Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects ovulation and is a common cause of infertility in women. However, infertility doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant.
At Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Hastings and Grand Island, Nebraska, our team of women’s health experts specializes in managing PCOS and pregnancy. PCOS can make getting pregnant more challenging, but not impossible. Here, we explain how PCOS affects your ability to get pregnant and how we can improve your chances of conceiving.
People with PCOS have an imbalance in sex hormone levels. Their ovaries produce too much androgen, a male sex hormone.
Females naturally produce some androgen, but with PCOS, the amount is high enough to affect ovary function and ovulation (the release of an egg during your menstrual cycle). People with PCOS typically have an irregular menstrual cycle and may have fewer than eight periods a year.
The excess androgen also affects physical appearance, causing unwanted hair growth on your face, hair loss on your head, and difficulty managing your weight.
Pregnancy occurs when the female egg joins with the male sperm for fertilization. In order to get pregnant, you must release an egg. Ovulation problems like those related to PCOS are a common cause of female infertility. Women with PCOS don’t ovulate regularly, making it harder to get pregnant.
Though PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility in women, it’s a treatable gynecological condition.
Having PCOS can make conception more challenging, but it can’t stop you from getting pregnant. After conducting a fertility evaluation, we can develop a plan of action that helps you get pregnant.
Infertility treatment for PCOS may include:
If you continue to struggle with conceiving after implementing these lifestyle changes, we may prescribe medication that increases ovulation. If the medication doesn’t help you get pregnant, we can talk to you about in vitro fertilization (IVF).
IVF involves extracting mature eggs from your ovaries and fertilizing those eggs in the lab. After a few days in the lab, we transfer the embryo to your uterus. Advancements in IVF treatment methods have improved pregnancy success, and it’s a go-to treatment for many people struggling with infertility.
PCOS is a common gynecological condition that affects ovulation and your ability to get pregnant, but it can’t stop you.
If you have PCOS and need help conceiving, call us today at the office nearest you, or use our online appointment request form to schedule a visit with one of our experienced women’s health specialists.
