PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) causes a woman to have irregular periods, to have too many androgenic hormones, and the appearance of many small cysts on the ovaries. All these symptoms make it difficult to conceive children. If you want to get pregnant when you have PCOS, you will need to restore a regular menstrual cycle, lose weight if you are overweight, and control diabetes if you have been diagnosed. Your doctor may recommend fertility medications if you do not become pregnant shortly after regular periods are restored.
Step 1
Develop a plan to lose weight if you are overweight by reducing your daily caloric intake and adding regular exercise sessions to your health regimen. Carrying excess pounds may make your periods stop, so you must get closer to a healthy weight in order for other treatments to work. According to Registered Dietitian Martha McKittrick, 50 to 60 percent of women with PCOS are obese.
Step 2
Ask your doctor about anti-androgen drugs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, anti-androgen drugs reduce the impact of naturally produced male hormones on a woman's body. These drugs may include spirnolactone and finasteride (Propecia).
Step 3
Ask your doctor about having an "ovarian drilling" procedure. IVF-Infertility.com reports that approximately 70 to 90 percent of women who undergo ovarian drilling will spontaneously ovulate, and 40 to 60 percent of women will find themselves happily pregnant within one year of the procedure. In addition, ovarian drilling does not carry the risk of multiple pregnancies as some fertility treatments do.
Step 4
Control diabetes carefully. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and PCOS, you will definitely need to control your insulin levels because insulin resistance plays a big role in suffering from PCOS, according to Martha McKittrick.
Step 5
Talk to your doctor about starting fertility medications if all else fails. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, some medications your doctor may prescribe could be clomiphene citrate, or metformin along with clomiphene. In vitro fertilization may be recommended as well but can be very costly.
Things You'll Need
- Anti-androgen drugs
- Diabetes medication
- Fertility medications
