Most women with PCOS can get pregnant, with estimates suggesting around 60% conceive without help, though many (70-80%) face fertility challenges, often needing treatments like lifestyle changes, medication (clomiphene, letrozole, metformin), or assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to ovulate and conceive. While PCOS impacts fertility, studies show women with PCOS have similar overall birth rates and family sizes as women without the condition, thanks to effective treatments and management.
PCOS is the primary cause of hyperandrogenism and oligo-anovulation at the reproductive age and is often associated with infertility 3 and clinical and metabolic disorders 4. The prevalence of infertility in women with PCOS varies between 70 and 80%.
Yes. Having PCOS does not mean you can't get pregnant. 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).
There is an increased risk of pregnancy complications in PCOS women. In a population-based cohort study, women with PCOS were more often obese and more commonly used assisted reproductive technology than women without such a diagnosis.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed. Treatment options can vary because someone with PCOS may experience a range of symptoms, or just 1.
Optimal Age to Get Pregnant with PCOS
With regard to the best age to get pregnant with PCOS, the following factors can be considered: 20s to early 30s: Natural fertility is higher, egg quality is superior, and PCOS symptoms are perhaps easier to control. This can be the ideal time to conceive.
The exact reason why these hormonal changes occur is not known. It's been suggested that the problem may start in the ovary itself, in other glands that produce these hormones, or in the part of the brain that controls their production. The changes may also be caused by the resistance to insulin.
So women with PCOS are more likely to have trouble conceiving than other women. While most women who have PCOS become pregnant, they often take longer to fall pregnant and are more likely to need fertility treatment than women without PCOS.
Studies suggest that AGEs may damage the cells that support egg development, which can disrupt ovulation and worsen common PCOS symptoms like irregular periods and fertility issues.
For PCOS, you should avoid foods that increase inflammation and insulin resistance, such as sugary drinks, refined carbs (white bread, pasta, pastries), processed meats (hot dogs, bacon, sausage), fried foods, excessive red meat, trans fats (margarine, shortening, fast food), and highly processed snacks, as well as limiting alcohol and added sugars to help manage symptoms like weight gain and insulin resistance.
PCOS and Egg Quality
Although women with PCOS might retrieve more eggs, studies suggest that their eggs may have lower quality, especially as women age (source). This can be due to hormonal imbalances affecting the maturation and release of eggs, (source).
Lifestyle Changes: A balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction can help manage PCOS symptoms and reduce miscarriage risk. Medications: Ovulation-inducing medications, insulin-sensitising agents like Metformin, and progesterone supplements can improve pregnancy outcomes.
What are possible complications of PCOS? Women with PCOS are more likely to develop certain serious health problems. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, problems with the heart and blood vessels, and uterine cancer. Women with PCOS often have problems with their ability to get pregnant (fertility).
You may develop coarse, dark hair growth on your upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen or back instead of the fine hair sometimes referred to as “peach fuzz” that commonly grows in those areas. Hirsutism can cause distress, but it's treatable.
In your mid to late 30s, it may take a little longer or require a bit more effort to conceive than when you're younger. By your later 30s, you likely have around 25,000 eggs left. At this time, the rate at which you lose oocytes increases beyond 1,000 per month. There's nothing magical or final about age 35.
People may experience more severe symptoms of PCOS for several reasons, with some occurring if they have other conditions such as diabetes or overweight. In other cases, a person may not receive treatment early enough, leading to PCOS symptoms worsening over time and further complications, such as infertility.
Top tips on how to get pregnant with PCOS quickly
While considering couples,where the woman has PCOS, infertility, quality of life and sexual satisfaction are areas which affect their married life in one way or the other. Studies have shown that there is a 20% or higher chance of infertility being a contributory factor to divorces among couples around the globe.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise has many benefits in treating PCOS. It helps you combat obesity by burning calories and building muscle mass, which decreases insulin resistance. Exercise can also help lower cholesterol levels and those of other hormones, such as testosterone.
PCOS is a diagnosis of exclusion and is a multiorgan disease affecting most endocrine organs including ovaries, adrenals, pituitary, fat cells, and endocrine pancreas. The manifestations of PCOS are diverse, and up to 50% patients are normal weight.
PCOS doesn't itself increase your chances of twins, however some fertility treatments that you might have as a result of your PCOS, could increase your chances of twins.
No, unfortunately, PCOS is a chronic condition. However, it is not uncommon for women with PCOS to experience a cessation of their symptoms while they are pregnant. Moreover, many women with the condition have reported an improvement to their regular menstrual cycle after they have been pregnant.
There is no evidence of reduction in the risk of miscarriage in women prescribed bed rest. HCG administration as an alternative care for threatened miscarriage was more effective than bed rest in the Harrison study but this benefit is not confirmed when compared with placebo.
Top 10 foods to improve egg quality
At what week commonly do miscarriages happen with PCOS? Pregnancy loss is common during the first trimester (first 12 weeks).