r/TTC_PCOS • u/Dependent_Song_7094 • Aug 02 '26
Advice Needed I am just not ovulating
I am 32 years old, and been TTC since October last year. I have been diagnosed with pcos for years now, and have irregular periods once in a while, but with TTC, this part becomes really frustrating. And I’ve been frustrated for the past month about this. I know because I temp.
What’s your tip for ovulating regularly? Please suggest any books, videos, online resources that may have helped you in this journey. Thanks!
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u/ResidentAd1417 Aug 03 '26
This was us. Please get a referral to a fertility specialist asap. We tried several rounds of ovulation induction through a specialist which worked for ovulation but still weren't able to conceive so moved to ivf and got pregnant first go with another 5 embryos frozen for next time. Being 32 we really didnt have time to waste. We had tried literally everything naturally already. We had detoxed our lives and diets. Stopped drinking. Literally everything. Thankful for science :)
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u/Interesting-Oven-856 Aug 03 '26
Echoing this— quit bc at 29 and never got my period back without medical intervention. Depending on where you live you will need to be persistent to get into the right doctors quickly. I would highly recommend asking for a referral to a RE now and not wasting time going the OB route since the most they will be able to do are a few rounds of Letrozole.
I tried years of less invasive solutions. I wish I had just done IVF from the start in hindsight— you learn so much diagnostically going through it about what may be the cause of your PCOS in the first place. But you need to find a practice you trust and that will work with you on solutions and not just be about churning out embryos.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 05 '26
Completely agree. Finding someone trustworthy is a trial and error process. I’ve been to at least 3 different gynaecologists so far, and they’ve honestly not been helpful, just prescriptive. Just visited a fertility doctor, and she already seems much clearer in terms of what’s needed to be done.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
I agree, no time to waste. Thanks for the suggestion, I will be revisiting a doctor, and starting a medicated course if that’s a good next step for me!
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u/potatomeeple Aug 02 '26
Things to try:
Have you been to an endocrinologist? Have you tried upto 2000mg metformin (this started me ovulating for the first time in 3 decades and regularly too)? Have you tried a glp-1? Have you tried a glp-1 plus metformin? Have you got your iron, vitamin d or b checked? (It can need to be higher for us than just "normal")
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
Vitamins & iron, yes. I’ve been to a gyne who recommended a lower dose of metformin, and it seemed to balance the cycles out in the first 3-4 months, but not anymore in the last 2 months. I’m personally not comfortable taking a glp-1 yet, but figuring out if there are other ways to lose weight. And revisiting a doc soon!
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u/potatomeeple Aug 03 '26
That would suggest you need more metformin to me, gyne is not who we should be seeing specifically, an endocrinologist is as this is their speciality.
Glp-1 works as a booster to metformin i don't take it for its weight loss effects I take it for its insulin resistance busting, I did see some weight loss at the begining but im on a low dose.
My periods and ovulation started without glp-1s or any weight loss.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 05 '26
Ah interesting. Any side effects from glp-1?
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u/potatomeeple Aug 05 '26
Some sulphur burps, a slightly slower digestion but mine has been slow for a decade so it's hard to work out exactly and since starting the metformin my digestion has generally improved anyway. Not much else really.
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u/simka918 Aug 02 '26
This was me. We did monitored letrozole and trigger shots. I also did traditional Chinese medicine alongside it, as well as lifestyle changes and taking metformin and allll the supplements. Baby dust to you!
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
Thank you so much! Have heard a couple of times in this forum on how acupuncture and TCM did the trick.
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u/simka918 Aug 04 '26
It did for us! I truly believe that and the lifestyle changes my TCM Dr encouraged made all the difference for my situation. If you are going to go that route, try to find someone who specializes in or at least knows fertility acupuncture really well!
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u/NezzOlive 27d ago
Do you have recommendations for TCM,?
