It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which will determine its successful outcome... - William James

I’m not one to bring something private into something so public like a blog... But after being diagnosed and treated, I feel obligated to inform women everywhere that are struggling to get pregnant about a condition that is easily and often overlooked. It is called PCOS and it stands for Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. It is the #1 cause of infertility. If it’s so common, why is it so over looked you ask? Because it’s symptoms coincide with so many other things...

Here’s a little bit of my infertility history. I’ve had an abnormal cycle my whole life. Abnormal as in I RARELY have a cycle. Our family doctor said it was just from running so much and as I got older and slowed down my body would correct itself. I had my premarital exam before Whit and I got married and everything checked out fine. I still had an abnormal cycle but I was going on birth control and the doctor said that it would correct my body... While I was on the birth control, my body did have a normal cycle but then my periods began to be unbearable... So, in November of 09' we decided to go off the birth control and my cycle went back to being abnormal. From November to March, we weren’t preventing, but weren’t really trying for a baby either. Then in March we decided to start trying.

It was hard for us to try because of my cycle. We never knew when I was ovulating. I tried ovulation strips but no matter what day it was, it always came out positive. I knew something was wrong when the summer came. From May until September I didn’t have a cycle. That was the longest I had ever gone without a cycle since being on the birth control. Whit and I didn’t have insurance at this time so I waited to go to the doctor. We got insurance the end of October and I went to the doctor once more in December of 10' to see why there was no baby yet. He told me it was because of my cycle... So from December until February I was once again put on the birth control with no success. Then in April I was told about Dr. Heath and after a year and a half of trying, I finally went to a specialist he diagnosed me with PCOS.

Here is a little info about PCOS from WebMD:

PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a common hormonal disorder in women that interferes with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries, or ovulation. It is the most common cause of infertility among women. PCOS occurs when a woman's body overproduces sex hormones, called androgens. The hormone imbalance prevents fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries from breaking open and releasing mature eggs. The fluid-filled sacs bunch together, causing many tiny cysts.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when a hormone imbalance interferes with normal ovulation. PCOS is a major cause of infertility; if it is not treated, it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes, ovarian cancer, uterin cancer, and heart disease.

Common symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome include irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, acne, infertility, male-pattern hair loss, and male-type hair growth on the face and body. Symptoms may occur early in the condition or develop gradually.

The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is not fully understood. Genetics are a factor.

There is no known cure for polycystic ovary syndrome. Treatment focuses on correcting reproductive hormone levels, metabolism problems, and body weight. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are the cornerstone of PCOS treatment, and medicines can be helpful.

I consider myself lucky... Not because I have been diagnosed with PCOS... But because I don’t have all the symptoms! I’m grateful I’m not a hairy person and I’ve been blessed with a healthy body weight my whole life. I’m also grateful I caught my PCOS early before it could cause some serious problems.

I’ve been being treated for my PCOS for about 2 months now and it’s been a little rough. I’m on Metformin to help balance out my hormones. It and I did NOT get along at first... But my body is slowly getting used to it. Dr. Heath says to be positive... He is 100 % convinced I will get pregnant. He just says this is a speed bump in our way. In the beginning, I decided to try and stay positive about this undertaking. Like William James said, I know it will be my attitude that affects the outcome. Hopefully soon we’ll have a Baby Higham on the way! Until then, we just have to keep attacking this obstacle...