Just started the video. ...Hannah, Leena, and I are cysters! *Grabs heat pad for my poor ovary working out a cyst* [edit: I have endometeriosis and this video has made me question more about "my" kind of ovaries. Endo dx was in May and has been a little bit of a whirlwind and I am don't know all the answers (or even what to ask)...I don't want a baby in my uterus so all my Baby Making Desires may fly from my little corner of America to Hannah's corner of the UK.]
@@hannahwitton are you in pain it makes me sad if others are wish there was something I could do for you well I have sent alert messages. Publishers Clearing House. Delilah Bell work from home. no person should log into these because they are both scams it's important for the public to know the truth about what is for real and things that look that way.
I've so appreciated this series, I feel like we're raised to think we'll blink wrong next to a man and end up pregnant! thank you for showing the reality 🤍
It's frustrating because it's somehow both. You could be using a super reliable form of birth control and still get pregnant or you could be ttc and it just isn't happening for you. The "danger" of getting pregnant (when that's not what you want) is a problem - but I agree that we should address it in more realistic terms.
Is both like the other person said because if you see teenagers pregnancy it is high!!! So maybe when people are older is becomes more difficult to conceive
@@ZairaBandy Indeed; what people seem afraid to acknowledge is the fact that fertility in women decreases extremely fast with age, once they're past their reproductive peak. Unless you genuinely don't care, don't wait too long past 22 - 23 years old to have children. The more you wait, the more of a hustle it gets. This is the merciless biological reality.
I would highly recommend getting an appointment with an endocrinologist. My Wife was diagnosed with PSO and it turned out it was all being caused by her pituitary gland producing too much prolactin and making it hard to ovulate. She was given some medication to take twice a week and we got pregnant within 6 weeks after trying for over a year!
I have pcos and it's managed by an endocrinologist rather than a GP or a gyno (although there's nothing bad if either of those professionals manage it!). Highly recommended
@@Magpiecheek Totally agree. It must be so frustrating to have your GP brush a question off like that! There were way more follow-up questions they could have asked, or tests they could have recommended.
We used forthwithlife in the uk for a full hormone test which showed the high prolactin and then used those results for the endocrinologist. Really can’t recommend it enough, unfortunately the NHS have been pretty useless
Only 4 minutes in, but the way you describe being worried the doctor is going to say you 'failed' is exactly why I struggle with seeing the doctor for anything. Nice to know I'm not alone in this!
This intuition isn't totally wrong. The more you wait (after your reproductive peak) to have children, the more you'll have to hustle and the more likely you are to "fail". Biology is a bitch but she's a fair bitch.
A medical person saying if you have PCOS or not based on your weight really shows how little medical staff are educated on this. I can’t belive she said that. A lot of peopole with PCOS are ”overweight” and a lot are not. You need to take a blod test to know if you have PCOS or not.
Completely agree with this! I’ve had PCOS my whole life and always been called “skinny” until the last 2 years where I started putting on a lot of weight. I’m finally diagnosed now (only as of April 2021!) but they found my cysts in 2019 and didn’t bother telling me because I wasn’t considered “overweight”. It’s mad!
Yes. I also got diagnosed with PCOS, with the remark that I have "lean" PCOS. Basically I'm not overweight because I keep it under control by heavyly restricting, but still have PCOS. It would make no sense to not have PCOS whenever you are not overweight.
All very very true except technically there are other ways to be diagnosed besides a blood test. I have PCOS but it’s not caused by my hormones, it’s caused by pelvic congestion (which is caused by nutcracker syndrome and may Thurner syndrome). I had my PCOS diagnosed by MRI. So how you get diagnosed can vary depending on what causes it.
“Are you overweight?” NO! That is NOT a differential criteria between PCO and PCOS at all! Like Mama dr Jones said you need to check your hormone levels, your hair growth level, but also your insuline resistance level… 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
Yass this! I am not overweight now but I still have PCOS 💁 It took me 18 months to conceive with PCOS while I was waiting for other intervention appointments.
80% are overweight which means 20% are not it's usually those of us with worse insulin resistance been diagnosed with pcos for over 20 years also don't have to cysts at one time at least in usa or i would have been diagnosed earlier i have had cysts since then but again about 80 to 85% of people with pcos get at least 1 cyst in their life and about 20 to 25% of women that don't have pcos do get a cyst.
Don’t be scared I have two IVF babies and severe Polycystic ovaries and endo and bowel attached to back of womb and ovaries and I have first baby at 40 and second at 43. You can have babies I’m sure of it so stay positive you can do this! X
I was diagnosed with PCOS earlier this year but had been fighting to get a diagnosis since I was 16 because my BMI is low and I just wasn't taken seriously... don't let them rule it out because of your weight! I suffered for years with other symptoms because medical professionals couldn't see past how I looked, and ignored the symptoms I was actually experiencing. If it is PCOS, its manageable and conceiving is still very possible!
I had exactly the same experience! My diabetologist initially refused to prescribe me the necessary drugs, because I was "too slim to be insulin resistant". She then set me on a low glycemic diet for three months, because she was convinced that I ate unhealthily, during which my PCOS-associated insulin resistance got WORSE. Finally she took me seriously and gave me Metformin, which not only severely alleviated my insulin resistance but also lowered my androgens. I got pregnant within a month of taking the drug, even though I was using contraceptive measures. This is all to say: Don't worry, getting this diagnosis does not automatically mean that you can't concieve.
Very true, you can have PCOS without being overweight. The most important factor is what is happening on hormonal level, whether that translates to all the symptoms or not. I was diagnosed with micropolycystic ovaries a few years ago, I was very thin and still my donctor diagnosed me with PCOS. The thing they didn't ever tell me is that PCOS is not something that can't be cured and it's not a diagnosis for life. My doctor only suggested the pill for the symptoms and IVF if I ever wanted kids, luckily I already knew better and said no. Today I do not have PCOS anymore and I almost always have regular and healthy cycles.
The slimmest friend I have has PCOS, she doesn't diet or work hard to maintain her slim figure and she has a healthy relationship with food etc, she's just naturally (and healthily) slim, so it just goes to show medical conditions are never one size fits all and human biology is so varied!
Questions!: • what are your "Do's and don'ts" for being a stranger on the internet commenting on these videos. What do you find supportive, what do you wish people wouldn't say? • have you ever started to second guess sharing your story on TH-cam? (Not that you should!) • would you consider adopting?
We have a very similar story! I also have crohns and had a stoma (chose to get reversed in 2019) and was diagnosed with PCOS shortly after. I have always been convinced my hormonal problems were a result of the surgery as i only had symptoms since then. It took a while for me to regulate things and i got put on metformin and i am currently 32 weeks pregnant. Good luck with everything! X
@@shannonmackenroth4011 Because one of the characteristics of PCOS is that you're prediabetic/have insuline resistance. Your blood sugar hormones are the building blocks of your sex hormones so if they're getting more balanced, so will your estrogens, testosterone and progesterone.
My question for your Q&A is: With all the ups and downs of trying to get pregnant, do you and Dan ever feel ambivalent about having babies or do you just continue to want them more and more with each passing cycle?
I would challenge the thought that a struggling fertility journey would lead to people to consider not raising children; there's adoption, there's fostering. We as a world civilization do not need to conceive our own progeny when there are so many children who live without a home. Adopting and fostering are also great for reducing your carbon footprint!
@@intergalactic_butterfly but some people would rather have their own biological children. Adoption and fostering isn’t the easy option to children either. It can be just as difficult and disappointing to go through as well as costly. It’s just down to personal choice too. If I couldn’t have children naturally, I personally wouldn’t want to put my body through fertility treatments and I wouldn’t want to go through the adoption route so I can see where this person is coming from.
@@rachelam18 Yeah, I know that every option is difficult. I do tend to see things in a utopian manner. However, so many people shut down that possibility, and that's why so many children are in adoption centers or in foster systems. If all options are difficult, than all should be treated with equal consideration and weight… ideally.
@@intergalactic_butterfly I think you misinterpreted my question- it was just a question for Hannah to answer about her personal experience in her Q&A- zero judgment of how people choose to become parents.
@@intergalactic_butterfly That is not at all a simple decision. Firstly, depending on where you live adoption is not an option - there is virtually NO in-country adoption in Australia. International adoptions have significant ethical issues - many children are not actually orphans, and it can be extremely difficult to know if your adoption is really ethical, especially if private. Most international adoptions are for children with significant health and/or emotional issues, not everyone can or should take that on. Further, many countries have strict requirements about age, marriage, heterosexuality, income that prohibits many from adopting. Fostering comes with a whole slew of difficulties that not everyone is able to handle. Not least of which is the very real possibility of having to give up your child to their birth parents. I am fully supportive of adopting and fostering, but when people say it's just a simple and easy thing to do, it is just utterly false.
When Dan is talking about how easy it is for a man to take a fertility test the auto captions read “cheese in a cup” I definitely laughed out loud when I read that. 🤣 In all seriousness Hannah, thank you for sharing your journey and I hope you can get that appointment soon! 💛
I have PCOS, and my husband and I have been "not trying but trying" for nearly 3 years I think now and it hasn't happened. So I totally understand how you feel! Sadly for people who have PCOS and are overweight we just get fobbed off with "lose weight as it'll fix all your problems" and don't actually given any help or real advice. Good luck with everything!
Same here ("not trying but trying" since 2016), but I recently read some research on taking myo-inositol for PCOS and like magic I now regularly have a 30 day cycle with normal mucus changes and everything! Still not pregnant but more hopeful than before. Also, the first time in my entire life I have ever seen the green word 'regular' to describe my cycle 😊. Good luck!
I have PCOS and it took my husband and I three years and two miscarriages to have our first daughter. Two years later and now our daughter is almost two and we have a second girl on the way. Don’t give up! It can still happen for women like us with PCOS!! I don’t know where you live, but I’m from California. I changed my diet to only having organic animal products (cheese, milk, meat etc.) if I was going to eat it. And I also changed my personal hygiene products to more natural products. (Soaps, toothpaste, deodorant, laundry soaps) It helped a lot because the outside chemicals and hormones didn’t contribute to my hormone issues. Maybe you can find success with it too? 🤷♀️ I found a lot of videos online of other women doing the same thing on TH-cam. Anyway, it really helped me. I wish you all the luck and success too. 💜 OH! Ps. There’s a TH-camr named Autumn Bates who is a clinical nutritionist. She also has info on helping people balance hormones (which also helps with the whole PCOS/loose weight thing.) I highly recommend her. She was also very helpful for me. I was told to “lose weight” too. And I was actually able to lose some weight while doing her recommendations. And evening walks were also very helpful. :)
I suggest an endocrinologist! That would be a great step in trying to figure out your hormonal situation. So many people go to a obgyn and at least in the states it's you tend to get more information at an endocrinologist.
