Polycystic Ovaries

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Aussie_Bella

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Hello All.

Thank you in advance for number 1 actually taking the time to read this post and number 2 for your advice and number 3 for your prayers… Many Thanks.

OK so we have been trying for children for quite some time and have recently started to seek medical advice on the matter. I have been seeing a Dr for over a year now, but my husband is not so keen to see anyone. He has had sperm tests and he has a low sperm count, which doesn’t help. But I have tried all things from vitamins to clomid to hormone injections for ovulation and progesterone pessaries. Recently my Dr sent me to another specialist and I have had to have a laproscopy and a historoscopy. The psecialist has since told me one of my tubes is blocked and that I have polycyctis ovaries. He has said he has cleared them up for now.
But I am desperate to have children, it my earliest memory playing Mums and Dads and its breaking my heart and HUGELY testing my faith, I feel like I am struggling to stay afloat. My husband is amazing but reluctant to get treatment and is more of the opinion of in God’s time and if we stop stressing and it will happen. I was just wondering if there is anyone else out there in similar situation or any advice or just any help in how I can start to swim again or any thing and everything, it would be amazing and I would be eternally thankful.
Thanks again for reading and God Bless!
Aussie Bella
 
My wife has pcod but we still had three kids in less than five years. Our problem now is how to slow down. NFP is ridicolous for people in our situation. Still, we are very blessed. Our doctor can’t understand how we conceived three time when my wife doesn’t seem to ovulate. He called all three of them miracle babies.

Usually we can trace our times of conception to days of extreeme relaxation, joy, celebration, and peace. I’m pretty sure I don’t have any problems with my count though.

My sister in law did invitro. If you think clomid and injections are bad, you havn’t seen anything yet. It is not fun at all, not to mention morally wrong.

God bless,
Ut
 
As an adoptive father of 2, I am a strong advocate of opening your heart and home to someone in need. It is a win / win. We became parents with all the joys and tears that involves, our little girls became daughters and left institutionalized care, and as for God, I would point you to Matthew 18:5

It is not the right solution for everyone, but it is something to prayerfully consider.

Whatever your path, know that the prayers of my family go with you.

God Bless.

Mike
 
The best solution for me and my wife was diet and exercise. We both went Primal/Paleo and started exercising together and had success with that. My wife was addicted to a diet of refined carbohydrates and sugar and I am pretty sure that was making her problems much worse. We saw a NFP doctor and that helped us out a bunch.

We really don’t use NFP or chart any because

A) we’re rarely if ever fertile

B) really no signs to go on. Cervical fluid is out, temperature is whacked, fertility monitor only gives us hindsight. But everyone with PCOS will be different.

I think your husband is right about not stressing and leaving everything to God. Stress can only make things worse and there isn’t much you can do about it anyway.
 
Infertility is a huge stress on marriage. You need to keep communicating.

Our situation was more complex than yours because for the longest time, we were told we had “unexplained” infertility. There was nothing to fix! It just seemed like God’s judgment against us or something.

When my husband and I were going through it, he was equally reluctant for all the invasive testing (“Too many people in our bedroom.”) I, on the other hand, was so desperate for a baby, I would put myself through anything. And women do have to go through a lot more than men.

Looking back, I realize now that I had a very unhealthy attitude. It’s normal and natural to want to make babies with your husband, but it’s not normal and natural to be willing to suffer any amount of loss of modesty, physical pain, emotional stress, etc. in order to have that baby. Does that make sense?

It’s important to continue to put God first as you go through this. “Thy will be done” is a very powerful prayer. And you need to keep in mind that there is more than one way to parent – adoption, fostering, being a secondary parent to nieces and nephews who are having hard times, working with underprivileged kids in your area, etc. It may be that for now, God wants you to parent in another way for now, since you don’t have children of your own.

In the meantime, offer up your suffering for others. Continuously remind yourself that the emotional pain you feel from fertility can be united to Christ’s suffering for the sake of others. Do you know somebody who has cancer? Or is going through a divorce? Or has lost a child? Think of their pain and offer yours to Christ on their behalf.

