Are you struggling for years to get pregnant? One of the reasons why females have difficulty conceiving a child is the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS.
Around 1.4 million women in Canada suffer this condition. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS is a hormone problem characterized by an enlargement of ovaries and proliferation of follicles or fluid-filled pockets on the ovaries. This happens because of hormonal imbalance and an inability to release a mature ovum at the end of the menstrual cycle. The presence of polycystic ovaries does not always mean that you are diagnosed with PCOS. It only becomes PCOS if it is accompanied by hormonal imbalance.
Why is it difficult to get pregnant if you have PCOS?
During a regular menstrual cycle, your ovaries produce eggs that will eventually ripen. The ripest one is released to the fallopian tube until a sperm finds it, starting the conception of a baby. If you have PCOS, your ovaries produce eggs but the eggs to not grow and mature properly. Since the eggs are immature, nothing is released and conception does not happen.
Having this condition does not mean that you will never get pregnant. It only means that you need extra effort and professional help. There are some things you can do on your own and there are also treatments that you can coordinate with your doctor.
Raise your chances to become pregnant by doing the following:
- Getting prepared.
If you decide to get pregnant even with PCOS, you have to get yourself prepared. First, you must take note of your current body mass index or BMI. By measuring your BMI, you will have an idea if you are below or above your recommended weight. Women with PCOS are usually overweight, but knowing your BMI will let you know how much pounds you need to shed off.
The second thing that you need to do is to familiarize yourself with your ovulation calendar. To make things easier, you can get a mobile phone application that can automatically monitor your ovulation days and “red” days. Having this calendar will let you monitor the days when you are likely to get pregnant.
- Getting the right weight.
Obesity or excess weight is one of the symptoms of having PCOS. I f you are planning to get pregnant, it is a good idea to shed some pounds. According to health experts, if you are overweight, you can boost fertility and minimize PCOS signs just by losing at least 5% of your total body weight.
Start by developing a daily routine. Walk for 30 minutes to one hour every morning. Avoid habits that make you sedentary. If you cannot help to sit on the couch or watch TV, add a physical exercise while doing so. For example, you can lift weights while watching a movie or walk around after every 30 minutes or one hour of working on your laptop.
- Getting the right food.
Develop a healthy diet that can assist you in your weight reduction journey. If you are serious about getting pregnant, get rid of sugary and fatty foods and items rich in carbohydrates, especially those made of white flour. Instead, put the following nutritious food on your plate:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Lentils and beans
- Fish
- Whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice, and barley
You can also start taking supplements, minerals, and vitamins as early as now. Coordinate with your physician for nutritional supplementation that encourages fertility. This may include:
- Vitamins C, D, and E
- B6 and B12 vitamins
- Folic Acid
- Coenzyme Q10
- Getting the right blood sugar levels.
PCOS may affect how your body absorbs insulin. This hormone regulates sugar in the bloodstream. Ask your doctor if you can get a glucose test to check if your sugar levels are high. If you can balance your blood glucose, you have a higher chance to become pregnant. You can do this by following a healthy diet and engaging in daily physical activities. If you are found to have diabetes, your doctor can prescribe treatments to lower your blood sugar.
- Getting the right treatment.
If you are diagnosed with PCOS, you likely have abnormal levels of male and female hormones in your body. You might want to have your hormones regulated before you can successfully give pregnancy a try. Find a local doctor in a walk in clinic Thunder Bay. Or, you can also try to call an online doctor for treatment.
A doctor can get you started on the following medications to facilitate pregnancy:
- Clomid (for balancing estrogen)
- Metformin (for insulin regulation)
- Fertility pills to balance reproductive hormones
- Other fertility treatments to encourage ovarian egg production
Do not give up on conceiving a child, even if you have PCOS. The journey may be difficult, but it is not impossible.