Are you struggling to conceive while living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? Are you experiencing problems while starting a family? You're not alone. PCOS affects around 4 to 20% of women worldwide, causing hormonal imbalances that can make it difficult to become pregnant. But getting pregnant isn't impossible if you suffer from this health condition. You just need to be aware of your condition and take timely treatments.
Women going through this condition will also experience metabolism issues and hormonal imbalances, which might affect their overall well-being. It is a common yet treatable disease when attended to at the earliest.
In this article, you will get a clear insight into the fertility challenges that come along with PCOS. Following that, you will also get insight into the possible PCOS treatment options and some coping strategies.
An Overview Of PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age. High amounts of androgens (male hormones) in women with PCOS can lead to various symptoms, including infrequent menstruation cycles, weight gain, acne, and facial and body hair development.
The presence of small cysts on the ovaries, known as follicles, is a defining characteristic of PCOS. While these follicles often do not cause pain or discomfort, they can disrupt the ovaries' regular activity and lead to hormonal abnormalities.
The specific cause of PCOS is currently unknown. Yet, some factors, including genetics, the environment, and one's lifestyle choices, have been linked to this condition. Women with PCOS may also have insulin resistance, meaning their bodies have trouble using insulin effectively. As a result, the body may experience elevated amounts of insulin, which can further disturb hormone
PCOS is often diagnosed after thoroughly evaluating the patient's symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. While there is currently no one test that can reliably identify PCOS, doctors will often search for a combination of symptoms and indicators.
Although there are many intricacies, fertility is only one area where PCOS may significantly influence a woman's life and health. Inconsistent menstrual cycles and issues with ovulation can make it hard for women with PCOS to conceive. But with the right treatment and care, many women with PCOS can conceive and have healthy babies.
How to Know if You Have PCOS?
Women with PCOS may have difficulty ovulating regularly, making conception harder. PCOS is one of the leading causes of female infertility. Additionally, the hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS can lead to other issues, such as:
- Irregular menstrual cycles: Women with PCOS may have irregular periods or go months without having a period, making it difficult to predict ovulation and the timing of intercourse.
- Anovulation: Some women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly, which can make it difficult to conceive.
- Hormonal imbalances: High levels of androgens in the body can lead to imbalances in other hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which can impact fertility.
- Weight gain: Women with PCOS may find it more challenging to lose weight and experience unexplained weight gain caused by insulin resistance.
- Mood swings: PCOS patients may experience mood swings, depression, and anxiety.
- Acne and Oily Skin: Androgens can stimulate the sebaceous glands in the skin, leading to an overproduction of oil and an increased risk of developing acne.
- Skin darkening: Patches of dark or thick skin on the nape of the neck, the upper arms, and the breast.
Treatment Options for Women with PCOS to Deal with Fertility Challenges
Currently, there's no definite cure for eradicating PCOS from the roots, but depending on your goal, it can be treated or managed. For the infertility symptoms triggered by PCOS, the doctors will suggest treating the ovulation issues. Here are some of the medicinal treatment options recommended by healthcare experts:
- Clomid or Clomiphene Citrate for PCOS
Clomid acts as a stimulatory agent for ovulation. The estrogen feedback is blocked from moving toward the brain upon using it for the treatment. It is an oral medication prescribed for women with PCOS to consume once daily for five consecutive days since the start of the menstrual cycle. The doctors will advise you to start with the lowest possible dosage and gradually increase it as your situation requires. It has proven to be an effective medication for treating women with PCOS.
- Letrozole or Femara for PCOS
Femara is one of the popular aromatase inhibitors, which is a recommended medication for treating breast cancer. This medication has been tested for kick-starting ovulation in women with PCOS condition. With this medication, you can expect to block estrogen production and release more FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) for better ovulation.
- Metformin
It is a popular treatment medicine for treating type-2 diabetes and boosts your body’s ability to utilize insulin. Doctors do not recommend metformin as the primary or initial course of treatment for PCOS. It might not be as effective in trials as letrozole or clomid, but it has properties to boost ovulation.
- Injectable Gonadotropins
Gonadotropins are an injectable hormonal treatment that helps you kick-start your ovulation. Your doctor will call you for frequent visits to see how the hormonal injections are working within your body. After that, they will also test whether your body responds positively to the treatment.
- Surgical Treatment
If your PCOS condition isn't responding to the medication-based treatment options, then a surgical method, laparoscopic ovarian drilling, is recommended for the patient. It is a rarely done surgery, as most patients see healing results with the above medications.
PCOS tends to thicken the ovary's outer shell. Thus, this shell is what blocks ovulation. In the surgical procedure, doctors will make a small incision to closely examine the internal organs. A fine needle or laser will is used to make more holes in the ovary's surface.
This surgical approach will help restore healthy ovulation for women within 6 to 8 months. The results might not be permanent, but the end goal of getting pregnant will be achieved through it.
Also Read: Recent Advances in Reproductive Genomics
Coping Strategies for Lowering the Adverse Effects of PCOS
Along with the treatment measures, you should also make a habit of following some of the coping strategies. These coping strategies are like alternative remedies to ease the effects of PCOS and promote better ovulation. Some of these ways are:
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a safe method to help you treat PCOS by increasing your blood flow to your ovaries, reducing ovarian cysts, supporting weight loss, and reducing cortisol levels. Experts say acupuncture can also help you in the proper management of hyperglycemia.
- Limit the Intake of Carbs
When suffering from PCOS, you should avoid diets with high carbohydrates. It is because such a diet might just increase the insulin levels in your body. As your body needs carbs to stay healthy, you should stick to the complex carbohydrates in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and cooked peas and dry beans. Complex carbs raise the blood sugar in your body at a slower rate.
- Regular Exercise
You need to make it a routine to exercise daily. Regular activity will lower the blood sugar rate in your body. When you have PCOS, working out might also help your body get rid of the insulin resistance problem.
- Educate yourself
Learn as much as possible about PCOS and its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. It can help you better understand the condition and make informed decisions about your health.
- Seek support
Joining a support group or talking to a therapist or counsellor can help you cope with the emotional challenges of PCOS, such as anxiety and depression.
- Regular Diagnosis
Regular diagnosis and monitoring can help detect and manage symptoms and prevent long-term health complications. You must monitor your menstrual cycles, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. You may also need to undergo regular ultrasounds to monitor ovarian cysts and other changes in the reproductive system.
Conclusion
PCOS is confirmed through blood tests or insulin level tests! So, if you are experiencing any of the specified PCOS symptoms, you should immediately contact your doctor to schedule a test appointment. The doctors will check your blood's testosterone and androgen levels to determine the result.
You must get consistent treatment for PCOS to prevent it from causing permanent infertility. If you suspect PCOS conditions for yourself or someone you know, get in touch with Agilus Diagnostics and book your PCOS test appointment today. Early detection will help you get started with the right treatment soon. The chances of conceiving will gradually increase when you attend to the symptom without negligence.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
