BFP with PCOS

A little about me: I’m 25, husband is 28. We’d been ttc for 11 months. I was diagnosed with PCOS in November. Started Femara and Metformin early December. Can’t believe it worked the first time! I took 2.5mg Femara CD5-9 and 750mg Metformin once a day. Diarrhea from starting Metformin was horrid, I’m up to 1500mg a day now, but definitely had to go slow. Highly recommend though, to anyone with PCOS. Symptoms: 1-3dpo - nothing 4dpo - significant red spotting (not sure if this was implantation or just random) 5-6dpo - nothing 7-8dpo - red/brown spotting with little clumps. I thought they were baby clots and that I was out for sure. 9dpo - spotting stopped. Started having congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, similar to allergies but I didn’t understand how that could happen in December... 10dpo - light tan discharge 11dpo - had a dream that I got 3 positive pregnancy tests! 12dpo - faint positive but definitely there! Ran out to get a FRER and BFP! Surprised my husband on Christmas Eve. BEST. GIFT. EVER. I’m still in shock and can’t believe there’s finally something growing in there! Good luck and best wishes to all you mommas-to-be!

DH and I have been together over 10 years now; married in 2014. I wanted to wait to have a baby until we bought a home (not thinking it would take long to get pregnant). Went off birth control pills in September 2016 since I was on them over 10 years, I figured I wanted to give my body a good 6 months or so to be off of them before getting pregnant (plus we planned on buying a home in the spring). So we weren't trying, in fact I "thought" I was appropriately tracking my cycles to not BD during my fertile window because we had a big trip to Mexico in January 2017 with friends. In April, we officially started trying. After two months of nothing I decided to buy OPKs, and realized I was completely off in timing my fertile window. So June 2017 was the first month we finally timed intercourse correctly. Fast forward to March 2018, still no BFP, after trying everything under the sun (preseed, all sorts of vitamins, the stork, softcups, mucinex, legs in the air/laying for 30 mins after BD, etc. etc.) and saw my OBGYN. Had cycle day 3 bloodwork done, all came back normal except slightly elevated testosterone, so I freak out that I have PCOS, and my OBGYN convinces me I don't even though I have super irregular cycles, she said I'm ovulating every cycle so its most likely not PCOS but wants to have an ultrasound and HSG done on me. OBGYN also puts in request for DH to have an SA done. DH's SA comes back with 54 million at 32% motility. Urologist asked for a repeat which came back worse at only 18 million with 60% motility. They run bloodwork on DH and determine he has low testosterone levels and prescribe 25mg of clomid to take Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My ultrasound and HSG come back completely normal. OBGYN finally prescribes me 50mg clomid cd3-7 in June, which greatly helped regulate my cycles. DH and I both took our clomid for 3 months, DH had bloodwork 30 days after starting clomid and his testosterone levels more than doubled! Also put DH on fertilaid and countboost and COQ10. After 3 months of no BFP, I decided it was time to go to the RE (kept putting it off because our health insurance doesn't cover reproductive medicine and we were already drowning in medical bills). RE told me based on all my tests and cycle tracking that she believes I do have PCOS (which is what I thought all along). RE suggests IUI (which is what I figured/ wanted to try). First IUI cycle I continued to take 50mg clomid cd3-7 (she said she would have done letrozole but because I had been doing good on the clomid already she wanted to keep me on it for at least the first go around). I went in for an ultrasound cd14, and only had 1 follicle around 15mm, so they decided not to trigger, and told me to come back in 3-4 days if my OPK did not turn positive. The very next day cd15 my OPK was positive, so they set the IUI for the following day cd16 at 11:30AM (I tried to get a later time because according to an article I read 'in the northern hemisphere 90% of women ovulate between 4PM-7PM July-February'... and it was September). DH's sample improved slightly (was still on his clomid and vitamin regiment) to 27 million with 67% motility but only 20% progressive motility- Postwash ended up being 13.8 million with 52% motility and 43% progressive motility (~6million progressive). They told me the sample was fine but I wasn't convinced especially since I knew I only had 1 follicle. The IUI procedure itself was pretty fast, RE had to switch out the catheter and use a more firm one she said but it didn't bother me at all. I laid on the table 15 minutes after the procedure and went home to rest (decided to take the whole day off since I didn't know what to expect for first IUI). I barely had any symptoms during my tww, just the typical PMS symptoms I always have, semi tender boobs but barely, backache, and cramps. I thought for sure my period was coming. I told my husband 9dpiui I felt my period was coming however I did have a significant backache this day but it went away about 2 days later and thats when my typical af cramps started. The only big difference in the tww was I didn't spot at all. I always start spotting either 10 or 11dpo and usually spot for 2-3 days and get my period after 13dpo. I decided to wait to test because I couldn't handle the disappointment of another BFN. Woke up at 2am on 14dpiui and had to pee, I didn't want to because I wake up about 5:30am for work, so I knew I had to test now if I wanted the strongest urine. POAS and watch the control line pop up and I'm totally disappointed, keep watching and slowly see a faint line appear next. BFP, no way? Take 4 more tests like a crazy person.. all positive. Wake up DH and we are both so happy we can barely go back to sleep. I do another test at 5:30am also BFP! Went in for beta HCG at 57. Take another few hpts the next morning at 15dpiui and they all come back significantly darker! Total real BFP not even a little faint on FRER.

