Many women with PCOS only see it as an issue when they are trying to conceive and I’m here to tell that it’s possible to get pregnant with PCOS naturally, because I did it.
I know what I did and how I got pregnant may not work for everyone, but I wanted to share my story in the hopes that it gave others hope that a pregnancy without IVF or Clomid is possible with PCOS.
While PCOS isn’t curable, there are many diet and lifestyle changes that can help to balance your blood sugar levels, which in turn help to regulate the hormones you need to ovulate regularly and conceive.
Trying To Conceive With PCOS
Since puberty, I was never able to have a regular period without the help of the birth control pill. Only a few cramps and bloating would give me a hint as to when my next period would come and each period was usually 2-4 months apart.
Not having a period and not ovulating means the chances of my getting pregnant were quite slim, until I began to understand what fuels PCOS and what I could do to reverse it.
It wasn’t until my second wedding anniversary that my lack of regular periods became a problem for us…
I had decided it was time to start a family and I knew that my PCOS could make getting pregnant a little tricky. Fewer periods during the year meant fewer chances for ovulation, if I was even ovulating at all.
PCOS also makes it difficult to determine when you are ovulating, because the signs of ovulation can appear throughout each month whether you are ovulating or not.
I wish I had known this before I spent $75 on that damn ovulation testing kit…
Fertility Treatment Wasn’t For Me
My husband and I tried to get pregnant for about 10 months. Nothing happened.
At this point, I started to worry and decided that we should consider fertility counselling. After our first consultation with the fertility specialist, we were both a little off-put by the time and effort required – fertility treatments are no walk in the park!
First, I would have to undergo a procedure to determine whether my Fallopian tubes were open, while my husband would have to submit a sperm sample. Assuming my tubes were open and his sperm was doing what sperm should, I would be put on prescription Clomiphene to induce ovulation.
I would then have to report back to the office during potential ovulation times to see if I was actually ovulating and whether the eggs were mature enough for fertilization.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to attend all these appointments and be able to make my daily commute into work. My husband also felt it would be a little too stressful for me.
That was our first and last fertility consultation.
How I Got My Periods Back Naturally
From my understanding of PCOS, I knew that:
a) my insulin levels were high, which caused
b) my weight to increase, which contributed to
c) higher insulin levels due to more weight, which caused
d) my male hormones to increase, causing
e) my periods to be irregular.
I had read about PCOS sufferers losing weight and regaining their periods, so I decided that I was going to try my best to lose the weight I had been trying to lose for the last 10 years with no success. Given my (lack of) weight loss history, I finally acknowledged that I needed help.
I found an awesome dietitian who taught me about portion sizes, how to read nutrition labels, how to manage my insulin levels and how to keep a food journal. After my first week under her counsel, I lost 7 pounds! Just like that!
After that, I lost a healthy 0.5-1 pounds a week. After my first 10 pounds of weight loss, I got a period on my own (yaaaay!). Even better, I got another period 33 days after that one. And another one the month after that.
After 4 months, I had lost 23 pounds and was experiencing regular periods without the birth control pill for the first time in my life. Another thing I never realized? Getting a period every month is super annoying! But very important.
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Getting Pregnant With PCOS
After I lost the weight, it took us another 7 months to get pregnant. I gave birth to a healthy baby girl in March 2014.
I consider myself lucky that I was able to regain my periods and conceive without the assistance of a fertility doctor. I realize that other PCOS sufferers may have a very different story from mine.
This post is a message to those struggling with infertility and/or irregular periods.
If you have PCOS and carry excess weight, consider getting the help of a registered dietitian.
Not only can a dietitian help you lose the weight, but they can also educate you on how to balance your blood sugar levels, which will help keep your insulin levels in check.
Lower insulin levels can help with weight loss, reduced male hormone levels and can also reduce your risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes.
10 Ways To Reverse Insulin Resistance Naturally
If you suffer from insulin resistance from pre-diabetes or PCOS, you need to read up on these 10 ways to reverse insulin resistance without medication.
Supplements To Consider For PCOS
You may also want to consider taking certain supplements and herbs, such as Ovasitol – a supplement created to manage PCOS. I also took Maca Root, which is a natural adaptogen that helps to regulate hormones. I took Maca about a month before getting pregnant with both my girls.
Talk to your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements.
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