PCOS and pregnancy

27 Jul

PCOS and pregnancy

A polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal condition in women related to the ovaries. It is a common condition that interferes with women’s ability to become pregnant as the ovaries do not release an egg during the menstrual cycle in a periodic manner. Women with PCOS often struggle to get pregnant and are at risk of developing other health conditions. However, many PCOS pregnancy success stories demonstrate that it is possible to become pregnant and have a healthy baby by managing the symptoms.

What is PCOS?

A polycystic ovarian syndrome is a complex hormonal condition that affects women in their reproductive years. In women who have PCOS, the ovaries produce more than normal levels of male hormones that disrupt the menstrual cycle and cause other PCOS symptoms such as:

Cysts on the ovaries
Weight gain
Infertility
Excess face and hair on the body
Acne
Hair thinning or balding
Insulin resistance

The condition does not have a cure; however, its symptoms can be managed.

How Does PCOS affect pregnancy?

Many women do not realize that they have PCOS until they try to become pregnant, as the condition often goes unnoticed. Infertility is caused by high levels of androgens (male hormones) released by the ovaries that interfere with the release of an egg during ovulation. In healthy women, the ovarian follicles release a ripe egg during ovulation which meets with sperm in the fallopian tube if there are any sperm present. In women with PCOS, the ovarian follicles do not develop and mature completely, leading to anovulation, a condition where there is no release of eggs.

What are the PCOS pregnancy complications?

Women who have the condition are at a higher risk of certain PCOS pregnancy problems such as:

Miscarriage: Women with PCOS are three times more likely to have a miscarriage in the early months of pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes: The risk of gestational diabetes is also higher in overweight women who have PCOS.
Preeclampsia: The development of this condition, characterized by a sudden rise in blood pressure after the 20^th week, can damage the woman’s brain, liver, and kidneys.
Preterm Birth: PCOS increases the chances of preterm birth in women.
C-section delivery: Because of the pregnancy PCOS complications, these women are more likely to have a C-section delivery.

Increasing chances of Conception
The pregnancy PCOS success depends on how well the symptoms are managed. Here are some tips to increase chances of conception:

Women who are overweight can avoid long-term health problems by losing weight through exercise.
Medications such as contraceptive pills to manage irregular or absent periods.
Lifestyle changes such as healthy diet, regular sleep habits, cutting back on smoking, drinking, and junk foods.
Ovulation induction through tablets or injections.
IVF treatment.

PCOS is a hormonal condition that is one of the leading causes of infertility in women. Women with PCOS have difficulty getting pregnant and will often need a combination of lifestyle changes and medical intervention to conceive.

References:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-pcos

https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/pcos-and-pregnancy

https://www.yourfertility.org.au/i-have-pcos-and-i-want-have-baby-what-do-i-need-know

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pcos/more_information/FAQs/pregnancy

https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/planning-a-pregnancy/fertility-and-causes-of-infertility/pcos-and-fertility-everything-you-need-know

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/treatment/