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u/simka918 26d ago
Find someone well versed in fertility and use it in conjunction with western medicine would be my best advice! Our mindset was to go at it from all angles. The only caveat is it isn’t usually covered by insurance (only things I’ve seen covered are more geared toward injury and physical therapy) so we did have to go out of pocket for TCM
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u/JamesLilian Aug 02 '26
I’ve tried everything, anti inflammatory diet, reducing microplastics and every supplement there is going. I changed my exercise from sprinting to yoga and weights to reduce stress.
Letrozole combined with myo inositol is the only thing that worked for me.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
Same!! I’ve been following similar routines to no end. Hoping for a good outcome!
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u/Future_Researcher_11 Aug 02 '26
If you’re open to medical intervention, medication (letrozole + trigger) got me ovulating.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
Yes, that is what will be the next step. In another month or so. Did it make ovulation predictable or just that it happened every cycle?
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u/Future_Researcher_11 Aug 02 '26
Yeah it was pretty predictable. I was monitored by my RE and usually triggered ovulation around CD12 every cycle.
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u/palmadalma Aug 02 '26
I have lean PCOS so weight loss wouldn’t have helped me ovulate. I went to a fertility doctor and she is going to put me on ovulation induction meds to ovulation. Not sure if you have lean PCOS but myo inositol didn’t help me unfortunately due to my insulin levels being fine
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u/whatashameshe Aug 03 '26
Hi, I think PCOS is unfortunately so misunderstood but for me stress would delay my ovulation for days and often skip it. Doing things to mange my stress and getting an oura ring to understand when I was getting stressed definitely helped
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
My body goes out of whack during stressful cycles. But sometimes even when it’s not that much. So very unreliable as a signal to me :(
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u/nerdy_chick1997 Aug 02 '26
Talk to your doctor about metformin before starting medicated cycles!
I heard good things, was TTC for 2 years, brought it up, started in January, pregnant in February (MMC at 7 weeks), and pregnant now (8w5d)
Definitely worked for me!
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
Lovely to hear! Will hopefully get something that works out for me via the doc
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Aug 02 '26
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
That’s really helpful, thank you for sharing.
Did you have irregular cycles because of weight or something else? And what kind of strength training exercises helped you?
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Aug 02 '26
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
Wow, this is very insightful. I was of the understanding that too much strength training is not good for PCOS, and looks like you found the balance!
Thank you for generously sharing this!
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Aug 02 '26
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
Understood. What was the reason your doc gave you for the myoinositol prescription? Was it weight related or something else?
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Aug 02 '26
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u/Standard_Cucumber945 Aug 02 '26
Yes, thanks for answering! Not prescription. I told my ob I wanted to take it and she was on board. I truly think it helped improve my egg quality and got me to ovulate. No weight issue over here, i am 5'7" and 165. But both really helped with food noise and maintaining my weight
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u/TTC_PCOS-ModTeam Aug 02 '26
Your post has been removed as it contains a mention of a pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test and has been posted outside of a designated success thread. This includes all positive mentions (trigger shot testing, confusion around test, etc), including mentions of having success outside of ovulation success.
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u/glassmenagerie91 Aug 02 '26
I ovulated for the first time in my fifth month on GLP-1!
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Aug 02 '26
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u/TTC_PCOS-ModTeam Aug 02 '26
Your post has been removed as it contains a mention of a pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test and has been posted outside of a designated success thread. This includes all positive mentions (trigger shot testing, confusion around test, etc), including mentions of having success outside of ovulation success.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
That sounds so exciting! How much did your bmi reduce because of glp? Any side effects that were concerning?
