Importance of PCOS and Its Impact on Fertility

PCOS is of much concern to women as their fertility negatively. It is better to consult the doctor about various issues, like medicines. Surgery and alternative approaches do help.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) happens to be a condition involving hormonal imbalances as well as metabolism problems.

This condition does affect the ovaries but does not necessarily lead to infertility. The person can get pregnant. Yet PCOS is a common cause of infertility. It is treatable.

How PCOS impacts fertility?

People with PCOS do have a hormonal imbalance that can lead to:

• High levels of hormones known as androgens
• The formation of small, painless, fluid-filled sacs in the woman’s ovaries
• Thickening of the outer shell of one’s ovaries
• High levels of insulin in one’s blood

These issues can interfere with ovulation. An indication of PCOS is irregular or missed periods.

Symptoms of PCOS

Signs and symptoms of PCOS usually show up in late adolescence or early adulthood. They can, in fact, include:

• Excess hair growth on one’s face or other places where males are typically more likely to have hair.
• Thinning hair on one’s scalp.
• Oily skin or severe acne.
• Skin tags on the neck or even armpits.
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
• Patches of thick, darkened skin (acanthosis nigricans), particularly on one’s neck, groin, or underneath the breasts.

The person can have insulin resistance, which does lead to high levels of insulin in the blood. Untreated, this can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms that can suggest that a person has fertility problems include irregular or absent menstrual periods. The person may not be ovulating regularly or at all.

Fertility treatments for women with PCOS

There is presently no cure for PCOS, so treatment as well as management greatly depend on the goal. For infertility caused by PCOS, treatment does involve correcting any ovulation issues and also tackling metabolic problems like insulin resistance.

Hormonal birth control pills can be rather helpful for those who do not wish to get pregnant. And there are treatments in order to help the person ovulate as well as conceive. It can also be used to help regulate menstrual cycles and provide protection from endometriosis in women with irregular periods that are associated with PCOS.

The doctor will probably recommend a few basic health measures to start with.

Maintaining a healthy weight for one’s body can help regulate menstruation and also keep blood glucose levels under control. For this, a healthy, balanced diet as well as regular exercise are important.

It does help to track one’s periods. There are several calendars and fertility apps that are designed to figure out which day’s ovulation is possible. Medicines are given to treat PCOS.

Surgery

If you are not responding to medication, a type of surgery known as laparoscopic ovarian drilling can be an option, though this is rarely done in practice.

Alternative remedies

Diet and exercise

A healthy diet is very important for overall health. But a low-calorie, low-carb diet that does provide all essential nutrients is indeed said to improve insulin sensitivity as well as fertility in people with PCOS.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be safe and effective in treating PCOS and assisting in weight loss.

Essential oils

Essential oils are plant extracts that produce a variety of fragrances that can impact the way a person feels. Research into the effectiveness of essential oils is rather limited.

Herbs and supplements

Even natural herbs and supplements can, of course, interact with medications. If taking medicine for PCOS-related infertility, consulting the doctor prior to taking supplements helps.

PCOS and endometriosis

If the person is struggling with PCOS and infertility, then they may not be responding to treatment, and the doctor may look for another cause.

Endometriosis happens to be a condition in which the type of tissue that lines the uterus ends up growing elsewhere in the pelvis. This abnormal tissue growth can block the fallopian tubes or even damage the egg or sperm.

Conclusion

PCOS does affect fertility.