Polycystic ovary is a pathological condition where cyst (solitary or multiple) can develop in either one or both of the ovaries in a female, due to excessive androgen secretion. In this condition, cystic ovaries and hormonal imbalance may disturb the ovulatory cycle of a woman, consequently affecting the fertility. In some cases, a women may even have complete absence of ovulation, thereby preventing her from ever becoming pregnant.
Then how to get pregnant with PCOS? As dreadful as it may sounds, you should know many women with PCOS today are having babies because of advancements in treatment and drug therapy. Many fertility clinics have been setup to assist women in getting pregnant by devising plans as for their condition.
What Is Polycystic Ovary?
PCOS is a condition where hormonal imbalance results in oligo-ovulation, that is, the irregular production of ova or an-ovulation, which is the complete absence of ovulation during menstrual phase. During every menstrual cycle, one of the ovaries will release an egg, also known as an ovum, but if the woman has cystic ovaries, the ovarian follicles may mature too quickly, and due to hormonal incoordination, the ovarian follicles are not released at the appropriate time or are not released at all.
The prevalence of PCOS is greater in Asian women, and approximately one in three women may suffer from PCOS at some point of her life.
How to Get Pregnant with PCOS
Upon visiting your doctor, you will be prescribed clomiphene, a fertility drug that exerts its action by increasing the chances of ovulation, thereby improving the fertility rate. In some cases, clomiphene is coupled with metformin, an anti-diabetic drug that enhances the therapeutic effect. It works by reducing levels of testosterone and insulin that helps in ovulation. It is important that women maintain their weight before seeking treatment. Overweight women are advised to achieve a certain weight range before initiating therapy. This is mainly because being obese or underweight can also disturb the hormonal pool that may manifest as ovulation alterations in the reproductive cycle.
Some doctors may also suggest gonadotropins, if clomiphene does not work, but the issue with gonadotropins is that it is more likely to over-stimulate the ovaries, resulting in over production of eggs that may increase the risk of multiple pregnancies.
There are some cases, where drug therapy is not very effective. For such patients, doctors may advise surgical intervention. One of the procedures used for treating PCOS is LOD (laparoscopic ovarian drilling), this procedure involves removing ovarian tissue that is responsible for overproduction of testosterones, but for many this treatment does not provide a life-long solution, as the tissues can regenerate later.

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