If you are anything like me, after being diagnosed with PCOS, Google instantly becomes your best friend. Or perhaps your nemesis.

Looking back, it really wasn’t my fault. As far as the doctors were concerned, I had “lean PCOS” and besides fertility treatment, there wasn’t much else to discuss.

But deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.

Truthfully, I had felt “off” for most of my life.

The Girl Who Never Got Periods

Growing up, I hardly had periods at all.

At the time, I genuinely thought I was the luckiest girl alive. No cramps. No monthly inconvenience. What a dream.

The only issue was acne.

At 16, I went onto the contraceptive pill and stayed on it for years because every time I tried coming off, my skin erupted like a freshly baked raspberry pie.

So I stayed on it.
Until my husband and I decided we wanted children.

About six months after stopping the pill, things started spiralling quickly.

I developed:

  • Backne. Not a pimple here and there. Full-blown back acne.
  • Dark hair everywhere
  • Hair loss on my head in alarming chunks
  • Constant bloating
  • Body pain
  • And, perhaps most traumatically, my body odour changed completely

And trust me – according to both myself and my poor husband — not for the better.

I remember going to my GP convinced I had arthritis because my body constantly ached. They ran blood tests and although nothing specifically autoimmune showed up, my CRP levels (markers of inflammation) were sky high. Apparently the levels resembled someone having an autoimmune flare-up.

Except I didn’t have an autoimmune disease.

Or so we thought.

Finally, A Diagnosis

I eventually went to my gynaecologist who did an ultrasound and diagnosed me with PCOS.

My ovaries were covered in cysts and my cycles were anywhere between 40–80 days long — something the pill had masked for years.

I was 34 at the time and was advised that if I wanted children, I should see a fertility specialist immediately.

Naturally, I booked an appointment the following week.

The “Good News” About PCOS

After what felt like 700 blood tests and scans, one thing became very clear:

My AMH levels were through the roof.

AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) is often used as an indicator of ovarian reserve — essentially your egg count.

Ironically, this is one of the few silver linings of PCOS.

Because women with PCOS often ovulate less regularly over the years, we tend to have more eggs remaining.

One fertility specialist even joked that with AMH levels like mine, I’d probably hit menopause much later than average.

Fantastic news for future me.
Slightly less helpful when all I wanted was a baby.

The downside, however, is that PCOS eggs can sometimes struggle with maturity and quality, making pregnancy more difficult.

Enter Fertility Treatment

And so began the fertility circus.

I started the usual cocktail of medications:

  • Provera
  • Gonal-F
  • Letrozole/Femara
  • Clomid/Fertomid

The goal was simple:
Grow follicles. Release eggs. Fall pregnant.

Easy enough in theory.

Except my follicles never really grew properly and my uterine lining was always thin.

After a year of failed cycles, I underwent a laparoscopy where they removed endometriosis and ovarian cysts.

And then finally…
My first positive pregnancy test.

I cannot even explain the joy of seeing those two lines after so much disappointment.

Unfortunately, that happiness was short-lived. It ended in a chemical pregnancy.

That was the moment I decided to move onto IVF.

IVF Round One

My first IVF cycle actually looked incredibly promising on paper.

I produced:

  • 22 eggs
  • 8 embryos made it to Day 5

Statistically, my chances looked good.

But after:

  • Three failed frozen embryo transfers
  • Multiple medications
  • Endless hope
  • Endless disappointment

…I knew something still wasn’t adding up.

My fertility specialist couldn’t explain why nothing was sticking.

So naturally, I turned to Dr Google.

The Missing Piece: Insulin Resistance & Thyroid Issues

I stumbled across research discussing the relationship between PCOS, insulin resistance and thyroid dysfunction.

What many people don’t realise is that you can have normal blood glucose levels while still having significant insulin issues.

In fact, studies estimate that around 70% of women with PCOS have some degree of insulin resistance.

Luckily, I have an incredible dietician who agreed to run more detailed tests.

The results came back:

  • Subclinical hypothyroidism
  • Insulin resistance

Suddenly things started making more sense.

Hormones are like a symphony orchestra. If one section is out of tune, the entire performance suffers.

My fertility specialist agreed to start me on:

  • Glucophage (Metformin)
  • Euthyrox

And then something remarkable happened.

Three months later, I fell pregnant naturally.

Hope… And More Heartbreak

Around this time, I also sought second and third opinions from other fertility specialists because by now, I trusted absolutely nobody and questioned everything.

