PCOS is one of the very common reproductive endocrine problems seen in women seeking fertility treatment. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, the name itself is a misnomer because as such these women do not have cysts in the ovary; they have multiple small follicles that are placed in the periphery of the ovary with dense stroma, and on ultrasound, they appear like a string of pearls.
Women suffering from PCOS have irregular menstrual cycles. Their cycles are usually prolonged and can range from 35 to 45 to even 90 days along with the excessive menstrual flow. Some women do not seem to menstruate on their own and require medication so that they menstruate. PCOS patients may also have unwanted hair growth in areas where normally a woman is not expected to have; for example, over the upper lip and chin. PCOS women also tend to be obese and may have associated derangement blood sugars. A small percentage of the women with PCOS can also have other associated endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia.
Reasons for Infertility
Women with PCOS can have difficulty in conceiving as they tend to have anovulatory or oligo ovulatory cycles, which means that women with PCOS may not ovulate at all or may ovulate less frequently compared to women who have regular menstrual cycles, thereby resulting in infertility. Ovulation occurs as a result of the synchronous release of reproductive hormones FSH and LH. This well-orchestrated release of FSH and LH does not seem to occur in women with PCOS, thereby resulting in anovulation. PCOS women also tend to have higher levels of male hormones resulting in hirsutism. These hormonal derangements result in difficulty in conception.
Lifestyle modification
women with irregular menstrual cycles, hirsutism, and obesity must consult fertility specialists so that they receive the correct guidance and treatment.
Women with PCOS need to make appropriate lifestyle changes with regards to their diet and exercise so that their chances of conception improve. Studies have shown that a 5 to 10% weight loss can drastically enhance the chances of conception and also tend to have improved response to fertility treatments.
Fertility Treatments
The usual fertility treatments involve the usage of fertility drugs to make sure the patient ovulates. Ovulation is checked by doing a follicular study and once a dominant follicle is ready to ovulate, the woman is advised to have intercourse with her husband. If she does not respond to the oral fertility drugs the clinician may advise hormone injections to make sure the woman ovulates.
LAPAROSCOPIC OVARIAN DRILLING
Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is done for a select group of PCOS patients who do not respond to fertility drugs or if they have associated tubal block. This is a daycare surgical procedure done laparoscopically and involves puncturing the cysts in the ovary using bipolar cautery.
ROLE OF IUI IN PCOS PATIENTS
IUI is intrauterine insemination of processed semen samples and is indicated if the male partner has low sperm count or low sperm motility or if the male partner has any other associated problem.
ROLE OF IVF IN PCOS PATIENTS
IVF may be required in a small percentage of couples who fail all conservative fertility treatments such as ovulation induction, IUI. It may also be required if the male partner has a very low sperm count or if there is an associated tubal problem.
SFC has vast experience in treating PCOS patients and has a specific protocol for managing its PCOS patients to enhance their chances of conception.
If you are having any of the PCOS symptoms you must consult a fertility specialist and get treated at the earliest.
Pcos is one of the very common reproductive endocrine problems seen in women seeking fertility treatment.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome the name itself is a misnomer because as such these women do not have cysts in the ovary they have multiple small follicles that are placed in the periphery of the ovary with dense stroma and on ultrasound, they appear like a string of pearls.
Women suffering from PCOS have irregular menstrual cycles .there cycles are usually prolonged it can range from 35 to 45 to even 90 days along with the excessive menstrual flow. some women do not seem to menstruate on their own and require medication so that they menstruate.pcos patients may also have unwanted hair growth in areas where normally a woman is not expected to have for eg over the upper lip chin. PCOS women also tend to be obese and may have associated derangement blood sugars. A small percentage of the women with PCOS can also have other associated endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia.
REASONS FOR INFERTILITY
women with PCOS can have difficulty in conceiving as they tend to have anovulatory cycles, which means that PCOS may not ovulate at all or may ovulate less frequently compared to women who have regular menstrual cycles thereby resulting in infertility. Ovulation occurs as a result of the synchronous release of reproductive hormones FSH and LH, this well-orchestrated release of FSH and LH does not seem to occur in women with PCOS, thereby resulting in anovulation.PCOS women also tend to have higher levels of male hormones resulting in hirsutism. These hormonal derangements result in difficulty in conception.
LIFE STYLE MODIFICATION
women with irregular menstrual cycles hirsutism and obesity must consult fertility specialist so that they receive the correct guidance and treatment.
Women with PCOS need to make appropriate lifestyle changes with regards to their diet and exercise so that their chances of conception improve.studies have shown that a 5 to 10 %weight loss can drastically enhance the chances of conception and also tend to have improved response to fertility treatments .
FERTILITY TREATMENTS
The usual fertility treatments involve usage of fertility medications to make sure the patient ovulates.ovulation is checked by doing a follicular study and once a dominant follicle is ready to ovulate, the women are advised to have intercourse with her husband. If she does not respond to the oral fertility drugs the clinician may advise gonadotrophin injections to make sure the women ovulate.
LAPROSCOPIC OVARIAN DRILLING
Laproscopic ovarian drilling is done for a select group of PCOS patients who do not respond to fertility drugs or if they have associated tubal block. This is a daycare surgical procedure done laparoscopically, which involves puncturing the cysts in the ovary using bipolar cautery.
ROLE OF IUI IN PCOS PATIENTS
IUI is intrauterine insemination of processed semen samples and is indicated if the male partner has low sperm count or low sperm motility or if the male partner has any other associated problem.
ROLE OF IVF IN PCOS PATIENTS
IVF may be required in a small percentage of couples who fail all conservative fertility treatments such as ovulation induction, IUI. It may also be required if the male partner has a very low sperm count or if there is an associated tubal problem.
SFC has vast experience in treating PCOS patients and has a specific protocol for managing its PCOS patients to enhance their chances of conception.
If you are having any of the PCOS symptoms you must consult a fertility specialist and get treated at the earliest.