How to Get Pregnant With PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of female infertility, affecting an estimated 5 million women. 1 But you can become pregnant with PCOS. There are many effective fertility treatments available from clomid to gonadotropins to IVF. Most women will be able to conceive with a combination of lifestyle changes and fertility drugs. While some women with PCOS will require IVF, the great majority will become pregnant using low-tech fertility treatments. Lose weight to resume ovulation Many women with PCOS struggle with obesity. This is because PCOS negatively affects how your body processes insulin, which in turn, can cause weight gain. One of the main reasons women with PCOS conceive is that they cannot ovulate, or they do not ovulate regularly. Women who are overweight with PCOS are likely to experience more severe anovulation, going months between periods. Studies have found that losing some weight can cause ovulation to return. According to research, the menstrual cycle can then resume to lose 5% to 10% of current weight. Unfortunately, there is not much evidence that losing weight will help you conceive on your own. You may still need fertility drugs. Research has found that women who have lost weight are more likely to have fertility treatment success. Losing weight is not easy for anyone, and it can be even more difficult for people with PCOS. In addition, not all women with PCOS are overweight. If this is your situation, then losing weight is not a solution to help with fertility. Diet, Exercise and PCOS Healthy dietary intake is important for women with PCOS. This is partly due to the high risk of being overweight, and partly due to their body's trouble with insulin regulation. Is there a diet that is best for PCOS? This is a matter of debate. Some studies have claimed that a low-carb diet is best for PCOS but other studies have not found low-carb benefits. The most important thing is to make sure that your diet is low in nutritious foods and adequate protein and high-sugar foods. Avoiding junk food and processed food is your best bet. Fertility-friendly eating tips for PCOS Eat more breakfast and less at night. Include more protein and greens. When you eat carbohydrates, make them complex carbs (like whole grains and beans). If you eat sweets or high carb food, mix it with healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, nuts) or protein to slow down sugar fat. Regular exercise has also been found to help with PCOS symptoms. In one study, the combination of regular brisk walking and eating a healthy diet increased the menstrual cycle routine by 50% Will only diet and exercise help you clarify. However, a healthy lifestyle can help your fertility treatment work better, and it will definitely help you feel better overall. Like weight loss, it is worth the effort if you want to get pregnant. The medicines Some people with PCOS will require medications to treat the condition and / or help them conceive. Metformin Ask your doctor to test your insulin levels. If you are insulin resistant, taking the diabetes drug metformin can treat insulin resistance and help you lose weight. It can also help you conceive. Metformin is sometimes prescribed to people with PCOS, even if they are not really insulin resistant. Using metformin for PCOS is considered an off-label use. However, the drug is relatively safe and can help you conceive. According to research, metformin may: Promote weight loss Regularize the menstrual cycle Improve the effectiveness of some fertility drugs Reduce abortion rate (in people with repeated abortions) Can Metformin Alone Help You to Get Pregnant? it's unlikely. While earlier research found that metformin increased a woman's ovulation on her own, further studies have not found an increase in pregnancy or live birth rates. In other words, improving ovulation did not increase fertility. Clomid Clomid overall is the most commonly used fertility drug, and also the most commonly used treatment for women with PCOS. Many women with PCOS will conceive with clomid. Unfortunately, it is not successful for everyone. Some women with PCOS will experience clomid resistance. This is when clomid does not trigger ovulation as expected. Studies have found that a combination of metformin and clomid may help to beat clomid resistance. Letrozole If clomid or letrozole is not successful, the next step is injectable fertility drugs or gonadotropins. Gonadotropin hormones are made of FSH, LH or a combination of the two. The brand names you identify are Gonal-F, Follistim, Ovidrel, Bravelle and Menopur. Your doctor may suggest a combination of oral and injectable fertility drugs. Another possibility is just a cycle with gonadotropins. Or, your doctor may suggest gonadotropins with an IUI procedure. IUI specifically involves inserting washed semen directly into the uterus via a catheter. Semen may be from a sperm donor or your partner. One of the possible risks of gonadotropin is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This is when the ovaries overtake fertility medicine. If untreated or severe, it can be dangerous. Women with PCOS are at greater risk of developing OHSS 10 Your doctor may use low doses of injectable fertility drugs to avoid this. Ideally, your doctor should use the lowest effective dose. During treatment, if you have any symptoms of OHSS (such as rapid weight gain, abdominal pain, bloating or nausea), make sure to tell your doctor.