One specialist diagnosed adenomyosis — basically the evil stepsister of endometriosis — and told me carrying a pregnancy to term would be difficult.

Another believed I had a uterine septum, where tissue partially divides the uterus.

The recommendations varied wildly:

  • More IVF
  • Hormonal suppression
  • Surgery
  • More waiting
  • More uncertainty

I decided to proceed with surgery to remove the septum.

But two weeks before surgery?
I fell pregnant again.

You would think hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time would be one of the happiest moments of your life.

For me, it became one of the most heartbreaking.

That pregnancy ended too.

In hindsight, perhaps it was for the best. A divided uterus is not exactly ideal real estate for a growing baby.

A month later, I had surgery to remove the septum.

And then, for the first time in years, I stopped.

No medications.
No tracking.
No appointments.

Just wine, Christmas holidays and emotional exhaustion.

Five Miscarriages Later

Over five years, I had a total of five miscarriages.

At some point, I realised I didn’t just need another treatment plan.
I needed a clean slate.

So I moved fertility clinics.

Honestly? Best decision I ever made.

Sometimes you simply need fresh eyes and a doctor who isn’t emotionally attached to your previous failures.

The first thing my new specialist told me was:
“Stop trying naturally.”

Obvious in hindsight.
Painful to hear at the time.

But he was right.

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

The new clinic ran a test called a balanced translocation screening.

A balanced translocation is a chromosomal rearrangement where pieces of chromosomes swap places. The person carrying it is usually completely healthy because all the genetic material is still present — just rearranged.

The problem comes when creating embryos.

The eggs (or sperm) produced can end up genetically unbalanced, leading to:

  • Failed implantation
  • Poor embryo quality
  • Miscarriages

And there it was.

I tested positive.

Oddly enough, despite how devastating the diagnosis was, I also felt relief.

For the first time in years, I finally understood why this kept happening.

I wasn’t broken.
I wasn’t failing.
There was an actual medical reason.

IVF Round Two: Genetic Testing

At 38, time was no longer casually on my side.

I decided to do IVF again, but this time we added PGT genetic testing to screen the embryos.

I already understood the brutal reality:
Even if embryos reached Day 5, many could still be genetically abnormal because of the balanced translocation.

And unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened.

This round produced:

  • 37 eggs
  • 11 embryos for testing
  • Zero genetically normal embryos

Not one.

I genuinely thought that was the end.

I even explored using donor eggs because at that point, I was desperate to become a mother.

My husband wasn’t comfortable with it and emotionally we hit a wall.

One Last Try

A few months later, my husband encouraged me to try one final IVF round.

This time, alongside all the medications and protocols, I also added glutathione IV therapy after reading research suggesting it may support egg quality through its antioxidant effects.

Whether it helped or not?
Honestly, I don’t know.

But something changed.

This round produced:

  • 36 eggs
  • 10 embryos sent for testing
  • THREE genetically normal embryos

I still remember getting the call.

After years of disappointment, I almost didn’t know how to process good news anymore.

The Transfer That Finally Worked

And then finally…
One embryo stuck.

After years of infertility treatments, surgeries, miscarriages, medications, injections, scans and heartbreak, I finally fell pregnant with my firstborn.

The pregnancy itself was extremely traumatic and I nearly lost him at 20 weeks, but that’s another story for another day.

For now, this story gets a happy ending.

Actually – two happy endings.

Because against all odds, we now have two beautiful children.

And after everything it took to get here, I will never take that for granted.

 

 

Disclaimer: This article shares my personal fertility journey and experiences with PCOS, infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, IVF, and related medical treatments. It is intended for informational and storytelling purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.

Every fertility journey is unique. Diagnoses, treatment plans, medication protocols, supplement use, and outcomes can vary significantly from person to person. What worked for me may not be appropriate, effective, or safe for someone else.

The information shared in this article is based on my own experiences, discussions with my healthcare team, and my personal interpretation of research available at the time. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition.

If you are experiencing fertility challenges, recurrent pregnancy loss, hormonal concerns, or reproductive health issues, please consult a qualified healthcare professional, fertility specialist, endocrinologist, or registered healthcare provider who can provide advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

Any mention of medications, supplements, procedures, tests, or therapies does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Always seek professional medical guidance before making decisions about your healthcare or fertility treatment.

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