My wife was diagnosed with PCOS. What’s concerning to me is what her gynecologist said to her in a recent visit. They were talking about stopping giving the diagnosis of PCOS and just blaming the problem on being overweight. What’s troubling is my wife was not overweight when she first started having problems.
unfortunately this happens to often already when people have PCOS.... its told that if we loose weight it will go away. I feel for your wife. sending hugs love and best wishes from someone who understands the it's because your overweight line.
@@user-ox5nh8kx1l yeah. She can’t seem to lose weight no matter what she tries, so she’s kinda given up trying. Doctors tell her “lose weight and exercise more.” It’s really hard to exercise when you’re in chronic severe pain. Frustrating thing is she was on a treatment that was successful at helping to manage some of her other symptoms (not related to PCOS). Then she had to switch doctors, and the new doctor refused to believe that she has that particular condition and refused to write the prescriptions necessary for her to continue treatment. He was one of the doctors who tried to blame her issues on her weight, etc. Because of that, she’s in far worse pain now, and she isn’t able to exercise as much as she used to.
From the reading I've done in the past, being overweight is caused by PCOS, not the other way around. I'm not officially diagnosed yet (might be the week though) and my medical care in the past (not just pertaining to this) has been lacking so much in the past bc I'm overweight. In my teens i def ate too much, but a few years ago I started eating much healthier and only ate like half the amount. I now have other health problems and can eat even less - I'm prob at the very low end of still eating a healthy amount. Still, I haven't lost any weight at all in the past decade. I'm sorry for writing such a wall of text, all just to say: your wife needs a new doctor. She deserves care. Her weight is a symptom of her disability, not the cause, but even if it would be, she would STILL deserve treatment for her struggles. Being overweight is not a moral failing and does not mean we deserve to not be treated. I wish her (and you) all the best!
Thank you for sharing your journey and being so open with us about the realities of trying to conceive. I hope you're able to get the answers you're looking for and also finally get pregnant. (Also, love that you brought on MDJ - she's great!)
I never knew I had PCO until I fell pregnant and had heavy implantation bleeding. Thankfully I was told during the appointment it looked like an ovulation site cyst and nothing else. But the confusion between PCO and PCOS is something that needs to be spoken about way more within women's health ❤️
Yes it definitely does. Ppl thinknyhey are the same thing but they have unique differences. Often in pcos women do not ovulate and getting them to ovulate seems to be the biggest factor in treatment for them to get pregnant. Women with pco already ovulate but still aren't getting pregnant so obviously there is a different issue occurring....
In your personal experience, what is the most important way Dan has provided emotional support to you throughout this experience? Fertility issues run in my wife's family and, when we're ready to have children, I would like to be able to prepare myself as best as possible to be able to fully support my wife if we happen to go through this in the future.
You literally normalise everything which reassures me so much. You’re so open, honest and pragmatic (seemingly) you have no idea how insightful this is. Thank you, truly.
Not being overweight doesn't mean it's not Pcos, though the two very often go hand in hand, especially if you have other symptoms. Definitely something to speak to the gynecologist about. Great video though, I have Pcos and it's nice to see more information about it.
@@hannahwitton No sleep 'til Brooklyn! Foot on the pedal never ever false metal Dual motors running hotter than a boiling kettle My job's ain't a job, it's a damn good time City to city I'm running my rhymes On location, touring around the nation Beastie Boys always on vacation Itchy trigger finger but a stable turntable I do what I do best because I'm willing and able Ain't no faking, your money I'm taking Going coast to coast watching all the girlies shaking While you're at the job working nine to five, The Beastie Boys at the Garden - cold kickin' it live No sleep 'til - Another place - another train Another bottle in the brain Another girl - another fight Another drive all night Our manager's crazy, he always smokes dust He's got his own room at the back of the bus Tour around the world, you rock around the clock Plane to hotel, girls on the jock We're thrashing hotels like it's going out of style Getting paid along the way cause it's worth your while Four on the floor - Adrock's out the door M.C.A.'s in the back because he's skeezin' with a whore We got a safe in the trunk with money in a stack With dice in the front and Brooklyn's in the back Why won't you take my ride No sleep 'til No sleep 'til Brooklyn! No sleep 'til Brooklyn! Ain't seen the light since we started this band M.C.A. - get on the mic my man Born and bred Brooklyn - U.S.A They all me Adam Yauch - but I'm M.C.A Like a lemon to a lime - a lime to a lemon I sip the def ale with all the hot girlies Got Teslas, arena, TV shows Autograph pictures and classy hos Step off homes - get out of my way Taxing cute girlies from here to L.A Waking up but I get to sleep Cause I'll be rocking this party eight days a week No sleep 'til No sleep 'til Brooklyn! Yeahh!! No sleep 'til Brooklyn!
I know someone who got pregnant by accident who has PCOS and she used the morning after pill too and still got pregnant! Fertility is a whirlwind of confusion! I feel for you guys right now
You can ask to be referred elsewhere, you can probably find somewhere with a lower waiting list. Perhaps near your parents home so you can stay with them whilst you go for the appointment
@@MusicalK93 they're going privately i believe, just being referred by their GP? theres some paid-for aspects of care that NHS can direct you towards. i might have missed something though
@@LemonSte They only did the fertility testing for Dan privately. Hannah mentioned in another video that she is going through the NHS for her care. Maybe that will change though.
@@MusicalK93 Sometimes you get to choose where you're referred to if there's multiple places nearby or they'll refer you to both to see which is available first
TTC is so hard for us over-achievers! I heard someone (I think Emily Oster) say that motherhood is the first time where working hard isn't enough, and that resonated DEEP. Sending love from one girl who just wants good grades and teacher praise to another.
@@EyeGlassTrainofMind I agree, not much better in the US. And if you screw up and accidentally go out of network, which is super easy to do, it’s financially devastating. Everything has to go through my GP (in-network) but none of the labs or testing centers connected to my GP are in network. So for every outside provider I have to call the insurance company and the doctor (usually a few times) to MAKE SURE they are in network, and that the very specific service is covered. According to both, my ultrasound was in-network and “covered”but it currently shows as costing $950 out of pocket. Now my GP wants to send me to an obgyn, which has a two month waitlist. American private healthcare is such a joke. I miss Obamacare so bad.
My question (and, of course, if this is not something you want to answer, no pressure!): if you find out that it will be difficult for you to get pregnant, have you thought about whether you would have children in another way, whether that's still through pregnancy like IVF or embryo adoption, or regular adoption? :)
@@masonwinfreyplatman2294 When couples go through IVF, they may not implant all the embryos they've created. If this happens, they can donate an embryo, much like someone could donate sperm or eggs. Once donated, that embryo can be adopted by another family, and implanted into the adopter's uterus.
@@masonwinfreyplatman2294 It's when another couple goes through the ivf process and have "left over" frozen embryos that they do not wish to implant they could place them for adoption. Meaning other people can adopt the embryo and use them for their ivf implantation. Often people opt for embryo adoption if they're not able to produce viable embryos themself.
@@masonwinfreyplatman2294 other people have answered! I hadn't heard of it until very recently either and I'm not sure if it's common in the UK. I've heard of it happening more in the USA x
In my experience in Canada, they let the patient insert the scope for an internal ultrasound themselves. You know the angles of you body better than anyone else. Once it is in, the tech takes over moving it around.
If he’s comfortable sharing I’d love to know more about how Dan is feeling, sort of watching you navigate your investigations and appointments to help you both do something you BOTH want? Does he feel frustrated on your behalf with the waiting, wish it was something with his side “to be solved” etc. Obviously you’re in this as a team but I can imagine as a partner it’s hard to watch the other have to chase up answers etc.
Thank you so much for this video - it’s interesting to see other people’s experiences with gyno referrals through the NHS. I just got an appointment for a laparoscopy today after waiting 6 months from the initial referral. I’ve been doing research into the NHS Choices Framework and the right to request a change of hospital if you have to wait longer than the max waiting times - I feel like that’s something that isn’t widespread info, with the right to choose being introduced in 2018 and most GPS not seeming to know about it. I only became aware of it after being put on an 18-month waiting list for ADHD assessment and I wish it was more well known about so people could get seen more quickly!
I was 16 when I found out that I had polycystic ovaries. A string of pearls sign on the ultrasound. At the time I was underweight and not trying to conceive. I also had extreme excessive hair. Endocrinologist told my mum that I had a healthy attitude to my hair, but that it was the worst he had ever seen! Turned out that I had the testosterone levels of a teenage boy! This was in 1992 so back then there weren’t many teenagers getting diagnosed with it. I was getting so much stomach pain. I am happy to be single so never tried to conceive. Good luck
I would like to ask: Are you ok? Is there anything more we can do as a community to help you and Dan get through what must be a difficult time for you both. Sending lots of Love and positivity Xxx
Honestly Hannah, i would keep ringing them. The people who are nice get pushed to be bottom of the list but people who complain get seen quicker. I know youre such a lovley person and wont want to but its true.
Truth sadly. I unfortunately had to threaten a formal complaint to convince the doctors to see my 7 week old baby who could hardly breathe because of her dairy allergy. I felt awful but it was the only way in the end
Hannah and Dan thoughts are with you both. I know how emotional this horrid rola coaster can be. We tried for 7 years before we got lucky and have family members with PCOS who are still trying, so feel you pain. As always thanks for sharing and the high quality educational video.
Oh thank God, finally someone else who has Polycystic Ovaries and not PCOS. I’m in the same boat and I don’t feel so alone now. Good luck with your journey my love
I'm sorry that the news is a bit stressful! Sending lots of good thoughts! I'm not trying to get pregnant at the moment but definitely want to in the future and I've got some weird gynae symptoms atm. Currently on a waiting list (I feel the waiting list pain) and going to other appointments in the meantime. Most of the time I'm feeling okay about it but I definitely have a few catastrophising moments from time to time!
This has been me, it was almost a year between my referral and actually seeing a gynae, and another 6 months to my next appointment so I spent that time doing everything I could in between. It's so frustrating, best of luck!
@@bethhill7161 Ugh so annoying! Every time I call them, all they say is that they'll give me an appointment when one comes up. I understand that people with more severe symptoms need to go first but I just worry that it's something that needs attention now and waiting will make it worse :( best of luck with your appointments too!!
I just wanted to share a positive PCO/S story. Was diagnosed with PCO a couple of years ago when I went off hormonal contraceptives and got the copper coil. Had irregular periods ranging from 30 to 60 days. As a then nursing student I read everything I could and ended up with asking my GP for Metformin to regulate my cycle. This worked wonders! My GP also found insulin resistance so the Metformin also helped with that. And I got the PCOS diagnosis. When me and my partner was ready to try for a baby the coil was removed and the trying started. I was expecting that the road to success was going to be a long one. But behold! 1 month and 3 days after the coil was out I got a positive pregnancy test. And here I am 27 weeks pregnant and due in October. I just wanted to share my story, and even though PCO might seem scary, most couples manage to conceive 🥰
I was recently diagnosed with PCOS after I went to get a scan on my hip because I get bursitis flare ups very frequently, and the results came back saying 'yes you have a bursitis flare up oh also you have polycystic ovaries and probably have PCOS'. Obviously it came as a bit of a shock even though I totally line up with criteria. I'm 21, and I figured I had my body figured out to some degree, but NOPE. Thank you for covering this information, it really helps me feel less alone in ~ the struggle ~ of having polycystic ovaries. Sending you good vibes and hopefulness for the pregnancy journey!
