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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
What is Anovulation?

An estimated 10 % of women of childbearing age have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), making PCOS a leading cause of infertility. PCOS is a complex issue and no one knows its exact cause. In infertility cases, women with PCOS may produce too much insulin, which in turn causes the ovaries to over-produce male hormones called androgens. This can lead to a number of symptoms, including excessive hair growth, weight gain, and ovulation issues and infertility.

Frequently, women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) have problems with their menstrual cycle and issues with ovulation (or anovulation). In women with PCOS, the ovaries do not produce sufficient hormones and the egg or ovum may not mature. In PCOS, developing ova may remain as cysts (or appear cyst-like). In such cases, ovulation does not take place and the reproductive hormones are thrown out of balance, specifically progesterone. Without hormonal balance and progesterone, a woman’s menstrual cycle may be irregular or absent. As noted above, the ovaries (or ovarian cysts) can produce male hormones called androgens.

Symptoms of PCOS include infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding, infertility or inability to get pregnant because of a failure to ovulate, increased growth of hair on the face, chest, or stomach, weight gain or obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

For trying-to-conceive women, treatments of PCOS include fertility medications: Clomiphene (pills) and Gonadotropins (shots) can be used to stimulate the ovary to ovulate. Natural fertility supplements, such as FertilAid for Women, are popular with PCOS sufferers as well.

What is Anovulation and Amenorrhea?

Anovulation is indicated when a woman does not ovulate, or release an egg, during her menstrual cycle. Anovulation may occur in women with PCOS, as well as women with other infertility issues. For some women with infertility symptoms, the ovaries/follicles do not develop properly, the egg does not mature, and ovulation may not take place every cycle, may take place sporadically, or in some cases, ovulation may not take place at all.

Who who experience anovulation women may never ovulate without the help of fertility drugs. Also, women may also experience amenorrhea, or have no menstrual periods for months or even years at a time.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a very common cause of anovulation and infertility. When it is suspected, additional testing may be indicated. In cases of anovulation or PCOS, clomiphene (pills) and Gonadotropins (shots) can be used to stimulate ovulation.

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hi, im 22yrs old and me and my husband have been trying to get pregnant for some time now. i found out i had pcos when i was 20yrs old and i didn't really now what it was until my doctor explained it to me what pcos was and how it can effect in so many different ways. i knew then that it was the reason why i had so many miscarriages. my first miscarriage was when i was 17yrs old i was pregnant with twins and my doctor told me when i was 6months pregnant that i had miscarriaged and 2months later i went to the hospital and gave birth to twins they were stillborn my doctor then told me i had an ECTPIC PREGNANCY i lost my left ovary and my left follopian tube. after that i have been having miscarriages every since. i finally found this great doctor an hour from where live, that told me that i can still get pregnant with one ovary but the only thing that was stoping me from getting pregnant was this polycystic ovarian syndrome. i have been on and off of metformin since december of 2009 and just started taking provera to jump start my menstrual cycle and taking 50mg of clomid last month to get pregnant and nothing worked so this friday i will start taking 150mg of clomid and 1000mg of metformin and see how that works out. having this pcos has made my life a living hell. i have facial hair and brown patches every where and i use to be a small girl 135lbs now 201lbs. i cry sometimes because i hate what the pcos has done to me i don't know what to eat becuase whatever food i eat makes me gain weight i do my workouts every morning and every night and nothing helps i eat the right food and i still gain the weight. i'm depressed all the time and sometimes i don't even have sexual desire for my husband. i would like to get pregnant but this pcos is stoping everything. This pcos has put my life on hold, i have had 6 miscarriages within 2004 thur 2010. once before i have 3 miscarriages in 1yr. i only have a period once a year and sometimes i can go i a whole year without a menstrual. i told myself that i will give it 6months and if i don't get pregnant within 6months i will forward with IUI treament!

Anonymous - Sep 01, 2010
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I am 29 years old. And i found 1 and a half year back that i have small cysts in my ovaries...
I am not over weight... My weight is just 49 kg..
I consulted doctor and she said that i will have to undergo a laperscopy...
Please advice me on this... if there is any other solution than a surgery...

Anonymous - Aug 17, 2010
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Hi I'm 19 years old me and my fiancee have been together 4 years I was told I had pcos when I was jus 17 years old and now me and my finacee are desperate for a baby and going to a private hospital tomorrow for an ultra sound scan. Then c a consultant on friday what is it that will make me fall pregnant I get hair in unusal places and do I ovulate I am on my period now so many questions but never any direct answers can ne one help me

Anonymous - Aug 02, 2010
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I'm 28 and suffering from PCOS. i used to have frequent periods due to this. however i found a great doc and the doc suggested pills to regularize my cycle. i had increased acne. however post having these pills my periods have been regularized and my acne have reduced to a large extent. the cyst still persists, but as my doc, this will not come in my way of conceiving. i'm gald the doc assured that.

