Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Infertility
PCOS is a shared factor for anovulation and female infertility. Anovulation occurs when the ovaries do not release an egg during menstruation, thus ceases all the possibilities of pregnancy.
Causes of Polycystic ovarian syndrome Infertility: Why do Women with polycystic ovaries have fertility problems?
- Failure to release an egg (ovulation failure)
- Presence of ovaries with cystic structures
High levels of androgens (‘male’ hormones such as testosterone) and high insulin levels can affect the menstrual cycle, causing a hindrance in the release of an egg.
When an egg fails to get released during its normal cycle, this is called anovulation. Ovulation can permanently stop or can occur erratically, causing hurdles for women with PCOS to conceive naturally, and posing a higher risk of miscarriage in some women. However, this doesn’t mean all women with PCOS are infertile.
Yes, the infertility rate with polycystic ovaries tend to be high, but women with PCOS experience obstacles in getting pregnant and need specific treatments and medications to solve this issue.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Infertility Treatment
PCOS infertility treatment can increase the chances of the woman to get pregnant. A notably high proportion of women might be able to get pregnant after a Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Infertility Treatment.
PCOS Infertility Management
Weight management
Reductions in weight can help in PCOS infertility treatment. Hence, weight management must be considered as a primary approach to improve fertility. Even a five to ten percent loss of weight can lead to an improvement in the chances of getting pregnant. Current international recommendations state that healthy weight or modest weight loss before pregnancy can help prevent pregnancy-related complications.
Estimate your ovulation time
Polycystic ovarian syndrome infertility treatment is advisable for women who have an irregular menstrual cycle. As PCOS can interrupt regular periods, it’s difficult to estimate the accurate ovulation time. Anovulation calculator and anovulation predictor kit can help you out with this. Talk to your doctor to know more.
Ovulation induction
If lifestyle and weight loss have been fruitless in improving fertility, your doctor will recommend a medication that can release your eggs and help you with PCOS infertility treatment, although temporarily.
Ovulation induction is a strategy to stimulate the ovary to produce eggs by the use of medications. Once ovulation is induced, the semen can be introduced by sexual intercourse or by using artificial devices-method called as “artificial insemination.”
Clomiphene Citrate, Metformin, and Gonadotrophins are typically used during Ovulation Induction. Each of these has its own side effects and is advised to be used only under medical supervision.
Talk to your doctor to seek more information about these medicines.
Ovarian Drilling for improving fertility in PCOS
Ovarian drilling is a surgical procedure that can increase the chances of egg release or ovulation. This is performed using a laparoscope. It is a minimally invasive procedure where an incision is made in the abdomen under general anesthesia. Small holes are drilled in the surface of the ovary to get rid of the tissue that produces excess male hormones or androgens. Following this procedure, ovulation can normally occur for up to a year.
As surgery is a more intensive treatment than taking medication or lifestyle treatment, ovarian drilling is not commonly used and is primarily approached when other strategies to improve PCOS symptoms fail.
Assisted reproductive technology
This includes treatments such as IVF (In vitro fertilization). To initiate these procedures, one has to refer to an IVF specialist, who specializes in conducting such procedures. Assisted reproductive technology is best tried after the other less intensive treatments have proved to be unsuccessful, as it is often costly and demanding. This technology is also more successful in women who have followed lifestyle modification techniques to control PCOS but failed on those.
