Before we dive into a bigger discussion, let’s begin here: Yes, it is possible to get pregnant with PCOS.
So you can take a deep breath now, relax your shoulders, and continue reading for a full guide on what exactly you need to know about how to get pregnant with PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is a common health condition that may cause fertility problems. If you have it, PCOS can leave you feeling out-of-control and frustrated with your body.
First, let’s go over what PCOS is. It is a hormonal disorder that causes ovaries to grow and form small cysts.
It’s common among women of reproductive age, affecting between 6 and 12% of these women nationwide. Being the most common endocrine disorder affecting this age group, PCOS can be a pain to live with.
We’re still not totally sure what causes PCOS, but it is linked to excess levels of androgens. Androgens are associated with male growth hormones, but women naturally have them as well.
High levels of androgens cause dips and peaks in Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH).
These are key hormones in signaling the release of a mature egg, which is the process called ovulation. It’s because of these hormonal imbalances that women with PCOS often have problems with ovulation. For instance, women with PCOS may ovulate several times in a cycle, or not at all.
But irregular ovulations aren’t the only PCOS symptoms. Take a look at these other common symptoms.
Symptoms like hair growth, acne, and weight gain are distressing, especially when combined with problems of conception.
The good news is that even though PCOS may mess up your menstrual cycle, it’s still possible for many women with this condition to successfully conceive.
To learn more about how to increase your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS, keep reading!
According to research, between 70-80% of women with PCOS have trouble with infertility. Getting pregnant can be a frustrating and emotionally draining problem for women with PCOS.
In order for pregnancy to begin, an egg has to be released into the fallopian tube and fertilized by sperm. Since PCOS affects the body’s ability to have a predictable cycle, women living with the condition may experience anovulation.
Anovulation is when the ovaries don’t release an egg during the cycle. On the other hand, PCOS can also lead to hyperovulation, which is when you release multiple eggs in a cycle.
This unpredictability is what often makes conception difficult in PCOS.
PCOS typically begins at puberty, but it’s normal if you only recently found out you have it. Don’t panic. Many women don’t know they have PCOS until they notice problems with conception.
Even though tracking ovulation with PCOS is not a cakewalk – what with all the unpredictability – it is still possible. Accurate tracking will give you an idea of your fertile window, which is your best time to try for pregnancy.
The fertile window is estimated to be 6 days: 4 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and the day after ovulation.
Here are a few strategies that can help you track your ovulation:
Even though tracking ovulation with PCOS is not a cakewalk – what with all the unpredictability – it is still possible. Accurate tracking will give you an idea of your fertile window, which is your best time to try for pregnancy.
The fertile window is estimated to be 6 days: 4 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and the day after ovulation.
Here are a few strategies that can help you track your ovulation:
Many women with PCOS are able to get pregnant and have successful outcomes. We hope you will be able to, as well! Here are a few more strategies to try if you know you have PCOS and are trying to conceive.
Between 40-85% of all women with PCOS are overweight. The hormonal imbalance of PCOS makes women more prone to putting on weight, especially around the abdomen. Obesity is linked to PCOS, and the condition can even worsen because of it.
Weight gain leads to insulin resistance, causing the ovaries to release even more androgens than usual. This can prompt other PCOS symptoms to get worse. At the same time, obesity and insulin resistance in women can also increase risks of conditions like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.
Your fat cells release estrogen to support the hormonal requirement in your body. When you are obese or overweight, the fat cells produce more estrogen thereby leading to a further hormonal imbalance in PCOS.
Losing weight can make living with PCOS better. While weight loss won’t cure PCOS, it may ease the symptoms, which can in turn help in the regulation of your fertility cycle. Regulating your blood sugar levels and bringing down your Body Mass Index (BMI) can help prevent other diseases like diabetes and heart problems.
In studies, women with PCOS who lost weight experienced better menstrual regularity and more regular ovulation. This will make it easier for you to track your cycles and help to get pregnant with PCOS.
But you don’t need us to tell you that losing weight is easier said than done. Especially because PCOS often results in women gaining more weight over time.
Rather than going on crash diets, try incorporating these lifestyle changes to increase your chances to get pregnant with PCOS:
For weight loss, 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week is recommended for women with PCOS. This means that you need to spare 30 minutes daily for swimming, running, or zumba five days a week.
Bringing down your carb consumption helps with insulin resistance, and has been proved to help with fertility among women with PCOS. A diet with less carbs and more lean protein and healthy fats can help you lose weight, feel better internally, and decrease your risk for other health problems. Think leafy vegetables, high-fiber fruits, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds.
If you’re wanting to lose weight and are having trouble, working through the problem with a behavioral therapist can set you on the path to your goals. This exercise will give you motivation and accountability, helping you reach your weight loss goals.
Behavioral therapy has benefits beyond weight loss: it can help you process the complex emotions that PCOS causes. If taking this route could help you lose weight, increase chances of conception, and give you a better quality of life, what is there to lose really? Give it a chance.
If you’re diagnosed with PCOS and are seeking treatment, your doctor will likely opt for first-line medications for you, after some tests and ultrasounds.
These medications carry relatively lower risks and are non-invasive. They stimulate the ovaries to release an ovum, using different mechanisms of action.
If oral medications haven’t helped with PCOS, your fertility doctor may recommend more invasive options. These typically include:
The LOD procedure is done under general anesthesia, when a surgeon will go in through the abdominal wall to drill through this hardened shell. The goal is that after creating this opening, the ovaries will be able to ovulate with the help of ovulation-induction agents.
