Why do Polycystic Ovaries Cause Infertility?

There are a variety of ways in which polycystic ovaries cause infertility in women. However, successful PCOS therapy can lead to normal pregnancy and smooth delivery. If you have PCOS and are reading this article, try to be at ease! 

What is PCOS and how can it cause infertility?

PCOS is a syndrome with a number of symptoms. Missed or irregular periods, huge fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries which have eggs that haven't matured to their full size, and symptoms of elevated male hormone levels (called androgens) such as acne, hair loss, male pattern baldness, and so on are some of the most common symptoms of PCOS. A woman's body produces more androgens than usual as a result of PCOS. Androgens are usually thought of as male hormones because men have significantly higher levels of them than women. The overproduction of androgen causes an imbalance in your reproductive hormones, which can lead to infertility.

If you have PCOS, you're likely to have trouble ovulating. Ovulation problems will affect the release of an egg, as well as the likelihood of a sperm fertilising the egg. This in turn has an impact on the pregnancy's outcome. You may ovulate occasionally, but due to various hormonal disorders, other requirements for pregnancy, such as implantation and so on, may not occur.

Infertility in women with PCOS, caused by a lack of ovulation, is complicated, but it is treatable. Ovulation may not occur as a result of an increased level of testosterone or because follicles on the ovaries do not mature. Even if ovulation occurs, hormonal imbalances can prevent the uterine lining from properly developing, preventing the mature egg from being implanted. Hormone imbalances can also cause irregular ovulation and menstruation. Pregnancy can also be difficult due to unpredictable menstruation cycles.¹

What are the ways to manage PCOS for fertility?

PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is one of the most frequent causes of female infertility, with every one out of five women affected². You can, nevertheless, become pregnant even if you have PCOS with the help of efficient fertility methods that are available.

A doctor may give medicines to manage menstrual periods and enhance ovulation if a woman intends to become pregnant. With a mix of lifestyle changes and fertility medicines, most women will be able to conceive. If medicines do not enhance fertility, surgery is also a possible option. However, to start with, your doctor will most likely advise some basic health precautions to you which are as follows:

• Stress management - Finding healthy strategies to cope with stress may also help to increase fertility. Hormones might be affected by long-term stress. High insulin levels can cause a hormonal imbalance in women, resulting in infertility. Following are some stress-management tips:

- Exercising regularly   

- Spending time with family and friends

- Maintaining a work-life balance

- Obtaining adequate sleep

Everyone experiences stress from time to time. So if you're stressed out at work for a few weeks or worried about a huge relocation, it's unlikely to affect your ability to have children. However, if your stress lasts for a long time or you're going through a huge life change, your ovulation is likely to be affected. Managing stress helps improve your chances of conceiving and also who doesn’t wants to live a stress-free life? 

• Maintaining a healthy weight - Obesity is a problem for many but not all women with PCOS. This is due to the fact that PCOS has an adverse effect on how your body regulates insulin, which can lead to weight gain.

One of the most common reasons women with PCOS are unable to conceive is that they do not ovulate at all or do not ovulate on a regular basis. Studies have shown that losing weight can help restore ovulation. According to the findings, decreasing 5% to 10% of one's current weight may be sufficient to kick-start menstrual periods.

Unfortunately, there isn't much proof that decreasing weight will assist you in conceiving on your own. It's possible that you'll still require reproductive medication. According to research, women who lose weight have a higher probability of having a successful fertility treatment.

Weight loss is challenging for everyone, but it may be considerably more difficult for people with PCOS. Also, not all women who have PCOS are obese. In that case, losing weight won't help you become pregnant.

• Regulating your periods - In women with irregular periods linked with PCOS, birth control pills can be used to help regulate menstrual cycles by lowering testosterone production. Birth control pills also help to control androgen levels as well as treat acne, hair loss, etc. You can also keep a check on your periods by using period trackers available online. We also have a period tracker on the Pinky Promise App where you can easily track your symptoms and predict ovulation automatically! Download the app to know more.

• Diet and exercise - For women with PCOS, eating a nutritious diet is crucial. This is partly due to their increased risk of getting overweight, and partly due to their bodies' difficulties with insulin management.

Some studies say that a low-carb diet is the best for PCOS, while others claim that a low-carb diet has not much benefit. The most important thing is to eat a diet rich in nutritious meals and which has sufficient protein, while avoiding high-sugar items. Your best option would be to stay away from junk food and processed food products. ^{3 4}

When to call your doctor?

PCOS is a common cause of infertility that has been linked to a number of other health problems. If you think you might have PCOS, talk to your doctor about your symptoms and PCOS fertility treatment options. Changes in your lifestyle and medical treatments can help you manage your symptoms, reduce your risk of developing other health problems, and boost your chances of becoming pregnant if you have PCOS.⁵

Even if you don't want children, getting a PCOS diagnosis early can help you avoid problems. Infertility can be caused by a number of reasons, but screening for PCOS can help with tailored PCOS treatment and boost pregnancy chances. If you do become pregnant, it is critical to know if you have PCOS, as research has linked PCOS to an increased risk of pregnancy complications.⁶

References

1, 6 - How polycystic ovary syndrome affects fertility; From Medical News Today

(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312841). Retrieved on 08.06.2022

2 - One in five Indian women suffers from PCOS; From The Hindu

(https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/one-in-five-indian-women-suffers-from-pcos/article29513588.ece). Retrieved on 09.06.2022 

3 - How Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Affects Fertility and What to Do; From Healthline

(https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/pcos-and-fertility). Retrieved on 08.06.2022

4 - How to Get Pregnant with PCOS?; From Verywell Family 

(https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-get-pregnant-with-pcos-1960193). Retrieved on 09.06.2022

5 - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS); From Cleveland Clinic

(https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8316-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos). Retrieved on 08.06.2022