I wrote this poem while my husband and I were going through infertility. I hope it helps you.

The cup He hands me is bitter
Yet I must drink my fill
For my life is mine no longer
I bow unto His will

I might weep and pray for rescue
I might cry till my tears are spent
But for His sake is my body broken
I, for His glory, am rent.

P.S. When our infertility was finally diagnosed, it turned out that my immune system was killing off my husband’s sperm within an hour as if the sperm were viruses or bacteria. It took 3 years to get pregnant with my first child, but then the next two happened quite easily (and surprisingly!)
 
Amen to the last poster. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Friends of ours adopted three kids before conceiving (at the age of 45). It was fully unnexpected, but a wonderful surprise none the less.

God bless,
Ut
 
If you have not read the threads on infertility here on CAF, then I would spend some time reading those.

I am also an advocate of improving your diet (meaning eliminate as much as you can refined carbohydrates and limiting “natural” carbs like potatoes, increasing fats and proteins, taking good supplements), taking daily basal temperatures and charting (if nothing else to use this as a diagnostic tool), and reducing stress/improving sleep.

Do you have NFP information at hand? An NFP doctor available?

Again, please read everything about infertility on this forum. God bless you both as you work through this.
 
My wife’s identical twin sister has been diagnosed with PCOS and has given birth to two children. My wife (likely has it as well, but hasn’t been diagnosed) and I have one child who is 6 1/2 months old. There is hope! I encourage you to continue to pray. Also, you might ask your OB/GYN about seeing a reproductive endocrinologist (if you haven’t already done so). Mary and I got pregnant not long after consulting with one.
 
Hi there.

First I want to say that I am so very sorry for your heartbreak. There really is no way to describe the pain that comes with infertility, no matter how faithful you are. It hurts.

We had a nearly five year journey to be blessed with our first child. I had PCOS and was overweight. We tried all the usuals. Clomid, injections, trigger shots, ovarian drilling, etc. We even went as far as to try artificial insemenation against everything we believe. I was desperate and thought that was the way. When it did not work it was a big wakeup call. God did not want our child (this is our situation only I’m speaking of) to be concieved in that way. After that reality check we took a six month break and then went back to trying with fresh eyes and hearts. We wanted it to be God’s will. I felt that the furthest God wanted me to go was clomid. So thats what we did. And I knew right away when we had concieved. I knew that God was with us and thought we were now ready. I was still breastfeeding my 16 month old when number two decided to be concieved. Again, God knew what was best for us.

PCOS and male factor can be overcome, but not on your time, or the medical fields. God has to be on board for any of it to jive.

Like a previous poster said, NFP does not work for women in our situation. We don’t have any of the signs or signals to track what is happening with our bodies. So unfortunately we need doctors if we want to know what is going on with our bodies. The other option is to leave it completely in His hands. That is something that you have to decide with your husband. I would spend some extra time with Mary and the Rosary. That always points me in the right direction.

Good luck to you. I know it’s a sad desperate situation and I pray that you experience the joy you are looking for.
 
utunumsint said:
Our problem now is how to slow down. NFP is ridicolous for people in our situation.
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Farmerswife said:
Like a previous poster said, NFP does not work for women in our situation.
Click to expand...
For the OP, these are two erroneous statements. Modern NFP does work in every situation - including and especially PCO. Doctors who are unfamiliar with mordern natural methods are the ones who tell otherwise - because they don’t know about them.

I highly recommend seeing an NFP only doctor - especially an NFP Medical Consultant. The NFPMC’s are trained in the Creighton Model and NaproTechnology which is fabulous for diagnosing and treating PCO. Of course you will need to learn NFP to chart the information they need.

