PCOS and Your fertility

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects how the ovaries function. Around 1 in 10 women assigned female at birth are thought to have it.

In addition to often causing symptoms like irregular periods, excess hair growth, poor mood and acne, PCOS is the most common cause of anovulation (when an egg is not released from an ovary) and may cause subfertility if anovulation is not addressed.

Here, we’re diving into PCOS and fertility – how the condition affects ovulation, the treatments available to help you conceive, and what your chances of getting pregnant are.

Your ovaries hold lots of egg-containing sacs, or follicles. In someone who does not have PCOS, a follicle will grow and then burst each month, releasing an egg into one of your fallopian tubes. This is ovulation.

In PCOS, hormonal imbalance interferes with this process and can prevent ovulation. Instead of the eggs being released, immature fluid-filled sacs (follicles) build up in the ovaries, appearing as many (poly) follicles on a scan. The term “polycystic” incorrectly suggests that you have “cysts” on the ovary, but these are actually immature eggs that build up due to a hormonal condition. 

If you’re not ovulating each month, or are only ovulating some months, this makes it much more challenging to get pregnant, but with appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes, many women with PCOS can successfully conceive and carry a pregnancy to term.

A healthy and active lifestyle improves your chances of becoming pregnant. Non-invasive treatment options for PCOS that can help increase your chances of getting pregnant include:

Medications

Some medications can be prescribed to help encourage ovulation, regulate your hormones and prepare your body for pregnancy if you have PCOS. The best type for you will depend on a range of factors, which will all be taken into consideration by your consultant. 

Medications you might be prescribed if you’re trying for a baby include:

• clomifene citrate tablets (Clomid), which improve ovulation by encouraging follicles to release eggs 

• metformin tablets, which can be used to improve period regularity, correct insulin resistance, and reduce the risk of miscarriage

• gonadotrophins are a type of hormonal injection which encourages ovulation. They are often prescribed if clomifene citrate has not been effective

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

If medications have not been effective, IVF may be an option. This involves retrieving an egg from one of your ovaries and fertilising it with sperm outside of your body, before it’s placed in your uterus to implant and grow. 

Surgery

A procedure called laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) is sometimes performed in cases where other treatments have not been successful. The procedure destroys tissue that produces too much testosterone and creates small holes on the surface of the ovaries to help restore ovulation. It can be an expensive procedure, and there are risks associated, as with any surgical procedure. This treatment also does not work for all women. Ovarian drilling is generally recommended after other first-line options have been unsuccessful.

PCOS and fertility treatment at Welbeck

Wherever you are in your journey towards starting a family, it’s important to know all of your options and to talk them through with a specialist so you can make an informed decision. 

Our specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class, individualised care to every patient. If you have PCOS and are trying for a baby, make an appointment to see one of our experienced consultants, who will provide you with the expert support and advice you need. 

Your individual chance of getting pregnant depends on a whole host of factors like your medical history, age, weight, and lifestyle, not just your PCOS diagnosis.

At a consultation, your consultant will take all of these factors into account to gain a holistic understanding of your general health and your chances of getting pregnant, both with and without treatment or medical intervention.

Most people with PCOS can have a baby with simple support, but cases vary, and each treatment has a different success rate, so there are unfortunately no exact statistics.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation with a specialist, please get in touch to make an appointment at our Women's Health Centre. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Make an appointment today.