Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is notorious for causing acne, weight gain, and unwanted facial hair. While all of these symptoms are bothersome on their own, perhaps the most frustrating complication of PCOS for women trying to conceive is its impact on their fertility.
It’s no secret that PCOS makes it harder to conceive, and if you’re looking to grow your family, you might wonder if you’ll be able to get pregnant.
It’s a common question that we hear at Westover Hills Women's Health. Take a moment as our team of board-certified OB/GYNs and midwives explain how PCOS affects your fertility and what we can do to help you manage the condition.
PCOS can affect fertility in a few ways. It can:
Hormonal imbalances cause irregular or absent periods, which means your body isn’t regularly releasing eggs for fertilization. Women with PCOS often have eight or fewer periods each year, and without regular ovulation, it can be harder to pinpoint your most fertile windows.
Insulin resistance — common in PCOS —affects your fertility in two ways. One, high levels of insulin can lead to irregular cycles and missed periods. Two, insulin resistance can also lead to weight gain.
Being overweight can prevent ovulation and even make it harder for fertility treatments to work. Unfortunately, PCOS makes it easier to gain weight and harder to lose it.
Yes, you can. Women with PCOS struggle with infertility at a rate 15 times higher than women without PCOS, but that doesn’t mean pregnancy is out of the question.
To better improve your chance of conceiving, you might consider:
Despite the complications of PCOS on your fertility, the reality is that for many women with PCOS, lifestyle changes such as weight management, exercise, and a balanced diet can significantly improve ovulation and boost fertility.
Dietary modifications, such as eating more fiber, avoiding processed foods, and eating anti-inflammatory foods, can help keep inflammation down and also help you lose weight.
Studies have shown that for overweight or obese women with irregular periods, losing weight can improve their natural conception chances. In fact, for every 2.2 pounds of weight loss, the time it takes to conceive can be shortened by about 5.5 days.
In cases where lifestyle changes aren’t enough, we may prescribe fertility medications like clomiphene or letrozole to stimulate ovulation.
If you’re still struggling to conceive naturally, you’re not out of options. Women with PCOS can also undergo in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or other assisted reproductive technologies.
The bottom line here is not to lose hope. There are several methods for improving your fertility. Our experienced OB/GYNs and fertility specialists may recommend:
Absolutely! While PCOS may increase the risk of complications like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, many women with PCOS go on to have healthy pregnancies.
Our team here at Westover Hills Women’s Health monitors you closely throughout your pregnancy, recommends glucose screening during your pregnancy, and checks for red flags of preeclampsia (whether or not you have PCOS).
If you have PCOS and are struggling to grow your family — or thinking about doing so soon — don’t hesitate to call our nearest San Antonio, Texas, location to explore PCOS management and fertility options. You can also use our online system to book online.
