Could PCOS Be Causing Your Infertility?

Do you have a hard time losing weight, struggle with irregular periods, or have excessive hair growth on your face, chin, or back? If so, these are all signs that you may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that impacts your hormones and may interfere with your ability to become pregnant or maintain a pregnancy. 

Here’s what you need to know about PCOS, one of the most common causes of female-factory infertility.

What Is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal imbalance that causes your body to produce abnormally high levels of male hormones called androgens. Androgens interfere with your body’s normal response to female reproductive hormones. As a result, your ovaries develop fluid-filled cysts, causing you to ovulate irregularly or not at all.

In addition to impacting your fertility, PCOS is linked to many other health problems, including type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and uterine cancer. 

Symptoms of PCOS 

PCOS symptoms can vary and change depending on your unique physiology. But if you experience any of the following symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.

• Weight gain
• Trouble losing weight
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Amenorrhea (not having your period)
• Long periods
• Heavy periods
• Thinning hair
• Bald spots, especially male pattern baldness
• Excessive hair growth on the face, chest, or other areas typically associated with body hair in men
• Acne on your face, chest, or back
• Skin tags
• Skin darkening, especially under your breasts, in your neck creases, and around your groin
• Infertility

About PCOS and Infertility

PCOS can make it very difficult to predict when, or if, you’ll ovulate. If you don’t ovulate, it’s impossible to get pregnant naturally and if your ovulation is hard to predict, you may have difficulty becoming pregnant. If you do become pregnant, you’re more likely to have a miscarriage or suffer from complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. PCOS also places you at higher risk of having a preterm birth and/or needing a Cesarean section.

Steps to Improve PCOS

PCOS is strongly linked to insulin resistance, which in turn, is linked to poor eating habits, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and a family history of type 2 diabetes. Making changes that lower your blood glucose levels can be very beneficial for both PCOS and infertility.

If you’re overweight, losing weight is strongly correlated with an improvement in PCOS and infertility. In fact, reducing your weight by 10% helps regulate your menstrual cycle. And when your menstrual cycle becomes more regular, you’re more likely to ovulate and ovulate predictably, making it easier to become pregnant. 

The best way to lose weight and improve your PCOS symptoms is by adopting an overall healthy lifestyle. Aim for a diet high in fiber, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, and low in red meat, saturated fats, sugary foods and simple carbohydrates. The Mediterranean diet is a great choice because it centers around healthy foods that make you feel full and satisfied. Try moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, swimming or biking, for about 30 minutes at least a few times each week.

Treatment for PCOS-Related Infertility

If you do have PCOS, there are many treatment options available to help you have a baby. In addition to lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe medicine to help you ovulate, perform mildly invasive surgery, or help you conceive through intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Your doctor may also have you take medication, like metformin, to help you regulate your blood glucose levels. And you may be prescribed birth control pills to help bring your hormone levels into balance before you begin fertility treatments. You may also be given clomid to help increase your estrogen levels and stimulate your body to ovulate. 

When to See a Doctor About PCOS and Infertility

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that as many as 70% of women with PCOS are undiagnosed. If you’re experiencing symptoms of PCOS, it’s important to talk to your doctor. Getting prompt treatment gives you the best chance of becoming pregnant.

If you’ve already experienced such PCOS complications as multiple miscarriages or a lack of menstrual periods, it’s time to make an appointment with a fertility specialist. Likewise, if you’ve been trying to conceive for 12 months or more (6 months if you’re over age 35).

At RHWC, our comprehensive treatment plans incorporate both lifestyle changes and the latest technology to address PCOS and infertility. Schedule an appointment at our fertility clinic in Laguna Hills, CA to learn how we can help realize your dreams of growing your family.