Polycystic ovaries can i still get pregnant

For women with PCOS who are overweight or obese, a modest weight loss sometimes results in more regular ovulation, which increases the chance of pregnancy. Read more: Women's fertility: does 'egg timer' testing work, and what are the other options? Your GP is your first port of call, but she might refer you to a fertility specialist. If you have very irregular or only sporadic periods, this is an indication you are not ovulating and need medical help to have a baby.

The first line of medical treatment is ovulation induction. This involves a course of tablets or injections to stimulate the ovaries to release an egg that can be fertilised, either during intercourse or through intra-uterine insemination IUI. IVF involves a course of injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.

Sperm are added to the eggs in the laboratory for embryos to form. A few days later, an embryo is placed in the uterus where it may implant and grow into a baby. If there is more than one embryo, these can be frozen for later use if there is no pregnancy.

While IVF is safe in the hands of specialists, there are some possible health effects to be aware of, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Healthy eating habits and regular physical activity can help relieve PCOS-related symptoms.

Losing weight may help to lower your blood glucose levels, improve the way your body uses insulin, and help your hormones reach normal levels. Removing hair. You can try facial hair removal creams, laser hair removal, or electrolysis to remove excess hair. You can find hair removal creams and products at drugstores. Procedures like laser hair removal or electrolysis must be done by a doctor and may not be covered by health insurance.

Slowing hair growth. A prescription skin treatment eflornithine HCl cream can help slow down the growth rate of new hair in unwanted places. What types of medicines treat PCOS? The types of medicines that treat PCOS and its symptoms include: Hormonal birth control, including the pill, patch, shot, vaginal ring, and hormone intrauterine device IUD.

For women who don't want to get pregnant, hormonal birth control can: Make your menstrual cycle more regular Lower your risk of endometrial cancer Help improve acne and reduce extra hair on the face and body Ask your doctor about birth control with both estrogen and progesterone. Anti-androgen medicines. These medicines block the effect of androgens and can help reduce scalp hair loss, facial and body hair growth, and acne.

These medicines can also cause problems during pregnancy. Metformin is often used to treat type 2 diabetes and may help some women with PCOS symptoms. Metformin improves insulin's ability to lower your blood sugar and can lower both insulin and androgen levels. After a few months of use, metformin may help restart ovulation, but it usually has little effect on acne and extra hair on the face or body. Recent research shows that metformin may have other positive effects, including lowering body mass and improving cholesterol levels.

If you have overweight or obesity, losing weight through healthy eating and regular physical activity can help make your menstrual cycle more regular and improve your fertility. Find a personalized healthy eating plan using the MyPlate Plan tool. After ruling out other causes of infertility in you and your partner, your doctor might prescribe medicine to help you ovulate, such as clomiphene Clomid.

In vitro fertilization IVF. IVF may be an option if medicine does not work. In IVF, your egg is fertilized with your partner's sperm in a laboratory and then placed in your uterus to implant and develop. Compared to medicine alone, IVF has higher pregnancy rates and better control over your risk of having twins and triplets by allowing your doctor to transfer a single fertilized egg into your uterus.

Surgery is also an option, usually only if the other options do not work. The outer shell called the cortex of ovaries is thickened in women with PCOS and thought to play a role in preventing spontaneous ovulation. Ovarian drilling is a surgery in which the doctor makes a few holes in the surface of your ovary using lasers or a fine needle heated with electricity. Surgery usually restores ovulation, but only for 6 to 8 months.

How does PCOS affect pregnancy? You can lower your risk of problems during pregnancy by: Reaching a healthy weight before you get pregnant.

Use this interactive tool to see your healthy weight before pregnancy and what to gain during pregnancy. Reaching healthy blood sugar levels before you get pregnant. You can do this through a combination of healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, weight loss, and medicines such as metformin.

Taking folic acid. Talk to your doctor about how much folic acid you need. What is the latest research on PCOS? Researchers continue to search for new ways to treat PCOS. Did we answer your question about PCOS? Sources Trivax, B. Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 50 1 , — Bremer, A. Polycystic ovary syndrome in the pediatric population. Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, 8 5 , — American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Lorenz, L. Polycystic ovarian syndrome: an evidence-based approach to evaluation and management of diabetes and cardiovascular risks for today's clinician. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 50, — Goodman, N. If you are trying to get pregnant with PCOS, you may only need treatment with medications.

A medical study found that almost 80 percent of women with PCOS treated with the drug clomiphene citrate successfully ovulated. Out of these, half of the women got pregnant naturally within six period cycles. Women who are 35 years old and older or who are overweight have a lower chance of getting pregnant.

You can get pregnant with PCOS. You will likely need to have moderate weight, balance your blood sugar levels, and treat other PCOS symptoms with healthy lifestyle changes and medications.

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