Does Anybody Know of Good Effects of Glucophage in Getting Pregnant??

Hi A. - I believe it's an endocrinologist (doctor) who can help you w/ PCOS...they also deal w/ diabetes so he/she will be very knowledgeable about Glucophage (since it's used for diabetes). Good luck.

I would be interested in finding out because I am diabetic and no doctor, obgyn, or endocrinologist would let me take any pills while pregnant (so i presume that means shortly before pregnancy also) and still will not while I am breastfeeding. That includes glucophage. I know you are asking about perdiod regulation, but I assume that is to help you get pregnant?

Hi A.,
My doctor started me on Glucophage about 6 months before I was ready to really start trying to get pregnant. I have Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the thought with the Glucophage is that if you are overweight it will help you to lost weight by lowering the amount of sugar in your system. I have heard of it working wonders for some women but because it is a diabetic medication it is not something that you want to start without consulting your OB/GYN first. Glucophage does not regulate your period it just helps with weight loss if you are overweight and losing the weight helps with regulating the period. However, that is if you are skipping months when you don't have a period, which is not your case. My advice to you because I dealt with my PCOS for 7 years before someone would take me seriously is too be very persistent. I understand about the co-pays costing an arm and a leg but there is definitely something not right with your periods being so irregular. Remember, you are your own best advocate and you have to be when it comes to your health-care. If you have anymore questions please feel free to write to me, I am a little knowledgeable in this area.

Glucophage is commonly prescribed for diabetes, and is a med that you SHOULD NOT TAKE unless prescribed. Yes, it can help with fertility, but it does so because infertility is a common side effect of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is also associated with an increased risk of diabetes. If you're having the problems with your period you've described, AND haven't been using B.C. for so long without getting pregnant, I agree that you really need to be checked. Other symptoms of PCOS can include heavier than average body hair or having a body weight heavier than average, but I've had several friends with the condition who didn't have either of those symptoms. PCOS also increases your risk of heart disease and other conditions, so it's definitely something you want to find out about sooner rather than later. And yes, I have had several friends who were put on metformin/glucophage for their PCOS and were able to successfully get pregnant and have healthy babies. . . one was 42 when she had her first child!

Hello there,

I am a primary care practitioner and I have treated several women with glucophage who have had fertility problems. It is usually not prescribed for women who are generally healthy and have some sort of menstrual period even if its irregular. The drug is used if the patient has PCOS (polycystic ovaries) and that is only diagnosed with lab work. You need to get general lab work to see if you have blood sugar issues which could be causing your infertility and you need to get hormonal levels during the first days of your period and during your mid cycle (day 21-23) to know for sure if you have the problem. I have also seen it used in women who are obese and don't necessarily have PCOS.

What I would suggest is to get tested to see if you may have PCOS and then go from there. I agree that your husband needs to be checked too just to make sure everything is ok. I would also recommend an ultrasound if you can afford it if nothing shows on the lab testing.

Glucophage can be safely used up to 6 months to regulate the menses but you also need to work on a healthy weight to help your body with ovulation. After your menses is regulated with the medicine you can try to conceive using the rhythm method. If that doesn't work then you can talk to your OB about using Clomid which is a drug that helps induce ovulation.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

I just wanted to tell you that yes Glucophage did work for me! After 10 years of trying I finally have my miracle son and I couldn't be happier. My doctor had diagnosed me with PCOS (Poly cystic ovarian syndrome) and a minor surgery was needed. I had a cyst on my ovary that needed to be removed, I had that done and took the glucophage for 2 months and amazingly I got pregnant. I don't know if this helps at all, but I know that it did help me.

Hello! I have been taking Glucophage for 2 years now, but for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Have you been checked for this? It took over a year to get pregnant with my daughter (which we did without anything, I just happened to spontaneously ovulate). I take the Glucophage to regulate my ovaries/periods BUT it involves periodic lab work and blood sugar monitoring because it is a diabetic drug. While I don't have to do the daily blood sugar testing, I do have to watch what I eat/drink because it still effects my levels. The periodic blood work is to monitor my kidneys and liver because of the drugs sides effects.

Anyway, my gyno/ob told me that I should be extremely fertile now that I am on the glucaphage. I did get pregnant but it wasn't planned as I was on the pill and subsequently miscarried. So, I guess to answer your question, glucophage does increase ovulation production, BUT it should be used for its intentions, which is to treat for other disorders. If doctors are now testing to see if it can be used in fertility actions, then they obviously know more and can help. I just know that it's a powerful drug and should only be used under a doctor's care.

Good luck!

Hi A., I do not seen an update since your original request - are you expecting?? If not, although I do not know about the use of glucophase, I have been learning recently about how unsafe ingredients in personal care products made by major manufacturers in the US could be contributing to infertility because of unsafe ingredients that could cause infertility, as well as chronic disease. Please visit www.findgreenhere.com (safe cosmetics page, cosmetic database - insert the names of your personal care products including baby products, and/or key ingredients). After researching, you may find that you want to stop using anything on yourself, and hubby or son unless it is all "clean and green and toxin-free". That potentially could help with fertility. V. G. :o)

I don't know about glucophage, but I would be concerned about bleeding so much and I agree with others that I would want to get a diagnosis.
If you are interested in a natural way to regulate your periods and enhance your chances of fertility, I highly recommend acupuncture. I know of an acupuncturist in Oakland (Dr. Alex Feng at the Taoist Center) and one in San Rafael (Anca Sira) whom I would recommend. Anca Sira actually specializes in fertility. I've also heard of one in Lafayette who specializes in fertility, but have not checked her out yet.

