What is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormone-disrupting problem that leads a woman’s body to produce abnormally high levels of androgens. Androgens are generally thought of as male hormones, because men have much higher levels of androgens than women do naturally. Extremely high androgen levels in women can interfere with the development of your eggs and their regular release, which means that your PCOS can lead to an unpredictable period and difficulty getting pregnant.
How does PCOS affect fertility?
The high androgen levels caused by PCOS impact how your eggs develop. If a healthy egg is never released, then it can’t be fertilized and you can’t get pregnant. PCOS can cause you to miss your period or just have irregular periods, which makes it difficult for you to understand when you’re fertile.
How can I treat it?
For some women, gaining a lot of weight can affect their hormone levels in a negative way. So, losing weight (only if you’re overweight or obese), may help adjust your hormones back to their normal levels. In general, though, you can make better lifestyle choices to increase fertility as well. Eating a healthier diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, lowering stress or managing it in healthy ways, and controlling diabetes and other medical conditions generally can improve your fertility.
If your period isn’t regular, or you’ve already been diagnosed with PCOS, work closely with your doctor to see what you can do about it. If you want to get pregnant, talking with a fertility specialist is your best bet to get results.
If you want to learn more, give us a call at (614) 755-4200 to schedule a consultation with one of our amazing providers about PCOS and your health.
