Dr Ankita S
MBBS, MS, DNB OBGY
If you have been diagnosed with PCOS and are hoping to conceive, you may be wondering where to start. While it can be a challenging journey, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of conceiving naturally.
Achieving pregnancy with PCOS
Your ovaries may be impacted by hormonal imbalances, which can cause issues with menstruation and fertility. Your eggs may grow improperly or fail to release during ovulation if you have PCOS. It is also one of the most prevalent reasons for infertility in women of reproductive age. Fortunately, PCOS is treatable, and those who have it can ovulate and become pregnant. You might need a little extra support. It is critical to keep in mind that each person’s experience with PCOS is unique and that there is no one size fits all treatment. It may not be effective for everyone to follow a woman’s method of managing her PCOS symptoms and conceiving. Finding the approach that works best for you can take some time because there are several ways to help you begin ovulating and become pregnant.
Here are some Natural ways to try if You're Aiming to get Pregnant
Maintaining a healthy body weight- Most medical professionals advise losing weight as their first piece of advice. Given that weight gain is a typical symptom of PCOS, this can be challenging. Losing weight might enhance your fertility and reduce PCOS symptoms. However, if you are overweight or obese, losing weight can help improve your fertility and make your menstrual cycle more regular. Additionally, it is crucial to maintain weight loss through a healthy diet and way of life.
- Move frequently – Regular and more scheduled exercises, and yoga can improve your well-being as well as your reproductive health. Exercise, including yoga, has been shown to help manage the symptoms of PCOS, which can ultimately improve your chances of getting pregnant. One way that exercise helps is by improving insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance. Another way that exercise can help with fertility is by reducing stress. Furthermore, regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, which is important for fertility.
- Keep your blood glucose levels – Be more conscious of what you eat and when you eat; practice mindful eating. Your blood sugar levels are impacted by PCOS, which increases your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Additionally, having unhealthy blood sugar levels can hinder your ability to conceive. Blood sugar levels should be frequently monitored and maintained for those who are attempting to get pregnant.
- Consider PCOS-friendly diets – Scientists have identified a group of four PCOS risk factors, known as the “deadly quartet,” which includes an unhealthy diet. Excessive carbohydrate intake contributes to infertility and poor metabolic health, along with insulin resistance, excessive testosterone levels, and low-grade inflammation. A PCOS diet is one of the finest reproductive treatments because of this. Changing one’s diet is frequently all that is necessary to have a healthy, successful pregnancy. The fact that you can combine eating for fertility with any other treatment is its best feature.
- Management of stress – Managing stress is crucial during pregnancy, as high levels of stress can have negative impacts on both the mother and the baby. Stress can lead to increased levels of cortisol and other stress hormones, which can affect the developing baby’s brain development and increase the risk of preterm labor and low birth weight. Pregnant women can improve both their own health and the health of their unborn child by controlling their stress levels, which will result in a healthier pregnancy and a better outcome for both mother and child.
- Avoid birth control pills – Recenter analyses of the evidence are less favorable to this strategy. Hormonal birth control as a temporary PCOS preconception therapy is another antiquated practice. Here, it is proposed that the pill inhibits androgen overproduction. Theoretically, once ovulation has been stopped, this should also stimulate it. The issue with this strategy is that it might be detrimental rather than beneficial. Your odds of ovulation are not increased by preconception birth control. It has been demonstrated to damage metabolic health and might harm your fertility.
- Track your fertile window – Menstrual cycles are unpredictable in women with PCOS. As a result, their monthly cycle’s duration may change. It may be challenging to monitor your ovulation period as a result. Keep track of your monthly cycle or download an app that can help you determine ovulation to find out when you are ovulating. Do not ignore the ovulation signs and symptoms either. Get reliable results by using an ovulation monitoring app.
- Make lifestyle changes – Before attempting conception, you and your partner should try to quit smoking. Overall, smoking during pregnancy should be avoided to prevent issues like early pregnancy loss and premature delivery. Hyperprolactinemia, needs to be treated. Early pregnancy is made possible by psychological counseling that reduces stress.
The impact of PCOS on pregnancy
PCOS can make it challenging to conceive, but it can also have an impact on your pregnancy. In the first few months of pregnancy, PCOS-positive pregnant women are three times more likely to miscarry than PCOS-negative pregnant women. Additionally, they are more likely to experience other pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, premature birth, and cesarean delivery (C-section).
A Piece of Counsel
PCOS symptoms can vary among individuals, and coping with them can seem like an ongoing struggle. Having a support system for women who are also dealing with PCOS can be beneficial. Consider joining various social media groups to identify a community that suits your needs and can provide assistance in dealing with PCOS.
If you’re still trying to conceive and facing difficulties, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to assist you in any way possible.
References
2. Sawant S, et al. (2019). Fertility treatment options for women with polycystic ovary syndrome. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6935873/
3. Yu, H., Chen, H., Rao, D., & Gong, J. (2016). Association between polycystic ovary syndrome and the risk of pregnancy complications. Medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible to get pregnant naturally with PCOS, but it may require some lifestyle changes and medical guidance.
To increase your chances of conceiving naturally with PCOS, focus on maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, managing blood glucose levels, following a PCOS-friendly diet, reducing stress, and tracking your fertile window.
PCOS can have an impact on pregnancy and childbirth, leading to a higher risk of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, premature birth, and cesarean delivery (C-section).
It is advisable to avoid using birth control pills as a preconception therapy for PCOS, as they may not increase your odds of ovulation and could potentially harm your fertility.
Consider joining social media groups or communities where women with PCOS share their experiences and offer support and advice to each other during their journey to conceive.
Dr Ankita S
MBBS, MS, DNB OBGY
Varshini
M.Tech Food Biotechnologist
Varshini
M.Tech Food Biotechnologist
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