One of the most common reasons you may be having trouble conceiving is the condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It’s a condition where the hormone interferes with the way the reproductive system works. Fortunately, it is a treatable cause of infertility in women.
Having PCOS however, doesn’t mean that you can’t get pregnant. It just means that the chances of getting pregnant with PCOS can be a bit tricky and you may just need extra help.
Lifestyle Changes To Increase Chances Of Pregnancy With PCOS
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According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), up to 12 per cent of women in the USA have difficulty getting pregnant because of untreated PCOS.
However, in reality, the number is much higher because about 50 per cent of women with this syndrome are unaware of it know or have not been diagnosed correctly.
Here are three lifestyle changes that a woman can make for a healthy pregnancy.
1. Maintain a healthy weight
You need to look at your Body Mass Index (BMI) to understand if you have a healthy weight and how much of your body composition is fat.
If you are carrying extra body weight, then talk to your doctor to understand how much you need to lose before you conceive.
The long term risks of PCOS to your body can be minimised with a little effort. Yes, weight loss of just five per cent can actually lead to a significant improvement in PCOS.
Tips:
- Increase your body movement gradually. Exercise daily by going for a walk or hitting the gym.
- You can also use a standing desk instead of sitting down while working.
- Try lightweights as they will help you to build more muscle and bring down PCOS symptoms and improve your health.
2. Eat healthy food
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This goes without saying that when you are trying to get pregnant you must aim to get the right level of nutrients in your body.
Tips:
- Switch to healthier options like fish, chicken, beans, and lots of fruits and vegetables.
- Ask your doctor, if you will require certain supplements that may help fertility. For instance, folic acid, vitamin E, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin Q10 and others.
3. Balance your sugar levels
PCOS sometimes leads to high blood sugar levels of Type 2 diabetes. This may cause fertility problems. This mainly happens because PCOS may change how your body uses insulin.
PCOS actually makes your body less sensitive to insulin. Therefore, balancing your blood sugar levels may improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Tips:
- Start eating healthy food that includes lots of protein and healthy fats.
- Make sure to get plenty of daily exercise and strength training, which can also help your body to use insulin better.
- If need be, the doctor might recommend medication to control your blood sugar levels. Metformin, which is a common Type 2 diabetes drug is used to make your body use insulin better and will help you lower the blood sugar levels. This can also increase your chances of getting pregnant if you are suffering from PCOS. Make sure to consult your doctor before you take metformin or any other drug.
- If your blood sugar levels are high, you will need to monitor your levels every day.
In general, living a healthy lifestyle with a good diet, regular exercise, less stress, quitting smoking, and controlling diabetes should improve your fertility odds.
Why Does Having PCOS Interfere With Pregnancy?
PCOS causes your body to produce higher-than-normal levels of androgens. These are hormones that are usually thought of as male hormones because men have much higher levels of this hormone than women.
When your body has high levels of androgens, it interferes with the development of your eggs and the regular release of eggs. If the egg isn’t released, it can’t be fertilised by the sperm, which means you can’t get pregnant.
If you have PCOS, it can cause you to miss your menstrual period or you may have an irregular cycle. This can be one of the first signs that you have PCOS.
Regulate cycle
There are some treatments available to help women with PCOS have healthy pregnancies. Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills, which can help to regulate your menstrual cycle by reducing the production of androgen.
However, if you can’t take birth control pills, then the doctor might recommend a progestin-only pill. This helps regulate your period. Your doctor may ask you to take this pill for two weeks a month.
Remember, you won’t be able to conceive while you are taking birth control pills for PCOS. But if you need help ovulating to increase your chances of getting pregnant, there are certain medicines.
Treatment To Better The Chances Of Getting Pregnant With PCOS
If you are trying to get pregnant with PCOS, you will need treatment with medications. A medical study found that almost 80 per cent of women suffering from PCOS when treated with the drug clomiphene citrate ovulated successfully.
Among them, half of the women got pregnant naturally within six-period cycles.
There is another drug called Letrozole, which helps with ovulation. It is used when all the other medications are not found effective.
However, if medications are not working on your PCOS at all, don’t be disheartened. Your doctor may recommend IVF treatment. Around 20 to 40 per cent of women get lucky and conceive with IVF treatment. However, those women who are above the age of 35 years and are overweight have a lower chance of getting pregnant.
A slight modification to your lifestyle can increase the chances of getting pregnant with PCOS. And let’s not to forget, there’s medication and treatment available as well to help you conceive faster.
Make sure to approach it with a positive mindset and work towards achieving a healthy lifestyle.
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