I have read so many stories on TWW for the past five years, I always hoped I could write one too. And here I am! *Fair warning, this is not one of those Symptom by CD. Those are super helpful when you are scouring TWW for hopeful insight, however, I was not able to catalogue my symptoms. This is also a lengthy post. I am 22 and DH is 27. Before I begin I want to explain that this cycle was unlike any other. When you've been TTC for so long it is almost inevitable to begin to learn to "listen" to what your body it saying. Since tracking my ovulation via FertilityFriend and the occasional ovulation testing, I learned how my body would feel during ovulation. Usually occurring on the left side of my lower abdomen, I could feel a small pinching throughout the day. My breast would become sore on the sides for two weeks, then the day before AF arrives my breast were no longer sore. This was my indication of ovulation. Two weeks later AF would arrive like clockwork. This cycle I did not feel any of my normal ovulation symptoms. So much so I assumed I was having an anovulatory cycle. My cycles used to be extremely irregular: six months without a cycle for example. However, in the past year they have regulated to a 28 to 35 day cycle with ovulation occurring around CD17-CD20. CD27 rolls around and I assume I am out this month since my breast are becoming sore and DH and I haven’t (TMI) BD in the way you make a baby. CD29: I am feeling pre-AF cramps. So really think I am out. CD 30 TMI: after using the restroom I found peach colored discharge upon wiping. I assumed this was my period. In the past I have had multiple periods that consisted of spotting of light brown to dark red and a flow light enough for only a panty liner. This lasted until CD32. I did have the thought this could be implantation bleeding but five years of TTC slightly smashed that hope. CD34: Got my faint BFP in the evening yesterday after deciding to test for some reason. When I saw the line, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me or it was a faulty test. But a pink line is a pink line. CD35: Tested again today. Actually two times, out of disbelief. Both BFP. The darkness of the line has not changed since last night, but I know it takes two days for the HGC to double. Thinking back on how I was feeling before I knew I was pregnant I did have a few symptoms, though I cannot tell when in my cycle I experienced them. List of Symptoms: Extremely gassy. This is of no attempt to be modest, I barely pass gas unless I ate something unhealthy. But the past two weeks, just terrible. DH even noticed. I kept smelling a fishy smell everywhere, but it was and still is no where to be found. And I am the only one who can smell it. Lucky me. Very sensitive and lots of tears. Crying during movies is normal for me, but I’ve been ugly crying at a lot of stuff. Things that aren’t even sad. I am feeling lots of pinching and pulling in my lower abdomen. It feels as though I am flexing below my belly button. So overall, I honestly don't feel pregnant. And I am still in disbelief.. It happens you guys, just be patient and remain hopeful. the pain is real and can overcome you if you let it. Fingers crossed for you.

1st cycle of TTC - Fail! -82 day cycle -Unsure of OD for a while -Drank quite a bit at a wedding during follicular phase -Ate poorly -tested LH, FSH, Progesterone -LH:FSH ratio confirmed PCOS diagnosis from years ago -Finally ovulated on CD 69 (based on BBT chart) -AF on CD 82 -BFNs galore in the process 2nd cycle of TTC - Success! -switched to “Fab Four smoothie” breakfasts from Kelly Leveque’s book “Body Love” -stopped drinking -exercised 3-4 times weekly -OD on CD 26 -no symptoms except cramps. Many cramps -immediate BFP with evening urine on 14DPO -cramps cramps cramps. no other symptoms! Hope this helps anybody with PCOS!!

