If you have PCOS, TTC (trying to conceive) may seem like a long way off. The condition and the hormonal chaos it causes can mean a lot of trouble for your fertility. PCOS significantly reduces your chances of designing successfully. It’s nice to know, then, that despite the condition, there are still plenty of ways to beat the odds and get pregnant. Here are some of the most important tips to know to get through the SOP and design:
Lifestyle changes to make when TTC
Overcoming PCOS will involve quite a few lifestyle changes, especially if you want to conceive. For one thing, if you regularly smoke cigarettes or drink alcoholic beverages, it’s even more important to quit if you want to get pregnant. These activities are not only dangerous to any developing fetus, but they compound the damage to your fertility caused by PCOS.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome often leads to weight gain and increased androgen (male hormone) production, both of which can decrease your fertility. Cigarette smoking is associated with an increase in body weight and androgen levels, further reducing the chances of conceiving.
Alcohol, on the other hand, puts a lot of undue stress on the liver, which negatively affects hormone regulation. Since PCOS can reduce your fertility by unbalancing your hormones, drinking alcohol can make the situation worse. Not only that, but alcoholic beverages are often high in sugar, exacerbating another problem caused by PCOS: insulin resistance.
Women with PCOS often experience insulin resistance, a condition in which the body’s ability to process insulin is significantly weaker. When your sugar levels rise, your body will need to produce higher amounts of insulin than normal to regulate your blood sugar. A side effect of insulin overproduction is an increase in the production of androgens, which hinders the ability to ovulate.
Insulin resistance also brings up another lifestyle change you’ll need to make: a change in diet. Since you can’t risk overproduction of insulin when TTC, you’ll need to avoid insulin resistance while still being able to absorb a healthy amount of sugar. This is best accomplished by following a low-carb diet in which the carbohydrates you eat are of the complex variety. Complex carbs break down much more slowly than simple carbs, so the release of sugar into your system is regulated. A diet that follows this principle generally consists of a large amount of grains, cereals, and vegetables, while eliminating simple carbohydrate sources like fruit juices.
The last major lifestyle change you will need to make is regular exercise. With PCOS, it’s more important than ever to maintain a healthy body weight. Regular light exercise will help you lose weight and maximize your chances of getting pregnant.
Medications for PCOS
In addition to these lifestyle changes, you can also opt for different pharmaceutical treatments to improve your chances of conception. Metformin, for example, is a drug that is often prescribed to women with PCOS to help improve the performance of insulin in their systems. The more effective the insulin, the less your body needs to produce, and as a result, your androgen levels will drop. Then ovulation will be much easier and you will definitely increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Clomid is another commonly prescribed medication. The drug works by suppressing the estrogen receptors in your body. This prompts the pituitary gland to produce more luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, both of which are essential for ovulation.
Other medical procedures to try to conceive with polycystic ovary syndrome
For women who don’t respond to medications and other forms of treatment, there are other ways to get around PCOS. In vitro fertilization (IVF), in which the egg is removed from the womb and fertilized outside the body, is a method that has met with encouraging success. Intrauterine insemination (IUI), on the other hand, increases your chances of conceiving by directly injecting sperm into the uterus.
Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a surgical procedure that is often reserved for extreme cases. This invasive procedure uses a laser to cauterize damaged parts of the ovaries. This helps trigger ovulation at a reported 80% success rate, and approximately 50% of successful procedures go on to conceive. Keep in mind, however, that this procedure carries just as many risks as other invasive surgeries, with some studies reporting lower success rates.
Options abound for women trying to conceive despite PCOS, and if you’re one of those unfortunate enough to have this condition, you still have a great chance of bringing a child into the world.