Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy

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Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« on: February 20, 2008, 08:39:31 PM » by herbs girl

I wondered if it is possible to keep the risk of miscarraige down, with PCOS, if you eat a healthy diet, low-GI, low to no refined sugar and flour. I read on the internet today that the risk of miscarriage for Women with PCOS is 45%, That scares me!!! Most places say, take Metformin!! But It is a drug. Surely there is a way to eat healthy and exercise to minimize the Miscarriage risk?

I have had 3 pregnancies that were wonderful (besides gestational diabetes 2x , but even that was diet controlled) and I was diagnosed with PCOS over a yeart after my last son was born, so I think I had the PCOS for a while before I knew it. I had no problems at all besides the gestational diabetes, which like I said was diet controlled. I stopped having periods last year when my wieght went to a high of 206, and My ovulation and periods magically appeared again after I went on a diet and lost down to 175- 165 or less. So is my PCOS in remission enough with keeping my wieght off, my diet healthy, and exercising?

I just found out Im pregnant, so I need some guidance.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2008, 10:28:44 PM » by jhandrh

I have had PCOS symptoms since puberty, was diagnosed w/ it in 2005, and have 3 healthy kids, ages 7, 3, and 2 months. All my babies were conceived without the aid of clomid or other ovulation inducing drugs. I was told by my dr that you have less risk of miscarriage by conceiving naturally. Not sure the exact statistics on this though. I am a skinny pcos-er and he also told me that being thin (or losing weight if you are overweight) was helpful as well, for conceiving and carrying babies to term. I have 2 friends with pcos who conceived and had healthy babies after losing a significant amount of weight (30+ lbs). So I can't give you statistics, but from what I have experienced and been told by others in your same situation, it sounds like you are on the right track. I also have heard from various sources that metformin will help reduce your risk of miscarriage. It is often prescribed for diabetics, it would probably also help with your blood sugar. If you read the pcos thread, there is a posting about metformin by Hedy that might interest you. IMHO, without meds is great if you can go that route. But (also IMHO) if metformin offers the best chance of having a healthy baby, I'd take it. Just my 2 cents.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2008, 09:25:51 AM » by herbs girl

Quote from: jhandrh on February 20, 2008, 10:28:44 PM

My pcos symptoms are very mild, and my doctor said my hormone levels were just over the normal range to say I had pcos. My periods and ovulation returned ***Without Metformin*** after I lost alot of wieght, and my hormones seem to stay on the right track as long as I dont eat too many carbs, and keep my wieght down. I posted on the Soulcysters forum and they said my pcos is mild, and sometimes you dont need met.

I had a perfectly normal pregnancy (besides Gest diabetes) with my previous baby, and I suspect I had Pcos then also.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2009, 04:29:51 PM » by its_me518

My sister was told she has PCOS. She has had 1 miscarriage, and 1 healthy baby. She has been trying to conceive for about 2 years now, and so far, nothing.

She found this website, and is really considering this. Would you take a look & tell me what you think??

www.fertiliplus.com

Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated!

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2009, 05:42:42 PM » by its_me518

Quote from: its_me518 on April 27, 2009, 04:29:51 PM

bump!

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2009, 09:40:02 PM » by herbs girl

I highly recomend Femaprin instead of Fertiliplus. I done a bunch Of research for Femaprin and PCOS, and it does help. Another girl with PCOS just got pregnant on Femaprin......Check out my reserach thread on soulcysters.
http://www.soulcysters.net/femaprin-thread-278440/

It is a very special vitex and its only one capsule per day and less than $5 per month from Vitacost.com
I take Femaprin every day and it helps me ovulate, where I cant without it unless I lose wieght.

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PCOS and Natural Remedies..
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2009, 02:16:12 PM » by robertsonre08

I'm 19 and married. I've always had problems with my period. I didn't find out until a year ago that I have PCOS. And I've been to two doctor's whose "cure" for it is to take BC. I'm not excited about it becuase I'm afraid if I take BC for so long that when I decide that I'm ready to have a baby that I won't be able to. Not just that I'm not a big fan of it to begin with seeings how I just found out what birth control actually does. I'm getting tired of having to go back and forth between blood tests and doctor's appointments and nothing working. So my husband's cousin's wife told me about this website and I've noticed that you aren't supposed to eat white flour or sugar and basically have to be a vegetarian...Am I right??