My journey is 1 child with clomid on the first attempt 11 years ago. We used clomid and other drugs on and off over the next 10 years. I conceived once without meds and miscarried and again without meds after having ovarian drilling. When the drilling didn’t work, I went to Pope Paul VI Institute and had an ovarian wedge resection (and removal of TONS of endometriosis - most PCO patients have endo). I was in cycles for the only time in my life! I did have a few other issues and continued to take various meds but gave up completely 2 years ago. So it was a lovely surprise to conceive our son born this past January!

If you are interested in further treatment, I highly recommend contacting the institute (www.popepaulvi.com). They have the highest success rates for infertility and it all is morally acceptable. At the same time, your husband may be tired of it and ready for a break. You can respect that while at the same time being treated for your disease. PCO isn’t fun to live with and you can certainly look for treatment for it.
 
stadre said:
For the OP, these are two erroneous statements. Modern NFP does work in every situation - including and especially PCO. Doctors who are unfamiliar with mordern natural methods are the ones who tell otherwise - because they don’t know about them.
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Do you mind giving me some info on how to find out more about this? I am shocked to read this. I have talked to several doctors, one of them being a Catholic OB and never heard that it works for us PCOSers.

To the OP, I am sorry if I gave you wrong info. But great news if you can make NFP work for you!
 
stadre said:
For the OP, these are two erroneous statements. Modern NFP does work in every situation - including and especially PCO. Doctors who are unfamiliar with mordern natural methods are the ones who tell otherwise - because they don’t know about them.

I highly recommend seeing an NFP only doctor - especially an NFP Medical Consultant. The NFPMC’s are trained in the Creighton Model and NaproTechnology which is fabulous for diagnosing and treating PCO. Of course you will need to learn NFP to chart the information they need.

My journey is 1 child with clomid on the first attempt 11 years ago. We used clomid and other drugs on and off over the next 10 years. I conceived once without meds and miscarried and again without meds after having ovarian drilling. When the drilling didn’t work, I went to Pope Paul VI Institute and had an ovarian wedge resection (and removal of TONS of endometriosis - most PCO patients have endo). I was in cycles for the only time in my life! I did have a few other issues and continued to take various meds but gave up completely 2 years ago. So it was a lovely surprise to conceive our son born this past January!

If you are interested in further treatment, I highly recommend contacting the institute (www.popepaulvi.com). They have the highest success rates for infertility and it all is morally acceptable. At the same time, your husband may be tired of it and ready for a break. You can respect that while at the same time being treated for your disease. PCO isn’t fun to live with and you can certainly look for treatment for it.
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Dr. Hilgers has seen her charts. I have an NFP only doctor. We have a practitioner.

I have nothing but the profound respect for all of the above, but quite frankly, the amount of work we must put into our charting is ridiculous. I have to give progesterone injections to my wife three times a month. We’ve tried Metformin, but that made her sick. To be honest, we feel like guiney pigs in a science that is still developing. I am not bashing Dr. Hilgers, or the method by any means, but the science still needs to develop, especially when dealing with fring cases like that of my wife.

Does the method work? Yes. Absolutely. Is the effort involved reasonable? For a short duration, yes. But can you imagine being told by your doctor that you cannot have any more children, or that if you do have children, you will most surely die? That is a hard pill to swallow, and I am glad I don’t have to swallow it.

God bless,
Ut

P.S. I just read you’re message again. My situation is different from your in the sense that we are using it to space our children, not to conceive. I agree with you that Chreighton is great for conceiving. Although no one can guarantee results. It is only God who can do that.
 
Farmerswife said:
Do you mind giving me some info on how to find out more about this? I am shocked to read this. I have talked to several doctors, one of them being a Catholic OB and never heard that it works for us PCOSers.

To the OP, I am sorry if I gave you wrong info. But great news if you can make NFP work for you!
Click to expand...
FW, don’t worry, mainstream doctors are not taught about mordern methods and so they do instruct those of us with PCO that we can not rely on them for family planning. Mine told me that I couldn’t rely on it because I wasn’t in cycles when I asked him about using it, but I started questioning him when he tried to “instruct” me when we were trying to conceive. And Catholic doctors are taught the same things in medical schools. However there are lots of doctors who are NFP only. You can find them at onemoresoul.com/. Check out the link at PPVI Institute for information about Creighton.

