One of the most common hormone disorders and causes of female infertility among women is polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. Although PCOS can make conception seem more difficult and incurable, there are ways to treat it. It is possible that a woman can have healthy ovulation, conception, and a full-term healthy pregnancy with PCOS.

PCOS affects close to as many as 5 million American women or up to 10% of women in their reproductive ages. When treating women for healthy conception, it comes with the risk of specific pregnancy complications. So, can you get pregnant with PCOS? Have no fear! Commonly, women with PCOS deliver healthy babies daily.

If you’re looking to get pregnant or help increase the chances of getting pregnant with PCOS – here’s what you need to know.

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?

To keep it simple, PCOS affects the ovulation process in women of childbearing age. Ovulation is when an egg is released into the ovaries from the follicles where it matures. When it comes to women with PCOS, they produce higher levels of testosterone which affects the entire ovulation process. This also causes irregular menstrual cycles or no cycle at all.

More so, the hormonal imbalance interferes with the ability of the follicles to release eggs. Without the release of the eggs, they wind up staying in the ovaries and becoming cysts. It is how the term poly meaning “many,” in polycystic ovary syndrome originates.

How is PCOS Diagnosed?

PCOS can be diagnosed based on symptoms, medical history, and physical exams. Your healthcare provider will assess factors like irregular periods, excessive hair growth, and other indicators. This is followed by blood tests or ultrasounds to check for cysts or hormonal imbalances. Early diagnosis is key to managing PCOS effectively and increasing your chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Causes of PCOS

It’s entirely unknown what causes PCOS in the first place. However, there are some factors that are believed to be linked to PCOS:

• Obesity or Being Overweight: Women with PCOS are at a higher risk for becoming overweight, while overweight women are at a higher risk for PCOS. While it’s not fully proven that one causes the other, adopting a healthy lifestyle can improve your chances of conception.
• Excess Insulin: Women with PCOS may be dealing with higher insulin levels. This is because the hormone imbalance causes their bodies to have a hard time using the insulin properly. It can contribute to weight gain.
• More Androgens: Women who produce higher testosterone because of PCOS also tend to have higher levels of androgen hormones altogether. These are known as “male hormones” that influence traits like baldness. Women naturally produce them as well, but at much lower levels.
• Genetics: PCOS seems to run in a family’s genetic history. If one of your family members/relative has PCOS, your chances are much higher too.

Symptoms of PCOS

It’s common to see PCOS develop after puberty but it can also appear in the later years. You might have PCOS if you are dealing with some of its common symptoms:

• Excessive hair growth on the face and other parts of the body
• Irregular menstrual cycle (it’s possible to have PCOS even with regular periods)
• Acne
• Prolonged vaginal bleeding (occasionally)
• Thinning hair
• Insulin resistance or pre-diabetes
• Weight gain

These are common symptoms, but they don’t definitively indicate PCOS. Some women may experience these symptoms without having the condition. If you’ve been dealing with any of these symptoms or suddenly develop any of the above symptoms, contact your doctor.

Your healthcare provider will consider your past and family history. Then, they will consider if you need additional examination. They will also conduct blood tests, ultrasound, pelvic exam, and check for ovarian cysts.

Treatment Options

We understand that PCOS has no cure and typically doesn’t resolve on its own. One of the better ways to treat it is with a healthy lifestyle. It can help you manage a majority of your symptoms. Overall, it makes it all easier to deal with. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for your needs.

If you’re looking to lose weight, weight loss has been known to help treat PCOS! This helps normalize hormone levels and improve insulin with a diet that’s high in complex carbs and low in refined carbs and sugar. It’s been proven that losing 5 to 10% of your body weight has been able to improve insulin levels. With normal insulin levels, you can help to regulate your period.

If you’re not looking to get pregnant, birth control containing progestin may help to reduce higher levels of male hormones. They can also help to regulate your period.

Can You Get Pregnant With PCOS?

Although it may seem challenging with an irregular period, getting pregnant with PCOS is entirely possible! This can be achieved through lifestyle changes, medications to induce ovulation, or a combination of both.

Because high levels of androgen interfere with ovulation and the development/regular release of your eggs, this also impacts fertilization. Meaning, that if an egg isn’t healthy or being released regularly, it cannot be fertilized. This hinders pregnancy.

If you find you are missing your period or having irregular periods, it could be the first sign of PCOS.

Regulating Your Menstrual Cycle

Although there is no cure for PCOS there are methods of treatment that can help feel more like a cure. So, women of all ages with PCOS can have healthy pregnancies.

One of the first options your healthcare provider may suggest is birth control pills. These contain artificial versions of the hormones: progestin and estrogen. These added hormones can help regulate your menstrual cycle and reduce high levels of androgen production.

