:bawl: Well, today I found out that my extreme PCOS isn't enough for DH and I. Apparantly he has a motility problem on top of everything else. We have been ttc since 4/2002 with 1 mc 10/2002. I called my doc from work and then had to leave when I got the news. I cried all the way home. When I tried to call DH and tell him he now needed to see a urologist, I couldn't even get the words out. I swear I have had almost all I can take. Today I am at the point I wish someone would just tell me there is absolutely no hope. That way I could just come to terms with it. At this point in our lives we simply can't afford any extreme measures. I'm 35, how much longer do I have? Sorry to go like this but I really don't have anyone else to talk to about this that even remotely understands. The only thing that keeps going through my head is that DH and I have been ttc since before we got married. We are both intelligent, educated and well adjusted adults. We did things the way "you are suppose to" and all the hard work has been for nothing. And at the same time my 16 yr old cousin is 5 months, quit school and living in government housing. Life stinks :angry:

:hug: I'm so sorry about the bad news!! It seems like sometimes we cant catch a break!!! You are among friends and most importantly people who UNDERSTAND! We all do! We've all walked the road! Its a long and hard one that is for sure, filled with a lot of pain!

Can i ask what you are doing for your pcos? Any treatments?

I also have extreme IR and pcos. Its not easy is it :( None of this is. I hope the urologist has some good news and things dont seem as bleak as they are right now!!

:hug:

Aloha and many hugs. I hope things brighten up soon!! :hug:

hi ambergal

I am so sorry to hear your news :cry: things seem so unfair most of the time, I really hope that you can find some glimmer of hope in something and I know it is really tough and frustrating. Any thought about adoption? Try to keep your hope high I am sure this will come to some sort of an agreement with you. I am here if you ever want to vent! :hug:
Dani

Hi, i can totally empathize with you ! beside my pcos i found out my husbands has a very very low sperm count and the few he has the motilitys also very low.. i was at work when i found out and cried just like you.. He is 24 and i'm 25. We've been married for 5 years and never gotten close to conceving. at this point i dont know what to think or how to feel !

All i can say is that i can empathize and i wishyou the best of luck ! :hug:

I am sorry to hear about your news! I know it hurts. I can recommend a top notch urologist who specializes in fertility, here in Charlotte. He is Manish Damini. We went to see him for my husband's low sperm count and no motility.
Heather

Thanks everyone. I cried all evening. Today I am doing much better. DH was down all evening. We just never thought it would be a male factor with my history.

Julie to answer your question. I was diagnosed at 19. At that point I went on bcp (had the dosage increased several times through the years). Went off about 6 months before we started ttc. Currently I am on 500 mg metformin ( I too am IR), 12.5 mg iodoral (natural iodine suppliment: seems to be helping with the glucose levels, fatigue, constant pelvic pain) and I take a prenatal vitamin (is that not punishment). My glucose now runs around 120 a couple of hours after meals.

DH and I have discussed adoption. And truthfully we both have issues. I am really scared that I just would not love that child as much as I would my own. I know that sounds crazy. I have several adopted cousins (IF seems to be a problem on my fathers side with females) and I know they are loved by the parents. I am really scared the grandparents would treat the kid different. I just don't know. For now that is an option. DH feels that if that is our only option he wants to go for it at some point in the future. I guess I should seriously start educationing myself with the process.

:hug:

I dont know if you know or not but the theraputic dosage for pcos is 1500mg a day. I personally havent seen many folks with success at lower dosages. With that dosage alone i have seen many women become pg on their own or with a combo of that and clomid.

I am personally on 2000mg a day and have to say that i see a HUGE difference in my pcos (i also have only one ovary) and that i respond so much better on clomid then i did with my daugther. It took 150mg of clomid to make me ovulate where as now on metformin i have ovulated on 50mg and in four months have lost 25 or so pounds (i have tried everything over the years to do that but the met is amazing stuff)

I have never had problems with my glucose. If you arent diabetic and have never had an issue with high glucose your problem isnt that and JUST treating glucose levels will not get you pg. I DO have copious amounts of insulin floating around to keep my glucose levels normal. IMO insulin NOT glucose (again if you arent diabetic) is the root of pcos. Since you know you are IR they must have done tests to show your INSULIN levels are elevated. Thats what they need to be monitoring on metformin to make sure your levels are within normal limits. If they are not (which id almost bet they arent) you need to keep increasing the dosage of metformin until it does put your insulin levels within normal range.