KS - Jul 24, 2010
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hi i am 24 yrs old i have a daughter aged 2 and i had a misscarage at 22wks last yr, i was told i would never be able to conceive a baby but i manged to prove my doctor, i have suffered my condition since i was 14yrs or age, i didnt have a period for 6 yrs and i dont suffer from increased hair growth nor overweight, i am currently trying for another baby but i cant tell when i ovulate i dont know if i will fall pregnant again but maybe i will, some woman have to take medecines for this condition but ladies there is a high chance you could conceivce without it all the best to you

lynsey - Jul 07, 2010
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I have a child that will be 10 y/o in July, but developed PCOS a few years after her birth. It took over 5 years to FINALLY find a doctor that did more than just prescribe Metformin. He ran a whole slew of testing and was able to get my hormones balanced in 1 year!!! So now we are working on pregnancy. It'll be a year in October since I've started to have periods w/o having to take birth control pills. I only have to take the Metformin. Last month we tried the Progestrone and Clomid to see if I'd get pregnant, but it didn't work, so now I'm going to try the Basal Temperature tracking and if my period comes again, my doctor said we are going to try again or try something different. My fiance' is so wonderful and patient about all of this, and is very understanding and supportive with all the setbacks from PCOS (facial hair growth, weight gain, ect.). He says it may not happen now, but it will eventually happen and we will have babies together.

Evans - Jun 30, 2010
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Hello all,
I am 22 years old and have PCOS. I got diagnosed last year. Being married to the best man in the world for 3 years we finially decided to try to have children. My OBGYN Dr. put me on Metformin for about 6 weeks to regulate my hormone lvls then to start Progestrone to kick start my Cycle. on the thrid day of my cycle I was to start my clomid. I didnt realize though is that i was supposed to continue taking the Metformin through the other two medications. Sad to say we didnt get lucky that time. So, here I am on Round 2 of the this process and taking them correctly. So really what i am trying to say is dont give up hope ladies. PCOS is just a road block that can be over come with trial and error and a whole lot of patience. If it you dont succeed talk to your Dr. find out what went wrong and jump on that Stallion again (your Man that is, hehe ^.^)! I WISH YA'LL ALL THE LUCK!! Please keep your fingers crossed for me too!!

PCOS Hater - Jun 09, 2010
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Hi,

I am 23 years old. And i found 1 and a half year back that i have small cysts in my ovaries... I am not over weight... My weight is just 52 kg.. Also i dont find excess hair growth...
I consulted doctor and he said that i dont have sufficient blood in my body to get ovulated monthly... Please advice me on this...

Anonymous - Jun 04, 2010
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I have pcos and have found a great doctor.
Metformin helps with the insulin in the body
and for years I have had regular cycles thanks to metformin
I also found out I need extra follic acid b6 and b12.
This is thanks to proper bloodwork and a doctor who knew what to look for. I had laporscopic surgery to remove endometriosis -no thanks to birth control pills.
Just a couple of months ago I got pregnant but at 9 weeks had a miscarriage. It was hope because at 15 years of marriage this was the first pregnancy ever. I know I will have a baby
I am ever hopeful!
Dont believe that birth control will help find a doctor who is prolife and you will find one who will look more in depth at what is really going on in your body.

Anonymous - Feb 22, 2010
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hi im a almost 21 yrs old.I hsve been with my husband for almost 3 yrs.We do want kids but i pcos.An we do want to have kids but I am unable to get pregnant.I am not on any birth control.And i really dont know what to do.I think i am to young to use rx drugs to help get start because twins,ect runs in my family.And comments will help thanks

Anonymous - Dec 13, 2009
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Note that you are most likely to get pregnant if you time your lovemaking to occur on the days right before - and on - your ovulation date. Keep in mind that the projected ovulation date above is simply a “best guess” estimate based on your cycle date information. The most accurate way to pinpoint your most fertile time is through the use of urine-based ovulation tests or with a fertility monitor. We have partnered with Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com, the Internet’s leading supplier of preconception products since 2001, to offer low-cost, FDA-approved pregnancy and ovulation tests – with free same-day shipping.

 

Now that you’ve calculated your ovulation date using our ovulation calculator, we have a number of other helpful tools you can use to help increase your chances of conceiving.

 

  • Create your own personalized ovulation calendar! You can even provide an email address so that you receive email alerts of your most fertile days, when you can begin testing for pregnancy, and more.
     

  • Create your own personalized fertility chart! This is a highly accurate way to pinpoint your ovulation date that relies primarily on basal temperature charting. (Visit Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com for an accurate, inexpensive basal thermometer.)
     

  • Connect with others at our online community! If you have questions about trying-to-conceive – or if you just want to vent a bit – we have a wonderful, vibrant community of people who’d just love to hear from you.

Find your most fertile time.