How To Conceive With PCOS: A guide to Boost Fertility

How To Conceive With PCOS: A guide to Boost Fertility

“Having lived with PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) for most of my life, I knew it would be difficult for me to conceive. When I was a teenager, I always had an irregular period cycle. Sometimes it was even a gap of 6 months.  I was in my 20s when I was first diagnosed with PCOS. The doctor did mention that I might face difficulties while conceiving it but it didn’t bother me much at that time. Now I am 30, planning to start my family and now I realised how PCOS would impact my fertility so significantly.” _Disha Kapoor (name change)

In this blog, we will tell you in detail about what is PCOS, its symptoms, and tips to conceive in PCOS. 

What is PCOS? 

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a very common, yet chronic hormone imbalance condition that affects 5% to 10% of women in the age group ranging from 12 to 45 years. This covers the entire childbearing age of a woman. When you have PCOS, your reproductive hormones are out of balance. PCOS impacts your ovaries-the reproductive organs that produce estrogen and progesterone. The word “polycystic” means “many cysts.” PCOS can impact your fertility, menstruation cycle, fluctuation in weight, and even tamper with insulin production. 

What Causes PCOS?

The exact cause of PCOS is not known. However, the following factors have been linked to the condition.

1. Genetics: Polycystic ovary syndrome is more prevalent among family members than among the general population. This suggests that genes play a vital role in the development of PCOS.

2. Elevated insulin levels: The insulin level is noticeably elevated among (around 50 – 70%) women who are experiencing PCOS. Therefore, probably insulin production can be linked with PCOS.

3. High level of androgen: Elevated insulin levels, in turn, appear to increase androgen (male hormone) production which hinders the ovulation

4. Obesity: Overweight women are at greater risk for PCOS

5. Unhealthy lifestyle: Unhealthy lifestyle, and eating more fast foods can make your PCOS worse. 

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

The most common symptom is missed or irregular period, but there are other symptoms which include:

• Weight Gain: Most women with PCOS are overweight or obese. As the body of women with PCOS develops insulin intolerance, more sugar is stored as fat. This results in weight gain. 

• Hair Growth: Women facing PCOS will have hair growth on their faces and other parts of their bodies. Excessive hair growth is called hirsutism. 

• Acne - Irregular hormones can make the skin oilier and thus cause acne and breakouts on the areas like the face, chin, chest, and even back.  

• Mood swings - PCOS has several effects on the body which impact mental health and many ladies with PCOS suffer from mood swings. 

How to detect pregnancy if you have PCOS

Is your period late because of Pregnancy or because of PCOS? When you’re trying to conceive and waiting to take a pregnancy test it might feel like forever. Irregular periods make it difficult to track ovulation. 

If you are getting treated with Progesterone, you might experience sore breasts, tiredness, mood swings, and appetite changes; all these are classic pregnancy symptoms.

Women with PCOS should avoid using early result pregnancy tests since these tests often produce false negatives.

Can PCOS increase the risk of complications during pregnancy? 

 PCOS affects around one in ten women of reproductive age. Of these, 70% to 80% don’t always release an egg (ovulate) during their menstrual cycle, making conception impossible in these months. Women with PCOS can face many health problems during pregnancy are: 

• High blood pressure

• Gestational diabetes

• Premature birth

• Higher risk of miscarriage 

• The risk of these complications can be reduced if you will monitor your PCOS Symptoms and take special care during pregnancy

How to conceive with PCOS: 5 effective ways

Women with PCOS might think that they can never conceive and have a baby. But the truth is you can get pregnant by following just a few simple steps. Scroll down to read how to get pregnant with PCOS quickly. 

1. Maintain your weight - If you have PCOS your weight may fluctuate. PCOS increases the risk of insulin resistance. A diet that is high in protein and fiber can help to bring down your insulin levels.

2. Track your menstrual cycle - It is important to track your periods as irregular period is the main symptom of PCOS. Moderating your period cycle will help you to understand when you are ovulating and your fertility window. You can also calculate ovulation using the ovulation calculator on our parentune website. 

3. De-stress - A stress hormone called cortisol affects all the hormones. Thus, it is important to lower your stress and anxiety levels for you to have a better chance of getting pregnant. You can try yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness activities to stay calm. 

4. Increase your Vitamin D levels -Vitamin D plays an important role in increasing the chances of you getting pregnant. Women with PCOS always face Vitamin D deficiency.  Vitamin D is required for a healthy pregnancy. 

5. IVF - In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is another way that can help you to get pregnant if you have PCOS. Consult your fertility doctor she/he might guide you with more information on this. The IVF process sometimes takes months or even years even if you have PCOS or not. 

Takeaway 

Yes, ladies, you can get pregnant even if you have PCOS. You just need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, balance your sugar levels, and most importantly don’t lose hope. PCOS is not the end of your life. Take this as a beautiful journey with few obstacles. Be optimistic. We hope that this blog will help you to plan your pregnancy better.