I was diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 12 after psychiatric hospitalization in which they ran routine blood work because I explained to the doctor there that I had very irregular periods, and my last one was about 8 months before being hospitalized, and that I knew I was not pregnant because I was not sexually active. About three days after I was released, they sent a letter home to my mother advising her to have me seek the care of an OB/GYN because my LH and TSH levels were abnormally high for my age. I had abnormal periods since I first started these cycles--age 8 was my first period, and there was not much awareness of PCOS out there, so I thought it was just normal, because of my early age.
I followed up with the OB/GYN at a Teen Clinic, and they did an ultrasound to confirm the benign cysts on my ovaries. They also noted that I had severe endomentriosis, and they put me on birth control immidiatly. This birth control was called lo-orval or generic called low-ogestrel. I was on birth control at the age of 12--it took 2 years to regulate my cycles to almost normal, but even then, they were still irregular and when they did come, they were extremly heavy, and painful. I was seen by 10 different doctors (Endocrinologists, Internal Medicine Docs, MD's in the ER) you name it, I was seen by them, and they all confirmed that I would never be able to have children. I was crushed and devestated. I wanted children when I was ready someday, and knew the option of In Vitro, Surrogacy and Adoption was out there, but I wanted my own flesh and blood. I was devestated.
Time passed, and at the age of 17, I became engaged to the love of my life--Jason Dettrey. He was my first sexual partner--and even then, we knew the risks of us concieving a child were slim to none. He had a condition called an undecended ball, which essentially meant he only had one ball, and was 50.5% infertile, and I was confirmed to be 99.9% infertile, and was on birth control.
In September 2007, I had my first go around with fertility. I ended up bleeding heavily, and ended up with severe cramps, and went to the Emergency Room where they confirmed that I was having a miscarraige. I was devestated. September 2007 was also when I was diagnosed with having Hypothyroidism, and Diabetes Type II. I had been prediabetic for as long as I could remember--but then suddently, I became Diabetic. I was put on Levothyroxine .50mcg 3 times a day, and Metformin 850mg 3X a day, now add to that the other medications I was on for my anxiety, depression and other health conditions. I was on Sinequan 25mg, and Trazodone 100mg, and Lo-Ogestrel Birth Control, and yet somehow I ended up pregnant again in December 2007. I did not know that I was pregnant, and ended up miscarrying again. That was the second miscarraige--I started to believe the doctors fate of me never having a child of my own. Around March 2008, I started getting the signs of pregnancy--and it was confirmed I was pregnant. I was due in October 2008, but gave birth to a still born baby girl Kayleigh Abygale, who passed in June 2008. She was born extremly early at five months along. I just could not believe my luck, and again blamed myself.
Then a miracle happened....
I went to my doctor for routine physical exam, the date was November 19th 2008, and it was a Thursday. My doctor runs blood work for pregnancy routinely on those patients he see's that are sexually active. He took my blood, and then called me the next day telling me to come to his office immidiatly, that he needed to speak with me and that it was urgent. I get to his office, the date is November 20th 2008, a Friday. The day that changed my life forever. The doctor tells me that I'm 8 weeks pregnant, and I ask him "Well how is that possible? I'm 99.9% infertile, my sexual partner is 50.5% infertile, and I am on birth control, not to mention the medications and my health conditions??" He says "I can't answer how that happened, because I've never seen a case like yours before, but I can advise you to seek an OB immidiatly, because your high risk" I didn't believe him, so I took a copy of my blood work results, and went to buy an EPT, which came back positive. I was in shock--no signs of pregnancy, no morning sickness, no naseau, nothing out of the normal--this was wierd. It took myself and my partner about three months to realize that I was actually pregnant.
Thus far, my pregnancy has gone alright. No major complications--I take my levothyroxine and metformin and test my sugurs daily. I'm seen at my doctors office every week, and the only thing that was a close call was she had whats called an "EIF" essentially bright spots on the heart muscle that go away in third trimester and often cause the heart to skip a few beats. I also just got notified yesterday that I tested positive for Group B Streptococcus--and that they have to give me an IV of antibiotics when I go into labor to prevent the disease from passing onto my baby. She is my miracle child that God blessed me with--though it wasnt an easy road, I'm thankful she is here--and on her way--I'm thankful God blessed me with the chance to carry life--and I only wish that God would have waited until I was ready, but perhaps he thought I was ready now??
My Advice:
1. Speak to an Endocrinologist and OB about the fact that your TTC
2. Get on fertility drugs of some kind--it has been noted that the Metformin dosages I'm on for treatment of PCOS and Diabetes are what made me fertile and able enough to carry my child. Metformin is a fertility drug, there are also other uses for it, and others out there--get on something to help you become fertile. It may take a few tries to concieve.
3. Be weary of the fact that when you do concieve, you may be high risk for pcos and health risks.
4. Don't try to get pregnant--God will bless you when the time is right. I wasn't trying, but now I've got my Gabriella and couldn't be happier!
Good luck--its a tough ride TTC with PCOS!