What Does PCOS Mean for My Fertility?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a surprisingly common problem for millions of women and it’s also one of the most common causes of fertility problems. Fortunately, PCOS is also highly treatable, which means you can find a solution that helps you manage your symptoms and improve your chances of conceiving, too.

Richard Roberts, MD, is a leading provider of patient-centered PCOS therapies and infertility treatments, tailoring every therapy to each woman’s unique needs and goals. Here, the team at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe reviews the link between PCOS and fertility, so you can take the next step in your family-planning journey.

The ABCs of PCOS

When most of us think of our ovaries, we think of the so-called female hormones they produce — estrogen and progesterone. But your ovaries also produce testosterone and androstenedione, androgen hormones that, while most closely associated with male gender, also play key roles in female sexual health and function.

If you have PCOS, your ovaries produce too many androgens, disrupting the normal hormone balance in your body. As a result, you might have symptoms like:

• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Acne
• Excess hair growth on your arms, chest, belly, or face
• Skin tags
• Obesity or problems maintaining a healthy weight

On ultrasound, your ovaries may appear larger than usual or they may be filled with multiple cysts that form in follicles, tiny structures that normally produce viable eggs. 

It’s important to note, though, that the cysts associated with PCOS aren’t harmful and they don’t become cancerous. In fact, some women with PCOS don’t have cysts at all, despite the name of the condition. 

PCOS and fertility

First, if you have PCOS, that doesn't mean you can’t become pregnant or can’t carry a child to term. PCOS doesn’t interfere with healthy pregnancies, but it can make it harder to get pregnant in the first place.

That’s because PCOS affects your ovaries, and the hormonal disruption that happens also interferes with normal ovulation — the release of an egg that happens every month, a couple of weeks or so before your period. 

Conception depends on an egg being available. Since PCOS can prevent ovulation or cause changes in your ovulation cycle, getting pregnant can be a lot more difficult.

The good news: PCOS can be treated using therapies focused on regulating ovulation and making egg release more timely and predictable. For most women, treatment involves medication that stimulates ovulation, combined with healthy lifestyle changes like:

• Increasing physical activity
• Losing excess weight
• Following a healthy diet
• Improving sleep habits and stress management

Together, medication and lifestyle changes help regulate ovulation so it’s easier to conceive. Better still, these changes can make it easier for you to manage your PCOS symptoms, too.

Learn more about PCOS management

Managing PCOS doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right management plan in place, you can reduce your symptoms and improve your reproductive and overall health, too.

To learn how we can design a PCOS management plan just for you or how we can help you conceive despite your PCOS diagnosis, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe in Conroe, Texas, today.