PCOS, which is short for Polycystic ovarian syndrome, can be an extremely frustrating condition for many women. Some of the symptoms of PCOS can include irregular periods, vaginal bleeding, hair loss, irregular hair growth, acne, insulin resistance, weight gain in the upper body, sleep apnea, chronic pelvic pain, high blood pressure, and infertility. For women who are trying to get pregnant, this can be very disheartening; even if they do manage to conceive, women with PCOS are at an increased risk for miscarriages.

For a woman who wishes to become pregnant, the way to treat her PCOS is to treat the symptom of infertility. One of the most popular treatments is Clomid. Clomid is used to stimulate ovulation. Clomid will help around 4 out of 5 women ovulate, and can greatly increase a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. Clomid does carry an increased risk of having a multiple or twin pregnancy.

If Clomid does not successfully treat infertility, the next step is often to use hormones to try to stimulate the ovaries into producing eggs. Here again, this treatment, referred to as ovarian stimulation, carries the risk of multiple or twin pregnancy.

There is a surgical procedure that is similar to ovarian stimulation. Known as Ovarian drilling, this operation uses the making of several small holes in each ovary with a fine probe or laser. For some women, this can restore ovulation, or at least make their ovaries more likely to respond to Clomid.

A more radical procedure, IVF or in vitro fertilization, remains an option for a woman who has not responded to other treatments. The success rates of IVF can vary greatly depending on a variety of individual factors, including the length of infertility, weight, and age.

The higher levels of glucose and insulin that, for about a third of women, accompany PCOS, may be responsible for a higher miscarriage rate once becoming pregnant. Some studies suggest that women with PCOS will have a miscarriage rate that is as much as 45% higher than women without PCOS. In addition to problems with glucose and insulin, the late ovulation that sometimes accompanies PCOS can reduce the quality of her eggs, further adding to the chance of miscarriage.

The most effective way for a woman with PCOS to prevent miscarriage is to try to get her hormone levels normalized. This will improve ovulation. In addition, normalizing blood sugar and glucose levels can help to reduce the risk of miscarriage.

While there is no cure for PCOS, there are a variety of treatments that are available for PCOS. Some health care providers will recommend diabetic medications, such as Metformin, to help the patient with PCOS. Also known as Glucophage, this medication impacts the way that insulin regulates glucose, and it also helps to cause a decrease in the production of testosterone. This can help ovulation to return, and can also help to slow down the irregular hair growth. For women who are trying to conceive, Clomid or other fertility medications may be used to help the woman’s ovulatory cycle stabilize. These medications may help control other side effects, as well.

Posted in PCOS

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