I had a really similar story. Lots of hip pain, investigations and then an orthopaedic consultant just mentions in passing “oh and you have cysts on your ovaries including a dermoid cyst” then moved on…. So I went and googled…. BIG MISTAKE! Dermoid cysts is another name for those ones with teeth and hair and mine was 10cm 😳 I had it removed and then they just dismissed me without answering any further questions telling me I didn’t need to worry until I wanted to have a baby. But what if by then it’s too late? I found this video so helpful!
@@hedferguson oh wow that's so scary!! And the fact they were so dismissive and nonchalant, that must have been so frustrating!! I hope you get on okay in future when it comes to the possible symptoms of such an ailment. Sending love!!
I was about to welcome you to the PCOS club when I saw the title but then I realized PCO isn't the same thing. This is the first time I hear about this distinction even though I researched a lot about PCOS since I have it, I really do learn a lot from this series. Anyways, good luck on your journey to conceiving, I hope your appointment goes smoothly❤
When you were describing the internal ultrasound I was like, “yup, been there!” 😂 also pro tip: you can ask to insert the wand yourself! It’s so tough to know something isn’t quite right, and have to wait for answers. I would recommend asking your gyno (when you go) about PCOS. You don’t have to be overweight to be diagnosed, and you also don’t even have to have cysts on your ovaries (according to my gyno when I was diagnosed last year). Sending good vibes your way, you can get through this!
I clicked immediately when I read the title! I have PCOS. I didn’t realize that polycystic ovaries were different than PCOS. I struggle with feeling broken/damaged and afraid that I will struggle to conceive in the future. I’m nowhere near having children (don’t even have a partner.) so the not knowing is difficult. It’s really helpful to see that I’m not alone and come along on this journey with you. Best of luck, you’re going to make a great mom😊
MamaDoctorJones ! Great collab ! Also I would suggest to be “agressive” with your appointment taking and advocating for yourself as a fertility patient, if you haven’t got your answers yet. It’s a wild ride out there !
Please never give up,after numerous tests my wife and I were told we couldn't have children, we had a12 week pregnancy scan yesterday and all is good and healthy
that "are you overweight?" question is weird because not everyone with PCOS is overweight or insulin resistant. I'm thin with a fast metabolism and I'm not insulin resistant but I have all the other symptoms and have been diagnosed as definetly having PCOS. other very common symptoms are of course PCO, irregular or absent periods, acne and oily skin/hair and more hair than normal
@@ZairaBandy but it is not one of the most defining characteristics, the doctor discarded the possibility of it being PCOS ONLY because she's not overweight!? I even know people with PCOS who ARE insulin resistant and are not overweight. the irregular/long periods are a lot more common in PCOS and Hannah does have that...
Question for you: do you regret being so open about your ttc journey? I really admire your bravery on the topic but I wonder, if you knew at the beginning that'd you'd still be trying now would you still have made the decision to be so open and public? Sending love and baby dust xxx
Was diagnosed with PCOS three years ago. Even now reading through the comments on this video give me so much hope, and have made me feel quite emotional. PCO/S is so common, and it's not a failure at all. Reproductive systems are just so complicated!
I hope you keep calling them. Please. Make them learn your name. Make them recognize your voice. Make them be unable to ignore your pain or forget your plight. Don't be obedient and compliant. Get a specific date and time that they promise to call and hold them to it. Talk to a lawyer and organize with other people being mistreated in the same way. Make them be respectful and treat you like people. I am sick and tired of obstetric violence and this shit needs to stop. I love youuu 💜💜💜
Hi Hannah! Thank you for opening up to questions. For a little backstory to my question: Ever since I was little, I've had this internal fear that I wouldn't be able to conceive. I was in and out of doctor's offices getting ultrasounds as a child, and the fear just planted itself deep inside my heart. Ever since, I've told myself "It's okay... if I never get pregnant, I'll be okay-my husband and I can just adopt." But because we're not quite trying yet, I'm not sure whether my self-talk is just me trying to be brave about the unknown future, or if I really mean it. If you don't mind me asking, how do you feel about adoption as a back-up plan? Thank you for being so open about your journey.
Having a doctor appointments in like months in advance??? Wow. I couldn’t wait that long. That’s why I have always went private. You need a lot of money but you get your answer next day
The most honest series! Myself and my sister always speak about fertility as we are both a bit scared to come across some issues but this series makes me know I wouldn’t be alone! Thank you so much!
My fertility journey was 6 years long and I already knew I had poly cystic ovaries but I also found out I have endometriosis. Finally got my sweet boy 3 years ago. Best of luck to you guys!!!
Thank you for being so candid. Having gone through infertility, I know how lonely it can feel and the more people who are able to talk about it the less alone others feel. Sending all of the good vibes your way! You'll be in good hands with the fertility docs!
This will sound strange but I was SO happy to see the title of this video! I'm on exactly the same journey as you and we've had pretty much all the same tests so far so it's really nice to have someone on this journey with me. I also have a typical 40+ day cycle. Bloods came back with abnormal hormone levels. GP had all the tests they wanted so as we have been trying for over a year I was referred to the fertility clinic. I have since had a phone consultation with the consultant and its all moving very fast. A recent internal scan also confirmed that I have polycystic ovaries too. I was told not to worry about this, however, as it would just depict the dosage of the drug I have now been given called Clomid. That scan did also confirm that I had definitely ovulated from my left ovary that month so it was good to hear that my body can sometimes do it spontaneously. I have been given Clomid to help promote the ovulation. If we are not pregnant in 3 months this will be followed up by another scan to check my tubes are open, another 3 months of Clomid and then as long as my BMI is under 30, I will be eligible for NHS funded IVF. I hope this information gives you and idea of what to maybe expect moving forward! Just thought I'd say I also read up recently that apparently a positive LH test does not confirm ovulation. It confirms the rise in the hormone that promotes it but the follicle may not actually release an egg. This is hopefully what my Clomid will help with. Wishing you all the best on your journey and I'll continue to share my story all the time you are sharing yours!
As loads of people have said thank you so much for sharing this journey. Can totally identify with the "oh no answers for days? I'll do lots of something so I don't have to sit and think about this". You're breaking down so many conversation barriers - you are ace.
I can empathize so much with you over this! I was diagnosed with PCOS 4 years back which I had to fight for a diagnosis for over 2 years! I only knew of it because my sister was diagnosed herself when she was having problems getting pregnant. I've recently had a check up for bladder/vaginal pain and had a transvaginal ultrasound, like yourself the appointment came through super quick and was worrying how quick the turnaround was however the gynecologist appointment (which fortunately I can book via an online portal) the only time they can see me is in December which is a whole new stress in itself because by that time you think 'well I either live with it or it goes away and by the time my appointment comes round was it all just in my head?' Hopefully you get to book your gyne appointment soon but you are so doing the right thing to push for fertility referral in the meantime! Fingers crossed it is sooner rather than later!
*With a grain of salt since im not a dr* People who are over weight do find it easier to get a diagnosis in general bc it is so widely believed that you must be over weight. Based on my GYNO’s office here in the US you would fit the markers for PCOS because of your ultrasound findings, and long cycles. My blood work all came back fine, I used ovulation strips for months and we found I was only ovulating on one side/every other month. Between my very long cycles, bumpy ovaries, and body hair I was diagnosed with PCOS. I recently found out I’m pregnant and could not be more excited because I worried it would never happen. I can’t wait to watch your journey and for you to get answers!!! Sending you every positive thought possible!!
oh my god the timing... I'm not even a subscriber and yet had this recommended to me just after my ultrasound results explaining that I have polycystic ovaries!
@@sarahmiller6452 not sad because of PCOS, sad in general. I am a huge fan of both of them and seeing them collaborate to educate about women’s health makes me happy regardless of the cause of my sadness :)
@@Jellybeansatdusk yeah that's how i feel too more reason why i can proudly say to you I'm PCOS free 10years and a blocked fallopian tube cleared open by an herbal fertility medications
I can really relate to the feeling of being stalled in the process of the fertility journey between getting a referral and actually getting to see a specialist. Thank you for helping other people feel less alone!
Metformin ( a medication usually used to regulate insulin) extended release formula helps with hormone regulation. Bio identical hormone creams help as well. Also keep in mind that you were on hormone contraception for a while. Sometimes it takes the body a while to clear the artificial hormones. You will probably also need to see an endocrinologist who specializes in reproduction. I have PCOS, and I'm here to say help is out there.
I know the waiting list pain! I’ve been on my gynae waiting list since January for suspected endometriosis and the daily pain is getting to me! Hope you get to see someone soon! ❤️
I'm not in the right mindset to watch this at the moment, but I teared up when I read the title. As someone with an abnormal uterus, this series has given me hope AND kept me up at night. The thought of being infertile is killing me daily. I won't know before trying, but it still haunts me. That being said, I'm looking forward to the right moment and hearing more about your journey!
Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing, I particularly appreciate that you didn't wait for this episode to be neatly tied up, being stuck on NHS waiting lists feels like a very realistic portrayal of a fertility journey. I hope things move along quickly. I'm aware that people love to give advice to people who are trying to conceive, whether it's welcome or not. How do you deal with unsolicited advice? What's the best and worst advice you have been given?
I recommend going private rather than waiting. With my tinnitus the wait period to see my local ear nose and throat specalist was 31 weeks, no I'm not kidding, so I paid 140£ to go private. Its often the same nhs specalist you'll see. Anyway for me it was the right move as the thought of waiting 31 weeks would of been devestating for my mental heath. I know £140 is a lot, but often we have todo what's best for ourselves here and now and be damned with the things that might deter that, cost in this case, for better mental, physical, health in the long term. Best of luck
Thank you again for this amazing serie ! Just for the record, I've been diagnosed with PCOS and I'm far from overweight. My gyno told me that weight could be a symptom, but every woman is different ;)
Haha Hannah, a year and a half ago I had surgery to remove a 10 cm dermoid cyst...ie: full of teeth and hair! I joked about having a little monster inside me and wished I could keep it in a jar on the mantle 🤣 but that wasn’t an option
Oh Hannah I totally get what you’re going through, I also had an ultrasound recently which found I have polycystic ovaries and one larger cyst on one side. I’ve just turned 30 and it’s so overwhelming to just find out about this. I haven’t been referred to gynae yet as have to have blood tests first to rule out PCOS. Sending lots of love 💗 xxx
I was diagnosed with pcos this year - I really high recommend speaking to your GP about going to speak to a dietician to help manage symptoms with your lifestyle 💗💗 sending much love, it sucks but this is totally manageable
Hannah it's so brave of you to share your journey of TTC. I have polycystic ovaries (although, like you, I've always found that diagnosis very vague) and my husband also has significant male-factor fertility issues -- after trying for three years I finally plucked up the courage to do IVF and now we're expecting our son in a few short months! It could be a long road for you and Dan but I'm sure you'll be able to make it happen -- wishing you both the best!
