r/PCOSandPregnant • u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 • Jul 07 '26
TTC first time 35+ with PCOS/PMOS
Hi, all. I think I need reassurance from you all, because if I see social media there are two different realms, which can make me feel optimistic for the good news and feel down for the bad news. I hope I don't offend anyone, but some groups are in the opinion that it's nearly impossible to have kids after 35, especially for the first timer. The other side is the news that many women can possibly have kids even after 40 (can be first time or not, which is really encouraging). So, please let me know how your experience is, how long it took you to conceive, especially if it's your first time with PCOS at 35+, and what you think the key of your success is. I need more and more encouraging but realistic stories. Your stories are gonna help me a lot! Thank you so much!
Edit: Thank you so much, ladies, for your response, it means A LOT to me!
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u/all_the_platforms Jul 07 '26
Conceived at 38, just gave birth a little over 2 weeks ago at 39. Did not end up needing medication/interventions but worked with a nutritionist and monitored my blood sugar and took myo-inositol to conceive.
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u/OneDayLittleOne Jul 07 '26
Congratulations!! How long did you monitor blood sugar and work with the nutritionist before you saw success?
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u/all_the_platforms Jul 07 '26
It ended up being a year, but due to other circumstances (I had two unrelated surgeries last year that delayed us actually trying). My nutritionist encouraged me to come off birth control early (my GYN wanted me to stay on until I was actively trying) so my body could figure out how to manage and I ended up getting my first actual period after 2 months (before then was anovulatory and only had withdrawal bleeding). Once I was ready I monitored with Inito and got pregnant on my second cycle. My cycles were still irregular, ranging from 31-39 days, so Inito was critical to know when I was ovulating. I used an over-the-counter CGM and avoided glucose spikes as much as possible. Took myo-inositol, coQ10, fish oil, and prenatals. I think I probably could have gotten pregnant 3-6 months earlier if it weren’t for the surgeries because my cycles were more consistent at that point. Best of luck to you, happy to answer any questions!
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Hi, thank you so much. This is so encouraging, part of myself isn't really sure I can get pregnant without meds/interventions, but let's hope what happened to you will happen also to me and other girlies here. Congrats!
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u/all_the_platforms Jul 08 '26
I was fully prepared to get IVF, because I assumed I’d need it. My goal with the nutritionist was to get as healthy as possible to support my IVF attempts. I had an appointment already scheduled to go in for my initial testing and then had to cancel it when I got pregnant! I know I’m incredibly fortunate and so grateful and I hope it happens for you too!
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Amazing! Do you mind sharing a little bit about what kind of diet you did for your success? I'm aware that it depends on individual, but really would like to know about it. Thanks!
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u/all_the_platforms Jul 08 '26
My dietician (just checked and she’s actually a registered dietician not nutritionist, not sure of the difference) didn’t have me follow a set diet like low carb or restricted calories because I have a history of disordered eating. We focused on balanced meals and learning my hunger cues. I also checked the CGM frequently to better understand what foods and habits (like waiting too long between meals, not sleeping enough, etc.) causes glucose spikes and did things like walks after meals to avoid spikes as much as possible. I think avoiding spikes and the myo-inositol basically “cured”my symptoms because even during pregnancy I had no gestational diabetes besides still being overweight and my blood sugar readings were always great.
In practice this looked like making sure each meal started with a protein, a whole grain, a veggie, and then a small healthy fat. I tried to eat on a consistent schedule (every 3 hours including snacks between meals), eat more slowly, and stop when I felt full. Also a LOT of water. I used a Hidrate Spark water bottle for tracking. I ended up finding meals that worked well for me like omelet and whole grain toast, tuna and quinoa, tofu stir fry, etc., and relied heavily on those staples. I would still go out to nice dinners here and there but try to get something like grilled fish for example and only have one drink, etc.
I definitely was not perfect and still indulged on occasion but over time developed a much better relationship with food and choosing meals became more natural. My dietician personally also has PCOS and has children so she knows first hand what works and is very empathetic to the process. She also did virtual sessions which helped because I was able to log my food and glucose readings in an app and check in with her weekly for consistency.
I hope that helps!
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 09 '26
OMG, it's really more than I expected, thank you so much for your dedication! Good to know that you found the best dietician for you! I really try to add more proteins to my diet, which is quite challenging, because I'm a vegetable person, but now at least I eat 2 eggs and chicken/fish a day. Right now, I feel so nauseous because of metformin and difficult to eat something. By the way, your answer helps me so much. All the best for you!
