Difference between revisions of "Get Pregnant With PCOS"
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#Consult your endocrinologist about regulating your monthly periods. The biggest problem women with PCOS face is irregular ovulation. If you're not ovulating when you think you're ovulating, or you're not ovulating at all, getting pregnant is going to be a Sisyphean task. Luckily, doctors — and the magic of science — can help. | #Consult your endocrinologist about regulating your monthly periods. The biggest problem women with PCOS face is irregular ovulation. If you're not ovulating when you think you're ovulating, or you're not ovulating at all, getting pregnant is going to be a Sisyphean task. Luckily, doctors — and the magic of science — can help. | ||
#*Many doctor prescribe drugs like Metformin and Clomid to help produce regular periods and regulate ovulation, respectively. | #*Many doctor prescribe drugs like Metformin and Clomid to help produce regular periods and regulate ovulation, respectively. | ||
| − | #**Metformin is primarily a drug used to treat diabetes, but is used for women with PCOS because they often have difficulty absorbing insulin. High insulin levels produce high androgen levels, which complicates periods.<ref>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a696005.html</ref><ref>http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.html#j</ref> | + | #**Metformin is primarily a drug used to treat diabetes, but is used for women with PCOS because they often have difficulty absorbing insulin. High insulin levels produce high androgen levels, which complicates periods.<ref name="rf1">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a696005.html</ref><ref name="rf2">http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.html#j</ref> |
| − | #**Clomid is an infertility drug that stimulates the production of hormones that cause ovulation.<ref>http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-11204-Clomid.aspx?drugid=11204</ref> | + | #**Clomid is an infertility drug that stimulates the production of hormones that cause ovulation.<ref name="rf3">http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-11204-Clomid.aspx?drugid=11204</ref> |
| − | #*If you're having trouble getting a period at all, your doctor might suggest a drug like Provera.<ref>http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-6996-Provera.aspx?drugid=6996&</ref> | + | #*If you're having trouble getting a period at all, your doctor might suggest a drug like Provera.<ref name="rf4">http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-6996-Provera.aspx?drugid=6996&</ref> |
#Talk to your doctor about in-vitro fertilization if a non-invasive drug regimen doesn't produce a pregnancy. Some patients with PCOS use in-vitro fertilization to conceive when other methods do not offer results. In some rare cases, PCOS affects the quality of the woman's eggs and donor eggs must be used. | #Talk to your doctor about in-vitro fertilization if a non-invasive drug regimen doesn't produce a pregnancy. Some patients with PCOS use in-vitro fertilization to conceive when other methods do not offer results. In some rare cases, PCOS affects the quality of the woman's eggs and donor eggs must be used. | ||
| − | #Explore other options if none of the other regimens work. A surgical procedure called laparoscopic ovarian drilling has shown promise and may help some women with PCOS conceive.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15734089</ref> It involves a surgeon inserting a camera through a small incision in your abdomen and using it to identify follicles on the surface of your ovaries and burn holes in them.<ref>http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/basics/treatment/con-20028841</ref> This alters your hormone levels and may allow you to conceive naturally. | + | #Explore other options if none of the other regimens work. A surgical procedure called laparoscopic ovarian drilling has shown promise and may help some women with PCOS conceive.<ref name="rf5">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15734089</ref> It involves a surgeon inserting a camera through a small incision in your abdomen and using it to identify follicles on the surface of your ovaries and burn holes in them.<ref name="rf6">http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/basics/treatment/con-20028841</ref> This alters your hormone levels and may allow you to conceive naturally. |
=== After You Conceive=== | === After You Conceive=== | ||
| − | #Address the possibility of miscarriage with your doctor. Expecting mothers with PCOS are about three times as likely to miscarry than expecting mothers without PCOS.<ref>http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/PCOS/conditioninfo/Pages/pregnancy.aspx</ref> Many doctors will recommend continuing to take metformin throughout the pregnancy in order to lower the likelihood of miscarriage. | + | #Address the possibility of miscarriage with your doctor. Expecting mothers with PCOS are about three times as likely to miscarry than expecting mothers without PCOS.<ref name="rf7">http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/PCOS/conditioninfo/Pages/pregnancy.aspx</ref> Many doctors will recommend continuing to take metformin throughout the pregnancy in order to lower the likelihood of miscarriage. |
# Talk with your obstetrician about getting regular exercise. Many doctors will stress the importance of consistent light exercise for expecting mothers with PCOS. Exercising will improve the body's use of insulin, normalize hormone levels, and keep your weight in check. In fact, regular exercise is often recommended for women who are trying to conceive, as this improves their chances of regular ovulation. | # Talk with your obstetrician about getting regular exercise. Many doctors will stress the importance of consistent light exercise for expecting mothers with PCOS. Exercising will improve the body's use of insulin, normalize hormone levels, and keep your weight in check. In fact, regular exercise is often recommended for women who are trying to conceive, as this improves their chances of regular ovulation. | ||
#*Talk with your doctor about which exercises are allowed and which ones you may want to stay away from. Walking and light strength training are often ideal for expecting mothers. | #*Talk with your doctor about which exercises are allowed and which ones you may want to stay away from. Walking and light strength training are often ideal for expecting mothers. | ||
| − | # Eat a balanced diet high in protein and green vegetables, and low in simple carbohydrates. Because PCOS limits your body's ability to regulate insulin, you may need to be as vigilant about what you eat as a person with diabetes is. A diet high in protein and fiber can help lower your insulin levels, which mitigates the impact PCOS has on your body. Avoid overly processed foods or foods with added sugar.<ref | + | # Eat a balanced diet high in protein and green vegetables, and low in simple carbohydrates. Because PCOS limits your body's ability to regulate insulin, you may need to be as vigilant about what you eat as a person with diabetes is. A diet high in protein and fiber can help lower your insulin levels, which mitigates the impact PCOS has on your body. Avoid overly processed foods or foods with added sugar.<ref name="rf2" /> |
| − | #Be especially vigilant throughout your pregnancy. Unfortunately, PCOS carries with it several other risks even after you've managed to conceive. Talk with your doctor about protecting again pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, which are all more common for women with PCOS.<ref | + | #Be especially vigilant throughout your pregnancy. Unfortunately, PCOS carries with it several other risks even after you've managed to conceive. Talk with your doctor about protecting again pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, which are all more common for women with PCOS.<ref name="rf7" /> |
#*Understand that women with PCOS often deliver their babies by Cesarean section. C-section is more common for expecting mothers with PCOS because complications more often arise. | #*Understand that women with PCOS often deliver their babies by Cesarean section. C-section is more common for expecting mothers with PCOS because complications more often arise. | ||
