PCOS is a very common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Symptoms of PCOS vary greatly from one person to another. Some girls may face a tough time during periods, during puberty or while planning pregnancy while others may not. Having a baby with the partner they love is a precious dream for most women, but some women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may have to overcome certain challenges to achieve a healthy pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 116 million women (3.4% of the population) are affected by PCOS worldwide, so if you are struggling to get pregnant with PCOS, know that you are not alone and it’s more common than you think. 

Despite the difficulties, with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, you can manage your odds of getting pregnant with PCOS. In this blog, we will look at both natural and medical remedies for PCOS related pregnancy. 

How Does PCOS Affect a Woman’s Fertility?  

• One in five women of reproductive age struggle with the complex hormonal condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

• They may have irregular or infrequent periods, enlarged polycystic ovaries, weight gain, excessive body hair and health problems like type 2 diabetes.  

• Women with PCOS may also have an underproduction of estrogen (female hormones) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which is responsible for pubertal development and an overproduction of androgens (male hormones).
• During a menstrual cycle, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted by the pituitary gland selects one of the follicles within the ovary to mature and ovulate, eventually releasing an egg. But in some women with PCOS, the maturation of egg and ovulation may get irregular making it harder to get pregnant with PCOS. But with the advancement in medical science and expertise on PCOS, there are many solutions available to women with PCOS today.  

Insulin sensitising treatments as insulin resistance is main problem in PCOS is very important. Once the insulin resistance decreases , automatically fertility improves and many will conceive naturally. Consult your obstetrician for more information.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Medical options: How to get pregnant with PCOS quickly? 

If you have tried for a baby for 12 months without success (or six months if you are aged 35 or over) you can seek medical options that aid PCOS pregnancy. The three most effective ways that your doctor may suggest for getting pregnant with PCOS quickly are:

1. Ovulation induction

If you have irregular or sporadic periods, it’s likely that you are not ovulating regularly. Ovulation induction (OI) is the first line of medical treatment in getting pregnant with PCOS. Your doctor may prescribe you a hormone medication (tablets or injections) to stimulate the ovaries for the egg to release and fertilize, either during intercourse or through intra-uterine insemination (IUI).

2. Artificial insemination or IUI

The second line of medical treatment in getting pregnant with PCOS is Artificial insemination, which is sometimes called intrauterine insemination (IUI). The medical procedure involves inserting the male partner’s (or a donor’s) sperm into the woman’s uterus at or just before the time of ovulation. If the woman has irregular menstrual cycles, IUI needs to be performed in combination with ovulation induction (OI), else it can be done during a natural menstrual cycle.

3. In-vitro fertilization (IVF)

If a woman with PCOS struggles to get pregnant despite the former two medical procedures, she may need a more invasive fertility treatment called In-vitro fertilization (IVF). An IVF treatment cycle has five key stages:
1. Hormone stimulation using fertility drugs to produce multiple eggs
2. Egg retrieval in an ultrasound-guided procedure under light anaesthesia
3. Embryo development by adding sperms to the eggs in the laboratory for embryos to form
4. Embryo transfer by placing the embryo in the uterus where it may implant and grow into a baby.
5. Clinical pregnancy verified by ultrasound at approximately six to seven weeks into the pregnancy.  

Miscarriage is very commonly seen in pregnancy if a person suffers from PCOS. With the right care and treatment, conception and a healthy pregnancy are completely possible.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Also Read: Benefits of Maca Root for Females: Research-Backed Insights into Its Effectiveness

Lifestyle Changes: How To Cure PCOS Naturally to Prepare for Conceiving?

According to the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of PCOS, the first step toward improving a woman’s chances of pregnancy and having a healthy baby is adopting a healthy lifestyle. Here’s a list of the best lifestyle tips on how to manage PCOS naturally and get pregnant: 

1. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet by avoiding or limiting inflammatory foods like red meat, trans fats  
2. Swap your daily tea or coffee for green tea
3. Use herbs and spices like ginger, cumin, fennel, bay leaves, etc when cooking
4. Include beans in your diet (at least once a week)
5. Add omega-3 to your diet (walnuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, fish -salmon or tuna)  
6. Eat loads of fruit and vegetables
7. Track your cycles to understand when you’re ovulating and where your fertile window falls
8. Confirm ovulation with ovulation kits from your local pharmacy. They are to be used in a similar way a pregnancy test kit
9. Reverse your insulin resistance by cutting down on sugar and refined carbs
10. Destress with yoga, meditation or any fun activity to boost balanced hormones and nurtured adrenals
11.   Stay active and add some exercise to your routine

Regardless of whether you suffer from PCOS or not, being in the best possible health before trying for a baby is crucial for higher chances of a healthy pregnancy. Not everyone with PCOS will face a problem in getting pregnant. If you are finding it difficult to conceive, consult your gynaecologist and an endocrinologist for the right advice.

Want to boost fertility naturally? Check out Black Cohosh: Benefits, Dosage, and Side-Effects

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