Are there more things that I can do to get into "shape" so I won't have to go to a doctor for the rest of my life??

Any Help?? Huh

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Re: PCOS and Natural Remedies..
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2009, 02:46:18 PM » by amy3js

Quote from: robertsonre08 on September 23, 2009, 02:16:12 PM

I agree that you should not eat white flour or sugar, but protein is very important to insulin resistance, which often goes hand in hand with PCOS. (I have both) I am currently correcting my diet, as I have been trying to get pregnant for over 2 years. I am focusing on cutting out refined sugars/flour and eating MORE protein, along with plenty of fruits, veggies and whole grains. I am replacing my sugar with pure maple syrup, to help with carb cravings (but still a lot less sweets). I also take a vitex capsule daily (when I remember, lol) and walking daily is VERY important, for me at least. I took metformin off and on for a year before I had my daughter, but I did not get pregnant until I started working out and eating better. Metformin could have played a part, but I pretty much doubt it. And it had such awful side effects and made my life miserable when I did take it. My suggestion is to work hard to keep your weight down (if that is an issue), eat as many whole foods in your diet as possible (or even better, only whole foods), walk/exercise even if weight isn't a big issue and don't take BC (I believe your body can become dependent on it and "forget" how to cycle for itself). HTH!

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2009, 03:10:49 PM » by robertsonre08

I was just wondering about the meat because I read somewhere on here that processed meats have natural hormones, so I didn't know if that meant that I shouldn't eat meats or I should...confusing...Also what about progesterone creams?? Like wild yam cream, if that's a good idea I wouldn't even know how to go about making it or where I buy it.

any ideas??

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2009, 05:05:47 PM » by amy3js

Quote from: robertsonre08 on September 23, 2009, 03:10:49 PM

Meats: it is better to have free range, no-hormone meats. Whether or not you should eat traditionally raised animal meat is something you probably need to research and decide for yourself. I believe there is still some benefit to meat even traditionally raised, but I would also probably limit the amount of hormone-injected meat I ate.

I don't know much about progesterone creams. I rely on vitex to balance my progesterone and estrogen for me, as it seems to work (when I take it regularly). I know that there is a thread around here somewhere about progesterone cream and it is very informative, but I can't do a search for it at the moment.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2009, 08:45:54 PM » by rejoicing

Are you having any type 2 diabetes or insulin dependance issues? If not, I'd say it wsounds like you are managing decently without the meds. Wink

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2009, 10:01:39 AM » by robertsonre08

I do believe that from what my doctor told me I do have insulin resistance, but I'm getting tired of feeling like I have to rely on my doctor so much. And on top of that I've had so many blood tests done in the last year that it's starting to make my head spin. If it's not one thing it's another. So I'm going to watch my food intake (now that I know what I'm doing), and I already exercise daily but as my dad say's 80% of you is what you eat and 20% is your exercise. Now I don't feel like I have to rely on my doctor for answers. I'm going to do some more research on the wild yam cream and see what I come up with.
But all I know is that I'm not taking any more medications...I'm done with stuff that only makes things worse.
amyj3s what does vitex do? Is a vitamin that you can get without a prescription? What exactly does it do?

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2009, 10:56:46 AM » by amy3js

Quote from: robertsonre08 on September 24, 2009, 10:01:39 AM

amyj3s what does vitex do? Is a vitamin that you can get without a prescription? What exactly does it do?

Vitex (also know as chaste tree berry) is an herb that helps to level out hormones. You can read more about it here:
http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,14557.0.html

There are actually a few threads talking about vitex, so if you search that in the search box in the upper right hand corner of the screen, you can get even more info.

