Expert: Scott Roseff, MD, FACOG - 8/27/2005

Question
I am 22 yrs old and I have a very irregular cycle.  During 12 months I only get my menstration about 4 times and the blood is very dark (as if it was old blood) and it is light.  I could possibly have PCOS and I was put on metformin, 500mg, to try and regulate my sugar levels so I am able to ovulate.  When I was put on metformin I had started a cycle 3 days before (again, old blood).  Because metformin brings down a cycle am I going to get another period in a few days and then ovulate or will this be my cycle and it is safe to assume I am going to ovulate soon?  I don't know the length of my cycles because they don't come around very often.  Also, when my cycle was regular I had long heavy periods and now I don't.  I am not even sure if what I am having is even considered a period.  Now that I think about it I had my "period" on July 25th and I got it again on August 22nd.  Should I use those dates to calculate when I am going to ovulate?  What are the pregnancy success rates w/ Metformin and within how long?  Thank you in advance for your help.  

Answer
Hi Alina,

It's not normal to get a period only 4 times a year, and not having a period regularly puts someone at an increased risk for problems such as endometrial cancer.  You should consider seeking out the advice of a board certified reproductive endocrinologist (or at the very least a different doctor than who you've been seeing since he/she hasn't been concerned about this)....

Without seeing you here, there's no way for me to know if you will get another period or not after the bleeding that started after Metformin.

It sounds like you can use the 7/25 and 8/22 dates to calculate when you might ovulate next or get another period.  Again, due to the potential medical and reproductive repercussions of PCOS, I HIGHLY recommend you seek out the professional advice of a board certified RE as soon as possible.

Good luck,
Dr. Roseff - Director of W.E. C.A.R.E. in West Orange, NJ
PERSONALIZED/Individualized Successful care by a Board Certified specialist
in a warm and caring setting....
www.reproendo.com/different.htm
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