Q&A questions: -how do you stay positive and optimistic with so many ups and downs? (Maybe psychology/ mental health while trying to concieve in general?) -how did your relationship dynamics changed regarding to trying to concieve? How do you keep each other motivated? Who is more active about it? The hormone Diaries are my absolute favourite thing to watch on youtube, Lots of love from Germany🥰🥰
We've been on our fertility journey for 6 months now. I resonate with everything you say and it comforts me to know I'm not alone with my feelings. My question to you is how do you manage your mental health during negative tests? With every negative test we've had, I seem to plunge into depression for a day or 2 with constant crying.
i love to see all the supportive husbands and partners in the comments! My husband and I struggled for 5 year with conceiving via IVF. After many many tests, there was nothing wrong with either one of us but we still decided to stop eventually. Because we would get pregnant and the pregnancy would end after a few weeks. The hardest part was not knowing why. There was no reason, no explanation, not even a theory. The thing that helped me the most was when I saw that it affected my husband as much as it affected me, that I wasn't crazy for being sad, depressed and angry. He was threre for all the major appointments (except during corona) and he always kept hope. I think that was important for me, that he was always positive about the chances, no matter how often it went wrong
@@sarahmiller6452 I appreciate that you're trying to help me. But after 5 miscarriages I'm not going to try to get pregnant anymore. It's way too stressful and painful
While I am not currently on a fertility journey and not sure I ever will be, I am extremely invested and thankful for this series. If I ever do decide to conceive, I will definitely be rewatching all of these videos.
Yes, two of my favourite you tubers for reproductive health together! Sending the baby vibes back to you, hope you find out what can help you, soon! I am conductor of a severe X-linked immune disease, and we’re also stuck, having to decide which way to go, either PID, which has its own risks, or natural conception and doing PND later and possible psychological and physiological impact of “bad news” and “right decisions”.
I’m four years into TTC and it’s been such a journey. I’m UK to so I’m NHS like you are of course covid put a spanner in the works . I’m just here to say I see you I hear you if you want to speak to someone who has been through the system please message me. It’s such a difficult thing to go through ! I wouldn’t wish it on anyone ! But we are all strong and I think to myself often how precious our child will be however and whenever it comes into our life !
Love MJD. Also I know you know Jessica Kelgren-Fozard. They just went through a fertility journey during lockdown, they may be a resource for you. Blessed be.
Always fun when a doctor widens her eyes in horror when describing my recurrent condition 🤣 I'm about to have a third surgery to remove teratomas from my ovary. Dr. Jones, if you're reading this - please do a video about teratomas of the ovary, it would be nice if everyone were as freaked out as I am 😏
Wow, that sounds scary! I remember looking at teratomas in pathology labs and thinking that they were clearly the most extra tumour, but I didn't think of them as super freaky at the time. Would love an MDJ video on them though!
I didn't realize they could be recurrent! Thinking about it now, I suppose it makes sense, but that's kind of mind boggling that they can keep coming back.
I don't tend to comment but I've been subscribed to you for years and I really appreciate you bringing attention to the challenges of fertility and for being so honest and vulnerable! Wishing you answers! Xxx
Question: Emotionally how has it been seeing other people/ friends get pregnant? Have you experienced people making unintentionally upsetting remarks? I have PCOS and would love to start the whole 'have a baby' thing soon but I'm so scared I'm going to be a blubbery mess/ passive aggressive ranter the entire time 😅😬
I know this was meant for Hannah to answer but I thought I should give my 2-cents; It's bloody hard. We've been trying for 18months now. Seen a few babies born within that time by work colleagues, friends, and a family member. And even now, there's some new pregnancies that have cropped up around me. I can't lie and say it's fine, because it really does hurt. But it's not their fault and it's not my fault. It's not fair on them to be angry or bitter all the time. They have done nothing wrong. Just need to remind yourself that life goes on and people around you will get pregnant. Some may even have been trying for a lot longer or had a more difficult journey to get there, but there will be some that just happen, or have only been trying for a month or two... That's just the way it is. It's really not worth comparing your journey to others as you'll only cause harm to yourself. In response to stupid comments; tbh I just leave them be and let them go. I've heard 1 pregnant work colleague complain about how other people in her life are pregnant at the same time as her as somehow "it's not fair" that she's not the only pregnant person right now... I was incredibly angry and just walked away rather than confront her about it. It wasn't worth the punishment! I think it depends on really who knows about your journey and who said the comment. If you tell a lot of people that you're trying, be prepared for any remark (and also be prepared for them to forget you're even trying! That's happened for us). If you only tell close friends/family, then I doubt they'll say anything stupid, and even if they do you can explain to them why the comment hurt. I'm sure they'll be understanding. But at the end of the day, you really can't control what people say, and you can't expect them to understand what you're going through. It would be nice if no-one said hurtful things, but that's not realistic. You can only control yourself and how you react to things. The hardest part of trying for a baby is managing your emotions and keeping yourself sane! I went through months of being upset, angry, and bitter towards people (many people didn't see it though as I kept it hidden and I was a bit two-faced!). It really isn't worth doing that and only makes the trying to conceive process harder!! I wish you all the best for when you do start trying though :)
Wow perfect timing - I saw a doctor this morning about some gynaecological/period changes and concerns. I’ve had quite a lot of weight loss this year due to stress and illness so she said it is “almost definitely not PCOS” because of the weight loss. And that it might be related to my IBS/stomach issues. Not trying to conceive at the moment but I relate to the struggle of going through the long process of getting help with gynaecological issues and I really appreciate you sharing your journey
Waiting lists are so bad at the moment due to Covid backlogs. I’ve been waiting for five months for an ENT referral and haven’t heard anything. I hope it’s not so long for you, or you can get a fertility appointment sooner. I know a few friends who got into the fertility clinics and then conceived naturally because their stress levels went down(!) so I’m keeping everything crossed for you too. Having kids is insanely hard, but absolutely amazing, and I hope you get to experience it in whatever way works for you in the end.
Endometriosis lady here. First of all solidarity to you. You aren’t a lone. This explains why I was told I had PC ovaries when I had endometriomas 🤯 always thought that was weird!
I went through similar struggles when I was trying to get my PCOS diagnosis. They seem to be hesitant in diagnosing the syndrome but just PCO (which doesn’t make sense to me because I can’t ovulate without fertility treatment so I knew it was the syndrome before I was properly diagnosed...) I wish you all the best with the next steps in this, if you go down the route of fertility treatment there are struggles but there are also some perks like knowing if you’ve got a good sized follicle that cycle and knowing exactly when you’re going to ovulate. The most important thing is to be looked after by doctors that you trust and who listen to you.
Now that I've watched the whole video, I just want to say - hugs to you Hannah ❤️ it's such a difficult journey, I've been through it. It is so painful (both physically and emotionally). I hope you manage to conceive very soon, either without treatment or with something easy to manage such as letrozole. And i hope that you experience an easy pregnancy and birth 🥰
So appreciative of you sharing this. I waited a year and a half for an NHS urology appointment. The waiting times are ridiculous because of COVID. Sending you lots of solidarity and hoping that it is not such a long wait for you.
I have polycystic ovaries too!! They did the blood works and I don't have PCOS, but the exam showed multiple cysts. I also have severe health anxiety and it makes it hard for me to not stress about this. It helps to see someone else out there with the same problem, I hope you're dealing well with the change of diet 😊💪💛
Hannah this episode has really helped me to feel less alone. Going through this and not telling friends and family is really hard. Like no one understands. But having that news out to the world must be even more daunting. I've been trying to get pregnant for a while now, but no luck, although your videos have been really helpful in how to track my cycle. I've had haemorrhagic ovarian cysts before and googling things has always made me worry! Mama Dr Jones is a Legend and I'm so glad you two have teamed up for this video. Thanks for all the conception luck. I'm passing it back to you too. Can't wait for the day that we'll both be pushing prams in the future. ☺️
OKAY I'VE JUST REALISED: DOES THIS MAKE US... CYSTERS?
NICE
Just started the video. ...Hannah, Leena, and I are cysters! *Grabs heat pad for my poor ovary working out a cyst* [edit: I have endometeriosis and this video has made me question more about "my" kind of ovaries. Endo dx was in May and has been a little bit of a whirlwind and I am don't know all the answers (or even what to ask)...I don't want a baby in my uterus so all my Baby Making Desires may fly from my little corner of America to Hannah's corner of the UK.]
@@hannahwitton are you in pain it makes me sad if others are wish there was something I could do for you well I have sent alert messages.
Publishers Clearing House.
Delilah Bell work from home.
no person should log into these because they are both scams it's important for the public to know the truth about what is for real and things that look that way.
When do you want to start getting an appointment at the fertility clinic?
yeass ive heard ppl call it that b4!! :)
I've so appreciated this series, I feel like we're raised to think we'll blink wrong next to a man and end up pregnant! thank you for showing the reality 🤍
It's frustrating because it's somehow both. You could be using a super reliable form of birth control and still get pregnant or you could be ttc and it just isn't happening for you. The "danger" of getting pregnant (when that's not what you want) is a problem - but I agree that we should address it in more realistic terms.
Is both like the other person said because if you see teenagers pregnancy it is high!!! So maybe when people are older is becomes more difficult to conceive
To be fair, I have a friend who is like that. She only has to glance at a bloke in the absence of contraception and whoa, baby!
It’s both tho lol. I’ve seen people who got pregnant the first time they ever had sex
@@ZairaBandy Indeed; what people seem afraid to acknowledge is the fact that fertility in women decreases extremely fast with age, once they're past their reproductive peak. Unless you genuinely don't care, don't wait too long past 22 - 23 years old to have children.
The more you wait, the more of a hustle it gets. This is the merciless biological reality.
I would highly recommend getting an appointment with an endocrinologist. My Wife was diagnosed with PSO and it turned out it was all being caused by her pituitary gland producing too much prolactin and making it hard to ovulate. She was given some medication to take twice a week and we got pregnant within 6 weeks after trying for over a year!
I agree. It’s highly troubling that the differential for Hannah was “are you overweight?” Rather than a full hormone panel
I’ve been on this medication for the same reason for years, and I would also recommend to her to visit an endocrinologist
I have pcos and it's managed by an endocrinologist rather than a GP or a gyno (although there's nothing bad if either of those professionals manage it!). Highly recommended
@@Magpiecheek Totally agree. It must be so frustrating to have your GP brush a question off like that! There were way more follow-up questions they could have asked, or tests they could have recommended.
