Can you become pregnant with PCOS? What is the likelihood of becoming pregnant with PCOS?
Let’s find it all out.
This article is a comprehensive discourse about PCOS, IVF, How IVF works with PCOS. And a couple of lifestyle changes to manage it’s symptoms and boost pregnancy potential naturally.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS can be interpreted as a condition where a woman starts to encounter atypical or extended periods. This is normally a consequence of imbalance androgen in the woman’s body. Though androgen is considered a male sex, female body also produces a very small of androgen naturally. It occurs when there is an abnormal elevation of androgen in the female’s body.
If a couple is trying to conceive, it can lower the pregnancy chances by affecting periods and the ovulatory cycles. Women who have PCOS also have a significantly abnormal ovarian function which halts release of mature eggs during ovulation.
However it affects fertility and conception chances, some women can still become pregnant while having PCOS. But, in more than 70% of PCOS cases, women cannot attain a healthy pregnancy and struggle to sustain it. If you are seeking to become pregnant with it, treatments such as oral stimulation or IVF are available.
What is IVF?
IVF is a fertility treatment intended especially for patients with fertility disorders such as endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Or, any couple who is struggling to attain a healthy pregnancy through sex from a long while.
IVF is classified as an assisted reproductive technology (ACT). Carried out to assist conception in couples who struggle to conceive naturally. It entails fertilization of a female’s mature eggs by male partner’s sperm outside her body. After that it in a laboratory, then transferring around uterine lining to induce implantation and begin a pregnancy.
How does IVF work with PCOS?
The main reason why women with PCOS struggle to achieve or maintain a healthy pregnancy is because of irregular ovulatory cycles. Presence of excessive androgen that impacts the reproductive function.
IVF, on the other hand, involves ovarian stimulation through fertility drugs which resolves PCOS ovulation irregularities and escalates a female’s pregnancy potential. Moreover, IVF also improves implantation rates. IVF is an easily accessible treatment nowadays since most IVF center in Gurgaon offer it along with other fertility procedures including IUI, IVF with donor eggs or sperm, ICSI and IMSI.
PCOS treatment for pregnancy may start with taking ovarian stimulation drugs such as clomiphene or metformin orally. If these oral fertility drugs do not help, injectable drugs such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), gonadotropins or luteinizing hormone (LH) are administered. These drugs encourage ovulation and then the released eggs are collected by the endocrinologist for fertilization.
How effective is IVF in case of PCOS?
Around 70-80% of women with PCOS can become pregnant with the help of oral or injectable fertility medicines or assisted conception procedures like IVF. A few cases that fail conception can also attain pregnancy by attempting IVF cycles a couple of times, as recommended by the doctor.
Attempt at least 2-3 IVF cycles before you conclude to opt other treatment options. Most reputed fertility clinic in Gurgaon, Grace Fertility, suggests undergoing a few IVF cycles since it helps endocrinologists better understand your reproductive state and correct what went wrong in the last cycle. Having done 2-3 complete IVF cycles mostly secures an infertile couple’s odds of attaining a pregnancy.
Lifestyle changes for PCOS patients
It gives rise to several symptoms such as obesity, acne, abnormal body hair growth, pattern baldness, etc.. Making right lifestyle changes for PCOS patients is the key to not only manage its symptoms but also escalate your natural pregnancy potential. Here is a list of some PCOS-aiding lifestyle changes below.
Get your body weight right
One of the most common symptoms of PCOS is putting on excessive body weight in a very short span of time. Now, being obese does not only affect your body function but also trigger certain hormone imbalances that impair your reproductive health. You can start doing cardiovascular training and weight lifting to get back in shape.
Make right eating choices
Making wise food choices is foremost when your body is functioning abnormally. PCOS patients have higher than normal blood sugar levels that can develop diabetes over time and worsen obesity. Choose complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, brown rice, and wheat bread and pasta instead of simple carbohydrates such as white rice, white bread, white pasta, soda, flavoured juices, etc.
Manage stress
Stress hormone cortisol has been found to have a direct link with irregular ovulatory cycles. Indeed, PCOS itself induces stress and if you are trying to become pregnant, managing your stress can be beneficial.
Conclusion
Even if you have PCOS, you can still become pregnant. But, if you are struggling to conceive for a long while, fertility treatments such as oral or injectable ovarian stimulation or IVF procedure can be helpful. Get your condition discussed with a fertility specialist and he might help you out.