[smallwood31501]

I'm new and I was wondering if anyone had any advise on dieting with PCOS and if anyone knew if taking metformin will help with an upcoming IVF.I take it now but I get so sick when I take it that I stopped taking it but don't know if it would affect IVF cycle.

[AngieD]

I would strongly recommend getting back on the Metformin. I can't find the link to the study I was reading a while ago, but it was found in a study to greatly reduce the risk of miscarriage. Here's a link as to its intended purpose:

What is Glucophage used for in infertility treatments? - The Labor of Love Articles

And another:

Metformin for PCOS: Discover the Benefits and Side Effects of Glucophage.

I got super-sick the first couple of weeks on it, too. Here are a few tips:

1. Make sure they have you on the extended release version. Less likely to make you sick.
2. Make SURE you take it with food. I have better luck when I take it after taking just a few bites of my meal, then eating the rest after taking the pills.

I really don't even get affected by it now. Your body can take a while to get used to it. Another benefit is that you tend to lose weight on it, so that answers your other question.

[colsxjack]

Originally Posted by smallwood31501

I was wondering if anyone had any advise on dieting with PCOS

Hello. I don't post here very often, although I do read some. My wife also has PCOS and we have been struggling with infertility through 4 IUI's with clomid and injectables, 1 IVF/ICSI and 1 FET (which was successful and we are now 91/2 weeks pregnant).

Although she did/does take metformin and also used accupuncture, we did also change our diet as a means of regulating her PCOS. We got a book called "Fewrtility Foods" by Dr. Jeremy Groll and Lorie Groll. He is an RE that has developed a "diet" for his patients and found that many of the women with PCOS could conceive children with little to no other interventions.
It is a diet based on whole nutritious foods, which is beneficial to you as a person and a growing fetus. The "secret" of his diet was to use a balance of carbs and proteins as a means of regulating blood sugars and combatting insulin resistance (basically what Metformin is designed and used to do).
If you are a person that already eats fairly healthy and already eats a variety of fruits and vegetables then the diet is not a huge leap. It may be hard to follow if you are not the type to already eat healthy.
We used a lot of fresh whole produce, complex carbs, lean proteins and protein drinks and bars for on the road snacks.

Give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised. My wifes hormones, cycles and such were all over the place before the diet. After 2 months of the following the diet about 90% and accupuncture she was relatively stable hormonally and had a great lining on ultrasound.

The diet is a bit of a challenge at first, and takes some planning but after a couple of weeks it gets easier. We also decided to stay on the Metformin for good measure. Although by the time we tried the diet and accupuncture she was on Metformin for several months with little documented improvement. Starting at a low dose and increasing gradually over time, as well as taking it with food seemed to help the neasea and headaches that Metformin gave her.

Good luck to you.