[marily_p]

Hello everyone! My DH and I have been ttc for about 3 years now. I am getting very frustrated. I went to an RE about a year ago he did all sorts of blood work and an HSG. He told me that he would bring me back in to discuss the results with me. Well, a couple weeks later I got a letter in the mail saying all my blood looked good except that I had elevated Androgen levels. My HSG was also normal.He then went on to say that it was likely due to my current overweight status. He said in so many words that he would not help me until I lose weight. So I went back to my Ob-Gyn and he said ahhh big deal I see women bigger than you get pregnant all the time. He prescibed Femara. Well I ovulated several times over the course of five months taking the medicine and I still haven't gotten pregnant. I have been trying to lose weight and excercise but haven't gotten to the goal weight the RE wanted. I recently bought the book taking charge of your fertility. It stressed checking CM. I have noticed that I don't get the egg white strectchy stuff. I think that may be part of my problem coupled with my DH's slow swimmers and not ovulating regularly on my own. Does anyone know what I can to do help my CM production? What is Royal Jelly? Has anyone used Pre Seed? I know what the company claims but maybe someones DR. my have said otherwise of thier claims. I am open to all suggestions. I have no one else to really talk to about my problems only listeners.

[mgmsrk]

Is the Metformin helping? Has your insulin resistance been stabilized? If not you may need a higher dose if you are eating healthy and exercising and not loosing weight.

[charltac]

I think that is crazy that a doctor said they wouldn't help you until you lost weight. Isn't it part of their job to help you get to where you need to be in order to get pregnant? Though, when i went through my IVF consultation, they did mention that some fertility clinics will reject harder cases in order to not make their success statistics go down.

I have PCOS, and never knew it until I went in for my first visit, and that makes it hard to lose weight, but my Dr. would never not treat me until I lost weight.

I truly hope you find a Dr. you can trust and that will help and support you.

[marily_p]

Charltac, you are right I really do need to find another Dr. I am scared I will just hit the same road block. I am trying to lose the weight. I need to lose about 30 lbs. It is so much easier to put the weight on than it is to take it off.

[charltac]

I asked my dr. several times about my weight, (also about 30 lbs overweight) and she said that it can make things harder, but that we would work through it. I was never able to lose the weight, (actually with the stress think I gained weight) but we still did IVF.

I think given the emotional aspect of Fertility treatments, that you should definitely be very comfortable with your RE. Most will do a consultation before doing any tests, you could probably start there.

Good luck, I know how hard the process is and a understanding and supportive dr. only helps.

[marily_p]

Mgmsrk, I haven't had a problem with insulin resistance only excess male hormones. My Ob-Gyn said he thought I may have PCOS because of that and my ultrasound showed multiple follicles. I went to my Primary Doctor to try to get a referral to an Endocrinologist. I showed her my papers from the RE about the excess male hormones and she prescribed the metformin and told me I didn't have to go to another Dr. unless I wanted to. I took the metformin for about 4 months. I went back to my Ob-gyn for abnormal bleeding. He did an ultrasound and my ovaries were all clear but a corpus lutem cyst. He took me off the metformin. He said that it can cause weight gain. I told him that I had not gained any weight and that initially I had lost ten lbs., but put it back on and after walking and eating right for about 5 weeks I didn't lose anything. So I did as he told me to do I stopped the metformin and took another round of Femara. I am waiting for results from my 21 day progesterone level. I don't think I Ovulated this time and I feel like I have a cyst on my right ovary now. I am so frustrated. I feel like I am trying to self diagnose now because I am getting such mixed messages from Drs. I wish I could just find one that knows what they are talking about and is willing to help me regardless of my needing to lose about 30 lbs.

[charltac]

I have never heard of Metformin causing people to gain weight, though i guess technically I have gained a couple of pounds on it. I know type II diabetics take it as well.

