PCOS (according to Jen)

I thought that I'd do, what I understand to be, a post of what PCOS is, and how it effects me. Now, this is what I understand from reading the Internet and my doctor ... I am not claiming to know everything, so hopefully I've got my facts straight.

I am insulin resistant. This means, the cells in my body aren't accepting the insulin my body is making. Because of this, my body makes an increased amount of insulin because my cells aren't getting any. Well, because of my high insulin levels, my reproductive hormones get "confused" and don't produce as high as they should. This is the reason it is very difficult for me to get pregnant. I don't ovulate because of the low hormones. My doctor put me on a diabetic medication called Metformine to allow my cells to accept the insulin that is made, therefore reducing the amount of insulin my body will produce. With a lower amount of insulin in my body, my reproductive system should kick back into gear.

I am on two more medications as well to help things along. One is Provera, a drug that helps me get a monthly cycle. (Normally my cycles can be anywhere from 3 to 8 months. Never consistent. Before you say ... LUCKY YOU ... just remember my lack of periods is making my life miserable right now =) ok ... moving on!) The other medication that I am on is Chlomid. Chlomid is taken when people don't ovulate (ME!). It just helps to mature the eggs so you ovulate. You are about twice as likely to have twins because of this ... but if the probability of having twins is SOOO low, twice a really small number is still a really small number.

So where do I fall in all of this? I have completed month number one of my routine. Things aren't "fixed" yet, so no baby news. In fact, I went to the doctor yesterday to get a test done to see if I had ovulated. I hadn't. Because of this they doubled my Chlomid level (WAHOO!!!) and hopefully next month I will. If I don't .... who knows what will happen.

I feel optimistic with the higher dosage that I'll be taking. We still have hope *though not much* for a 2011 baby ... but it looks like it's going to be 2012. At this point, I just hope to get pregnant again sometime in my life. :)