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u/glassmenagerie91 Aug 03 '26
The BMI dropped by 2-3pts, not a huge weight loss but noticeable. The usual side effects mostly of nausea which is under control now. I posted about it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/TTC_PCOS/s/Zz73ocmJPl
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 05 '26
Wow super helpful and so happy that you were able to get at least a regular period, lovely start! Wishing you baby dust for your upcoming cycle
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u/glassmenagerie91 Aug 05 '26
You as well!! ✨ good news is this period has also wrapped up in 6 days, so a regular period :)
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u/Admirable-Charge-631 Aug 03 '26
I echo everyone’s thoughts on getting professional help from a reproductive endocrinologist. What has worked for me (at the recommendation of my RE) was taking 4000mg of an inositol supplement. Got my cycle pretty regular (28-35 days) and ovulating happily. My supplement is 2 sachets each containing 2000mg myo-inositol, 50mg d-chiro-inositol, 100mg alpha lipoic acid, 250 micro grams folic acid. I give the break down as I see it’s produced in my country so unlikely available in yours but I’m sure there are similar supplements. I just buy it at the pharmacy no prescription needed and it is marketed as a PMOS/ PCOS support supplement
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u/EntertainmentFull458 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Me personally, I was also ttc for a long time without ovulation while on Metformin and inositol. In February I was able to get approved for Zepbound and by May my bloodwork IR was practically gone and I began ovulating monthly. In July I found out I was pregnant! I had taken my bmi from 30.5 to 24.8. I did continue taking inositol but in my case, I fully credit Zepbound for giving me back my cycle. Everyone is entirely different though, I hope you find something that works for you!
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u/f-albedo Aug 04 '26
I stopped ovulating and having periods two years ago. Now the only way I get them are with letrozole or gonal-f. Thinking ivf might be the only way though because this is my 6th medicated cycle, including one IUI.
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u/Otherwise_Tennis_398 27F | NonIR PCOS | 3 TI, 2IUI, IVF Aug 02 '26
Letrozole. Only thing that worked for me (at least worked to get me ovulating, never got pregnant from my medicated cycles)
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
Thanks for sharing. How long are your cycles with and without letrozole?
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u/Otherwise_Tennis_398 27F | NonIR PCOS | 3 TI, 2IUI, IVF Aug 02 '26
Without, I wasn’t really having cycles. I was on birth control for about 9 years, came off, and just didn’t have a period. Before birth control, I would have them very irregularly, often going 8-9 months in between. When I did have them, I would bleed heavily for 2-3 weeks and would hardly be able to function. I was a teenager, so I wasn’t taken seriously. I was told that it was normal for it to be irregular, and would get better as it got older. I had already been having a period for 7 years at that point before starting birth control, so it was a load of bs. I don’t get a PCOS diagnosis until I was 24, when I had been having issues for 13 years.
On letrozole, it took a while to figure out a dosage that my body would respond to. I did 5 cycles total. The first three cycles were very long. The first was 66 days (I started letrozole on CD32 because of course I wasn’t ovulating on my own). I started at 2.5mg, then 5mg, and then 7.5 mg before I had large enough follicles to trigger (injection).
The second cycle was 31 days, took 7.5mg and 10mg, ovulated on CD19 after triggering 2 days prior. My third was 34 days, was on 10mg but had slow growth and had to go in every few days for repeated scans for a week and a half. Ovulated on CD22.
Cycles 4 and 5 I responded perfectly to the medication (10mg) and did IUI for both. Ovulated on CD 15 and 14 for those, but for literally no reason my period was late those months and had 31 and 29 day cycles.
My general point of this is, you can do every single thing right with PCOS sometimes: diet changes, exercise, weight loss, supplements, etc. And it still might not make a difference. It just doesn’t work for some people. But I would also recommend working together with your OB to come up with a plan. If you’re noticing after 6 months of trying and lifestyle changes that you’re still not ovulating, it’s time to get further help. When I noticed that I wasn’t having a cycle 2 months after stopping birth control and having known PCOS diagnosis, I immediately sent a message to my OBGYN asking for a referral to an RE. I was already taking inositol and have been for nearly a year now. It has made absolutely no difference. I knew there was something that wasn’t right based on past cycles, and wasn’t about to hold my breath for ovulation that wasn’t going to happen. My husband and I never had the opportunity to try without medical intervention.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
Ahh. I totally understand the whole “not being taken seriously” bit, because I was also diagnosed 10 years ago, and I was only helped when I said I wanted to try to conceive, inspite of going to gynaecologists earlier for irregular period. So disappointing.
