PCOS Infertility and Diet Changes - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Message Board

SoleilRae · 02-07-2008, 02:18 PM

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for a year. My OB/GYN kept telling me that the reason I don't have regular periods and the reason I can't conceive is because I am underweight (5' 9" 120 lbs). He gave me a few cycles of clomid with no ovary response and no pregnancy. Then I went to see a specialist. The specialist immediately diagnosed me with PCOS. He said it is not very common to have PCOS and be underweight, since most people are normal to overweight, but he is sure of the diagnosis. I have all the criteria for diagnosis.

Anyway, the specialist says that I should try Clomid one more time. Then if it doesn't work he wants me to take Metformin for a few months and then try clomid again. He says he doesn't think that either of these things will work because in his words my "ovaries are ugly." They have so many unovulated eggs. He says he does not want to use injectable medications because my ovaries may respond too much and cause a problem like ovarian hyperstimulation.

So, I did some research on my own and found out that in patients who are overweight and have PCOS their fertility increased when they went on a low carbohydrate diet. I was wondering if anyone on the board has tried that? I couldn't find any research on diet changes in underweight women with PCOS because it is not common.

Does anyone have any success story about diet changes and fertility? Please let me know if you do I need a little encouragement.

Hopefulx2.5 · 02-07-2008, 02:33 PM

SoleilRae,

Hello and welcome!!!

I don't have any personal experience with PCOS but I also have a IF friend that was diagnosed not too long ago with PCOS and she doesn't fit the profile either. She actually hyperstimulated on just 50 mg of Clomid but now is on to IVF which she was monitored extremely closely. I will let you know how that turns out since she is doing her first cycle and had her transfer today!! She is also using Metformin.

I wish you lots of luck and I know there are quite a few ladies here that also have PCOS and have done dietary changes. I will let them share their stories.

I am so glad you found us and good luck to you and hoping your stay here on the boards is short.

praying4us · 02-07-2008, 02:41 PM

Sorry you have PCOS, its such an ugly medical issue. My sister has PCOS and is under weight (5' 95lbs), and I also have PCOS and over weight (5'2" 134lbs) and I struggle to stay around my weight. I once weighed 215lbs and lost with LCing!! Anyhoo. When I eat LC I find that my face is clear of acne with a wonderful glow to my skin and if I stick to Lcing for a long period of time without sugar, pasta's and breads I will have a regular 29 day cycle with ovulation on CD15. I went almost a year like this. Now, I take that back, that was from taking Metformin as well. Before I took Metforim I was within "normal" guidlines of ahvign a cycle, but it was sparatic. One month it would be 31 days and the next would be 27 days. I never knew when I would start, but I was still within the normal guidlines. Unfortunatley it has not worked for me because I have MF. My sister was not able to get pg either and had to go off the LC diet because she got down to 85lbs. I tried to explain to her she could eat whole wheat products, but the Dr put her on adkins or atkins, whatever its called. On another note, my SIL has severe PCOS, over 100lbs over weight, has gone a few years without a period, major acne, major hair on her face (she has to shave her face). She took Clomid for a month with Metformin and got pregant. Amazing!!!

Because your underweight, I would be carefull with the LC, I would eat some whole wheat products. I went to a IR dietition, you should eat all carb products before 3pm. Dinner should be meat and veggies. ONly 2 servings of whole wheat products a day. AND when you eat fruit & a whole wheat cracker you should add cheese. The cycle is you need fiber to process the sugar (thus whole wheat crackers with the fruit) and you need protein to process the fiber. This is whats considered a well balanced meal.

I know I've gone on and on, but I hope this helps you. LCing is an amazing thing with being IR, just amke sure you dont do too low LC because you'll loose weight. Maybe try the South Beach diet, in the maintence phase, that is a really good well balanced plan.

Good luck!

luckydarlin · 02-11-2008, 05:02 PM

My doctors had conflicting thoughts on whether or not I had pcos because I didn't not fit the "norm" for it either - I was 5'8 and 125 lbs and never had issues with my skin. After seeing an endocrinologist, I was put on Metformin; however, it really bothered my stomach so I did not continue on it. We tried a few months of clomid with this doctor, but had no success at all. I finally saw a fertility specialist who confirmed the pcos diagnosis and took blood work, including my insulin levels. Obviously, I came back with a high insulin level and he told me I had two months to go on a low carb/low sugar diet - almost a form of Atkins - and then he would re-check me to see if we could then move forward. Basically, I cut out ALL regular soda (I don't drink coffee, I drink soda) and switched to diet, cut out all my sweets and really cut back on carbs. Two months later I was within normal range and was allowed to proceed with injections and was pregnant within two months.

I hope this has given you some info. Good luck!