Today we’re continuing our coverage of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month and sharing your stories. We asked you, our community members, to share your PCOS stories and many of you generously stepped forward.
Today, Rachel Wilson shares her story.
How did you discover you have PCOS?
I never started “cycling” like all the other girls. At age 17 when my period still had not started, my PCP sent me to a OB/GYN. He mis-diagnosed me with “Adult Onset Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia”. After my husband and I got married and wanted to start our family they sent me to an endocrinologist who did about two exams and said, “Nope, that’s wrong; you have PCOS.” He told me, “You have to go on the pill”. My response: “Umm, yea, you can’t really get pregnant on the pill,” so we went elsewhere.
Did PCOS affect your ability to conceive? How?
Tremendously!!! My husband and I have been trying to have a baby since we got married in 1999! We have tried about every treatment available (IVF, IUI, Shots, Pills). We were finally blessed with our miracle son this year, after a successful IUI. (We did loose twin sons in 2009 after a successful IVF cycle, but due to an incompetent cervix they were born too premature, and couldn’t survive.)
What treatments did you try and what worked for you?
Like I mentioned above, we did try Clomid and Femara (neither worked), combined both with Metformin (still nothing). Then moved on to Injections, and first cycle hyper stimulated. Ended up moving into IVF. That DID work, however we lost the twins. Then attempted a FET, which didn’t work. Did two more IUI’s with injectables, and got pregnant on the second try. Now have a healthy 6 1/2 month old.
If you could give one piece of advice to PCOS sufferers, what would it be?
Don’t give up!!! I didn’t believe it either when I was “childless”, but now I know it CAN happen!
If you have children now, do you think that your fertility difficulties made you a stronger person? A stronger couple? A stronger parent? Why or why not?
We are much stronger, and much better parents! When our son wakes us up in the middle of the night we thank God that we have the opportunity to take care of OUR own child! We have been through some of the WORST things imaginable, and so now it is a true blessing to watch our son grow and develop. We love with a love deeper than most people can ever imagine (not to sound corny). We feel like we have conquered the world, and have gotten the best prize for doing so! Sometimes I think people need to know what they don’t have in order to appreciate what they DO have.
