Posted by Ellen Bender on April 10, 19100 at 23:24:26:
In Reply to: Help! I am new to PCOS and need advice! posted by Kristen on April 10, 19100 at 09:22:38:
Kristen: Making an appointment with an RE is a step in the right direction. S/he will be able to do whatever blood tests necessary to make a diagnosis of PCOS or other endocrinological condition that might be causing your irregular periods, weight gain, acne and excess facial hair. S/he will also be able to get you started on the road toward pregnancy. If you are anovulatory, you will probably need some fertility medications to help you conceive (though you may also want to talk to your RE about metformin and other insulin sensitizing medications that are being used more and more with insulin resistant women with PCOS). The general progression is to try clomid first because it is relatively inexpensive and carries with it only a 5% chance of twins. Because a certain percentage of women with PCOS (@20-25%) are "clomid resistant," these days many doctors are only doing 3 or 4 cycles of clomid. With luck, you'll conceive on clomid. If not, you can either try clomid and metformin (one study showed an ovulation rate of close to 90% with previously clomid resistant women) or move on to injectibles like fertinex, pergonal, etc. But, obviously, these are issues to discuss with your RE. Good luck and feel free to come back to the board with any questions you might have. Ellen Bender, AIA's PCOS Center