Intro and a question

[booklover811]

Hi all! I was a regular here and on 3TIF a few years back. Here's my story as condensed as much a possible:

My H and I tried for 19 months to get pregnant with our son. We had just finished all of our infertility testing (I have PCOS) and were waiting for my husband to get back into town from being gone for work when we got pregnant unexpectedly on our own. My absolutely beautiful, perfect son was born 12/7/15. In December 2016 we decided to start NTNP and got pregnant right away, but that pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage last month. I had an ultrasound at 9 weeks and baby had stopped growing at 6 weeks. I had to have a D&C. That brings us to right now.

My OB (new because we moved this past summer) has cleared us to start trying again next cycle and would like to prescribe me Metformin. I am hesitant because I did get pregnant twice without any meds, but if it is going to increase our chances or make my eggs better and the chance of miscarrying again less, then I am willing to give it a try. Any opinions or suggestions on Metformin use?

I'm excited, but very nervous, to start trying again. Can't wait to get to know all you ladies! Happy Thursday!




ETA some more info.

[Deleted]

I'm sorry for your loss. What's the reason she wants you on the metformin? Do you have PCOS?

Either way, I have PCOS and a history of RPL, but have always gotten pregnant without intervention. But with my rainbow I was on metformin for 6ish months before she was conceived and stayed on in until mid second tri.



Eta, reading fail. I see you do. I would go on it. It can't hurt. Though if you do, take your time going up on the dose to avoid nausea and diarrhea.

[ldubhawksfan]

Hi there. I recognize your SN. I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't know anything about that drug. I can sympathize about not jumping into medicated cycles. We had a medicated IUI to conceive DD, then got pregnant on our second cycle TTCA, which also ended in a loss. By any measure, we could go back to our RE at any point, but we want to try again on our own for awhile.

I do worry that your OB is the one prescribing and without redoing your IF testing. You should have your BW done again to check levels, a HSG done to see if everything is still clear and a Probably a SA again. I leery of medicated cycles with an OB, so that in itself would worry me. ETA: this is my response not really knowing about the drug in particular.

Good luck moving forward and please feel free to join us in our TTCA and AL threads. ((Hugs))

[booklover811]

Thanks @led and ldubhawksfan . I'm totally right in the middle of you two haha. From the research I have done, I don't think it could hurt anything. But I am also unsure of taking any infertility meds from an OB. I'm leaning towards not taking it for a couple of months and then if we aren't pregnant yet giving it a shot.

What is making me definitely nervous is that my OB mentioned giving me Chlomid if we aren't pregnant in a few months. That is a definite hard NO.

[Deleted]

Mar 30, 2017 11:25:19 GMT -5 booklover811 said:

Thanks @led and ldubhawksfan . I'm totally right in the middle of you two haha. From the research I have done, I don't think it could hurt anything. But I am also unsure of taking any infertility meds from an OB. I'm leaning towards not taking it for a couple of months and then if we aren't pregnant yet giving it a shot.

What is making me definitely nervous is that my OB mentioned giving me Chlomid if we aren't pregnant in a few months. That is a definite hard NO.

I got the script for the metformin from my pcp, but my mfm was on board with it. My pcp also suggested clomid if I wasn't pregnant soon. I just laughed.

[Rama]

Hi, friend! I recognize you. :)

I've heard conflicting stories about metformin use on PCOS dx'd people. It works for some people, it makes others super ill (to the point that she NEEDED to get off because it was seriously fucking with her health), but my understanding of it is that it's a common medication for insulin-resistant PCOS, to help regulate hormones. Do you know if yours is IR or not?

[booklover811]

Mar 30, 2017 11:39:29 GMT -5 Rama said:

Hi, friend! I recognize you.

I've heard conflicting stories about metformin use on PCOS dx'd people. It works for some people, it makes others super ill (to the point that she NEEDED to get off because it was seriously fucking with her health), but my understanding of it is that it's a common medication for insulin-resistant PCOS, to help regulate hormones. Do you know if yours is IR or not?

Not that I'm aware of. When my RE did all of my blood work with my fertility testing my blood sugar levels always came back totally fine. So I think it's not IR?

[Rama]

Mar 30, 2017 11:40:41 GMT -5 booklover811 said:

Mar 30, 2017 11:39:29 GMT -5 Rama said:

Hi, friend! I recognize you. :)

I've heard conflicting stories about metformin use on PCOS dx'd people. It works for some people, it makes others super ill (to the point that she NEEDED to get off because it was seriously fucking with her health), but my understanding of it is that it's a common medication for insulin-resistant PCOS, to help regulate hormones. Do you know if yours is IR or not?