All of the main modern methods work for PCO for determining times of fertility (CCL, Billings, Creighton, Marquette), but when a couple is looking for treatment for infertility, I always recommend Creighton because of the doctors and NaproTechnology. You can PM me if you want more information.
 
UT,

I am not sure what is “ridiculous” about the charting. Charting, once you learn the observation partern (which is not time consuming) takes only a few moments of the day - and it accurately p(name removed by moderator)oints days of fertility so that we can achieve (if infertility is not present) and avoid pregnancies. It sounds to me like you mean that treating the PCO takes a lot of time and work. I agree. That is why I stopped all treatment for it 2 years ago. I was happy to have had the surgery as I now cycled, which was better for my health, but I was tired of the meds and I had finally made peace with my infertility.

Again, I am not sure how charting takes an unreasonable amount of effort over a long period of time. Observing and charting do not take great effort or time. OTOH, it takes a great deal of faith and trust in God when we have to rely on our efforts working with Him to avoid childen when medically necessary. As a type 1 diabetic of over 20 years, I can appreciate that level of trust, but I am comfortable that when the time comes that I have to permanently avoid pregnancy, we will be able to do our best to avoid knowing that His will is perfect if He intends there to be a child during that time.

I am sorry if I am not responding appropriately. I really am having a difficult time understanding what you are saying in these posts - which certainly speaks to the limitations we have in posting on the internet!
 
Aussie_Bella said:
Hello All.

Thank you in advance for number 1 actually taking the time to read this post and number 2 for your advice and number 3 for your prayers… Many Thanks.

OK so we have been trying for children for quite some time and have recently started to seek medical advice on the matter. I have been seeing a Dr for over a year now, but my husband is not so keen to see anyone. He has had sperm tests and he has a low sperm count, which doesn’t help. But I have tried all things from vitamins to clomid to hormone injections for ovulation and progesterone pessaries. Recently my Dr sent me to another specialist and I have had to have a laproscopy and a historoscopy. The psecialist has since told me one of my tubes is blocked and that I have polycyctis ovaries. He has said he has cleared them up for now.
But I am desperate to have children, it my earliest memory playing Mums and Dads and its breaking my heart and HUGELY testing my faith, I feel like I am struggling to stay afloat. My husband is amazing but reluctant to get treatment and is more of the opinion of in God’s time and if we stop stressing and it will happen. I was just wondering if there is anyone else out there in similar situation or any advice or just any help in how I can start to swim again or any thing and everything, it would be amazing and I would be eternally thankful.
Thanks again for reading and God Bless!
Aussie Bella
Click to expand...
Infertility is a huge strain on a marriage. You can let it push you apart or you can see it as a chance to communicate better and grow closer. When you use it as an opportunity you’re preparing yourselves to be even better parents. 👍

We have a daughter who was conceived after 2 miscarriages, 16 months trying to conceive, progesterone supplements and 4 failed Clomid cycles. Since she was 3 months old, we’ve been trying to conceive again and just had another miscarriage. I’m scheduled for a laparoscopy in a couple of weeks since we suspect I have endo…I already have PCOS.

You mentioned that your DH’s count is low. Have you guys tried addressing that? I know that preseed can be helpful as well as certain supplements/vitamins. And boxers don’t hurt. Just in case ya’ll haven’t tried any of those things, your DH might be willing to at least try those things.

Since your ovaries and tube are good for right now, I think it’s very likely your chance of conceiving is much higher than before you had the surgery. 👍 Are you considering trying the Clomid again (especially if you don’t ovulate on your own?)? If I were you, I’d try the hormones again now that you have had the surgery since you want to take advantage of the added fertility you have after the surgery. 👍

Also, what about smoking, drinking, caffeine, healthy diets, and regular exercise? At any rate it will be good for your general health to look into and you guys might get pregnant as a result.