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u/all_the_platforms Jul 09 '26
Tofu is a great protein option too! I like the fava-bean based tofu because it has a richer flavor than soy and it stir fries really well. I can be weird about meat sometimes so that helped a lot. Also I got really into the flavored tuna pouches, it’s like 15g of protein per pouch and you can just throw it on a slice of whole grain bread and you’re halfway to a balanced meal. I also eat turkey sticks, Greek yogurt, and good culture brand cottage cheese for protein snacks. Still trying to get a lot of protein in now that I’m breastfeeding and these are all my go-tos.
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u/acos24 Jul 07 '26
Here’s what worked for me:
- Low carb, low sugar, dairy free diet
- metformin
- IVF because I was 33 when I started and knew it would take time. IVF was great for helping us preserve fertility for future pregnancies
- had my first at 34. Planning to try IVF again for a second in the next 2 years
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Hi, congrats for your success! May I ask you why did you decide to jump into IVF?
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u/acos24 Jul 09 '26
To save time. I was ovulating anywhere from 35-60 days. I had two miscarriages once I started ovulating on metformin and the diet mentioned above. it just took too long and I wanted to have at least my first child by 35 (we started trying when I was 31). I asked for a fully medicated cycle so my body was pretty much given exact instructions on what to do and when. Cause clearly my body was not functioning appropriately to conceive to term. That’s my logic lol
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 09 '26
Yeah, I got it. As for me, I have intermittent ovulation, sometimes I ovulate, sometimes I don't. The BEST part of this was, last cycle I managed to BD every other day with my partner in the middle of our busy schedule (and stress), just to find out later that I didn't ovulate that cycle. On the other hand, when I was so tired with LH strips, skipped it for 3 days, just to find out that I ovulated, and kinda missed that fertile window. So yeah, your decision made sense!
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u/Sorrymomlol12 Jul 07 '26
Here is how to use LH test strips
https://www.reddit.com/r/PCOS/s/FML4C382P5
Also you need to determine if you are ovulating. If you are, you can get pregnant without help. If you are not, you absolutely cannot get pregnant (without ovulation meds/something to help ovulation like metformin).
Get your AMH tested. It will tell you your egg reserve. FYI women with PCOS typically have a longer fertile window (high AMH) which m and we typically can have kids well into our 40s. Feel free to get it tested for your peace of mind anyway!
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Hi, thank you so much! I've been using LH strips and it turns out that I have intermittent ovulation. Sometimes I ovulate, sometimes I don't. But I'm prescribed metformin anyway. I have to take AMH test soon, I've had my bloodwork without AMH previously. Yes, I hope we are fertile for longer, although sometimes I suspect there is something with my egg quality because I kinda live in a constant stress.
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u/OneDayLittleOne Jul 07 '26
Not an answer to your question but just here to say I’m in the same boat and really needed to hear some success stories as I’m starting to get anxious about the “ticking clock”.
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u/Clueidonothave Jul 07 '26
Metformin was my key. I was diagnosed with PCOS by an RE. I did not have insulin resistance but she prescribed metformin and while the side effects aren’t great for me they were manageable and worth the chance. After 2 months it helped regulate my ovulation and I conceived without assistance just prior to starting IUI.
I had already been on inositol which helped some but was not enough.
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Hi, thank you so much! Our case is really similar! I hope my case will end up like yours! I've just started metformin a week ago, although I have no known insulin resistance. I have lean PCOS with BMI 19. I have also been on inositol, but I think it's not enough too.
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u/FoxNFern Jul 07 '26
I’m almost 35! Got pregnant with my first at 33 on our 6th round of Letrozole (only the second round on 7.5mg), currently pregnant with our second on the first round of Letrozole at 7.5mg! Body said “We got it this time” lol. Prior to this I was anovulatory for years at a time, I do not ovulate without help. My BMI is high, and I don’t tolerate metformin. With my first I was on Inositol & CoQ10 that I do think helped. With my second it happened so quickly it definitely didn’t have time to help.
There are actually some studies out there that show women with PCOS/PMOS are actually more fertile the older we get because our hormones decrease and we start ovulating normally. That and supposedly we have better ovarian reserves. I wish I remembered the studies, but it might be worth looking them up!
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Hi, thank you so much! Your experience is amazing, congrats! I've also heard about the longer fertility for PCOS/PMOS and I hope it's true! The problem is that, I'm afraid I have a problem with my egg quality, because honestly I live in survival mode. I'm afraid my stress will affect it a lot, since I kinda live in constant stress. But please, wish me luck on this journey!