Not that I'm aware of. When my RE did all of my blood work with my fertility testing my blood sugar levels always came back totally fine. So I think it's not IR?

In that case, I'm not sure how it would possibly help you. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to try, especially if your provider keeps a good eye on you, but I'm in the "I'd like to take as few pills as possible to keep me functioning well" camp, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt (or several).

[Deleted]

Mar 30, 2017 11:40:41 GMT -5 booklover811 said:

Mar 30, 2017 11:39:29 GMT -5 Rama said:

Hi, friend! I recognize you.

I've heard conflicting stories about metformin use on PCOS dx'd people. It works for some people, it makes others super ill (to the point that she NEEDED to get off because it was seriously fucking with her health), but my understanding of it is that it's a common medication for insulin-resistant PCOS, to help regulate hormones. Do you know if yours is IR or not?

Not that I'm aware of. When my RE did all of my blood work with my fertility testing my blood sugar levels always came back totally fine. So I think it's not IR?

You should ask your doctor. My blood sugars are normal but I'm still IR.

[booklover811]

Mar 30, 2017 11:53:38 GMT -5 @led said:

Mar 30, 2017 11:40:41 GMT -5 booklover811 said:

Not that I'm aware of. When my RE did all of my blood work with my fertility testing my blood sugar levels always came back totally fine. So I think it's not IR?

You should ask your doctor. My blood sugars are normal but I'm still IR.

Good to know! I'll ask!

[butlerfan]

Welcome. I have no suggestions but @led and Rama always give good advice.

[Deleted]

Welcome! Sorry, I don't have any experience with those meds but it sounds like you got some good advice.

[hullabalou]

I recognize your SN from when I posted before. I just started lurking again recently.
I am so sorry for your loss.

[scoutradley]

Welcome! I don't have any experience to share, but I'm sure there are several here who have already/can help.

[leekpartyof2]

Welcome booklover811! I have a PCOS diagnosis as well, but like you my Dr. hasn't said whether it's IR or not. I've been off birth control for a few cycles and it appears I'm ovulating, but my midwife has expressed willingness to prescribe Metformin if necessary. I've also started taking Myo-Inositol, which I think is supposed to help with egg quality (among other things). I haven't been taking it long, so it's hard to tell whether it's working or not, but it doesn't seem to be hurting anything.

[smores]

booklover811 - I don't have any experience with Metformin, but just want to say welcome! I am so sorry for your loss.

[lilsneezy]

Welcome! I'm sorry for your loss.

[BurritosAtEveryMeal]

I have PCOS and was on Metformin for about 6 months. My understanding is that it makes other medications more successful because sugar and hormone levels interfere with follicle growth. After the first week or so on Metformin, it was NBD. It did help my other meds be more effective and it take a few weeks to kick in.

[booklover811]

Apr 2, 2017 6:22:10 GMT -5 BurritosAtEveryMeal said:

I have PCOS and was on Metformin for about 6 months. My understanding is that it makes other medications more successful because sugar and hormone levels interfere with follicle growth. After the first week or so on Metformin, it was NBD. It did help my other meds be more effective and it take a few weeks to kick in.

What other mess were you on! I'm not on any others at this point.

[westiemom]

Hi!! I'm on metformin for pcos. My cycles are annovulatory. The RE I was seeing had me stay on metformin through first tri (I ended up on it my whole pregnancy due to GD) because he says maintaining your insulin level can prevent loss. I love metformin. The side effects have always been manageable for me and now I don't have any since I have taken it for so long.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[booklover811]

Apr 2, 2017 7:21:23 GMT -5 westiemom said:

Hi!! I'm on metformin for pcos. My cycles are annovulatory. The RE I was seeing had me stay on metformin through first tri (I ended up on it my whole pregnancy due to GD) because he says maintaining your insulin level can prevent loss. I love metformin. The side effects have always been manageable for me and now I don't have any since I have taken it for so long.

I'm sorry for your loss.

That's great to hear! Thank you!

[notelsie]

Hi there! I remember you!

I'm so sorry for your loss ❤

Feel free to message me sometime. It looks like we have some things in common ❤

[aprilz81]

I'm on Metformin (prescribed by my RE) and I am not insulin resistant. I asked him why it would be beneficial and he said that it helped regulate hormones as well as insulin and can be beneficial.

If you start it ask for the extended release version (fewer side effects). Also, start at a lower dose for a few weeks before gradually increasing the dosage (after every 2-3 weeks).

During the adjustment period I always get some intestinal problems that is an inconvenience but I'm able to function. I've never had any nausea or other severe side effects but everyone is different.

This time around my dose is 1500 and it took my body about 6 weeks in total to get back to "normal" where I hardly ever have any intestinal issues.