I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago, and I have never been the girl with a normal cycle. I always knew that difficult conception was a very real possibility for me, but that truly did not prepare me for what it was really going to be like. When we started trying for a baby 8 months ago, I still had hopes and expectations that it would happen fairly quickly. With my known problems in play, my gyn suggested continuous birth control until we were ready to try. (continuous= new pack every 3 weeks, no off week) She hoped that the break for my system would result in an egg when I quit taking it. I also began taking Metformin daily (500 mg) for my PCOS and Insulin Resistance.
Last May, we were ready to start trying! We set a plan for me to finish the pack I was on, and then I would discontinue birth control. I asked family members and did research to figure out how to track my cycle through temperatures and test kits, and we just knew that we would be pregnant in the next few months. I downloaded and app to help me track my cycle and learned all that I could. 70 days into this cycle, I realized I wasn’t going to produce an egg. I called my doctor, and she gave me a prescription for progesterone to trigger a new cycle. She said, “If we can trigger another cycle, maybe you’ll produce an egg.” Great! My body just needs a little help; this should work! 70 days into this cycle, I again realized– no egg. Again, I called the doctor. She called in another prescription for progesterone and suggested increasing my Metformin to 2000 mg per day. (the nurse also warned me that the high doses of Metformin may make me sick. I didn’t care– if it produced an egg, it was worth it). 50 days into this cycle, still, no egg, and yes, Metformin does make you very sick. This time, I went for a visit with my doctor to discuss what was going on. She did blood work and tests and decided I should follow up with a reproductive endocrinologist.
Last Wednesday, Lee and I went to the specialist and set a plan to move forward with fertility treatments. In the coming weeks, we will trigger another cycle with progesterone. On day 3, I will begin taking Clomid. (I hear the mood swings and hot flashes are intense– I hope Lee is ready!) If the medication produces an egg, I will be given a shot of hCG to trigger a release of the egg. Then, we will do an IUI (inter-uterine insemination) followed by another round of progesterone.
The emotions of infertility along with a flooded house are intense, but we are hopeful for what this year will hold for us! We pray that this works, but until God blesses us with a little one, we will keep loving our fur babies!
The Road to Baby Walker 