Treatments And Suggestions To Improve The Fertility Of A PCOS Sufferer

Health & Medical Blog

Many who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) eventually become pregnant, even though they may feel that their bodies have fought the course of nature throughout the fertility process. The disease, which commonly affects women of childbearing age, causes cysts to develop on the ovaries. Additionally, many who have been diagnosed with PCOS go months without a menstrual cycle due to the system disruption caused by the hormonal changes from the cysts and the lack of ovulation. 

There are multiple treatments and suggestions that a physician may employ to improve the fertility of a PCOS sufferer. Here are a few of them:

Drug Therapy

Progesterone supplementation may be needed to incite menstruation.. However, medications, such as clomid, are sometimes used to induce ovulation for people with PCOS. The ovulation-inducing drugs are prescribed for specific cycle days, with cycle day one being the first day of menstruation.

Although the lack of ovulation and menstruation may seem to be the only issues that need to be addressed by medication, there are other systemic conditions that seem to affect people with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Many women with PCOS also suffer from hyperinsulinemia. Although their blood sugar levels often remain normal, their bodies release higher-than-normal levels of insulin to maintain blood sugar. These high insulin levels seem to impact the reproductive system, supporting the PCOS condition. To counteract high insulin levels, physicians may prescribe diabetic medicines, such as metformin. Sometimes, menstrual flow and ovulation are restored with the application of these medicines alone.

Exercise

By building more muscle tissue, the body becomes more responsive to insulin. Thus, insulin sensitivity can be improved by exercise, resulting in the need for less insulin to be produced by the body. Some doctors suggest that women with PCOS include some form of exercise in their daily activities. The exercise does not have to be overly strenuous, but it should be consistent. 

Diet

Diets that are low in starchy carbohydrates may also be prescribed. Carbohydrates, especially simple carbohydrates, generally have a greater impact on blood sugar than fats and proteins do. As a result, the body releases more insulin in response to a carbohydrate-laden meal than to a meal that is higher in protein. 

The doctor may recommend a diet that includes large amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins to meet nutritional needs without encouraging the release of huge amounts of insulin.

To learn more about PCOS and how it can be treated to minimize its affects on fertility, schedule a consultation with an obstetrician or gynecologist in your area, such as those at Advanced OB-GYN Services.

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26 October 2016