Hey everyone.... I am on here sharing again for the 2nd time. My first time sharing was after struggling with secondary infertility in 2015. I have a pretty amazing background testimony preceding this pregnancy and if you have time feel free to look it up. Was entered Oct / 2015 and I believe it was titled "our testimony". It is way more action packed than this entry! So hubby and I have been trying for about 11 months after having our 2nd child. Nothing was happening. We sold our home and moved into my parents while waiting for our house to be built and I had noticed I didnt really have a period since April. Not really anything new for me, my cycles are always irregular. I had some spotting at the end of June for 3 days but again, not out of the norm so I didn't think too much about it. Thought it was just another wonky cycle with no ovulation. Anyways so then July 16th I have some light pink spotting when I wipe and it only lasts that night. The next morning I wake up and realize I threw my shoulder out along with my neck and it's so painful! I tell myself I will buy some muscle relaxants on the way home. So I stopped by wal mart and thought what if I am pregnant? Maybe I should rule it out before taking these. So I go home and POS and its blazing a positive line before the control line shows up. I was so happy but I am also confused. How long have I been pregnant? I spotted late June as well so it's hard to tell. I also have had very little symptoms... I have had no nausea, no breast pain just some mild heaviness, but one thing that did strike me as odd was a few weeks ago I felt like there was a lot of pulling and stretching behind my belly button. Something I usually get after 4 months... I attributed it to lifting my toddler and maybe tweaking something and to this day by abdominal muscles are slightly achy and behind my belly button and also since i found out i have had lower aching in my back. Might be because I know I am pregnant now but I swear I noticed more symptoms after finding out. I have a doctor's appointment booked for Monday and hopefully I will be able to find out how far along I am around then:) Anyhow I just feel so thankful after our struggle to be able to be pregnant again. I'm thankful to God and the plans he has for each one of us. I hold the women on this site very dear to my heart and I know how torturous the wait can be. Praying you all see your BFP soon!

Hi Ladies If you’ve read my blog on this site then you already know I miscarried 3 cycles ago at 7 weeks and was then diagnosed in short order with mild PCOS, ureaplasma and male factor issues of 78% “irregular” sperm by World Health Organization’s standards. Throw into the mix that my father was battling late stage pancreatic cancer since last year and you’ll understand how (un)well I was faring. My dad passed away earlier this week before I got to tell him that I’m pregnant again, but I’d like to tell you all, because I know how much reading these stories has meant to me over the last year, in times of both hope and despair. The number one thing I want to put out there is that I was extremely stressed out and unhappy this month, had given up on this cycle and even had a perscription filled for Femara to start the cycle after I’d take antibiotics for the ureaplasma. I was still devastated following my blighted ovum miscarriage in early March. In fact, I was experiencing a new degree of emotional rock bottom during the days that sperm likely met egg. All this to say: when people chide women for being stressed during TTC and order them to relax in that weirdly condescending tone I know you’ve all heard, tell them, silently or otherwise, to go fuck themselves. Empirical experience has shown me that conception is the product of timing, hormonal balance, whatever fertility assists you’re using (be they Western medicine, TCM, Santeria or whatever you ascribe to) and sheer dumb luck. Don’t let the that patriarchal line of thinking about stress being a “conception hinderance” guilt you or convince you that you’re sabotaging your own BFP. I don’t buy that nonsense anymore. Women get pregnant during wartime and in captivity and under unthinkable conditions. So as if the factor being a woman doesn’t offer enough challenges to begin with, we are then scolded for not somehow being serene enough while we toil towards our fertility goals. It’s normal feel frustrated and scared and isolated in this process. It *is* depressing. We’re gonna feel what we’re gonna feel. Time to shift our notion of psychological accountability while TTC, methinks. Onto the dirty details. The what-when-how-where of products and practices. Without further ado: Stuff That Probably Helped This Time All month: •Bayer prenatal supplements •folic acid (in addition to the prenatals’ folic content) •4 capsules of fish oil •C0Q10 supplement •selenium supplement •saint John’s wort supplements •2 drops daily of Woodstock brand “Women’s Repro Formula” (contains vitex, maca and all the usual suspects, $21) •probiotics twice daily with meals CD1 through ovulation: • red clover supplement • evening primrose oil supplement • expensive-ass deer antler tea 2-3 times daily (basically you soak it in a clay pot, strain that water and drink it and then add new water, simmer it for an hour, drink THAT and then if you’re feeling like a champ add more water for a final hour long simmer and drink that, too) actually I stuck to this regimen from CD1 til about 5DPO when I ran out and was too broke to buy more... but we’ll never know if it was this potion that tipped the scale “Mechanical” aid: • Wandflo OPK’s ordered online from Amazon • a small amount of preseed injected as close as possible to cervix right before intercourse followed by • softcup smeared with preseed directly after sex, that be left in for 12 hours • sorry for TMI but I tried to give myself an orgasm right after inserting the softcup each time (no, my partner didn’t do it lol) because they claim that the contractions cause “upsuck” (ew this word) • weekly acupuncture • not in the shower = wearing socks no matter what Stuff I avoided: • caffeine (so coffee, tea and chocolate) • alcohol • hot baths Other things I think helped: • I had an HSG test late autumn 2017 and I had never been pregnant. In the days following it some “debris” and mucus unlike anything I’d seen in that, uh, zone, seemed to be dislodged. I think the HSG might’ve cleared the pipes to an extent that they weren’t before. I’ve conceived for the first time in my whole life since then, which may tell us something about that procedure • my partner and I timed intercourse every other day from the first day my bleeding stopped until a few days after the OPK’s started to darken. By the way, he was also under instruction from the doctor not to masturbate because it’s thought to compromise sperm count • my partner started consistently taking a men’s multivitamin, selenium, folic acid, C0Q10, fish oil, selenium and fenugreek supplements every day starting about 3 months ago (they say it takes about 3 months to “build” fresh sperm that reach maturity and are ready to do their job And finally

