Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal problem that affects women of childbearing age. PCOS interferes with a woman’s reproductive system and can make it difficult for her to become pregnant or have complications during pregnancy.

PCOS is treatable, and sometimes all that is needed is changes in lifestyle and diet for the woman to get pregnant. Other women may require medications. Early detection, however, is necessary for these treatments to work effectively and increase a woman's chances of getting pregnant and having a full term pregnancy with the condition.

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a condition in which a woman's ovary produces higher levels of androgen than usual. Androgen is a male hormone that is responsible for the development of masculine features such as facial hairs, sex cells, male sex organs, and other male traits.

The equivalence of androgen in women is the estrogen, which is responsible for the development and release of the female sex cells during ovulation. Women suffering from PCOS produce a higher level of androgen, which inhibits the maturation and release of eggs during ovulation.

The inhibition is primarily responsible for the infertility problem and can cause the ovary to become filled with immature eggs, which will not be released. As such, during scan tests for PCOS, doctors often look for a large volume of immature eggs on the ovaries. If this is present, then chances are you are suffering from PCOS. Fortunately, it can be controlled or reversed with the right lifestyle, medication and treatment.

Signs of PCOS

The following are signs of PCOS in women: 

• Irregular menstruation

• Weight gain

• Acne

• Excess hair on the body and sometimes facial hair

• Balding hair

• Insulin resistance

• Infertility

• Numerous cysts on the ovaries seen during an ultrasound scan

  
  

PCOS and Infertility

PCOS can affect a woman’s fertility in different ways. Irregular ovulation, however, is often seen as the primary cause of infertility. PCOS results from the imbalance of hormones in a woman's body. The higher level of male hormone can make it difficult for eggs to reach maturity, and if the eggs are immature, they will not be released into the fallopian tube.

This inhibition prevents ovulation, making it impossible for a woman to produce an egg that is needed for fertilisation or even have regular menstrual periods.

Even if ovulation occurs and a woman can release a mature egg during ovulation, the imbalance of hormones in her body may make it difficult for implantation of a fertilised egg to occur in the uterus due to the poor development of the uterine lining.

PCOS and Pregnancy

PCOS can increase your risk of pregnancy complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-term birth, and diabetes during pregnancy. As such, it’s important to get tested for gestational diabetes in the 20th week of your pregnancy.

Currently, there is no cure for PCOS. However, some medications and treatments can increase your chances of conception.

Women with PCOS are often overweight or obese. Shedding off at least 10 percent of this weight through exercise and better nutrition has been shown to increase chances of ovulation and, consequently chance of falling pregnant. 

Some medications can help correct the hormonal imbalance. For instance, clomiphene citrate is often used to stimulate the ovaries to release eggs. In contrast, metformin is used to correct insulin resistance, which is often the reason why women with PCOS are often overweight. 

Other treatment options may include in-vitro fertilisation.

So, what’s next?

If you have or are worried that you have PCOS and are wanting to conceive now or in the future, it’s important that you see a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician so that you can diagnose and manage your condition. We’d be happy to assist you in the process, so please contact us if you’d like to know more or book an appointment with Dr Latika Cilly.