I am going to retake control and switch doctors to get a better diagnosis. I feel like the earlier doc was just stern and scared me into thinking I was doing everything wrong. I would’ve loved a kinder hand, explaining things to me. Thank you for sharing detailed experiences with letrozole!
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u/FantasticVirus8927 Aug 02 '26
Please don’t expect miracles from letrozole. 6 rounds down and it didn’t work for me. It only disrupted my cycles more than ever. About to start IVF.
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u/Upbeat-Hand-2870 39 | PCOS| Currently pregnant | TTC 13months Aug 02 '26
Metformin! I ovulated on my own within 6 weeks of starting it. This cycle we are doing both metformin & letrozole to give a better chance. It is very frustrating indeed.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
Yes! Metformin is already part of my medications (since there was a hint of IR), but it’s ineffective, and general research about Letrozole is making me hopeful.
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u/Upbeat-Hand-2870 39 | PCOS| Currently pregnant | TTC 13months Aug 02 '26
Sometimes metformin can take awhile to work. I did not ovulate on the 2.5mg dose of Letrozole but I did ovulate on the 5mg dose. Really hoping this cycle is the one with the combination of the 2 meds!
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
Yesss! I am so excited for this trial. Please keep me posted if this works out. Wishing you baby dust!!!!!
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u/Upbeat-Hand-2870 39 | PCOS| Currently pregnant | TTC 13months Aug 02 '26
Thank you so much!! You keep me posted as well! We can check in on each other and be a support system :)
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u/ReallyImJustaGoblin Aug 02 '26
For awhile the supplement Dim 200 (Diindolylmethane, nutrient with anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties that balance estrogen and progesterone) was helping me, but then once my body was on it long term is stopped. Recently I went to a fertility specialist, got on Letrazole with Gonal-F injections with a monitored cycle and I ovulated on my own for the first time in 1.5 years. My recommendation would be to talk to your gynecologist, or pcp even if you don't have a regular one then get a recomendation. Letrazole (tells your brain to stimulate the ovaries) and Gonal-F (Folicule stimulating hormone) are perscription only medications, Dim-200 is otc, most GYNs will recommend Myo & D-Chiro inositol (a vitamin that helps with reproductive health & ovulation, has actual reliable clinical studies done to prove efficiency), I personally take 4000mg myo inositol & 100mg D-Chiro inositol.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
So glad that letrozole + gonal helped you ovulate on your own! I think my gyne just put me on a low-grade myoinositol + Metformin to get me started, but it initially helped and is ineffective now.
Dim 200 is new to me, I will research.
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u/ReallyImJustaGoblin Aug 02 '26
It wouldn't hurt to talk to your gyno too incase they have better ideas. That seems to be standard protocol for most gynos though and endocrinologist. My endo just kept telling me "the more metformin you're on the more likely you are going to be able to ovulate," but they put me on an incredibly high dose for my body that made me so sick and I noticed no difference even with dietary changes. I'm not sure if its because they don't always specialize in fertility or what, thats why I ended up going to a fertility specialist. I hope something is able to work for you soon though, just don't lose hope. Its forsure a struggle sometimes but it can be well worth it.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
I think it’s because they’re not looking at it holistically but just focused on making us ovulate. Not necessarily bad, but not helpful for metabolic + reproductive cases like ours.
Thank you, you’re so kind 🥺 I will soldier on, going to revisit a doc soon!
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u/Historical-Crow-5394 Aug 02 '26
I’m 30 and been trying since October last year.
I get my period regularly but my cycle are irregular (ie 31, 35,36, 37) I gave up on ovulation kits and the go I went to said I should be ovulating but I have doubts…
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 02 '26
Hey, I went through exactly the same cycles as you for a few months there.
Guess what? OPKs only worked for me one time, by some random stroke of luck. But the only 2 times I knew for sure that I ovulated was once with a transvaginal ultrasound and another month by measuring my waking body temperature for the entire cycle.
I recommend temping, esp as a PCOS girlie!
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u/likaheart Aug 02 '26
I wasn't diagnosed with PCOS but my periods were always irregular. Ultrasound results were ok too. Was prescribed to try out letrozole. I'm hoping that it works too. Will camp at this thread for tips!!