This was my second iui/trigger/femara cycle, I did iui 24 hours after trigger (honestly I thought this was too early go figure). I’ve done previous cycles without iui and clomid and none were successful. This go round I delayed taking a test b/c I just knew I was out. Low and behold we got our bfp 17 days post iui!!!! I even waited a bit to share my bfp story because it’s still surreal. I am currently sitting at over 7 weeks and got a good strong heartbeat at our 6 weeks ultrasound. Needless to say I cried like a baby when I heard the heartbeat (our first cycle we had a bfp but nothing at our first US not even a sac). I honestly didn’t have many symptoms other than a missed period and slightly sore boobs. We are apprehensive about telling even close family until we at least get to our week 11 US but excited nonetheless and can’t wait to scream it from the rooftops. I just want to take the time to say to my fellow pcos’ers or anyone who needs to hear, if it happened for me it can happy for you. Lots of baby dust and healthy full term pregnancy wishes to all. ☺️

Hi my name is Kay and I’m 34 Years with pcos. I promised myself I will write here once I get my bfp. 3years back Had a ruptured ectopic and lost my left tube. Got pregnant again 6 months later but had a DnC for blighted ovum. Luckily got pregnant 6 months later sadly DnC again for another blighted ovum. Made a conscious decision to lower carbs and sugar, do fertility yoga, drink red raspberry tea, ABC juice ( doc recommended) , Chinese herbs with accpunture and homeopathy, clomid, preseed and lots and lots of prayers. Was basically willing to try anything in the last 3 months we had given ourselves to “try”. In the 2ww I had pineapple core 1-5 dpo, 4 Brazil nuts, chicken essence and red date tea. 2 weeks after my birthday felt like I had a glow on my face that I’ve only seen each time I was pregnant. Took the test and it’s a bfp! Was in shock and a bit scared of another BO. Doc put me on progesterone suppositories, baby aspirin , 5 mg folic acid ( which I was already taking) high dose fish oil and hcg injections twice a week. Had gone in for a scan and just saw a beautiful baby at 6 weeks 3 days with a beating heart. Hope this gives someone else hope the same way I had hope reading all these bfp stories full on happiness and faith. Hope all get their bfp soon and baby dust to all. Ps the symptoms I have sore breast, slight nausea randomly, tmi watery cm , no appitite , bitter taste in mouth, dizzy spells and moving between fatigue and insomnia.

