How PCOS is ruining your chances of having a baby?
PCOS is a hormonal disorder where ovaries release excess androgens, affecting normal egg development and the ovulation process. It can be caused by a mix of factors like insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, genetics, chronic inflammation, as well as other environmental factors. PCOS reduces fertility in women by disrupting the natural menstrual cycle making it tougher to conceive naturally.
How PCOS affects your baby plans?
PCOS can affect your chances of conceiving a baby in a lot of ways:
- Irregular or absent ovulation: Eggs cannot mature or release on time if the body is suffering from PCOS. Without the regular cycle of ovulation, natural conception becomes tough.
- Poor egg quality: The quality of eggs can be damaged due to imbalances in ovarian hormones.
- High insulin levels: Excess insulin levels in the body increases the androgen levels in the body. It prevents the ovarian follicles from maturing.
- Endometrial issues: PCOS reduces the chances of natural implantation because the uterine lining becomes too unstable or thick.
- Higher risk of miscarriage: PCOS is interlinked to several hormonal and metabolic issues causing early pregnancy loss.
- Weight and metabolism problems: Fertility and the natural menstrual cycle becomes worse due to obesity, insulin resistance and thyroid issues which are a result of PCOs.
Treatment for getting pregnant with PCOS
Even women with PCOS can get pregnant if assisted with the right treatment plan. Some of the treatment options can include:
- Lifestyle changes: PCOS cannot be cured but can be managed by adopting positive lifestyle changes like including a balanced diet, strength training and a moderate workout regime. It can improve your body’s insulin sensitivity and restart your ovulation cycle.
- Medication: Many medications can help in controlling PCOS symptoms, like letrozole, metformin, clomiphene citrate, etc. But all these medications are only to be consumed when prescribed by your doctor.
- Cycle monitoring methods: Ultrasounds and blood tests can help in tracking ovulation. It allows couples to time their intercourse or schedule their IUI during the most fertile window, increasing the chances of pregnancy.
Treatment for getting pregnant with PCOS
IVF procedures are one of the most effective treatments for helping women with PCOS get pregnant. It is a counter to all PCOS-related problems like poor egg release, irregular ovulation and hormonal imbalance.
IVF treatment can help in the following ways:
- Bypasses ovulation problems: Eggs are directly retrieved from the ovaries during the IVF procedure, so that your body does not have to depend on natural implantation.
- Better embryo quality: The IVF procedure includes selecting the best quality egg to fertilize within the sterilized environment of a lab, increasing the chance for success.
- Accurate timing: Embryos are transferred only when the uterus is in an ideal condition to conceive.
- Helps with endometrium issues: IVF allows for the embryo transfer to happen within a controlled hormonal cycle, which massively improves the chances of pregnancy.
As per the WHO, PCOS affects nearly 6-13% of women globally in their reproductive age. If you’ve been struggling with PCOS, book a consultation with Dr. Riddhi Doshi to understand your condition better and get a personalised treatment plan.