Women’s health,
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I had always felt that I might have trouble getting pregnant as I have had symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome for as long as I can remember (since being a teenager!) After marrying my partner of now 11 years, we tried for a baby and never had a positive pregnancy test. It felt pretty heartbreaking and gruelling having cycle after cycle with the same result. After lots of testing, I was diagnosed with PCOS and my husband also had low morphology (this was eventually improved through lifestyle changes, reducing heat and with supplements including lycopene, zinc and pine bark). Another year of supplements (myo-inositol and NAC in particular have worked well for me with PCOS), lifestyle changes and six rounds of letrozole passed with still no pregnancy, so we embarked on a round of IVF. Unfortunately, not only was this unsuccessful, but also ended with me being hospitalised with OHSS and internal bleeding (an extremely rare experience, I would not want to deter anyone from IVF!) We were devastated and things looked (and, to be honest, still do look) pretty bleak in terms of our chances of conception. So whilst I can’t offer advice on falling pregnant, and without wanting to sound cliched as I know how heartbreaking and cruel trying to conceive can be, I believe that doing your absolute best to not put your life on hold during this time and travelling, seeing friends and family and making make time to prioritise the relationship with your partner is such a huge help in protecting your mental health, as well as being really kind and gentle with yourself (this is not always easy!) I have tried pretty much every recommended supplement, monthly testing, old wives tales (legs in the air!) but I think coming to terms that this isn’t my fault and isn’t something I have control over has begun to help me to accept things more, and also helps me to keep that little bit of hope for the future.

In hindsight, i realize my period was never normal- i struggled with severely heavy periods as a young teen. Finally 10 years later, my heavy periods returned along with severe pelvic pain. Many appointments later, my gyno found ovarian cysts that should “go away.” They continued to grow until I begged for a surgery after becoming so sick that I could not longer function. they ended up discovering stage 3 endo. One month post laparoscopy and there’s still pain but i know it’s “technically not as bad” as before

I was diagnosed as we have been trying for our 2nd child for around 10 months. I am only having periods every 3 months and don't think I am ovulating. I've been having blood test after blood test but am yet to receive any help with medication. It is affecting my mental health lately as I feel we are just going round in circles with the GP