PCOS and Infertility Treatments
Motherhood is a blessing. Most women yearn for it and many are bestowed with it. But there are some who are deprived of this sublime experience. PCOS is one of the conditions that adversely affect a woman’s child bearing capacity. Though difficult, with right and timely treatment even Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome patients can enjoy a healthy pregnancy and motherhood.
Let’s find out how.
Women suffering with Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome have malfunctioning ovaries. They produce higher levels of male hormones (androgens) and so normal ovulation is hampered. The ovulation (the production of egg or ovum) is either greatly disturbed of nearly absent. This is understandable enough that if there is no egg (or no right egg) there can be no conception. This lack or absence of ovulation manifests itself in absent or irregular menstrual periods. However, it must be noted that not all patients suffer from infertility. Also, not all patients who receive treatment are able to conceive. Infertility could be a result of some other problem. So, it is important that requisite medical tests are done to rule out any other causes of infertility before beginning the treatment for PCOS related infertility.
Even when patients are able to conceive, they are at high risk of developing gestational complications like hypertension, diabetes, miscarriage, premature birth, etc. These factors also need to be assessed and addressed while treating it for related infertility.
Many women become obese and have higher levels of insulin. These two conditions also contribute to infertility and gestational complications. Though there is a high percentage of obese women with PCOS who have been able to conceive with weight reduction and healthy lifestyle changes.
Weight reduction helps with checking of insulin levels. This in turn helps in restoring or regularizing menstrual periods. Achieving regular menstrual cycle is a big step towards restoring ovulation.
Commonly used medicines for treating Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome related infertility are clomiphene, metformin and letrozole.
Clomiphene helps with maturation and release of eggs. However, women treated with clomiphene are likely to have multiple pregnancies, i.e. twins, triplets, etc.
Metformin is primarily used for treating insulin resistance or diabetes. But it helps with restoring ovulation and is therefore used in treating Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome related infertility. However, metformin does not help with conception.
Letrozole helps treating infertility by restoring ovulation and checking the production of androgens.
Gonadotropins shots can also be given to increase ovulation in PCOS patients. However, these shots have a high risk of giving rise to multiple pregnancies and are expensive. So, the doctor needs to carefully assess the condition before resorting to this. These shots should be tried only if all other medications have failed.
When treatment with these medicines does not help a Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome patient get pregnant, the doctor might suggest other more complex and comparatively expensive and risky treatments to achieve desired results.
1. Ovarian drilling (a laparoscopic surgery of the ovaries) can help check the production of androgen as a part of the ovaries is removed in this surgery. Also, this procedure can help increase ovulation. But there is a risk of ovarian scarring associated with this procedure.
2. IVF (in vitro fertilization) can be suggested for patients where all other treatments have failed. It is a process where an ovum is fertilized with a sperm outside the body and then it is implanted in the woman’s body. It might require many trials before a Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome patient conceives with IVF and it is an expensive procedure. And there are cases where even IVF has failed.
It is up to your doctor to decide what treatment is best for you and it might take some trial and error, but with patience, perseverance and dedication any PCOS patient can achieve good health and improve her chances of getting pregnant!
