8 to 10% of women of reproductive age may have polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, that affects their ability to conceive naturally. PCOS is a condition that affects the ability for a woman to produce eggs on a regular cycle or at all due to a hormonal endocrine disorder. This often causes extreme difficulty in conception without intervention.
Many young women with PCOS are told that if you haven’t had children by age 32, their odds drop drastically and by 35 you may as well forget having children. As if it wasn’t hard enough to get pregnant with PCOS without the added pressure of a clock ticking over your shoulder all the time. But looking to a fertility specialist or fertility clinic for help can greatly improve a woman’s chances.
Treatments for PCOS can not only help a woman conceive but also can help with other symptoms associated with blood sugar. The main treatment for PCOS tends to be birth control and in severe enough cases the medication Metformin, which helps to manage insulin and blood sugar levels. However, birth control as the standard treatment is counter productive to conceiving. When first talking with a fertility doctor, know that there won’t be one solution that works for every woman. Many fertility doctors will recommend Metformin and then try other medications, such as Clomid or Femara, with varying luck. IVF is another option after trying medications to try and conceive. IVF helps to make sure that an egg is produced, fertilized, and implanted when PCOS stacks the odds against you.
The simple answer for women of any age with PCOS who want to conceive is seek help. A fertility specialist can present all the options available and help find the one to fit you best.