We used forthwithlife in the uk for a full hormone test which showed the high prolactin and then used those results for the endocrinologist. Really can’t recommend it enough, unfortunately the NHS have been pretty useless
Only 4 minutes in, but the way you describe being worried the doctor is going to say you 'failed' is exactly why I struggle with seeing the doctor for anything. Nice to know I'm not alone in this!
This intuition isn't totally wrong. The more you wait (after your reproductive peak) to have children, the more you'll have to hustle and the more likely you are to "fail". Biology is a bitch but she's a fair bitch.
A medical person saying if you have PCOS or not based on your weight really shows how little medical staff are educated on this. I can’t belive she said that. A lot of peopole with PCOS are ”overweight” and a lot are not. You need to take a blod test to know if you have PCOS or not.
Also by you I mean you as in the general, YOU as in Hannah don’t need to do anything just so we are clear
Completely agree with this! I’ve had PCOS my whole life and always been called “skinny” until the last 2 years where I started putting on a lot of weight. I’m finally diagnosed now (only as of April 2021!) but they found my cysts in 2019 and didn’t bother telling me because I wasn’t considered “overweight”. It’s mad!
Yes. I also got diagnosed with PCOS, with the remark that I have "lean" PCOS. Basically I'm not overweight because I keep it under control by heavyly restricting, but still have PCOS.
It would make no sense to not have PCOS whenever you are not overweight.
I used to have pcos but I cured
All very very true except technically there are other ways to be diagnosed besides a blood test. I have PCOS but it’s not caused by my hormones, it’s caused by pelvic congestion (which is caused by nutcracker syndrome and may Thurner syndrome). I had my PCOS diagnosed by MRI. So how you get diagnosed can vary depending on what causes it.
“Are you overweight?” NO! That is NOT a differential criteria between PCO and PCOS at all! Like Mama dr Jones said you need to check your hormone levels, your hair growth level, but also your insuline resistance level… 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
Exactly!! My cousin was diagnosed with PCOS, and she’s definitely not overweight
You can be insulin resistant and not be overweight at the same time. It depends heavily on your diet and the quality of foods that you eat.
THANK YOUUU. GPs are so INCREDIBLY uneducated about such a common syndrome, it makes me so mad
Yass this! I am not overweight now but I still have PCOS 💁 It took me 18 months to conceive with PCOS while I was waiting for other intervention appointments.
80% are overweight which means 20% are not it's usually those of us with worse insulin resistance been diagnosed with pcos for over 20 years also don't have to cysts at one time at least in usa or i would have been diagnosed earlier i have had cysts since then but again about 80 to 85% of people with pcos get at least 1 cyst in their life and about 20 to 25% of women that don't have pcos do get a cyst.
Don’t be scared I have two IVF babies and severe Polycystic ovaries and endo and bowel attached to back of womb and ovaries and I have first baby at 40 and second at 43. You can have babies I’m sure of it so stay positive you can do this! X
It's so lovely to read a comment about someone even having babies after 40!! Thank you for posting this. So happy for you
@@RazzleRed543 I had a surprise at 39 and another at 41 conceived with no assistance. This was after years of fertility treatments!
I was diagnosed with PCOS earlier this year but had been fighting to get a diagnosis since I was 16 because my BMI is low and I just wasn't taken seriously... don't let them rule it out because of your weight! I suffered for years with other symptoms because medical professionals couldn't see past how I looked, and ignored the symptoms I was actually experiencing. If it is PCOS, its manageable and conceiving is still very possible!
I had exactly the same experience! My diabetologist initially refused to prescribe me the necessary drugs, because I was "too slim to be insulin resistant". She then set me on a low glycemic diet for three months, because she was convinced that I ate unhealthily, during which my PCOS-associated insulin resistance got WORSE. Finally she took me seriously and gave me Metformin, which not only severely alleviated my insulin resistance but also lowered my androgens.
I got pregnant within a month of taking the drug, even though I was using contraceptive measures.
This is all to say: Don't worry, getting this diagnosis does not automatically mean that you can't concieve.
Very true, you can have PCOS without being overweight. The most important factor is what is happening on hormonal level, whether that translates to all the symptoms or not. I was diagnosed with micropolycystic ovaries a few years ago, I was very thin and still my donctor diagnosed me with PCOS. The thing they didn't ever tell me is that PCOS is not something that can't be cured and it's not a diagnosis for life. My doctor only suggested the pill for the symptoms and IVF if I ever wanted kids, luckily I already knew better and said no. Today I do not have PCOS anymore and I almost always have regular and healthy cycles.
The slimmest friend I have has PCOS, she doesn't diet or work hard to maintain her slim figure and she has a healthy relationship with food etc, she's just naturally (and healthily) slim, so it just goes to show medical conditions are never one size fits all and human biology is so varied!
Questions!:
• what are your "Do's and don'ts" for being a stranger on the internet commenting on these videos. What do you find supportive, what do you wish people wouldn't say?
• have you ever started to second guess sharing your story on TH-cam? (Not that you should!)
• would you consider adopting?
Love the first two questions!! 💯💯💯
We have a very similar story! I also have crohns and had a stoma (chose to get reversed in 2019) and was diagnosed with PCOS shortly after. I have always been convinced my hormonal problems were a result of the surgery as i only had symptoms since then. It took a while for me to regulate things and i got put on metformin and i am currently 32 weeks pregnant. Good luck with everything! X
Just curious but how does metformin help with conceiving? I thought that was a drug for diabetics
@@shannonmackenroth4011 Because one of the characteristics of PCOS is that you're prediabetic/have insuline resistance. Your blood sugar hormones are the building blocks of your sex hormones so if they're getting more balanced, so will your estrogens, testosterone and progesterone.
Thank you for you explanation.
Congratulations on your upcoming little angel!!
Q: Are you two still trying as hard as you once did to get pregnant, or have you slowed down until you can get more answers?
My question for your Q&A is: With all the ups and downs of trying to get pregnant, do you and Dan ever feel ambivalent about having babies or do you just continue to want them more and more with each passing cycle?
I would challenge the thought that a struggling fertility journey would lead to people to consider not raising children; there's adoption, there's fostering. We as a world civilization do not need to conceive our own progeny when there are so many children who live without a home. Adopting and fostering are also great for reducing your carbon footprint!
@@intergalactic_butterfly but some people would rather have their own biological children. Adoption and fostering isn’t the easy option to children either. It can be just as difficult and disappointing to go through as well as costly. It’s just down to personal choice too. If I couldn’t have children naturally, I personally wouldn’t want to put my body through fertility treatments and I wouldn’t want to go through the adoption route so I can see where this person is coming from.
@@rachelam18 Yeah, I know that every option is difficult. I do tend to see things in a utopian manner. However, so many people shut down that possibility, and that's why so many children are in adoption centers or in foster systems. If all options are difficult, than all should be treated with equal consideration and weight… ideally.
@@intergalactic_butterfly I think you misinterpreted my question- it was just a question for Hannah to answer about her personal experience in her Q&A- zero judgment of how people choose to become parents.
@@intergalactic_butterfly That is not at all a simple decision. Firstly, depending on where you live adoption is not an option - there is virtually NO in-country adoption in Australia. International adoptions have significant ethical issues - many children are not actually orphans, and it can be extremely difficult to know if your adoption is really ethical, especially if private. Most international adoptions are for children with significant health and/or emotional issues, not everyone can or should take that on. Further, many countries have strict requirements about age, marriage, heterosexuality, income that prohibits many from adopting.
Fostering comes with a whole slew of difficulties that not everyone is able to handle. Not least of which is the very real possibility of having to give up your child to their birth parents.
I am fully supportive of adopting and fostering, but when people say it's just a simple and easy thing to do, it is just utterly false.
When Dan is talking about how easy it is for a man to take a fertility test the auto captions read “cheese in a cup”
I definitely laughed out loud when I read that. 🤣
In all seriousness Hannah, thank you for sharing your journey and I hope you can get that appointment soon! 💛
#NoMoreCraptions! 🙃
The Google auto captions misses a lot of words. The word that gets used can be crazy.
I have PCOS, and my husband and I have been "not trying but trying" for nearly 3 years I think now and it hasn't happened. So I totally understand how you feel! Sadly for people who have PCOS and are overweight we just get fobbed off with "lose weight as it'll fix all your problems" and don't actually given any help or real advice. Good luck with everything!
Same here ("not trying but trying" since 2016), but I recently read some research on taking myo-inositol for PCOS and like magic I now regularly have a 30 day cycle with normal mucus changes and everything! Still not pregnant but more hopeful than before. Also, the first time in my entire life I have ever seen the green word 'regular' to describe my cycle 😊. Good luck!
I have PCOS and it took my husband and I three years and two miscarriages to have our first daughter. Two years later and now our daughter is almost two and we have a second girl on the way.
Don’t give up! It can still happen for women like us with PCOS!!
I don’t know where you live, but I’m from California. I changed my diet to only having organic animal products (cheese, milk, meat etc.) if I was going to eat it. And I also changed my personal hygiene products to more natural products. (Soaps, toothpaste, deodorant, laundry soaps) It helped a lot because the outside chemicals and hormones didn’t contribute to my hormone issues. Maybe you can find success with it too? 🤷♀️ I found a lot of videos online of other women doing the same thing on TH-cam.
Anyway, it really helped me. I wish you all the luck and success too. 💜
OH! Ps. There’s a TH-camr named Autumn Bates who is a clinical nutritionist. She also has info on helping people balance hormones (which also helps with the whole PCOS/loose weight thing.) I highly recommend her. She was also very helpful for me. I was told to “lose weight” too. And I was actually able to lose some weight while doing her recommendations.
And evening walks were also very helpful. :)
I suggest an endocrinologist! That would be a great step in trying to figure out your hormonal situation. So many people go to a obgyn and at least in the states it's you tend to get more information at an endocrinologist.
My wife was diagnosed with PCOS. What’s concerning to me is what her gynecologist said to her in a recent visit. They were talking about stopping giving the diagnosis of PCOS and just blaming the problem on being overweight. What’s troubling is my wife was not overweight when she first started having problems.
It frustrates me to no end when doctors think of weight as a cause and not a symptom. 😔
unfortunately this happens to often already when people have PCOS.... its told that if we loose weight it will go away. I feel for your wife. sending hugs love and best wishes from someone who understands the it's because your overweight line.
@@user-ox5nh8kx1l yeah. She can’t seem to lose weight no matter what she tries, so she’s kinda given up trying. Doctors tell her “lose weight and exercise more.” It’s really hard to exercise when you’re in chronic severe pain.
Frustrating thing is she was on a treatment that was successful at helping to manage some of her other symptoms (not related to PCOS). Then she had to switch doctors, and the new doctor refused to believe that she has that particular condition and refused to write the prescriptions necessary for her to continue treatment. He was one of the doctors who tried to blame her issues on her weight, etc. Because of that, she’s in far worse pain now, and she isn’t able to exercise as much as she used to.
