What treatment options are available for women suffering from PCOS to get pregnant?

IVF or medications-- what works for a women suffering from PCOS to get pregnant? Read to know.

By: Debjani Arora | | Updated: April 28, 2017 9:54 pm

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in women and a leading cause of infertility. It is estimated that about eight to 10 percent of women in the reproductive age are affected by PCOS. Often women do not realise that PCOS is the underlying problem of their infertility. Many people believe that for women suffering from PCOS becoming pregnant could be a difficult task. There is no denying in this because a woman with PCOS has an abnormality in her hormonal pathway that is responsible for producing eggs and preparing the uterus for pregnancy. High levels of androgens (male hormones such as testosterone) and high insulin levels can affect the menstrual cycle and prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). Also Read - Women and dental health: Looking after your teeth through the years

Also Read - PCOD facts you need to be aware of

Here is how women with PCOS can get pregnant explains Dr Duru Shah director, Gynaecworld, the Center for Women’s Health & Fertility, Founder President, The PCOS Society (India). Also Read - Lupus: Is high estrogen levels to be blamed?

How to get pregnant with PCOS?

Often weight management helps to regain chances of fertility. Due to hormonal fluctuations, most women suffering from PCOS gain a lot of weight. Even a five to ten percent loss of weight has been shown to greatly improve their chances of becoming pregnant. However, if this doesn t help, there are two main treatment options that can help them conceive and get pregnant. They are as follows:

Induction of Ovulation:

Ovulation is a requisite for pregnancy and hence treatment options are aimed at getting the woman to ovulate and this is often termed as Induction of Ovulation. This involves the use of medication to stimulate the development of one or more mature follicles (where eggs develop) in the ovaries of women who have ovulation problems and infertility. Depending on your overall diagnosis made by the doctor, your doctor may suggest oral anti-estrogen medications like Clomiphene or Metformin, an insulin sensitizer, to help induce ovulation. Know if you can get pregnant with PCOS.

If you don’t become pregnant using clomiphene and metformin, your doctor may recommend using gonadotropins follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) injections. Both FSH and LH work together in ovulation process. FSH helps stimulate the ovarian follicle, causing an egg to grow while LH causes the egg to be released from the ovary. Another medication that your doctor may have you try is Letrozole. When taking any type of medication to help you ovulate, it’s important that you work with a fertility specialist and have regular ultrasounds to monitor your progress and avoid problems.

IVF treatment

If medications fail women with PCOS can try IVF (in vitro fertilisation) if they are under 40 and monitored well under expert care. IVF is a part of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Assisted reproductive technology is best tried after other less intensive treatments have proved unsuccessful, as it is often costly and demanding. This treatment is also more successful in women who have instituted lifestyle change effectively first, even if these changes have not improved fertility by themselves. Here are some myths and facts about IVF treatments.

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Published : April 28, 2017 12:59 pm | Updated:April 28, 2017 9:54 pm

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