’s stories have been for me. 💜

[Purpleproject]

Hi jellybean.

Welcome!

Glad to hear you've got used to your metformin before stepping it up. My nurse told me to make sure I only increased once my side effects had decreased otherwise it will feel like worse and there's no harm in delaying your increase by a couple of days. Sode effects will be worse if you're eating too many carbs/sugar. So cut back where you can and try to eat low GI.

Other tips in case they didn't give them to you, have the tablet in the middle of a meal, always increase for the evenings first e.g

1 tablet-tea time

2-breakfast and tea

3-1xbreakfast, 2x tea etc

Don't be afraid to tell your doctor the stomach upset is too much if it becomes that way. Mine got like that on 4 tablets and so they switched me to slow release which has no side effects with me at all.

Best of luck to you and your partner, fingers crossed this cycle is your lucky one.

[Hidden in reply to Purpleproject]

Hi Purpleproject! I appreciate your advice. I have definitely started taking it in the middle of meals which helps so much. Things are going pretty well tho, I just got some blood tests done this morning, I guess I forgot to get some hormones tested (Tsh, E2, prolactin, fsh and Lh) I should get the results Monday. I’m curious to see what my results show. Also, yes I need to be a bit more strict with my diet. Did you find that it decreased your appetite and make your period significantly lighter?

[Purpleproject in reply to Hidden]

I didn't get a decrease in appetite or notice any change in my emotions or periods. Have you had your blood test results back yet?

[Hidden in reply to Purpleproject]

Ya, so it looks like my results are good. All my numbers are within the normal range.👍🏼🙃 Now just to wait and see what happens. Although this is cycle day 8 and my periods so heavy oy’ lol. I’m doing a bit better at tracking my bbt too so that’s good!

[Hidden in reply to Purpleproject]

Also, did you find you were more emotional than normal the first time you got your period while taking metformin?

[Hols969]

Get your partner on the Boots Vit C and zinc tablets as my husbands count improved by over a 100% in a year. My husbands was below average and lots of dead and two tailed and was above average by the end. Eat anything with zinc in it too.

[Hidden in reply to Hols969]

Hi Hols969, we’ll definitely have to try that. He had previously been taking vit c supplements, I’ll have to get him back on it & zinc -thank you!

[209DAVIS01]

My partner and I have been ttc for 2 years now. I started seeing a fertility specialist in January of this year. They said my hormone levels were like nothing they had ever seen before, which meant my options for treatment were limited. I was started on metformin which actually made me really ill. I managed to take 1 a day at night so I continued on that, 3 months later I was started on clomid, the first 2 months I had really good results but still failed to get pregnant. Then the 3rd month it stopped working. I was referred for ovarian drilling which aims to get rid of the tissue releasing all the bad hormones. And was told that with my hormone levels the way they were I had 2 options, this operation which carried it's own risks, or going straight for ivf. As my partner already had a child, we weren't eligible for ivf on the nhs, so financially for us that wasnt viable at the moment. I'd almost talked myself into understanding that I may never carry a child, especially as I was told I was likely to go into premature ovarian failure within the next 2 years. Through all of this I carried on with the metformin and clomid and low and behold this month I started ovulating again. I was told to take the hcg injection, then start progesterone pessaries a few days later to try and strengthen my womb. I'm now 2 days into the pessaries and I feel horrendous! However I'm Feeling really positive that this month everything will fall into place, but at the same time trying not to get my hopes up too much!

Wish you all the luck in the world, I know how stressful and emotionally draining this process is! X

[Hidden in reply to 209DAVIS01]

Thank you for sharing your story, I’m sorry your journey’s been tough. Yes, definitely good things are coming. I’m certain for us both! With your permission I will be praying for you. 🥰

[209DAVIS01 in reply to Hidden]

And me for you too! Everyone tells you not to stress about it cause it wont happen, but I think until you've been through it, no one can understand how hard 'not stressing' is! You will get there, I'm sure if it x

[Hidden in reply to 209DAVIS01]

Thank you! Exactly I find it so hard to think of anything else than ttc right now. Trying to avoid stressing but some days it’s hard to avoid. I’m finding it particularly hard right now that I’m on my 3rd high fertility day (I’m using the clear blue opk) it all seems to indicate that I will ovulate this cycle but the more I look into it the more I realize there is still a chance I may not ovulate about 8%. so waiting for my hormones to peak is making me nervous (I know a bit silly right, can’t help it). Hope this cycle is going well for you 209Davis01, I hope the pessaries are more comfortable now.

[Hidden]

Great news! Looks like I will be ovulating this cycle (cd16)... got a high fertility result on my ovulation test. Woohoo Praise God! 🎉 🙌🏻 . Which I’m guessing means tomorrow I will officially be ovulating? I gotta say I’m pretty excited to finally ovulate, also I did notice lots of different symptoms during this cycle so I did suspect metformin was working. Best wishes to all you brave ladies! Let’s keep positive!