Please answer, pcos question and metformin

[LISA]

1st question -

Does having a period mean you are ovulating? I was diagnosed with pcos a few months ago because of irregular periods. I had a period 4 weeks ago (although it was a bit brown and light) and i have been on a period now for a week.

Also, has anyone had much luck with Metformin? It is used to treat insulin resistance which can be the cause of pcos.

We would love a baby so much. I am 20 and have a good job and my own place. Thanks for answers

[M+A=LOVE]

You really need to go see a reproductive endocrinologist, you need to be diagnosed with multiple blood tests, not just irregular periods. I take Met. and it has helped my sugar so my doctor says but I do not feel any different I still feel crazy if my sugar gets out of wack and I did not loss the weight like alot of others on the medication. No matter what I do I can not loss the weight I gained from PCOS. I am going through fertility treatments now and used the met, w/ clomid, and hcg injection, w/ IUI and I am in my 2ww. It just depends how you respond to the medication.

[Meli]

Hi there!

I have PCOS too.

Firstly, having a period DOES NOT mean that you're ovulating! I am testament to that!

Metformin is a miracle drug for women with PCOS. It fixes up the insulin resistance problem and helps to normalise hormone levels...which gives us regular periods and helps MANY women to ovulate.

Metformin greatly increases fertility for PCOS women.

If Metformin doesn't work by itself, then the doctor will prescribe clomid as well...together these drugs might work....if they don't the next step is injectables and then IVF...you can also have surgery to laser off the cysts on your ovaries which reverses the condition.

All the best and good luck TTC...I've been TTC for 10 months now...I've been on Metformin for 2 months and I am now getting regular periods...though not sure if i'm ovulating!

[ShayMcCreery]

I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 15. Though I do not have cysts on my ovaries, I did have irregular periods for many years. My weight has fluctuated a lot and I did get down from 198 lbs to 135 lbs on my own. Which did help return my periods, but I was at that weight for at least a year and didn't get pregnant. So, periods do not mean ovulation. However I did take metformin in June of 07 after conceiving on my own and had a miscarraige. I no longer wanted to wait to get pregnant on my own. I took metformin for only 3 weeks and I got pregnant. I took the medication for the first trimester only. Everything went fine until my last trimester. My blood platelets (give the ability for blood to clot) dropped drastically over the course of my pregnancy. I had to take prednisone for 4 days then my platelets were back up to a safe range. I developed Hypertension in my 36th week and was induced at 37 weeks. I gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She was jaundiced for a little while, but that went away. Now she is 14 months, walking well more like RUNNING, talking, all the normal stuff a 1 year old does. I would do it all over again, and actually plan on it. When we are ready for another baby I definitely will be getting a prescription for Metformin. I recommend it to any woman or couple who has PCOS and wishes to conceive. ~Shannon from Rhode Island

[ShayMcCreery]

I would like to add that I have had normal periods since I had my daughter ( every 32 days for me) I am not sure if having my daughter has cleared up my problem because we are not trying to get pregnant right now. I will get back to you on whether or not I will need Metformin or any fertility help the next time around.