Here is a quote from http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/Vitex.htm

Quote

Vitex does not actually contain hormones. It appears to increase progesterone by stimulating the release of a hormone called luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland. Vitex is also thought to normalize excessive prolactin levels and promote fertility.

You can purchase vitex in most supplement stores (super supplements, a local health food store, a local natruopath's office, etc) in either capsul or tincture form. You can also buy the dried herb and make a tincture from it yourself.

Also, if you are looking for help with your insulin resistance, I suggest cinnamon. Either capsules, tea or just sucking on a cinnamon stick. Cinnamon helps your body use the insulin it is already producing, so your body produces less insulin to deal with your blood sugars. Extra insulin becomes fat storage for your body and fat is what blocks the insulin from getting to the cells in the first place. So insulin resistance becomes a vicious cycle of your body unable to use the insulin it produced, so it produces more--> which creates an excess--> which leaves the insulin looking for something to do so--> the extra insulin becomes fat storage--> and that newly stored fat makes it even harder for the insulin to get into the cells the next time around causing your body to create even more insulin, and on and on it goes. There are a few threads about that too, just type in cinnamon.

« Last Edit: September 24, 2009, 11:05:49 AM by amy3js »
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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2009, 11:42:00 AM » by robertsonre08

I read through the vitex information you suggested and I'm excited about it. It is such a relief to find something that is natural and could possibly help with all of these problems.
Is it possible to have PCOS and not have any cysts? I was wondering that because the first doctor, a family doctor, I went to had an ultrasound done on me and there were no cysts, and she told me it was because my thyroid levels were high and so she put me on thyroid medicine but I didn't like the way that made me feel, I wouldn't be able to sleep at all unless I didn't take it, so I didn't and then 6 months later when I got another blood test done my thyroid levels were normal. So I went to a gynecologist and she just did blood tests and they came back saying I had PCOS, but there were no cysts...is that possible?

Also, would it be safe to take the vitex and the wild yam cream together??

I really appreciate all this information, you have definately helped me and I appreciate it!

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2009, 12:44:20 PM » by amy3js

Quote from: robertsonre08 on September 24, 2009, 11:42:00 AM

I'm glad to be able to help! I have got much help from the ladies here and I'm really just passing on the info.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2003-2004 and I have never yet had a cyst. My understanding is it is possible to have PCOS and never have a cyst. I just started taking thyroid meds for the same reason, but I think it is making me dizzy. I don't really like it and I'm not sure I will keep taking it either.

I don't know enough about wild yam cream to answer that, I know that it is something to be careful with though. There are a lot of threads about progesterone too and some really great info, I just never took the time to learn more about it. But I would suggest the threads here, they were thorough and well researched.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #15 on: September 24, 2009, 03:59:09 PM » by robertsonre08

I actually just went and got some cinnamon sticks from the store, I'm pretty excited about it helping with the insulin resistance. All this information is soooo helpful!!!
I'm sure I will have more questions to ask here in the next couple of days... Wink

Thank you though!!!

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #16 on: September 27, 2009, 11:13:18 PM » by hedy

Hi, chiming in kinda late here, but I'm a fellow PCOSer, pregnant at the moment too!

Treating PCOS with BC pills is kinda old school. . . one of my first thoughts is find a new doctor who better understands the relationship of PCOS to insulin resistance and treats accordingly. I had way better luck with a reproductive endocrinologist.

And I agree to watching your diet and keeping carbs in check. There are also natural things that help insulin resistance; cinnamon was mentioned here and there are a few other things on the other PCOS threads.

One supplement that is natural, cheap, and amazingly effective at keeping insulin levels down is vinegar! Here is an article about a study done at the University of Arizona:

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/index.php?option=com_content&view-article&id=2475

It's not long and definitely worth the read.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #17 on: September 28, 2009, 12:28:42 AM » by amy3js

Thanks for that article hedy!

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #18 on: October 19, 2009, 01:26:23 PM » by robertsonre08

I have a question...
I just bought some femparin to help regulate my periods, so I don't have to take the progesterone pills, but I didn't know if I could start taking it today because I just finished my period yesterday.
Any answers would be wonderful!
Thanks!