I’ll be praying for you guys. I know how hard it is to desperately want a baby. I’ve been there before and I’m back there again. Just work to not let it push you apart.

KG
 
stadre said:
UT,

I am not sure what is “ridiculous” about the charting. Charting, once you learn the observation partern (which is not time consuming) takes only a few moments of the day - and it accurately p(name removed by moderator)oints days of fertility so that we can achieve (if infertility is not present) and avoid pregnancies. It sounds to me like you mean that treating the PCO takes a lot of time and work. I agree. That is why I stopped all treatment for it 2 years ago. I was happy to have had the surgery as I now cycled, which was better for my health, but I was tired of the meds and I had finally made peace with my infertility.
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Agreed. You can chart all you like, but it won’t cure PCOD. The hard part of charting is interpretating the results, checking befor and after bowl movement, bearing down before going to bed, not knowing what one is doing because we have never actually ovulated after a year of charting and five months of progesterone shots. Do I need to go on?

There is no cure, no releif, but only a constant reminder that her body does not working properly despite the best efforts of her doctors, endocrinologists, ObyGyns, etc… (These are her words, by they way, not my own).
Again, I am not sure how charting takes an unreasonable amount of effort over a long period of time. Observing and charting do not take great effort or time. OTOH, it takes a great deal of faith and trust in God when we have to rely on our efforts working with Him to avoid childen when medically necessary. As a type 1 diabetic of over 20 years, I can appreciate that level of trust, but I am comfortable that when the time comes that I have to permanently avoid pregnancy, we will be able to do our best to avoid knowing that His will is perfect if He intends there to be a child during that time.

I am sorry if I am not responding appropriately. I really am having a difficult time understanding what you are saying in these posts - which certainly speaks to the limitations we have in posting on the internet!
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It comes to trust, yes. We continue even when things are difficult. We are even open to a fourth if God wills, but the level of emotional, physical, and financial strain is hard.

I am glad things worked out for you ev entually. I’m also glad to see your positive attitude about NFP. But please do not tell me that Chreighton works with PCOD. There is no cure for PCOD.

God bless,
Ut
 
Pray to Saint Philomena! She helped me to conceive my sweet little boy and I can’t do anything without her help.

I know she will help you.
 
I too have PCOS and was diagnosed about 15 years ago. DH and I did multiple fertility attempts, multiple surgeries, clomid, IUI and progesterone with DD eight years ago. We just completed 13 rounds of fertility treatments again with no success

. I may write something that many do not like, but I agree with several previous posters that NFP does not work. I hit puberty at age 10 and did not have a regular cycle for almost 10 years (one cycle, skip 12, two cycles skip 15, etc)…since i was diagnosed, i have NOT ovulated one time spontaneously, and my temps are all over the charts. because of severe hormonal shifts associated with PCOS, my RE told me to expect temp swings, no mucous to speak of, no “middle pain” (no ovulating) and simply, no real signs or symptoms of fertility to chart. i have only ever been fertile with the help of drugs. I do agree to see a doc who specializes in PCOS (a reproductive endocrinologist is a good place to start)

because i did not have regular bleeding, i also developed a condition in which my uterine lining was so thick (uterine hyperplasia) that i was needing regular d&c’s and was told that if i could not shed on my own, i had to be on some form of BCP to regulate my cycles. hearing that I could get cancer because of it really set me into a whirlwind.

i cannot tell you exactly what to do, but I know for me that PCOS is an emotional roller coaster full of bumps and corners. i do wish you the best of luck! twk
 
sorry, i meant to say that NFP does not work well for PCOS gals, not that it does not work at all. many friends and family use it successfully, although for me, i have no signs or symptoms of fertility, simply because i am not fertile. please allow me to clarify. thanks-twk
 
I am sorry that you are finding it hard to concieve, I know how you must be feeling, I was told when I was 12 that I have the same condition.

I will keep you in my prayers morning and night

Sammie
 
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