From the reading I've done in the past, being overweight is caused by PCOS, not the other way around.
I'm not officially diagnosed yet (might be the week though) and my medical care in the past (not just pertaining to this) has been lacking so much in the past bc I'm overweight. In my teens i def ate too much, but a few years ago I started eating much healthier and only ate like half the amount.
I now have other health problems and can eat even less - I'm prob at the very low end of still eating a healthy amount. Still, I haven't lost any weight at all in the past decade.
I'm sorry for writing such a wall of text, all just to say: your wife needs a new doctor. She deserves care. Her weight is a symptom of her disability, not the cause, but even if it would be, she would STILL deserve treatment for her struggles. Being overweight is not a moral failing and does not mean we deserve to not be treated. I wish her (and you) all the best!
medical fatphobia kills, and leaves people in the dark about their health, it’s so so awful
Thank you for sharing your journey and being so open with us about the realities of trying to conceive. I hope you're able to get the answers you're looking for and also finally get pregnant. (Also, love that you brought on MDJ - she's great!)
I never knew I had PCO until I fell pregnant and had heavy implantation bleeding. Thankfully I was told during the appointment it looked like an ovulation site cyst and nothing else. But the confusion between PCO and PCOS is something that needs to be spoken about way more within women's health ❤️
Yes it definitely does. Ppl thinknyhey are the same thing but they have unique differences. Often in pcos women do not ovulate and getting them to ovulate seems to be the biggest factor in treatment for them to get pregnant. Women with pco already ovulate but still aren't getting pregnant so obviously there is a different issue occurring....
In your personal experience, what is the most important way Dan has provided emotional support to you throughout this experience?
Fertility issues run in my wife's family and, when we're ready to have children, I would like to be able to prepare myself as best as possible to be able to fully support my wife if we happen to go through this in the future.
You literally normalise everything which reassures me so much. You’re so open, honest and pragmatic (seemingly) you have no idea how insightful this is. Thank you, truly.
Not being overweight doesn't mean it's not Pcos, though the two very often go hand in hand, especially if you have other symptoms. Definitely something to speak to the gynecologist about. Great video though, I have Pcos and it's nice to see more information about it.
MDJ is the best! I'm glad you could collab with her! Any plans to make a video for her channel?
not currently! I just invited her on to my channel to answer these questions but maybe one day!
@@hannahwitton
No sleep 'til
Brooklyn!
Foot on the pedal never ever false metal
Dual motors running hotter than a boiling kettle
My job's ain't a job, it's a damn good time
City to city I'm running my rhymes
On location, touring around the nation
Beastie Boys always on vacation
Itchy trigger finger but a stable turntable
I do what I do best because I'm willing and able
Ain't no faking, your money I'm taking
Going coast to coast watching all the girlies shaking
While you're at the job working nine to five, The Beastie Boys at the Garden - cold kickin' it live
No sleep 'til -
Another place - another train
Another bottle in the brain
Another girl - another fight
Another drive all night
Our manager's crazy, he always smokes dust
He's got his own room at the back of the bus
Tour around the world, you rock around the clock
Plane to hotel, girls on the jock
We're thrashing hotels like it's going out of style
Getting paid along the way cause it's worth your while
Four on the floor - Adrock's out the door
M.C.A.'s in the back because he's skeezin' with a whore
We got a safe in the trunk with money in a stack
With dice in the front and Brooklyn's in the back
Why won't you take my ride
No sleep 'til
No sleep 'til
Brooklyn!
No sleep 'til
Brooklyn!
Ain't seen the light since we started this band
M.C.A. - get on the mic my man
Born and bred Brooklyn - U.S.A
They all me Adam Yauch - but I'm M.C.A
Like a lemon to a lime - a lime to a lemon
I sip the def ale with all the hot girlies
Got Teslas, arena, TV shows
Autograph pictures and classy hos
Step off homes - get out of my way
Taxing cute girlies from here to L.A
Waking up but I get to sleep
Cause I'll be rocking this party eight days a week
No sleep 'til
No sleep 'til
Brooklyn!
Yeahh!!
No sleep 'til
Brooklyn!
I know someone who got pregnant by accident who has PCOS and she used the morning after pill too and still got pregnant! Fertility is a whirlwind of confusion! I feel for you guys right now
Yes the morning after pill doesn’t always work! I hate it in tv when people take it and they’re like ‘that’s that sorted’ when it’s not, necessarily
The morning after pill only works if you haven't ovulated yet, it just delays ovulation :)
You can ask to be referred elsewhere, you can probably find somewhere with a lower waiting list. Perhaps near your parents home so you can stay with them whilst you go for the appointment
Are you in the UK? Typically, you can't decide where you get referred to within the NHS, as far as I am aware.
@@MusicalK93 they're going privately i believe, just being referred by their GP? theres some paid-for aspects of care that NHS can direct you towards. i might have missed something though
@@LemonSte They only did the fertility testing for Dan privately. Hannah mentioned in another video that she is going through the NHS for her care. Maybe that will change though.
@@MusicalK93 Sometimes you get to choose where you're referred to if there's multiple places nearby or they'll refer you to both to see which is available first
TTC is so hard for us over-achievers! I heard someone (I think Emily Oster) say that motherhood is the first time where working hard isn't enough, and that resonated DEEP. Sending love from one girl who just wants good grades and teacher praise to another.
The system of NHS sounds very stressful... So many people between you and an answer, it blows my mind 😯
Sending good vibes and luck in your journey!
From an American standpoint, this sounds exactly like what we deal with minus the expenses/fear of not having the right insurance.
@@EyeGlassTrainofMind I agree, not much better in the US. And if you screw up and accidentally go out of network, which is super easy to do, it’s financially devastating. Everything has to go through my GP (in-network) but none of the labs or testing centers connected to my GP are in network. So for every outside provider I have to call the insurance company and the doctor (usually a few times) to MAKE SURE they are in network, and that the very specific service is covered. According to both, my ultrasound was in-network and “covered”but it currently shows as costing $950 out of pocket. Now my GP wants to send me to an obgyn, which has a two month waitlist. American private healthcare is such a joke. I miss Obamacare so bad.
My question (and, of course, if this is not something you want to answer, no pressure!): if you find out that it will be difficult for you to get pregnant, have you thought about whether you would have children in another way, whether that's still through pregnancy like IVF or embryo adoption, or regular adoption? :)
I've not heard of embryo adoption. Can you explain what it is?
@@masonwinfreyplatman2294 When couples go through IVF, they may not implant all the embryos they've created. If this happens, they can donate an embryo, much like someone could donate sperm or eggs. Once donated, that embryo can be adopted by another family, and implanted into the adopter's uterus.
@@masonwinfreyplatman2294 It's when another couple goes through the ivf process and have "left over" frozen embryos that they do not wish to implant they could place them for adoption. Meaning other people can adopt the embryo and use them for their ivf implantation. Often people opt for embryo adoption if they're not able to produce viable embryos themself.
@@masonwinfreyplatman2294 other people have answered! I hadn't heard of it until very recently either and I'm not sure if it's common in the UK. I've heard of it happening more in the USA x
In my experience in Canada, they let the patient insert the scope for an internal ultrasound themselves. You know the angles of you body better than anyone else. Once it is in, the tech takes over moving it around.
My mum has pco and still got a bunch of kids. Natural all the way. Its a miracle
Question for you (and Dan!) : what are things that you do (individually or together) that cheer you up/lift your mood after an unsuccessful month?
If he’s comfortable sharing I’d love to know more about how Dan is feeling, sort of watching you navigate your investigations and appointments to help you both do something you BOTH want? Does he feel frustrated on your behalf with the waiting, wish it was something with his side “to be solved” etc. Obviously you’re in this as a team but I can imagine as a partner it’s hard to watch the other have to chase up answers etc.
Thank you so much for this video - it’s interesting to see other people’s experiences with gyno referrals through the NHS. I just got an appointment for a laparoscopy today after waiting 6 months from the initial referral.
I’ve been doing research into the NHS Choices Framework and the right to request a change of hospital if you have to wait longer than the max waiting times - I feel like that’s something that isn’t widespread info, with the right to choose being introduced in 2018 and most GPS not seeming to know about it. I only became aware of it after being put on an 18-month waiting list for ADHD assessment and I wish it was more well known about so people could get seen more quickly!
Oh, that's great information. Thanks for sharing!
I was 16 when I found out that I had polycystic ovaries. A string of pearls sign on the ultrasound.
At the time I was underweight and not trying to conceive. I also had extreme excessive hair. Endocrinologist told my mum that I had a healthy attitude to my hair, but that it was the worst he had ever seen! Turned out that I had the testosterone levels of a teenage boy!
This was in 1992 so back then there weren’t many teenagers getting diagnosed with it. I was getting so much stomach pain.
I am happy to be single so never tried to conceive.
Good luck
I would like to ask: Are you ok? Is there anything more we can do as a community to help you and Dan get through what must be a difficult time for you both. Sending lots of Love and positivity Xxx
Exactly what I wanted to ask! Like, can we help get you sooner to that specialist?
Honestly Hannah, i would keep ringing them. The people who are nice get pushed to be bottom of the list but people who complain get seen quicker. I know youre such a lovley person and wont want to but its true.
Truth sadly. I unfortunately had to threaten a formal complaint to convince the doctors to see my 7 week old baby who could hardly breathe because of her dairy allergy. I felt awful but it was the only way in the end
Hannah and Dan thoughts are with you both. I know how emotional this horrid rola coaster can be. We tried for 7 years before we got lucky and have family members with PCOS who are still trying, so feel you pain. As always thanks for sharing and the high quality educational video.
Oh thank God, finally someone else who has Polycystic Ovaries and not PCOS. I’m in the same boat and I don’t feel so alone now. Good luck with your journey my love
I'm sorry that the news is a bit stressful! Sending lots of good thoughts!
I'm not trying to get pregnant at the moment but definitely want to in the future and I've got some weird gynae symptoms atm. Currently on a waiting list (I feel the waiting list pain) and going to other appointments in the meantime. Most of the time I'm feeling okay about it but I definitely have a few catastrophising moments from time to time!
hope you're able to get an appointment soon!
This has been me, it was almost a year between my referral and actually seeing a gynae, and another 6 months to my next appointment so I spent that time doing everything I could in between. It's so frustrating, best of luck!
@@bethhill7161 Ugh so annoying! Every time I call them, all they say is that they'll give me an appointment when one comes up. I understand that people with more severe symptoms need to go first but I just worry that it's something that needs attention now and waiting will make it worse :( best of luck with your appointments too!!
@@hannahwitton 680k and ur still not verified....
I just wanted to share a positive PCO/S story. Was diagnosed with PCO a couple of years ago when I went off hormonal contraceptives and got the copper coil. Had irregular periods ranging from 30 to 60 days. As a then nursing student I read everything I could and ended up with asking my GP for Metformin to regulate my cycle. This worked wonders! My GP also found insulin resistance so the Metformin also helped with that. And I got the PCOS diagnosis.