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #19 on: October 19, 2009, 08:15:21 PM » by herbs girl

I have PCOS, and femaprin helps me ovulate. It says to take it all cycle long, but I am trying to take it from period to ovulation now. (I started a little before my period) Start anytime you want!

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #20 on: October 19, 2009, 08:40:11 PM » by hi_itsgwen

Quote from: robertsonre08 on September 24, 2009, 11:42:00 AM

Is it possible to have PCOS and not have any cysts? So I went to a gynecologist and she just did blood tests and they came back saying I had PCOS, but there were no cysts...is that possible?

My sister went through something very similar. She'd had two healthy pregnancies, but had weight that she couldn't lose (no matter how hard she dieted/exercised). And then she started having irregular periods and couldn't concieve for over a year. When she went to the fertility specialists, they also diagnosed her with PCOS, but the ultrasound showed no cysts at all on her ovaries. Huh

I don't understand how they can give a diagnosis called 'poly(many)cystic ovary' with no evidence of even one cyst. She is also insulin resistant.

Two years later, I started researching and found this site: http://www.cyst101.com/phyto.htm

After reading about phyto and xeno estrogens, she cut out all soy from her diet and has started being much more careful about what she eats (no hydrogenated fats & no high fructose corn syrup). So far, she's been able to regulate her periods again without any medications...just the diet change did that. Cheesy

She's now starting Vitex as well, so we'll see if that helps!

I think she was estrogen dominant, and the diet change has lowered her estrogen into a more normal range. I'm hoping the Vitex brings everything back into balance.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #21 on: October 19, 2009, 10:51:51 PM » by mykidsmom

Quote from: robertsonre08 on October 19, 2009, 01:26:23 PM

Why would you rather take femparin then bio-identical progesterone? I don't know what femparin is but I'm assuming it's a drug that helps you ovulate?

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #22 on: October 20, 2009, 12:20:35 AM » by psychewings

So I just stumbled across this thread and felt the need to respond. I am 29 years old and have been diagnosed with PCOS since I was 17. Having now done years of my own research as well as finding very good Dr's. I have a very decent understanding of this diagnosis. First off, the name PCOS is a really bad name. Not all women have cysts on the ovaries, but those that do almost always have them in a pearl necklace configuration. What is at the heart of the disease is Insulin Resistance. This means that your body produces all the insulin you need, but your body does not process it correctly. This means that you do not process carbs properly, but carbs are the food for your brain, so low, good carbs are what are important. It also means that the rest of your hormones may not be in correct levels. Just because you took one test and they were fine does not mean they are always fine. Due to the insulin resistance many women find it hard to lose weight or are more prone to weight gain. PCOS does not develop or go away because of weight gain or loss. But the symptoms associated can...not always. Due to all the complications of the insulin problems, drastic weight gain, etc, many women can develop Thyroid problems and are at a higher risk for diabetes.

I was 110lbs when I was first diagnosed and only had one maybe two cycles a year. Since then I went up to 240lbs at my heaviest. In the past 8 months I have lost 50lbs with a better diet and exercise. I have developed hypothyroid and am on meds for that, which have helped also. And yes they can make you feel dizzy, sick to your stomach, etc, but it does go away once they have your dose correct. I have also gone on Metformin and that seems to have helped also. Although the Metformin was not fun getting used to, it made me sick as a dog at first. I have tried three types of birth control pills, the nuva ring, and the patch and none of them did anything as far as making me regular. I fact the nuva ring turned me in to Jekyll and Hyde. The patch had me bleeding for 7 weeks straight. And the pills did nothing. I have gone on progesterone and that did nothing also.

