
How to get pregnant with PCOS
Most women desire and anticipate having kids. However, women with long-term medical conditions, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), frequently worry about childbearing, particularly whether they can conceive.
One in five women of reproductive age have PCOS, a complicated hormonal illness. The majority of women with PCOS have lower amounts of the hormone “follicle stimulating hormone,” which is necessary for pubertal development, the health of women’s ovaries, and the function of men’s testes, and higher levels of the hormone “luteinizing hormone,” which triggers ovulation.
Additionally, women with PCOS produce too much androgen (male hormones) and too little oestrogen (female hormones). On the ovaries’ outer surface, this results in small cysts.
Due to these hormonal imbalances, women with PCOS often have irregular menstrual cycles because they don’t ovulate or ovulate only occasionally. So women with PCOS are more likely to have trouble conceiving than other women.
While most women who have PCOS become pregnant, they often take longer to fall pregnant and are more likely to need fertility treatment than women without PCOS.
Dropping Weight to Restart Ovulation
Obesity is a problem for many (but not all) women with PCOS. This is because PCOS can have a detrimental impact on how your body uses insulin, which can lead to weight gain.
Women with PCOS frequently fail to ovulate or ovulate irregularly, which is one of the main reasons they are unable to become pregnant. Obese women with PCOS are more likely to develop more severe anovulation and longer durations between cycles.
According to studies, weight loss may restore ovulation. Research suggests that weight loss of between 5 and 10 percent of current weight may be sufficient to reactivate menstrual periods.
REDUCE STRESSORS
When dealing with infertility, keeping stress at bay can be a challenge. But long-term stress can have a negative impact on hormones and fertility. Too much stress leads to higher levels of cortisol, which may trigger an increase in insulin. People who struggle with feeling stressed may benefit from talk therapy, meditation, exercising, or connecting with loved ones.
Diet, Exercise, and PCOS
Eating a healthy diet is important for women with PCOS. This is partially due to the higher risk of becoming overweight, and partially due to their bodies’ trouble with insulin regulation. Is there any one diet that is best for PCOS? That’s a matter of debate.
Some studies have claimed that a low-carb diet is the best one for PCOS,but other studies have not found a low-carb advantage. The most important thing is to make sure your diet is rich in nutrient-rich foods and adequate protein and low on high-sugar foods. Avoiding junk food and processed foods is your best bet.
Regular exercise has also been found to help with PCOS symptoms. In one study, a combination of regular brisk walking and eating a healthier diet improved menstrual cycle regularity by 50%.
Whether diet and exercise alone will help you conceive isn’t clear. However, a healthy lifestyle may help your fertility treatments work better, and it will certainly help you feel better overall. Like weight loss, it’s worth the effort if you want to get pregnant.
MEDICATIONS MAY BE NEEDED
High levels of androgens can interfere with healthy ovulation. If a healthy egg is not released during ovulation, then a woman will not be able to get pregnant. Many women who have PCOS are not able to get pregnant without the help of ovulation medications. These medications can help a woman ovulate to get pregnant. Women can work with a healthcare provider or fertility specialist to find the right dose and type of medication that works best.
CONSIDER AIDED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Women may benefit from assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as in vitro fertilisation, if ovulation drugs fail to increase fertility (IVF). According to studies, IVF therapy is just as successful for women with PCOS as it is for those without the illness. Usually, doctors would start with prescription drugs and lifestyle modifications to increase fertility before suggesting ART as a backup plan if those measures don’t work.