Background story for anyone who is in a similar position: Husband and are 29, had two children twelve months apart at age 25 and 26! Each time were conceived with no problems and in less than three months. After I had my second child, I did not prevent, but was breastfeeding, even though my cycles returned at 8 weeks postpartum. Had normal cycles for a year but didn't get pregnant. Went for my yearly exam (2nd baby now 1 year old) and my dr. thought something might be wrong given the fact that we do not use birth control. Took blood work and found that I had low progesterone, and my dr. hoped I would be pregnant again within 3 months with progesterone supplementation. didn't happen. started charting and observing my cycles and realized I did indeed have low progesterone as evidence by a 10 day luteal phase. then cut out gluten and dairy, as suggested by my dr. and continued progesterone supplements. Improved to 12 day luteal cycles. after another 3 months, and continued charting, my dr. suggested possible lean PCOS and wanted to confirm ovulation. Did a follicular study, observed successful ovulation, but noted that one ovary was one cm bigger than the other. After 3 more months, my dr. suggested continued avoidance of gluten and dairy, but also now low carb diet, basically paleo. Still NOTHING! In November 2017 I opted to have a lap to check things out. Before the surgery we tried 2 rounds of clomid, but to no avail! During the surgery, my dr. found that my ovaries were 4 times the size they should be, indicating PCOS, I had a small amount of endo, and clear tubes. My dr. performed a bilateral ovarian wedge resection and used excision to remove the endometriosis and stressed for me to continue to eat paleo/low carb, and continue exercising. At this point I ate no more than 75 carbs a day and ran 4-5 days a week. three months after the surgery, I was still not pregnant! But saw an improvement of symptoms from the surgery (hair growth, low anxiety, better ovulation). We checked my progesterone and it indicated that I was ovulating, but it was not strong enough for implantation. (above a 5, lower than 10). We tried 2.5 mg femara in the fourth month after surgery, in addition to progesterone supplements at 3 DPO and no monitoring or injections. AND IT WORKED!!!! As difficult as it was to battle infertility, I am so grateful to have found that my body was not functioning properly and I can fix it with diet and exercise. Lean PCOS comes with its own hardship... you cannot just lose weight to improve symptoms. The mechanism of hormonal communication is broken. I attribute everything to the wise surgery my dr. did for me, and to God who truly does everything in His own time.

Hey ladies! I have been stalking these boards and figured I NEEDED to share my story to give some of you a little bit of hope :) Back story, I have PCOS (unmedicated but completely made a lifestyle change with eating and exercise) so I literally have no idea when/if I ovulate. My daughter is 19 months old so DH and I decided we would start trying for number 2, in case it took a while. Well here I am a day after my BFP in shock! BD CD 8,11,13,15 (“o” cd 15 based on ovary pain!) 1 and 2 DPO- weird pinching on right side of uterus that only lasted seconds each time but took my breath away each time 3-6 DPO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING 7 DPO- extreme back pain, couldn’t walk and had to use heating pad 8 DPO- woke up with painful pubic bone (like I had been hit in it) 9 DPO- same 10 DPO- sore pubic bone, cramps, achy hips more back pain but lower and slight nausea and none of these are PMS Symptoms so I thought, hmmmm maybe I am pregnant and test... BFN 11 DPO- I’m a stay at home mom so when my LO took a nap, I passed out for TWO HOURS!!! I never nap but thought it negative so I must be getting sick or trying to fight something bc I still felt nauseous on and off. That night, had really weird pinching on the right side of my belly button 12 DPO- sleepless night. Can’t feel cervix, less crampy, lots of pinches in my uterus, still slightly nauseous 13 DPO- same exact symptoms. my brother was coming in from the Air Force and I wanted to have a drink with dinner so I tested. BFN 14 DPO- bright red spot and brown spotting and so crampy ( I definitely thought I was out bc I always spot a few days before every period) so I took Aleve and packed some maxi pads 15 DPO- no spotting only brown discharge when checking cervix which is weird bc I always get brown stuff in the toilet when peeing which spotting (sorry for the TMI but I always look for details when reading these posts!) 16 DPO- (BFP)SUPER CRAMPY. Back and hips but nothing in my from area where I normally would get cramps (thought ok, I know I’m getting my period, but if I don’t wake up with it I’ll test tomorrow) wellllll I had a cup of coffee at 2pm and by 3pm I thought I was gonna vomit everywhere. This was my first sign looking back when I was pregnant with my daughter. I went to the store, bought a test, used it in their bathroom, put it in my pocket and checked in the car. The blue dye was smudged and not even a control line showed. I went home and thought how if I were pregnant, I might not have to wait for FMU so I walked down to my local pharmacy, came home peed after only holding it for 1 hour and IMMEDIATELY BFP!!!!!!!! I was shaking and literally couldn’t believe it! I wanted to share bc I SWORE I was getting my period. Yes I symptom spotted, but as a first timer I thought I was looking for things to feel, if that makes sense. I wrote all of this down so that next month when I tried, I would see it all happens every month. When I fell pregnant with my daughter, we weren’t trying so I didn’t notice symptoms until I got a BFP and looked back at the two previous days and how coffee made me sick and my nipples hurt. So I thought for sure once my nipples hurt, then I would be pregnant. Wrong! Just crampy and slight nausea Good luck to all if you ladies! Xxx 13 DPO-