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PCOS and pregnancy… Just a dream? Absolutely not!

I love sharing stories of women, just like you. Women who have shown, proven without a shadow of a doubt, that PCOS and pregnancy can go together. You can turn infertility on its head and win this challenge. Fiona is one incredible woman with a fantastic story. I asked if she’d be happy to share her journey with you – my wonderful PCOS community. And she graciously and excitedly accepted…

“In 2004, I married my husband John, and I had been on the contraceptive needle for just under 12 months. We decided to let nature take its course with having kids, as I was 26 and he was nearly 30. We moved to Brisbane from Sydney for work, and I went to see a Doctor as I had not had a regular period for the last 8 months.

My cycle was regular previously, though a little longer than normal, and things felt out of sync. I had a series of minor tests and nothing seemed abnormal, so we were advised to wait another few months and hopefully my cycle would return, as it may have been due to the contraceptive I was previously on. Things did get back to normal within the next six months.

2 years later, I went to see my doctor again about not getting pregnant after trying for 2 years naturally. We discovered after 6 months that I didn’t always ovulate and when I did, it was predominantly from one side, later in a cycle than normal and that my cycle went for usually 32-34 days, not 28. We were given a referral to see a specialist, but after waiting 2 years to get in, and I was able to get access to private health cheaper than retail, we chose a specialist recommended to us in 2007.

With our new Dr and Specialist (QFG), we had more tests, some quite painful, also confirmed that I had PCOS. We had to wait for 12 months before our cover came into effect, so we tried a few IUIs first with Clomid and a break of 3 months between each.

None worked, and my husband was also told that we might also need ICSI with IVF when we were financially able to start IVF.

In 2008, we did our first IVF cycle. That was a poor result as I was hyper-stimulated. We had 32 eggs (normally they aim for around 12). 3 implants were done. On the 3rd, I was pregnant, but it failed at 5 weeks.

We couldn’t afford to do another cycle anytime soon, so we tried Clomid & Metformin over a 6-month time frame. I had an anxiety attack, believed due to the Clomid and the side effects of the Metformin were unbearable as it gave me chronic diarrhoea, severe stomach cramps and migraines.

I changed Doctor as I was not impressed by the response I got when I told his receptionist of my reactions to the meds, and my Specialist never rang me back as promised.

A friend told me about an app I could use on my iTouch called iPeriod, to keep an eye on my cycle and see when I was most likely ovulating to do things naturally whenever we were short on funds. To this day, I use it and recommend it to anyone who wants to keep an eye on their cycle for any reason.

At the new specialist (Brisbane Fertility) we tried to do another series of IUI’s using injections instead but I kept ovulating before scheduled insemination. We were now completely dry of extra funds to do anything else, even the recommended laparoscopy.

I had left the health insurance field, and our income dropped by nearly 10 grand, so for the next 18 months, we concentrated on improving my health.

I lost some weight doing Weight Watchers and still stick to their general program to maintain that loss, though I was still over 100 kgs.

In 2011, I suffered a head injury and continued to have ongoing issues as a result (No sense of smell, headaches, earaches, dizziness). But 1 positive was that I lost 10 kgs. I still struggle to maintain that loss, but I am focused enough to ensure I don’t tip over the 100 kg again.

A friend told us about a new IVF group (The Fertility Centre – Springwood) that were doing the service at less than half the normal cost and outpatient, so I went to my GP and asked for a referral. We tried twice over 6 months with them to get pregnant to no avail, but the level of stress was less and more promising. This was our new professional assistance in becoming a family.

I then suffered a lower back injury at work, which resulted in requiring surgery. Luckily, it has taken the pain away, but I still get nerve pain twinges occasionally, and it has left me with a 10% permanent impairment. With being sick more often as a result of my head injury and time off due to back issues, we didn’t have money again to try another cycle with TFC, so I started reading every book I could find about PCOS and how to treat, live and defeat it.

That’s when I bought your book, Conquer Your PCOS Naturally. I changed some of the things I ate, ate less of some things and increased exercise (though not as much as I should) where I felt I could without further injury or illness. This also helped to maintain the weight loss I had achieved.

We were just crossing our fingers, following recommendations and doing things natural, but with no locked-in program to hopefully get pregnant.

This year, I had decided I was going back to study and get my Diploma of Nursing. After Stage 1 things were looking promising that I’d finish and have a better career within the next 18 mths. Then, over the break, I started feeling sick every few days, and my app started telling me my cycle was overdue.

As this was not a new occurrence, I put it aside and told myself I’d give it a week and then do a test, as it wasn’t uncommon to get my hopes up.

Another 2 weeks passed, and I was obviously distracted. But then I finished a shift at work feeling nauseous, I came home and vomited and have diarrhoea also, so I go to the doctor thinking it’s gastro as it went through everyone at work. I get a certificate, and it doesn’t seem like gastro after a couple days.

I tell myself on Monday night I’ll do a test tomorrow, and that’s exactly what I do. It seems like forever, so I get my clothes and start making breakfast.

I finally look and it’s positive “Your f…ing kidding me………… seriously………… no seriously!” I tell myself.

I finish getting dressed, eat my breakfast, and say “Now what?”

I take a photo and send it to my husband, asking, “Do I do another or just go to the doctor?”

I start arranging things I need to do for the day, and need to ring John and ask him where something is anyway. I ring and ask, then ask if he got my text. “No, do you want me to read it now?” “Um, yes, please!”

He suggested checking, so I do my rounds, visit the chemist and test again as soon as I get home. It’s a clear blue and says 3+ weeks!, so I gather up my things again and head straight to the doctor.

Yes, I’m pregnant, but he thinks I’m already 7 weeks.

I explain that it isn’t possible according to my last cycle, but he doesn’t take it in and tells me that from here on at this clinic, pregnant patients see the female doctors, so I arrange to see one when next available. I’m booked for an 8-week scan and go when I think I’m 8 weeks.

I was right, and I don’t like my doctors available, so I’ve now got a new GP I’m happy with and know if they’re not available, I can see anyone else available, plus they do all anti/postnatal appointments and can see me all through my pregnancy if I don’t need to see a specialist all through.

I’m relieved and a bit chuffed as my 8-week scan shows my calculations were right and the other GP was wrong.

I’m now about 9 weeks and on track to have my next scan in 4 weeks, and we can tell everyone our exciting news.

I hope this can help others.