The truth about PCOS Infertility is simple: Anovulation
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder that affects the hormonal balance. The imbalance can lead to various symptoms and may affect a woman’s fertility. Every month, in women of reproductive age small fluid-filled cysts known as follicles develop on the surface of the ovary. Female hormones, estrogen, cause one of the follicles to produce a mature egg. The ovary then releases this egg, and it breaks out of the follicle.
In women with PCOS, there is an imbalance in estrogen. The imbalance can prevent the development and release of mature eggs. Without a mature egg, neither ovulation or pregnancy can happen. The hormonal imbalance also includes an abnormal rise in testosterone, which is primarily a male sex hormone. Women also produce testosterone, although it is usually in small quantities.
What are the different causes for infertility with PCOS?
PCOS can affect a woman’s fertility in various ways. Ovulation issues are usually the primary cause of infertility in women with PCOS. Increased testosterone products adversely affect ovulation which leads to infertility. Even with ovulation, hormonal imbalance prevents the lining of the uterus from developing efficiently to enable implantation of the mature egg. Women with PCOS also tend to have irregular or absent menstrual cycle which also makes it difficult for them to get pregnant.
It is possible to get pregnant with PCOS with some help
Currently, there is no cure for PCOS, however treatment at the right time can help women increase their chances of getting pregnant. It can also help women manage their symptoms. Doctors usually prescribe birth control pills to manage the symptoms along with insulin sensitizing drugs which improves the body’s insulin and testosterone production. Exercise and the right lifestyle modification are considered to be one of the best treatments for PCOS.
One must put an end to all the unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, drugs, and other such habits if they want to overcome their infertility issue. Eating healthy food and getting a good eight hours of sleep is very important. Adapt good habits such as following a balanced diet which has all your carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, roughage and vitamin content present in it. Consume a lot of water and minerals and drink at-least eight glasses of water in a day.
Yoga and Meditation are extremely beneficial too to overcome Infertility. There are special aasanas that are dedicated to cure infertility. Meditation relaxes you and de-stresses and declutters your mind.
It is also important to deal with the societal issues and pressures that come along with PCOS. Its normalcy is yet not accepted well in the society, and treatments for these are restricted very often as girls shy away to seek medical help for the same. One should know that silence and untimely treatment can prove to be more hazardous towards PCOS than the problem itself. Acceptance is a stage that needs to be overcome, you need to accept that there is a problem, and it is okay to do so.
PCOS infertility treatment can increase the chances pregnancy. The fight with PCOS against infertility is an uncertain one, as it causes a huge amount of hormonal imbalance and complications, but with the right medications and diet and lifestyle followed, your chances might just improve to get pregnant.