A.,

I took Glucophage to help regulate my hormones for my first child, after 3 years of nothing. But I have PCO, polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Given your situation and your odd cycle I would definitely say get that figured out first. Yes, it'll mean blood tests, and probably visits to more than one doctor. It took me 5 before I found one that knew what was up with my lack of a period and had a plan to fix it. Others were suggesting artificial means for getting pregnant.

With my second I was pregnant within 6 months of trying, no drugs.

Find youself a good doctor one that will talk to you about possibilities, and listen too.

Good Luck.

Hi there. Acupuncture and herbs and the best medicine I have found to regulate the menstrual cycle and help get you pregnant safely. I am an acupuncturist and treat women regularly for menstrual irregularities and it works wonderfully with none of the side effects of western interventions. I hope this helps and good luck.

J. Stevens, L.Ac.
www.yourwholefamilywellness.com

I took Glucophage before getting pregnant and during. It was one of a few things I was taking to deal with my infertility. I have Polycystic Ovarian Disease and there are some issues with that that the glucophage helps. I don't know that glucophage helps on its own to regulate periods or helps you get pregnant. If you have PCO issues or Syndrome X (I think that's what it is called) issues then it might.

I would definitely talk to your OB/GYN about this. Not that your friend isn't knowledgeable, but you need the advice of someone that can assess your situation appropriately. That will involve some blood tests I'm sure. A PPO is a good thing to have. You have access to quite a few specialists that way.

Good luck and I hope you are successful in your endeavors to have another child.

I don't know anything about Glucophage. However, I have read that Vitamin E helps the baby to hold to the uterus wall. Sometimes, without realizing it, women miscarry. Vitamin helps to prevent that. Years ago, I told my sister-in-law about it and she tried it and got pregnant again after years of trying. There are 3 forms of E, so be sure to get vitamin E with mixed Techoperals (spelling?). It is a little more expensive, but better. I read in the Annals of the New York Journals of Science that vitamin E strengthens the membrane walls and helps you live longer. Also good for evening out skin tone and getting rid of scar tissue, I have read and witnessed.

I would go natural and try acupuncture. A friend of mine who has one child and wants a 2nd had a similar problem to you with her periods. She goes to Jennifer at www.acupuncturefertility.com and says it's been wonderful! Her periods got back to normal and she feels more balanced, less anxious, and ready to conceive. They specialize in this type of thing. They're in sacramento.

Glucophage is a medication to treat diabetes. I do know that doctors warn patients even if they are in menopause to keep up using birth control because of the hormones in Glucophage. I would be very careful since it does lower blood sugars, so you would have to be doing blood testing throughout the day. What worked for us was using the Rhythm Method to see when I ovulated. We used it religiously (no pun intended - well, maybe) and got good results. Make sure you follow directions, take your temperature before you get out of bed in the morning and use a super accurate basal thermometer. Good luck!

Dear A.,
Firt go to your doctor to make sure you and your husband are medically clear. Then find yourself a HypnoFertility Therapist who will use hypnosis to help you get pregnant. The HypnoFertility theraphy has many benefits including that it's non invasive, has no negative side effects and it's inexpensive compared to other fertility treatments.
Don't know where you are located, I'm in Bakersfield and I am a HypnoFertility Therapist. Google HypnoFertility or HypnoBirthing and you will find HypnoFertility listed as an option.

Best of luck,
S.

I agree w/the others.....you need to figure out why you're having such long periods before you try to get pregnant again. And the fact that you haven't been using BC all these years but haven't gotten pregnant is a concern. I suggest you switch docs & get a full panel of blood work done. Having your period the way you have been is also a symptom of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which I have. I could give you oodles of info but that would take too long so google it along w/endomitriosis. We have 2 boys, ages 7.5 yr & 3 yrs both conceived w/drugs & insemination. I strongly encourage you to see a specialist to figure out what's going on. Good luck!

A. I am confused as to why a pediatrician would recommend you go on a diabetes medication to regulate your periods. You should never take a medication that your body does not need. This medication is for Diabetics to help their pancreas produce more of its own natural insulin so they don't have to do as many injections, if I remember what my father told me. He is diabetic and has taken Gluophage for years, you need to go to a OB/GYN who can better deal with your issues. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.
W. H.

I could be wrong, but I had a friend who had periods like yours and she had endometriosis. Have them check for that. it's not normal to have cycles like that.

I would be more concerned about "constant" periods. Your OB/GYN should be trying to determine what is causing a very abnormal monthly cycle BEFORE placing you on any drug. I had issues with endometriosis for over 20 years, which resulted in 20+ days of bleeding every month and also included surgery for a ruptured endometriotic cyst on my left ovary. My second "fertility" specialist (after above referenced surgery) placed me on clomid insisting that I was not ovulating and my intact ovary needed the extra help. After about 1 year with no results I switched doctors only to find out after extra blood work and an ultra sound, that I WAS ovulating all along and now had clomidic cysts. Thankfully they went away on their own. However, this doctor ran many more tests to determine why I wasn't getting pregnant. We spent $20k or more on this process, which ended 5 years ago with a hysterectomy.
The message here, find out what's going on with your body. It would not be wise to focus only on getting pregnant without addressing the underlying cause of your abnormal menses. Fixing the one, will hopefully lead to your desired end result. If you're in San Jose and don't have a good doctor, try Los Olivos Women's Medical Clinic. I have heard many good things about it.
Good Luck, L.