Some birth control pills are progestin-only. This is for women who cannot tolerate the combination of both estrogen and progestin in their birth control pills.

The pill is taken for up to 2 months and is meant to help regulate an irregular cycle.

Are There Risks When Getting Pregnant With PCOS?

Getting pregnant with PCOS does come with a few risks of complications including:

• Gestational Diabetes: This disorder only appears during pregnancy. When hormones are released from the placenta, it blocks the body’s production of insulin. This results in high blood sugar levels. This is treatable and will normally go away after delivery.
• Miscarriage: Women with PCOS are more likely to have a miscarriage in the early months. However, some studies suggest certain medications may help reduce this risk.
• Preterm Birth: Moms with PCOS commonly deliver babies preterm and spend time in neonatal intensive care.
• Preeclampsia: This condition occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy and is marked by a sudden onset of high blood pressure. It also results in the swelling of the hands and face. If it’s detected early, treatment is usually successful.
• Mood Disorders: PCOS has been proven to contribute to anxiety and depression. It also induces higher levels of androgen hormones and binge eating.
• C-Section: C-sections are more likely in pregnant mothers with PCOS due to regular complications.

Increasing Your Chances of Getting Pregnant With PCOS

There are ways to increase your chances of pregnancy. Whether through natural lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery.

Birth control pills are commonly used to manage PCOS, but they aren’t the best choice if you’re trying to get pregnant. This might leave you wondering if birth control regulates ovulation, how do you conceive without it? Remember, birth control pills are specifically designed to prevent pregnancy!

If you need help ovulating to be able to become pregnant, certain medicines could help:

• Clomiphene – Clomid, Serophene: This is an anti-estrogen drug taken at the beginning of your cycle. It helps to stimulate ovulation and is standard in infertility treatment. Sometimes, it is used with a drug called Metformin.
• Metformin: A medication that is used for type 2 diabetes. This drug helps regulate the amount of insulin in your blood. Although it’s not FDA-approved, studies have shown that it may help with fertility. If both Clomid and metformin don’t work, you may be prescribed a medication containing FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone, and a luteinizing hormone as a shot.
• Hormone Shot: injectable infertility drugs are the next step in treatment.
• Letrozole – Femara: This helps induce ovulation. The medication has a very high success rate in women with PCOS. Sometimes, it is used with metformin for better results.
• IVF – In Vitro Fertilization: If other treatments aren’t successful, IVF can be a viable option. This process involves fertilizing an egg outside the body. It offers hope for those struggling to conceive naturally.
• Ovarian Drilling: It is a minimally invasive surgery. Ovarian drilling is a thin needle a doctor puts through the abdomen and treats small areas of the ovaries. This helps to lower the levels of male hormones they produce. Although it has been known to be inconsistent, it is known to help with ovulation.

Non-medical Options

• Vitamin D: Optimal levels of vitamin D could help women with PCOS get pregnant. Studies have found that women with PCOS who were deficient in vitamin D were 40% more likely to have trouble getting pregnant. Good levels of Vitamin D helped them give birth to healthy babies compared to those who were not vitamin deficient.
• Cinnamon: Taking 1.5 grams of cinnamon daily has been proven to help regulate higher insulin levels. It is a natural and safe way to possibly boost your odds of getting pregnant. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to try!

Lifestyle Changes

For some women, weight gain is inevitable in conjunction with PCOS. Gaining weight and losing weight both have an effect on your hormones. Finding a healthy balanced weight can help get your hormones back to normal. Losing as little as 10% of your body weight has been shown to help regulate hormones and stabilize your menstrual cycle. This, in turn, increases your chances of getting pregnant.

A healthy lifestyle in general such as regular exercise, lowering stress, avoiding cigarettes, and a better diet can help improve fertility odds. Working closely with your doctor can help get everything under control!

With the right treatment options for you, the impact of fertility on pregnancy can be low. These options make conception and healthy pregnancy possible! A specialist called a fertility specialist will help make sure you get the help you need and get the right dose of medicines. They will assist in scheduling regular check-ups and ultrasounds to check on your progress.

Trying To Get Pregnant With PCOS? Call Rosh Maternal & Fetal Medicine

If you have PCOS or think you may have PCOS, work with one of the best doctors at Rosh Maternal & Fetal Medicine in NYC. Many women are unaware that they may be dealing with PCOS. In fact, 70% of women don’t fully understand how the condition is affecting them or the specifics of their diagnosis.

If you’re experiencing irregular periods, difficulty conceiving, or other potential signs of PCOS, reach out to our team. You can call one of our six convenient NYC locations or book an appointment online. For added flexibility, we also offer video consultations. Visit our NYC specialists for the safest and most holistic care tailored to you.