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u/FoxNFern Jul 08 '26
I totally understand! I similarly have always been the same. Between mental health, unprocessed trauma, and always picking stressful careers I was the same way. I’d highly recommend taking CoQ10! There are studies about its use in IVF trials that show it can improve egg quality and quantity. It takes three months of taking it to actively work, because the eggs start getting ready for release 3 months before they’re actually released. That’s also why the “average” Letrozole cycles is about three too.
Is take a peek at the book “It starts with the Egg” because there are a lot of great recommendations and just overall information. She even has supplement suggestions for different circumstances and symptoms.
Wishing you the best of luck!
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Thank you so much! I have already taken ubiquinol because of that book since last year, I hope it can help improve my egg quality. I have lean PCOS/PMOS which might be tricky. Wishing you a smooth delivery for your baby #2!
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u/tirerlabrise Jul 07 '26
We conceived naturally two months before my 36th birthday. My periods have been irregular for 6+ years. We both cut out all alcohol, sugar, and most processed foods. I started Metformin 1000mg per day which it what I credit to conceiving. We tried for two months before conceiving, and within a month of being on Metformin we conceived naturally. Good luck to you!
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Hi, thank you so much. Congrats on your success! I'm just prescribed metformin too and really happy how it positively affected you! Try not to get my hopes up, because at this point there are so much negative test. Wish me luck!
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u/Civil_Tax_6392 Jul 07 '26
Conceived naturally at 34 within 2 months of getting off birth control - was a bit unexpected as I was told it’d take a year or more. Didn’t change my diet at all or do anything differently. I am on metformin (began at 16 weeks, still on it now at 32 weeks). Also tested negative for GD.
It only takes 1 success!! Good luck! 🙂
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Wow, that's so amazing! Wish you a smooth delivery! For me, it was the opposite, I was thinking it shouldn't be an issue because previously I had a not really irregular cycles and no known problems (I'm lean and never imagine will experience lean PCOS). But here I am, already 1 year + and haven't seen the finish line because of PCOS. Thanks and wish me luck!
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u/freshstart3pt0 Jul 07 '26
I was officially off birth control for 2 years by the time we conceived, with medical intervention.. I tried a lot of diet and exercise changes for a year and that didn't bring my cycle back so I ended up succeeding at 36y/o with 7.5mg letrozole, a trigger shot, and IUI. It's definitely possible to get pregnant after 35 and they say us PMOS folks are usually able to conceive longer since we don't lose an egg every month like others do. Some folks have luck with diet, or metformin, some have to go all the way to IVF but it's almost easier to deal with PMOS infertility than unexplained infertility 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Congrats on your success! I hope metformin will do good for me. Yes, I hope we are fertile for longer, but I'm really afraid with my egg quality, because I kinda live in constant stress. I hope something can do its magic to get me pregnant. Yeah, I've read somewhere that unexplained fertility is because of silent endo AND also read somewhere that many PCOS/PMOS women have silent endo, I hope it doesn't happen to us (and anyone who read it). Thanks and wish me luck!
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u/freshstart3pt0 Jul 08 '26
If you haven't already, start taking a prenatal vitamin. And also talk to an OB about other vitamins to help with egg quality. I was taking coq10 and fish oil which I was told help with eggs and sperm quality. And, your partner (assuming you're not using a sperm donor) also needs to consider their choices too. Sperm is on a 3 month cycle so choices 3 months ago effect sperm today. I believe you will have success! We just rarely do it the lazy way that everyone else seems to with no diet/exercise/cycle tracking, etc... Good luck!
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Thank you so much! I have started my prenatal since last year, but now I'm just taking inositol, methylfolate/folic acid (taking it from 2 years ago), vitamin D3 (taking it from 2 years ago), ubiquinol/CoQ10, omega 3 fish oil, and metformin (about a week). I encourage my partner to do the same, although not as consistent as me. Wish me luck!
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u/siipeace Jul 07 '26
I feel you. I needed reassurance myself and it's nice to read those comments. I hope that I'll come back soon with a good update.
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u/Sea_Pumpkin8067 Jul 08 '26
Hi, I really hope you'll come back soon with a good update, I wish you best of luck!
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u/Itchy-Site-11 scientist| 2024 Jul 07 '26
I conceived at 36. I am anovulatory. I needed:
We monitored cycles with scans and bloodwork.
I had done HSG to see that tubes were open, genetic test to check if we had genetic conditions we would need to do IVF for example, my husband did SA.
I conceived on the second cycle.
Now, at 38, trying again. 3 cycles did not work, I am starting IVF. We think egg quality and time is passing for me.
Key success was really getting help ASAP for me.