Normally, ovarian follicles contain egg cells, which are released during ovulation. In polycystic ovary syndrome, abnormal hormone levels prevent follicles from growing and maturing to release egg cells. Instead, these immature follicles accumulate in the ovaries. Affected women can have 12 or more of these follicles.
In many women with PCOS, mature eggs are not released. Instead, they stay in the ovaries with a small amount of fluid (cyst) around them. The affected ovary may be slightly enlarged. There can be many of these.
Because women with PCOS typically have more eggs, it is likely that they will require fewer cycles to achieve the desired number of eggs.
PCOS is one of the most common, but treatable, causes of infertility in women. In women with PCOS, the hormonal imbalance interferes with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation). If you don't ovulate, you can't get pregnant.
80% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have irregular or absent periods. Only about 20% of women with PCOS ovulate. Lots of eggs produced by PCOS women following ovulation induction can be chromosomally abnormal (aneuploidy). Aneuploid eggs are usually unsuitable for fertilisation and result in miscarriage.
PCOS is not caused by overweight or diabetes. It is simply caused by TOO MANY EGGS. And it is easy to treat, getting a very high pregnancy and baby rate, if you understand it's great simplicity.
The AMH blood test has become more common in the past 15 years, but another way to determine a woman's ovarian reserve is to conduct an antral follicle count during a transvaginal ultrasound. This method, which entails counting the follicles seen on the screen, is also useful, along with AMH, explains Amanda N.
Best age to get pregnant with PCOS
The best time for women with PCOS to get pregnant is before they turn 30. It's possible to conceive up to the age of 37, but fertility declines after the age of 32 with steeper decline occurring after age 37.
Women with PCOS may be more likely to have multiples (twins, or more). One study found that while the multiple pregnancy rate is 1.1% in the average population, it is 9.1% for women with PCOS patients.
The large majority of women with PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, that have not gotten pregnant with other treatments will be able to get pregnant and have a baby with IVF (in vitro fertilization) if they are under 40 and do their IVF at a high quality clinic.
Excess insulin causes polycystic ovaries because it impairs ovulation and stimulates the ovaries to make testosterone instead of estrogen. We have an epidemic of insulin resistance, so it makes sense that we also have an epidemic of PCOS.
Due to these hormonal imbalances, women with PCOS often have irregular menstrual cycles because they don't ovulate or ovulate only occasionally. So women with PCOS are more likely to have trouble conceiving than other women.
PCOS after pregnancy
It is important to remember that some of the symptoms of PCOS, such as hormonal imbalance and associated weight gain, can return and even worsen after pregnancy – and that being pregnant and successfully giving birth does not mean that PCOS has gone away.
Summary. If you have PCOS, you can still expect to conceive within a year (or even less) as long as you are ovulating normally and have no other risk factors for infertility. If you do, it may take longer or require the input of a fertility specialist.
How many eggs do women have in their 30s? There is no one right answer to this question, as certain factors – such as smoking or other personal factors – may mean a woman has fewer eggs than others. The average number of oocytes at the age of 30 would be around 72,000 (12% of maximum pre-birth levels).
A woman is born with all her eggs. Once she starts her periods, 1 egg develops and is released during each menstrual cycle.
It's also important to keep in mind that just because a woman has PCOS doesn't mean that she also has infertility. As one study points out, 70 to 80 percent of these women are infertile. (5) That leaves up to 30 percent of women who may become pregnant on their own without the use of fertility treatments.
As previously stated, the shape of a PCOS belly differs from other types of weight gain. It often appears large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genetics and other factors. The PCOS belly involves the accumulation of visceral fat in the lower abdomen and typically feels firm to the touch.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Miscarriage
The risk for miscarriage or early pregnancy loss is about 10-15% in non-PCOS women. In women with PCOS, however, the risk is about three times the normal risk.
It's also important to note that some women with PCOS find it easy to get pregnant with a first or second child but then struggle with infertility in later pregnancies, something known as secondary infertility.
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at higher risk for certain problems or complications during pregnancy. In addition, infants born to mothers with PCOS are at higher risk of spending time in the neonatal intensive care unit or dying before, during, or right after birth.