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A few years ago, I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) by my Gynecologist. He (very nonchalantly) told me that I’d have to go through fertility treatments when I decided that it was time for me to get pregnant. He sort of made it seem like this was going to be the only way that I would be able to have kids. He suggested exercise and diet modifications- I was already running marathons and eating super healthy, so I wasn’t sure what else I could do to try and get ahead of this.
I work as an oncology nurse, and had seen so many women go through fertility treatments, only to come back with ovarian cancer and a 2-year-old by their side. Granted, I was seeing the worst of the worst, but fertility treatments were not something that I took lightly. Thinking about my future and the possibility of not being able to have kids became sort of scary and depressing to me.
I did lots of research, tried eating paleo (something I had read about as a way to get rid of PCOS, and a friend had actually had luck with it), and still had no changes on my ultrasound at my appointment the following year. I started to think really seriously about when I would need to start trying to conceive in order to be eligible for IVF/IUI by a certain age…how I would feel about adoption, surrogacy, etc. It weighed pretty heavy on me despite the fact that when I would talk to friends about it, they’d say it was no big deal. It might be no big deal one day, and maybe I won’t have to go through any of that, but I don’t know that yet. It’s not a diagnosis that rocks your world exactly, but it’s something that still makes me anxious about what it might result in one day.
It would be so helpful to know if anyone else has PCOS, how they’ve managed it, and if anyone has stories about how it has or has not affected their ability to get pregnant. <3
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I just wanted to post an update! After all this time stressing about what I thought was an inevitable journey with IVF, I actually conceived the first month that my husband and I started trying! We are having our first baby in November 🙂  I spoke with my new Gynecologist, and she told me that 85% of couples in a similar situation will conceive naturally within one year. I couldn’t believe it turned out to be this straightforward for us after what my previous doctor had told me. I hope this eases some anxiety for those reading that have experienced the same diagnoses and conversation with their doctor!
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Hi Hali,
I am going through the exact same thing. I was diagnosed with PCOS and when I asked my doctors about having a baby and my fertility, they basically said ‘we won’t know until you try.’ Which is extremely frustrating!
I also live a pretty healthy and active lifestyle so don’t understand what it could be. For me, I think a lot of it could be environment/stress? But not sure how to really fix it. I’ve heard going gluten and dairy free helps and actually doing low intensity workouts versus getting your heart rate up a ton. I’ve done elimination diets and never notice anything. I wish someone could just tell me exactly what to do!
I don’t have any answers but wanted to let you know I am in the same boat, experiencing the same frustration and confusion and anxious about the unknown.
Would love to follow along with this conversation.
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