Getting Pregnant with PCOS – What Can You Do About it?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevailing cause of infertility in women. However, PCOS fiddles with more than merely your fertility, and you may not even become aware of it unless you obtain your diagnosis when attempting to get pregnant.

Although having PCOS does not mean you can never get pregnant. But getting pregnant with PCOS is tricky to restrain and may need medical assistance – but it is curable. Let us understand what PCOS is and how can women with PCOS get pregnant.

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a hormonal condition wherein the ovaries may fail to release an egg at the end of the period cycle. A woman’s body develops androgens at a higher level in PCOS. Higher than normal levels of androgens impede the growth of eggs and their regular release.

If you’re a woman with PCOS, then:

• your ovaries are a bit larger than usual
• you have multiple fluid-filled pockets on the ovaries that release the eggs while you ovulate

Symptoms of PCOS:

• Hair growth on the face and other uncommon body parts
• No periods
• Irregular periods
• Oily skin or acne
• Quick weight gain
• Trouble losing weight
• Unable to get pregnant
• Hair loss

Before you start to worry about witnessing any PCOS symptoms in your body, let us tell you that you can keep such symptoms away with medical treatment and improve your PCOS chances of getting pregnant. Check out some good ways to get pregnant with PCOS in the next section.

5 Ways to Get Pregnant with PCOS:

Maintain a healthy weight

Generally, being overweight is connected to having PCOS. But many women with PCOS are overweight in no manner. However, if you’re overweight, your PCOS and infertility may have a connection. If you manage to reduce even 10% of your body weight, you can notice an improvement in your hormones and ovulation.

Fortunately, even 5 % weight loss can improve fertility, period cycle and insulin resistance. On the other hand, overexercising can boost inflammation in the body and harm fertility. Aim for 3-5 days of moderate-intensity exercise per week for the best results.

Regulate your Periods

Some treatments, fortunately, can assist women with PCOS in having healthy pregnancies. Your doctor might recommend birth control that contains synthesized oestrogen and progestin. By lowering androgen production, these pills can help control your menstrual cycle.

If you are unable to withstand a combination birth control pill, your doctor may advise a progestin-only pill. This pill is taken about twice a month for about 1-2 months. It intends to aid in the regulation of your period.

Eat Right

Whether you’re a woman with PCOS or not, taking the correct amount of nutrients is essential when trying to get pregnant. You must prefer fresh, cooked fruits or vegetables, whole grains, beans, fish, lentils etc., over sugary foods, unhealthy fats and carbs.

Moreover, several minerals and vitamins are vital for pregnancy and a healthy baby. Some of the supplements that can help your fertility are vitamin C, D, B6 and E. However, before you take any supplements, do not forget to consult your doctor.

You May Need Medication

In a PCOS patient, your body may make an excess of both the male hormone testosterone and the female hormone estrogen. Getting pregnant with PCOS becomes challenging if there is too much or too little of these hormones. Your doctor may suggest some medication to help you balance your hormones. Some medicines that help you get pregnant with PCOS are:

• Clomiphene citrate to balance estrogen levels
• Metformin for insulin balance
• Birth control pills to keep oestrogen and testosterone levels in check
• Fertility medications that stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs

Keep Stress at Bay

Your fertility is based on balanced hormones and stimulated adrenals. However, cortisol, the stress hormone developed by adrenal glands, impacts all of your hormones. This is why you must lessen and avert stress to extend your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS. You can try yoga, exercise, massage or anything you love to reduce stress.

What are Your Chances of Getting Pregnant with PCOS?

While trying to get pregnant with PCOS, medicines may be just the treatment you need. A study suggests that nearly 80 % of women with PCOS treated with clomiphene citrate had ovulated successfully, and of these, almost 50% of women got pregnant naturally within 6-period cycles.

If you do not get pregnant with medicines, your doctor may suggest you go for IVF treatment. With IVF,  women with PCOS have the highest chance of becoming pregnant. Women over the age of 35, and those who are overweight, should take up treatment at the earliest.

Research suggests that women with PCOS have higher success in getting pregnant with IVF. If you have PCOS and are unable to conceive, then IVF can be a good option. Get your fertility treatment carried out under the expertise of Dr Manish Banker, the best fertility specialist in Ahmedabad. Book your appointment – now!