When me and my partner was ready to try for a baby the coil was removed and the trying started. I was expecting that the road to success was going to be a long one. But behold! 1 month and 3 days after the coil was out I got a positive pregnancy test. And here I am 27 weeks pregnant and due in October.
I just wanted to share my story, and even though PCO might seem scary, most couples manage to conceive 🥰
I was recently diagnosed with PCOS after I went to get a scan on my hip because I get bursitis flare ups very frequently, and the results came back saying 'yes you have a bursitis flare up oh also you have polycystic ovaries and probably have PCOS'. Obviously it came as a bit of a shock even though I totally line up with criteria. I'm 21, and I figured I had my body figured out to some degree, but NOPE. Thank you for covering this information, it really helps me feel less alone in ~ the struggle ~ of having polycystic ovaries. Sending you good vibes and hopefulness for the pregnancy journey!
I had a really similar story. Lots of hip pain, investigations and then an orthopaedic consultant just mentions in passing “oh and you have cysts on your ovaries including a dermoid cyst” then moved on…. So I went and googled…. BIG MISTAKE! Dermoid cysts is another name for those ones with teeth and hair and mine was 10cm 😳 I had it removed and then they just dismissed me without answering any further questions telling me I didn’t need to worry until I wanted to have a baby. But what if by then it’s too late? I found this video so helpful!
@@hedferguson oh wow that's so scary!! And the fact they were so dismissive and nonchalant, that must have been so frustrating!! I hope you get on okay in future when it comes to the possible symptoms of such an ailment. Sending love!!
I would highly recommend changing doctors... i am far far FAR from overweight and have PCOS so that is a very odd question.
Q&A question: have you noticed a difference in how friends and family interact with you about fertility vs how they interact with Dan?
Its so great to see a youtuber with a large platform informing people about PCOS.
I was about to welcome you to the PCOS club when I saw the title but then I realized PCO isn't the same thing. This is the first time I hear about this distinction even though I researched a lot about PCOS since I have it, I really do learn a lot from this series. Anyways, good luck on your journey to conceiving, I hope your appointment goes smoothly❤
When you were describing the internal ultrasound I was like, “yup, been there!” 😂 also pro tip: you can ask to insert the wand yourself!
It’s so tough to know something isn’t quite right, and have to wait for answers. I would recommend asking your gyno (when you go) about PCOS. You don’t have to be overweight to be diagnosed, and you also don’t even have to have cysts on your ovaries (according to my gyno when I was diagnosed last year). Sending good vibes your way, you can get through this!
I clicked immediately when I read the title! I have PCOS. I didn’t realize that polycystic ovaries were different than PCOS. I struggle with feeling broken/damaged and afraid that I will struggle to conceive in the future. I’m nowhere near having children (don’t even have a partner.) so the not knowing is difficult. It’s really helpful to see that I’m not alone and come along on this journey with you. Best of luck, you’re going to make a great mom😊
Wow, the ultrasound is interesting! I get that one as part of the yearly obgyn check up, kinda took it for granted until now.
Me too. :D
Hope you get your gynecology appointment soon Hannah! 💛
MamaDoctorJones ! Great collab ! Also I would suggest to be “agressive” with your appointment taking and advocating for yourself as a fertility patient, if you haven’t got your answers yet. It’s a wild ride out there !
Please never give up,after numerous tests my wife and I were told we couldn't have children, we had a12 week pregnancy scan yesterday and all is good and healthy
The struggle is so real, thank you so much for sharing
that "are you overweight?" question is weird because not everyone with PCOS is overweight or insulin resistant. I'm thin with a fast metabolism and I'm not insulin resistant but I have all the other symptoms and have been diagnosed as definetly having PCOS. other very common symptoms are of course PCO, irregular or absent periods, acne and oily skin/hair and more hair than normal
I thought it was odd as well. Ellie from Ellie and Jared has talked about her journey with pcos and she is very thin.
Maybe is just a statistic things: there are more women that have PCOS that are overweight than thin people.
aye yeah i thought that was odd too, at the time of my initial diagnosis i was probably a bit UNDERweight if anything,
@@MizMizuki524 me too!
@@ZairaBandy but it is not one of the most defining characteristics, the doctor discarded the possibility of it being PCOS ONLY because she's not overweight!? I even know people with PCOS who ARE insulin resistant and are not overweight. the irregular/long periods are a lot more common in PCOS and Hannah does have that...
I had one of those germ-cell teratomas! Hair and teeth and bone and all...honestly the pathology report is kind of amazing
(teratoma is from the Greek, meaning "monster" yikes)
Question for you: do you regret being so open about your ttc journey? I really admire your bravery on the topic but I wonder, if you knew at the beginning that'd you'd still be trying now would you still have made the decision to be so open and public?
Sending love and baby dust xxx
Was diagnosed with PCOS three years ago. Even now reading through the comments on this video give me so much hope, and have made me feel quite emotional. PCO/S is so common, and it's not a failure at all. Reproductive systems are just so complicated!
I hope you keep calling them. Please. Make them learn your name. Make them recognize your voice. Make them be unable to ignore your pain or forget your plight. Don't be obedient and compliant. Get a specific date and time that they promise to call and hold them to it. Talk to a lawyer and organize with other people being mistreated in the same way. Make them be respectful and treat you like people. I am sick and tired of obstetric violence and this shit needs to stop. I love youuu 💜💜💜
Hi Hannah! Thank you for opening up to questions. For a little backstory to my question: Ever since I was little, I've had this internal fear that I wouldn't be able to conceive. I was in and out of doctor's offices getting ultrasounds as a child, and the fear just planted itself deep inside my heart. Ever since, I've told myself "It's okay... if I never get pregnant, I'll be okay-my husband and I can just adopt." But because we're not quite trying yet, I'm not sure whether my self-talk is just me trying to be brave about the unknown future, or if I really mean it. If you don't mind me asking, how do you feel about adoption as a back-up plan? Thank you for being so open about your journey.
Having a doctor appointments in like months in advance??? Wow. I couldn’t wait that long. That’s why I have always went private. You need a lot of money but you get your answer next day
The most honest series! Myself and my sister always speak about fertility as we are both a bit scared to come across some issues but this series makes me know I wouldn’t be alone! Thank you so much!
My fertility journey was 6 years long and I already knew I had poly cystic ovaries but I also found out I have endometriosis. Finally got my sweet boy 3 years ago. Best of luck to you guys!!!
Thank you for being so candid. Having gone through infertility, I know how lonely it can feel and the more people who are able to talk about it the less alone others feel. Sending all of the good vibes your way! You'll be in good hands with the fertility docs!
This will sound strange but I was SO happy to see the title of this video!
I'm on exactly the same journey as you and we've had pretty much all the same tests so far so it's really nice to have someone on this journey with me. I also have a typical 40+ day cycle.
Bloods came back with abnormal hormone levels. GP had all the tests they wanted so as we have been trying for over a year I was referred to the fertility clinic.
I have since had a phone consultation with the consultant and its all moving very fast.
A recent internal scan also confirmed that I have polycystic ovaries too. I was told not to worry about this, however, as it would just depict the dosage of the drug I have now been given called Clomid. That scan did also confirm that I had definitely ovulated from my left ovary that month so it was good to hear that my body can sometimes do it spontaneously.
I have been given Clomid to help promote the ovulation. If we are not pregnant in 3 months this will be followed up by another scan to check my tubes are open, another 3 months of Clomid and then as long as my BMI is under 30, I will be eligible for NHS funded IVF.
I hope this information gives you and idea of what to maybe expect moving forward!
Just thought I'd say I also read up recently that apparently a positive LH test does not confirm ovulation. It confirms the rise in the hormone that promotes it but the follicle may not actually release an egg.
This is hopefully what my Clomid will help with.
Wishing you all the best on your journey and I'll continue to share my story all the time you are sharing yours!
Hi! I have pcos and im underweight, its common to be overweight, but not in all the cases.
Wish you luck!
Greetings from argentina!💕
As loads of people have said thank you so much for sharing this journey. Can totally identify with the "oh no answers for days? I'll do lots of something so I don't have to sit and think about this". You're breaking down so many conversation barriers - you are ace.
I can empathize so much with you over this! I was diagnosed with PCOS 4 years back which I had to fight for a diagnosis for over 2 years! I only knew of it because my sister was diagnosed herself when she was having problems getting pregnant.
I've recently had a check up for bladder/vaginal pain and had a transvaginal ultrasound, like yourself the appointment came through super quick and was worrying how quick the turnaround was however the gynecologist appointment (which fortunately I can book via an online portal) the only time they can see me is in December which is a whole new stress in itself because by that time you think 'well I either live with it or it goes away and by the time my appointment comes round was it all just in my head?'
Hopefully you get to book your gyne appointment soon but you are so doing the right thing to push for fertility referral in the meantime! Fingers crossed it is sooner rather than later!
*With a grain of salt since im not a dr*
People who are over weight do find it easier to get a diagnosis in general bc it is so widely believed that you must be over weight. Based on my GYNO’s office here in the US you would fit the markers for PCOS because of your ultrasound findings, and long cycles. My blood work all came back fine, I used ovulation strips for months and we found I was only ovulating on one side/every other month. Between my very long cycles, bumpy ovaries, and body hair I was diagnosed with PCOS. I recently found out I’m pregnant and could not be more excited because I worried it would never happen. I can’t wait to watch your journey and for you to get answers!!! Sending you every positive thought possible!!
oh my god the timing... I'm not even a subscriber and yet had this recommended to me just after my ultrasound results explaining that I have polycystic ovaries!
This is amazing! I love Mama Dr Jones but I have been OBSESSED with Hannah for years. I keep coming back to this video when I’m sad :(
You don't need to be sad have you tried herbal remedies?
@@sarahmiller6452 not sad because of PCOS, sad in general. I am a huge fan of both of them and seeing them collaborate to educate about women’s health makes me happy regardless of the cause of my sadness :)
@@Jellybeansatdusk yeah that's how i feel too more reason why i can proudly say to you I'm PCOS free 10years and a blocked fallopian tube cleared open by an herbal fertility medications
I can really relate to the feeling of being stalled in the process of the fertility journey between getting a referral and actually getting to see a specialist. Thank you for helping other people feel less alone!
Metformin ( a medication usually used to regulate insulin) extended release formula helps with hormone regulation. Bio identical hormone creams help as well.
Also keep in mind that you were on hormone contraception for a while. Sometimes it takes the body a while to clear the artificial hormones. You will probably also need to see an endocrinologist who specializes in reproduction.
I have PCOS, and I'm here to say help is out there.