I have currently had a cycle every month since going on the metformin and starting the beginning of next year I will be starting chlomide. This works for me. I have been married for 6 years and have not yet conceived. But this is me, every woman is different. So my best advice to anyone looking to conceive or even take control of your life and dealing with PCOS: become informed, don't wait for your Dr.s to tell you what is wrong with you, do your own research (there is tons of it out there, more so than even 13 years ago when I was first diagnosed), and find good Dr.s. Long before I ever went on meds, I tried alternative methods, they weren't for me, they didn't work, but that doesn't mean that they won't for you. Find a Dr that is willing to work with you, just because they have a degree doesn't mean they decide what happens to your body. It is yours and you need to be an active role in its health.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #23 on: October 20, 2009, 10:14:03 AM » by robertsonre08

Quote from: mykidsmom on October 19, 2009, 10:51:51 PM

Quote from: robertsonre08 on October 19, 2009, 01:26:23 PM

Why would you rather take femparin then bio-identical progesterone? I don't know what femparin is but I'm assuming it's a drug that helps you ovulate?

Hormone replacement drugs such as the progesterone pills my doctor gave me to help my progesterone levels increase are known to increase the risk of cancer. That was my main concern when I was talking to my doctor and she said that she was trying to get me regulated as soon as possible because of that risk. Femparin is a natural supplement that will help to regulate your cycles. If you look it up on here it will give you all kinds of information.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #24 on: October 20, 2009, 10:21:27 AM » by Kati*did

Quote from: robertsonre08 on October 20, 2009, 10:14:03 AM

Quote from: mykidsmom on October 19, 2009, 10:51:51 PM

Quote from: robertsonre08 on October 19, 2009, 01:26:23 PM

Why would you rather take femparin then bio-identical progesterone? I don't know what femparin is but I'm assuming it's a drug that helps you ovulate?

It looks like Femaprin is vitex extract and vitamin B6.

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #25 on: October 20, 2009, 11:42:07 AM » by mykidsmom

Quote from: robertsonre08 on October 20, 2009, 10:14:03 AM

Quote from: mykidsmom on October 19, 2009, 10:51:51 PM

Quote from: robertsonre08 on October 19, 2009, 01:26:23 PM

Why would you rather take femparin then bio-identical progesterone? I don't know what femparin is but I'm assuming it's a drug that helps you ovulate?

Okay. I understand what femparin is. It sounds like a good supp. The only thing I would dispute is I have done quite a bit of research on bio-ident progesterone and the supposed increased cancer risks and I have not seen this play out in what little research there is when bio-ident progesterone is used on women of child bearing age that are pre-menopause. While I wouldn't recommend progesterone for post-menopausal women, I also have not seen any GOOD research that shows and increase in cancer. Doctors spout this but the studies they have to back it up have included women with pre-cancer situations already, post-menopausal women already have extreme hormone issues with cancer risks already (genes, etc), and/or supported by drug companies selling cancer drugs and thus having a vested interest in the outcome of the research. I think I posted earlier about a 44 page research doc I recently read that fell into this category. So when it comes to the cancer risk and a doctor stating bio-idents increase cancer, I don't believe it. The research available today has not born that out to be true. Non-bio idents, I wouldn't doubt they increase cancer just because of their chemical nature.

just my .02 worth.

patti

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Re: Can you help me??!! PCOS and pregnancy
« Reply #26 on: October 20, 2009, 02:04:48 PM » by robertsonre08

Quote from: mykidsmom on October 20, 2009, 11:42:07 AM

Quote from: robertsonre08 on October 20, 2009, 10:14:03 AM

Quote from: mykidsmom on October 19, 2009, 10:51:51 PM

Quote from: robertsonre08 on October 19, 2009, 01:26:23 PM

Why would you rather take femparin then bio-identical progesterone? I don't know what femparin is but I'm assuming it's a drug that helps you ovulate?

My family on both sides have a history of lung cancer and uterine cancer. So while I have those cancer cells in me and they may be dormant I don't want to risk the chance of anything helping those cells become dominant. I read through a reader's digest and talked with my great uncle (who is a gynecologist) about it and he told me that research shows it to be more of an increased risk if there is a history in the family, while I haven't researched it I would trust my great-uncle about the issue. But thank you for that, It is really interesting topic. I'm just a pessemist and I don't want the worst for myself, kinda scary really.
Thanks though!

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