<p style="text-align: center;">PCOS is most commonly known for its role in reproduction, but women who have the disease are also considered pre-diabetic and at a greater risk for heart disease.  It has been a while since I had all of my level checked.  In the process of prepping for our upcoming IVF cycle, I wanted to be absolutely sure that I am as healthy as I can be.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Before conceiving O, I also checked on various overall health factors and blogged about it.  My current set of test results is slightly better<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/69-good-thing-i-am-not-a-junkie"> than they were even then</a>.  Hemoglobin A1C is a measure of how your body has managed blood sugar over the last 3 months.  Anything over 7 is considered to be a problem.  Mine was 5.4 last time and 5.3 this time.  Daily metformin, good diet and exercise seem to be working.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">My <a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/48-the-pressures-on">blood pressure has generally been quite low</a>- just another reason why I was so frustrated when it began to spike at the end of my pregnancy with O and eventually led to my induction.  At my annual gyne exam, my BP was 108/66.  Normal is considered anything under 120/80.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Total cholesterol should be under 200.  Mine was down from 195 at the last check to 169.  "Good" cholesterol that helps the body rid itself of bad cholesterol is known as HDL.  This comes from healthy fats like those found in olive oil, avocados and fish.  HDL should be above 46.  Mine was 77.  Total triglycerides need to be under 150; mine was 50.  And the heart stopping bad cholesterol (found in animal products like butter and meat), also known as LDL, must be under 130.  Mine was 82.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Thyroid disease, another thing coupled to PCOS, is also factored in fertility.  I was diagnosed with hypo-thyroidism (meaning I have an under active thyroid) in 1999.  I have been taking thyroid hormones to supplement my body's production for 15 years now.  My levels are very closely monitored, and I feel best where I am at.  The problem is that I was running a little bit closer to the hyper-thyroid end of the spectrum, which can cause miscarriage.  (Levels too low can also stop ovulation; so balance must be achieved.) Before we can start our IVF cycle, they need to see a drop in my levels.  I reduced my dosage over a week ago, but it can take several weeks or a month to see a real change.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I am about 5'9" and I currently weigh 157 pounds.  My BMI is around 23. (Normal BMI is 18-24.9)  Many reproductive endocrinolgists will not allow you to proceed with IVF or require special permission if your BMI is too high.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We have received a lot of other good test results since switching doctors.  My prolactin, FSH,  and ovarian reserve are all normal.  I was tested for the most common genetically-passed diseases, and they all came back negative.  Since I was negative on all counts, there is no reason to test the hubby; our offspring would not be affected even if he was a carrier.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">All this is to say that it appears that my fertility diet and lifestyle choices are having a big impact.  The only factors we are now dealing with are the Asherman's syndrome (scar tissue in the uterus, which in my case, has been removed but leaves a thin uterine lining) and PCOS.  Once my thyroid levels are normal, we should be good to go.  I have to admit that it feels good knowing choices I made are having a positive impact and that no more bumps have come up on our road to fertility.</p>