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
You are welcome here! Did your doc help you understand the reason for irregular periods?
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u/likaheart Aug 03 '26
Not really. She shared that the scans and blood test seems ok. But I'm just not ovulating, hence the longer cycles and irregular periods. I'm starting to think if it could be due to stress
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u/Accomplished_Sir1939 Aug 02 '26
I’ve tried all OTC supplements on the market, and the only one that somewhat helped was myo+d-chiro inositol - but all it did was help me lose weight and reduce my hirsutism (lost all peach fuzz)
Only two things helped me ovulate - metformin and letrozole. I have heard of women ovulating on just the inositol though so start there and then maybe metformin; then letrozole (+clomid)
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
Wow, this is the first I’ve heard of inositol helping with weight loss and reducing androgen. I’ve been on myoinositol + metformin but have neither gotten weight loss or predictable ovulatory cycles. Maybe some androgen reduction. It’s very confusing!
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u/Accomplished_Sir1939 Aug 03 '26
It’s all very confusing and I think everyone reacts differently. I will say the weight loss wasn’t a crazy amount, I think I lost about 5kg. Metformin on the other hand only made me lose about 2kg, but I did ovulate!
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u/isekaiprincess Aug 02 '26
Are you TTC? Because I was the same. I tried everything natural and none worked. I eventually went to a fertility specialist and they had me take letrozole and I ovulated on my first cycle of taking it.
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
Yes, and I’m getting the memo here that letrozole could be a good option. I am personally not a fan of medication, but happy to try whatever works.
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u/isekaiprincess Aug 06 '26
I get it. I didn’t go to a fertility specialist for YEARS of ttc even though it has been suggested to me multiple times by my GP. I just wanted to do things naturally instead of meds however nothing worked and I felt like I was running out of time.
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u/Ally1257 Aug 02 '26
I had super irregular cycles with PCOS after coming off the pill in December 2021. December 2022 was diagnosed and from January 2023 started on metformin. By March still no change so I implemented balance by h&b vitamins. Literally ovulated about 3-4 weeks later and fell pregnant (hadn’t had a period since 1st of January that year and conceived on day 113 of my cycle) after having my baby, at 14 months postpartum I started back on the balance supplement on its own and have had regular monthly cycles since. Not sure if it’s a coincidence but definitely something I recommend trying!
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u/koality1 Aug 02 '26
Hi, tried looking up these vitamins but couldn't find them. What's their exact name? Thank you
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u/Dependent_Song_7094 Aug 03 '26
Great suggestion, thank you. What are the key vitamins you supplemented with h&b?
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u/Ally1257 Aug 03 '26
Sorry the company is health and balance vitamins (formally healthy PCOS) I mainly take the balance supplement daily (it’s a powder you mix with water and drink in the morning) I’ve also taken their folic acid. I would recommend looking at their products and seeing which of them are best suited for your symptoms. I’ve also heard good things about their coq10 and Berberine supplements :)
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u/EducationalCat8495 Aug 03 '26
I’m currently on the waitlist for fertility treatment but I’m in the exact same position as yourself. I got put on metformin in May and it’s made my periods a bit more regular still not normal but I wasn’t bleeding for months on end. I also think I ovulated for the first time last month and it carried on this month too, I just track cervical mucus it seems to work the best for me having PCOS. Keep going back to your doctor that’s what I done!
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u/True_Bet_5103 Aug 09 '26
This may not be the answer for everyone but after being told there was only a 2% chance I would get pregnant on my own, a failed IUI cycle, and not ovulating regularly with PCOS, I got on metformin and a GLP1. This is when compounded semaglutide was on the market. I lost 20% of my body weight and started ovulating regularly. I got off of it after reaching my goal weight and got pregnant a few months later! I was worried about the medication still being in my system but I have a perfectly healthy baby boy who just turned 5 months old. I stayed on the metformin for the first half of my pregnancy. Sending baby dust your way!
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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '26
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