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Hormones & Treatment for PCOS for Pregnancy

Women with PCOS may have difficulty getting pregnant due to the unpredictable ovulation pattern associated with the syndrome. There are medical treatment options, as well as lifestyle changes, that can be followed in order to increase the chances of conception.

  1. Significance

    • Between 5 and 7 million women in the U.S. suffer from the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), making PCOS the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age and the leading cause of infertility, according to The Hormone Foundation.

    PCOS

    • Women who are diagnosed with PCOS suffer from clusters of pearl-sized cysts in the ovaries. The cysts contain eggs that have not been released during ovulation due to hormonal imbalance in the body. The condition results in irregular ovulation and menstruation.

    Initial Treatment

    • Treatment options can include birth control pills, insulin medications, androgen-blocking medications and lifestyle changes to include a nutritious diet low in refined sugars and carbohydrates combined with regular exercise.

    Ovulation Induction

    • In some instances it may be medically necessary to induce ovulation in order to conceive. This can include an oral cycle of clomiphene citrate for five days followed by injections of gonadotrophins, if necessary.

    Medical Procedures

    • Laparoscopic surgery to remove the cysts may be required in severe cases. If initial treatment options are not successful, in vitro fertilization may be considered in order to become pregnant. This is a medical procedure in which the egg is fertilized by a sperm and then implanted into the uterus.

    Warning

    • While androgen-blocking medications have been used extensively worldwide and may be an effective treatment for women with PCOS, they are not approved for this use by the FDA.

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