I had some symptoms of PCOS, but when they tested my levels I didn't. The biggest thing was when they did an internal US and found the "the string of pearls" around my ovaries. Which, she says, is a tell tale sign. It's all amazing to me, I'll go in for an US and she'll make a comment about my ovaries looking Polycystic and I can't see a thing, but that's why she has the degree.

I found my doctor through a friend who did donor insemination, which is what I needed to do since I am single. Maybe do some research on doctors in your area that do that and try them. Maybe those that are willing to do donor insemination are more "liberal" in their endocrinology?

I will definitely say that i am a huge fan of specialists though. YOur ob/gyn might be good, but they don't really have the expertise for IF.

Also, I have heard good things about the South Beach diet. You also may want to try a dietician. In my area we have a hospital that will do metabolism testing and talk with a dietician. I've struggled with my weight all my life and have found that all diets are not created equal, so getting a little extra help from a professuional on that can be helpful. I have also found that Ellie krieger (food network) has some great ideas.

[marily_p]

Charltac, Thank-you for the advice. You are right my Ob-Gyn does not know as much as an RE. Now that I am off the metformin my weight it starting come down again with the walking and eating better. Maybe he did know a little something about the medication. Since I am not insulin resistant It may effect me differently. I am going to try harder to lose weight and try and find a new RE.

[kreagles]

Hey everyone. I just wanted to say that I've been taking 1,000 mg of Metformin per day for over 2 years. I'm a type II diabetic and overweight. But I have continuously lost weight. I was first on NutriSystem and yes it did work, but after a month of it I couldn't stomach the food any longer. I now keep to the diabetic diet and my weight has been coming off slowly but I've been told that's the best way to go. My RE has only asked me to lose 10lbs, but believe me I have a lot more to go. So he is very supportive and the nurses are wonderful. My advice would be to find another RE who is supportive. Because with everything else we all are going through to conceive, we don't need a Dr. telling us something we already know about our weight. Think happy thoughts!

[jenn516n]

It is ridiculous that the doctor outright refused to help you. I was terrified that I would get that same response at my first visit, but the only thing my RE said about my weight(which is way higher than it should be) is that losing weight will help the process. While you may not necessarily have PCOS this book may help you...Healthy Diet for PCOS and Infertility Book: Improve Symptoms with Nutrition. It has really helped me. Not only does it explain everything to you, but it has a months worth of recipes to try.

[ces03k]

I just thought I would throw my two cents worth in about pre-seed. First off, I think it's worth a shot, but only if you use it along with an OPK. It's kinda pricey, and you don't want to waste a dose if you're not even close to ovulating. My experience with it was not successful. But I only used it twice. The first time I may have used it too soon and the second time I may have been too late. I think a more accurate way of detecting ovulation is checking your cervical position and your cervical mucus. I've started doing that, and I have a way better idea of when I ovulate. I'm still not pregnant, but we just found out that it could be a problem with the hubby. He's got a stage 3 vericocele that could be putting the kibash on normal sperm production. I would say visit the preseed Web site and find a local store that sells it. I think mine was like $10 for 3 doses or something like that.

My second two cents is probably something people have already told you, but I'm just such a firm believer. My mom has tried everything under the sun to lose weight. She even went down to Mexico to get some sort of shots that supposedly eat fat. (not a good idea!) But she got on Weight Watchers last Thanksgiving and has lost a total of 75lbs. And she even cheats a little sometimes. She also joined Curves and really likes it, but doesn't go all the time like she should. My mother-in-law is also on Weight Watchers and has lost around 35 lbs. I think it's the easiest "diet" to stick with because it doesn't deprive you.

Anyway! Good luck with everything!

[marily_p]

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to say thank-you for all the good advice. I am happy to say that I have lost a few more pounds. I have been walking every morning,I have also cut my fat and calorie intake. I am feeling very motivated right now. I am also going to see a new RE on Monday. Hopefully, he will be willing to help me.

[nething4mybaby]

! I have never had a DR question my weight until I met with the infertility DR. They even addressed my DH weight! Our friends were shocked. Good luck to you on your journey!