September 1, marks the start of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) awareness month – a month that highlights the common infertility cause that affects up to 10% of all women between the ages of 15 and 44.
We turned to the the team at Embryolab with our questions.
Can you explain what PCOS is?
PCOS is a common hormone problem that can affect fertility and make it more difficult to have a baby. Many women of childbearing age have PCOS, but most don’t even know that they have it until they begin trying to get pregnant.
The term ‘polycystic ovaries’ describes the appearance of the ovaries on an ultrasound scan – they contain many small follicles (perhaps ten or more) and the dominant follicle does not develop as easily. Many of the small follicles produce differing levels of hormones.
Does the diagnosis of PCOS mean I will need to undergo IVF in order to get pregnant?
No. A lot of women are diagnosed with PCOS but most of them do get pregnant spontaneously. Having a regular cycle – albeit sometimes long, maintaining a normal body weight and exercising regularly will help them avoid unnecessary interventions while they are trying for a pregnancy. Women that more often require assistance are the ones with anovulation, ie the ones who do not see a period unless taking medication. Even within this population, weight loss and exercise may promote fertility. In any case if a couple tries for a year without success then they need to seek expert advice as there may be other issues involved.
What are the side effects and complications I might expect, if I have PCOS?
A woman with PCOS undergoing IVF treatment may encounter ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). It has different degrees of severity, starting from mild bloating and small amount of fluid in the abdomen- very usual and sometimes necessary in an IVF setting, to – very rare – severe reaction and dangerous for the patient requiring hospital stay. Nowadays the different medications that we use and the evolution on cryopreservation techniques give us the opportunity to avoid completely severe complications by freezing all embryos and postponing embryo transfer, thus allowing us to have OHSS-free clinics.
What is the effect of PCOS in IVF?
When PCOS leads to infertility it can be due to anovulation, which can easily be solved with ovarian stimulation, but it can also imply other problems, such as immature oocytes.
Oocyte maturity cannot be measured with some test prior to IVF nor does it mean that all patients with PCOS will have such an issue. It remains to be seen at the time of the egg retrieval. This maturation process may affect most but not all of their oocytes, so, through the stimulation protocols and drugs that we use in IVF, we try to change the maturity rate and get as many mature oocytes as possible for fertilisation, in order to increase their success rate.
Diagnosis is key when trying to conceive. If you feel you have any of the symptoms of PCOS read our guide here.
You can also get a test here to find out if you have PCOS.
If you do have PCOS, there are supplements and specialist courses to guide you, all of which can be found in the Babble Fertility shop.
If you have PCOS, can you ease your symptoms by taking additional supplements?
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