I'd highly suggest finding a dr who knows the 'cutting edge' research as it were for PCOS. That knows what dosages have proven results (again studies show that dosages of atleast 1500mg are needed). Clomid is also relatively cheap and works wonders with many pcos patients as i said.

Dont dispair! Depending on how severe your male factor is, IUI could work very well with you (altho i dont know much about that but the folks on the IUI and male factor boards might have more information to offer).

I know it takes some time to adjust and sort through all the anger and sadness, but when you are ready arm yourself with knowledge about your disease (heck even print off some of it to show to your dr) and go forward. One thing i have noticed is the abundance of lazy drs. DO NOT let that happen. If you dont feel like you are getting the treatment you need or being taken seriously, FIRE your dr and find one that will treat you with the respect you need!

:hug:

Thanks Julie. I will make an appointment Tues to discuss this with my doc. He does seem a little lazy or uninformed about PCOS. Even my mother feels my dosage is not high enough. I also take my medication at night on his advice. Everyone I tell this too thinks that is weird. I would just start doing it on my own but I don't know. Would it be safe? I am on the verge of getting a new doc because this one is a little slow for my tastes. We started the testing procedures in March and just now getting to the urologist part. I have to call the office and leave several messages everytime I want results. And everytime I get apologies for feet dragging. I'm not 21 anymore and I feel every day counts.

I love this board. I have learned more about my disease here than I ever have from the different docs I have had over the years.

ambergal,
Good luck at your next dr appoint. I have PCOS also, but was not treated for it with metformin until I wanted to get preg. I take 1500mg with the evening meal. I see an RE and she seems very well educated about pcos. She said the reason she has me take all three pills at suppertime is to cut down on side effects during the day. I also agree with Julie about responding to clomid. It worked well for me--I did not produce alot of follicles, but I had success with my 3rd IUI. I wish you all the best. :hismilie:

Ambergal,

I'm in the same boat you are. I have PCOS and was just sure it was all my issue. I was so excited when the dr started treating me for it and thought it was just a matter of time...it was, just a matter of time till the second shoe dropped! My dh has low sperm count, motility issues and morph issues. I also had a bad reaction to the met so I am back to the drawing board in that respect. My dh and I have discussed the possibility of using doner sperm rather than adopting if we can get my PCOS under control and if IUI doesn't work. I want to experience everything there is to experience about having a child from morning sickness to labor pains to college tuition. And that way you wouldn't have to worry about family rejection because no one has to know! Hang in there. I know it always takes a while to adjust to new negative information. I know I couldn't do it without this board!

Barb

I understand completely. I want to experience being pregnant. We have a urologist appt. on Friday. I guess it will be at least another week after that before we hear anything. DH is just thrilled at the possibility of doing another SA. I guess it's just more wait and see.

I know this is probably a stupid question (especially since I have a biology background) is it possible to have periods and not ovulate? I've only missed 2 since I went off bcp in 4/2002. Once was preg (mc 10/2002) and I skipped one in 12/2003. I have gathered from most of the postings on this board that most PCOSers don't have regular periods. I haven't had that since my teens and twenties

I know this is probably a stupid question (especially since I have a biology background) is it possible to have periods and not ovulate? I've only missed 2 since I went off bcp in 4/2002. Once was preg (mc 10/2002) and I skipped one in 12/2003. I have gathered from most of the postings on this board that most PCOSers don't have regular periods. I haven't had that since my teens and twenties


Not at all. Its sorta an assumption if the last part of the mechanism works then the first part should too! Unfortunately, every period i have ever had (other then when im on clomid and actually ovulate) was an anovulatory af. When i was younger i had pretty regular periods, but after i got older my even regular anovulatory af's went haywire. Even being regular doesnt mean you ovulate. UGH. Just another kink in this whole process.

Thanks for the info. I've asked my nurse and she really didn't know. I swear I am going to change doctors once we get the results from the urologist.

Well, we did the urologist Friday. No new tests yet. The doc looked at the results of the previous 2 SA and said that DH has good numbers and there was evidence of bacteria in his sample. A possible prostrate infection. He is hopeful that is the problem. So, DH is now on a tetracyclin antibiotic for 2 weeks and then goes in for a prostate exam and another SA. Let's keep our fingers crossed. He is suppose to stay out of the sun while on the pill because it increases chances of burning. Feel bad for him because he works outdoors mostly and he's a redhead. Poor baby.