PCOS and Fertility

If you’re trying to get pregnant and can’t. It’s torture. Especially if you haven’t been diagnosed with PCOS yet and you didn’t consider that fertility issues might come into play. The fact is most women don’t find out they have PCOS until they want to have a baby. The other fact is that in the United States 10-15% of couples are infertile.

I’m not currently trying to get pregnant but I’ve had my shoulder cried on enough times to understand the frustration my girl friends have had while trying to start a family. It can be hurtful to see other people getting pregnant by accident because, well they make it look so easy. Growing up you never think about everything leading up to having babies. Mostly because at that point you don’t even know what sex is and you just day dreamed of a kid looking up at you like you’re the best thing the world has. Which is what we all want right? Value. Love. Connection. Which by the way, I want to assure you, you can have even if you can’t have a baby.

Side tangent: My friend who has PCOS and has been trying a lot of different procedures just found out she wasn’t pregnant again. I asked her, “If you can’t get pregnant, what are you going to do?” She answered, “I have an amazing marriage and I’ll continue to enjoy that with or without a baby.” *Clapping, Brava! I love marriage*

So let's go over some fertility issues you might experience if you have PCOS or just fertility issues that might happen. This will help you and your partner can mentally prepare for the possible difficulty ahead and also how to hopefully overcome it.

What is the main cause of infertility in women?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the main causes of infertility in women! It affects anywhere from 5-10% of women between the ages of 20 and 40. Furthermore, 30% of women may have some of the symptoms associated with PCOS without being diagnosed with the syndrome. Unfortunately having PCOS can increase your chance of miscarriage by 50% prior to the 24th week of pregnancy.  

Why does PCOS make it hard to get pregnant?
Well for one, most women with PCOS have fewer menstrual cycles per year (about nine). PCOS also causes heavier than normal bleeding during your period because the ovaries fail to produce hormones that keep the cycle regular. These irregularities disrupts ovulation which makes conception more difficult. These disruptions in your ovulation can make them irregular or none existent. This is commonly caused by higher male hormone levels from insulin resistance which is your bodies inability to get blood sugar into your cells to use as fuel.

 

Other causes of infertility besides PCOS?

• Ovulation disorders, which affect the release of eggs from the ovaries.
• Uterine or cervical abnormalities, including abnormalities with the cervix, polyps in the uterus or the shape of the uterus.
• Fallopian tube damage or blockage, often caused by inflammation of the fallopian tube (salpingitis).
• Endometriosis, which occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus, may affect the function of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency (early menopause), when the ovaries stop working and menstruation ends before age 40.
• Pelvic adhesions, bands of scar tissue that bind organs that can form after pelvic infection, appendicitis, endometriosis or abdominal or pelvic surgery.
• Cancer and its treatment. Certain cancers — particularly reproductive cancers — often impair female fertility.  

The answer?

The natural way is what we will review today. These suggestions will help you heal and get back on track and make it possible for you to become pregnant and carry a baby to full term.

I hope this information gave you a peek into what you may be experiencing or what you may experience in the future. Life is hard but it’s also wonderful and these challenges may put you on a different path in life but staying positive and enjoying the little things while fighting for the things you want are what make you, you. With the right changes and help, most women will be able to battle their difficulties of infertility.

 

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is strictly the opinion of S'moo and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither S'moo nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.