I know the waiting list pain! I’ve been on my gynae waiting list since January for suspected endometriosis and the daily pain is getting to me! Hope you get to see someone soon! ❤️
I'm not in the right mindset to watch this at the moment, but I teared up when I read the title. As someone with an abnormal uterus, this series has given me hope AND kept me up at night. The thought of being infertile is killing me daily. I won't know before trying, but it still haunts me.
That being said, I'm looking forward to the right moment and hearing more about your journey!
Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing, I particularly appreciate that you didn't wait for this episode to be neatly tied up, being stuck on NHS waiting lists feels like a very realistic portrayal of a fertility journey. I hope things move along quickly.
I'm aware that people love to give advice to people who are trying to conceive, whether it's welcome or not. How do you deal with unsolicited advice? What's the best and worst advice you have been given?
I recommend going private rather than waiting. With my tinnitus the wait period to see my local ear nose and throat specalist was 31 weeks, no I'm not kidding, so I paid 140£ to go private. Its often the same nhs specalist you'll see. Anyway for me it was the right move as the thought of waiting 31 weeks would of been devestating for my mental heath. I know £140 is a lot, but often we have todo what's best for ourselves here and now and be damned with the things that might deter that, cost in this case, for better mental, physical, health in the long term. Best of luck
Thank you again for this amazing serie ! Just for the record, I've been diagnosed with PCOS and I'm far from overweight. My gyno told me that weight could be a symptom, but every woman is different ;)
Haha Hannah, a year and a half ago I had surgery to remove a 10 cm dermoid cyst...ie: full of teeth and hair! I joked about having a little monster inside me and wished I could keep it in a jar on the mantle 🤣 but that wasn’t an option
That would be quite the conversation piece! 😂
I had to Google what they were even though the speaker said not to and omg HOW freaky!!
Oh Hannah I totally get what you’re going through, I also had an ultrasound recently which found I have polycystic ovaries and one larger cyst on one side. I’ve just turned 30 and it’s so overwhelming to just find out about this. I haven’t been referred to gynae yet as have to have blood tests first to rule out PCOS. Sending lots of love 💗 xxx
I was diagnosed with pcos this year - I really high recommend speaking to your GP about going to speak to a dietician to help manage symptoms with your lifestyle 💗💗 sending much love, it sucks but this is totally manageable
Hannah it's so brave of you to share your journey of TTC. I have polycystic ovaries (although, like you, I've always found that diagnosis very vague) and my husband also has significant male-factor fertility issues -- after trying for three years I finally plucked up the courage to do IVF and now we're expecting our son in a few short months! It could be a long road for you and Dan but I'm sure you'll be able to make it happen -- wishing you both the best!
I know a strong Canadian sorcerer that can help you get pregnant
Q&A questions:
-how do you stay positive and optimistic with so many ups and downs? (Maybe psychology/ mental health while trying to concieve in general?)
-how did your relationship dynamics changed regarding to trying to concieve? How do you keep each other motivated? Who is more active about it?
The hormone Diaries are my absolute favourite thing to watch on youtube, Lots of love from Germany🥰🥰
Glad you found out what it is. My wife has the same thing. Wich is why it took us 2.5 years almost before she got pregnant the first time.
We've been on our fertility journey for 6 months now. I resonate with everything you say and it comforts me to know I'm not alone with my feelings. My question to you is how do you manage your mental health during negative tests? With every negative test we've had, I seem to plunge into depression for a day or 2 with constant crying.
i love to see all the supportive husbands and partners in the comments! My husband and I struggled for 5 year with conceiving via IVF. After many many tests, there was nothing wrong with either one of us but we still decided to stop eventually. Because we would get pregnant and the pregnancy would end after a few weeks. The hardest part was not knowing why. There was no reason, no explanation, not even a theory. The thing that helped me the most was when I saw that it affected my husband as much as it affected me, that I wasn't crazy for being sad, depressed and angry. He was threre for all the major appointments (except during corona) and he always kept hope. I think that was important for me, that he was always positive about the chances, no matter how often it went wrong
Try out herbal remedies
@@sarahmiller6452 I appreciate that you're trying to help me. But after 5 miscarriages I'm not going to try to get pregnant anymore. It's way too stressful and painful
While I am not currently on a fertility journey and not sure I ever will be, I am extremely invested and thankful for this series. If I ever do decide to conceive, I will definitely be rewatching all of these videos.
Yes, two of my favourite you tubers for reproductive health together! Sending the baby vibes back to you, hope you find out what can help you, soon!
I am conductor of a severe X-linked immune disease, and we’re also stuck, having to decide which way to go, either PID, which has its own risks, or natural conception and doing PND later and possible psychological and physiological impact of “bad news” and “right decisions”.
I’m four years into TTC and it’s been such a journey. I’m UK to so I’m NHS like you are of course covid put a spanner in the works . I’m just here to say I see you I hear you if you want to speak to someone who has been through the system please message me. It’s such a difficult thing to go through ! I wouldn’t wish it on anyone ! But we are all strong and I think to myself often how precious our child will be however and whenever it comes into our life !
Love MJD. Also I know you know Jessica Kelgren-Fozard. They just went through a fertility journey during lockdown, they may be a resource for you. Blessed be.
Always fun when a doctor widens her eyes in horror when describing my recurrent condition 🤣 I'm about to have a third surgery to remove teratomas from my ovary. Dr. Jones, if you're reading this - please do a video about teratomas of the ovary, it would be nice if everyone were as freaked out as I am 😏
Wow, that sounds scary! I remember looking at teratomas in pathology labs and thinking that they were clearly the most extra tumour, but I didn't think of them as super freaky at the time. Would love an MDJ video on them though!
I didn't realize they could be recurrent! Thinking about it now, I suppose it makes sense, but that's kind of mind boggling that they can keep coming back.
I don't tend to comment but I've been subscribed to you for years and I really appreciate you bringing attention to the challenges of fertility and for being so honest and vulnerable! Wishing you answers! Xxx
Question: Emotionally how has it been seeing other people/ friends get pregnant? Have you experienced people making unintentionally upsetting remarks? I have PCOS and would love to start the whole 'have a baby' thing soon but I'm so scared I'm going to be a blubbery mess/ passive aggressive ranter the entire time 😅😬
I know this was meant for Hannah to answer but I thought I should give my 2-cents;
It's bloody hard. We've been trying for 18months now. Seen a few babies born within that time by work colleagues, friends, and a family member. And even now, there's some new pregnancies that have cropped up around me. I can't lie and say it's fine, because it really does hurt. But it's not their fault and it's not my fault. It's not fair on them to be angry or bitter all the time. They have done nothing wrong. Just need to remind yourself that life goes on and people around you will get pregnant. Some may even have been trying for a lot longer or had a more difficult journey to get there, but there will be some that just happen, or have only been trying for a month or two... That's just the way it is. It's really not worth comparing your journey to others as you'll only cause harm to yourself.
In response to stupid comments; tbh I just leave them be and let them go. I've heard 1 pregnant work colleague complain about how other people in her life are pregnant at the same time as her as somehow "it's not fair" that she's not the only pregnant person right now... I was incredibly angry and just walked away rather than confront her about it. It wasn't worth the punishment! I think it depends on really who knows about your journey and who said the comment. If you tell a lot of people that you're trying, be prepared for any remark (and also be prepared for them to forget you're even trying! That's happened for us). If you only tell close friends/family, then I doubt they'll say anything stupid, and even if they do you can explain to them why the comment hurt. I'm sure they'll be understanding. But at the end of the day, you really can't control what people say, and you can't expect them to understand what you're going through. It would be nice if no-one said hurtful things, but that's not realistic. You can only control yourself and how you react to things.
The hardest part of trying for a baby is managing your emotions and keeping yourself sane! I went through months of being upset, angry, and bitter towards people (many people didn't see it though as I kept it hidden and I was a bit two-faced!). It really isn't worth doing that and only makes the trying to conceive process harder!! I wish you all the best for when you do start trying though :)
@@FeatherpawStudio thank you so much for sharing ❤️ Sounds like it will be emotional and I just need to accept that!
I feel this comment
Wow perfect timing - I saw a doctor this morning about some gynaecological/period changes and concerns. I’ve had quite a lot of weight loss this year due to stress and illness so she said it is “almost definitely not PCOS” because of the weight loss. And that it might be related to my IBS/stomach issues. Not trying to conceive at the moment but I relate to the struggle of going through the long process of getting help with gynaecological issues and I really appreciate you sharing your journey
Waiting lists are so bad at the moment due to Covid backlogs. I’ve been waiting for five months for an ENT referral and haven’t heard anything. I hope it’s not so long for you, or you can get a fertility appointment sooner. I know a few friends who got into the fertility clinics and then conceived naturally because their stress levels went down(!) so I’m keeping everything crossed for you too. Having kids is insanely hard, but absolutely amazing, and I hope you get to experience it in whatever way works for you in the end.
So happy to see Mama Doctor Jones on here!
I am sorry that you have to wait, hopefully you hear back soon.
Endometriosis lady here. First of all solidarity to you. You aren’t a lone. This explains why I was told I had PC ovaries when I had endometriomas 🤯 always thought that was weird!
I went through similar struggles when I was trying to get my PCOS diagnosis. They seem to be hesitant in diagnosing the syndrome but just PCO (which doesn’t make sense to me because I can’t ovulate without fertility treatment so I knew it was the syndrome before I was properly diagnosed...)
I wish you all the best with the next steps in this, if you go down the route of fertility treatment there are struggles but there are also some perks like knowing if you’ve got a good sized follicle that cycle and knowing exactly when you’re going to ovulate.
The most important thing is to be looked after by doctors that you trust and who listen to you.
Now that I've watched the whole video, I just want to say - hugs to you Hannah ❤️ it's such a difficult journey, I've been through it. It is so painful (both physically and emotionally). I hope you manage to conceive very soon, either without treatment or with something easy to manage such as letrozole. And i hope that you experience an easy pregnancy and birth 🥰
Nothing quite like that phone call telling you the doctor needs you to come in to discuss your test results.
Try out herbal remedies it worked for me
So appreciative of you sharing this. I waited a year and a half for an NHS urology appointment. The waiting times are ridiculous because of COVID. Sending you lots of solidarity and hoping that it is not such a long wait for you.
I have polycystic ovaries too!! They did the blood works and I don't have PCOS, but the exam showed multiple cysts. I also have severe health anxiety and it makes it hard for me to not stress about this. It helps to see someone else out there with the same problem, I hope you're dealing well with the change of diet 😊💪💛
Hannah this episode has really helped me to feel less alone. Going through this and not telling friends and family is really hard. Like no one understands. But having that news out to the world must be even more daunting. I've been trying to get pregnant for a while now, but no luck, although your videos have been really helpful in how to track my cycle. I've had haemorrhagic ovarian cysts before and googling things has always made me worry! Mama Dr Jones is a Legend and I'm so glad you two have teamed up for this video. Thanks for all the conception luck. I'm passing it back to you too. Can't wait for the day that we'll both be pushing prams in the future. ☺️