It is great to start with the common doubt; do women with PCOS always face difficulty in conception? If not, then why do many women connect PCOS with egg quality and fertility? There is a reason for it.
Keep exploring the blog to know more about polycystic ovarian syndrome and how it is interlinked with female reproductive health.
How Does PCOS Affect Egg Quality?
Women affected by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition, experience disruptions in ovulation during their reproductive years. Essentially, the body does not release mature eggs at the expected time.
Irregular periods, difficulty in conception, excessive hair growth, acne, and weight gain are some notable symptoms of PCOS.
However, PCOS doesn’t have any direct impact on egg quality. According to the type of polycystic ovarian syndrome, the side effects vary, which could affect the egg quality.
Types of PCOS and Effects on Egg Quality
Post-pill PCOS: This doesn’t have any direct link with egg quality, as this occurs after 4 to 6 months of quitting birth pills.
Inflammatory PCOS: Chronic inflammation contributes to the production of excess testosterone, which interrupts ovulation.
Headaches, unexplained fatigue, bowel issues, and joint pain are some important signs of inflammatory PCOS.
Adrenal PCOS: This is due to abnormal stress responses in your body. A type of androgen from the adrenal gland will be increased and result in PCOS.
Insulin-resistant PCOS: This is a normal type of PCOS, affecting around 70% of women, and this condition occurs due to elevated insulin levels.
Women with insulin-resistant PCOS experience weight gain, acne, fatigue, brain fog, and increased sugar cravings.
Know details of Tpes of PCOS: By Click Here
Scientific Studies and Research on PCOS and Egg Quality
The World Health Organization released some statistics regarding Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It states that PCOS affects around 8 to 13% of women, and 70% of reproductive-aged women remain undiagnosed without knowing the exact reason.
Egg quality has a crucial connection with women’s age. Compared to women who are 20 years of age are more likely to have good quality than women over 36 years of age.
While undergoing in vitro fertilization, doctors observed an increase in ovarian follicle, ovarian reserve, and oocyte count with a lower fertilization rate.
Can Women with PCOS Improve Egg Quality?
Yes, of course. Even though PCOS condition is not reversible, women with PCOS can effectively improve their egg quality. A proper diet and good lifestyle habits bring new changes in your body and increase the chances of conception.
A balanced diet plan
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily brings various benefits to your body. Particularly if you experience PCOS, you should convert your plate into a fertility-friendly diet.
Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome can add whole grains, lentils, berries, cauliflower, nuts, broccoli, tomatoes, almonds, spinach, fish, avocados, pomegranates, figs, olive oil, low carbohydrate foods, pulses for plant-based protein, and antioxidant-rich foods such as walnuts, mixed varieties of berries, etc.
Regular exercise
Regular exercise and physical activities are highly associated with good health and overall well-being. Therefore, try to practice simple exercises that have beneficial outcomes and treat PCOS effectively. You can go with cardio, squats, push-ups, and practice walking daily.
Reduce stress
Reducing stress is crucial to maintain better reproductive health. Practices like mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing, and yoga effectively reduce cortisol, the stress-causing hormone.
Plus, try to rest for some time and follow a proper sleep schedule for better relaxation and mental well-being.
Supplements
Adding to a balanced diet, you can include vitamin and mineral supplements. They are Vitamin D, E, B12, B6, and Folate, calcium, and zinc tablets to reduce the side effects of PCOS. Consult your doctor before consuming any.
Losing weight
Women with PCOS experience sudden weight gain, and obesity may cause difficulties in conception. So, try to include these habits that help to reduce weight.
Fertility Treatment Options for Women with PCOS
If you’re not planning to become pregnant, these treatments will regulate your menstrual cycle and reduce PCOS symptoms.
Hormonal birth control ways
Several birth control options are available, such as birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, intrauterine devices, or shorts. These can effectively help regulate the menstrual cycle and reduce symptoms like acne, excess growth, etc.
Insulin-sensitizing medicine
Metformin is a medicine to treat diabetes, which helps your body process insulin. So, if it is insulin-resistant PCOS, then it could control the insulin levels. Hence, women can witness changes in PCOS symptoms.
Medicines to stop androgens
Increased androgen production is also an essential reason for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Consuming specific prescribed medicines to control androgen production helps control excessive facial and body hair growth and acne.
Consult your doctor to get the right prescription to regulate the menstrual cycle.
Treatment for Pregnancy
Medications to induce ovulation
PCOS blocks ovulation, which is the most important thing for getting pregnant. Some medications can induce ovulation; the oral drugs are clomiphene and letrozole.
Gonadotropins are injection shots. Consider your fertility expert to get a medicine prescription according to your body condition.
Surgery
Surgeries are also a successful way to remove tissues in your ovaries. However, this is one of the rarest ways to restore ovulation. Discuss with your fertility doctor to get clarity on the surgical methods.
In vitro fertilization
This is the famous option for women with PCOS. In vitro fertilization is an artificial insemination technique that involves ovulation induction, egg retrieval, fertilization in the laboratory, egg transfer, and pregnancy testing.
This is a popular yet successful method for many women who face struggles in natural conception. The success rate of this technique is also comparatively high, so people opt for this ART.
Common Myths about PCOS and Egg Quality
Bursting some myths will be quite interesting, won’t it? Yeah, you’ll get clarity about PCOS and egg quality and know whether these two are interconnected or not. Let’s dwell on them.
Myth: Getting pregnant is impossible if you’ve PCOS
Fact: Fortunately, this is not true. Women with Polycystic ovarian syndrome can successfully conceive. Some women also experience only a reduced amount of PCOS side effects. They can conceive naturally or else undergo entry-level fertility treatments such as IUI and Ovulation Induction.
If these methods don’t work out, then women can also undergo IVF treatments. Choose the best fertility clinic in your region to witness successful pregnancy outcomes.
Myth: PCOS is the main reason for bad egg quality
Fact: Unfortunately, PCOS is an important reason for poor egg quality. That’s because women with PCOS can have increased chances of serious health conditions. It includes type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and hypersecretion of LH and FSH.
These severe side effects may be reflected in egg quality and potentially decrease it.
Myth: PCOS is reversible
Fact: May be, but not so sure. Don’t get confused. The polycystic ovarian syndrome is quite a manageable condition; still, a woman can’t completely get rid of it.
Women can consult a specialist to check whether they have PCOS or not. Women with PCOS can also follow some lifestyle changes and specific diet plans to reduce the side effects. However, PCOS couldn’t be reversed; instead, women can follow some tips to improve conception.
Myth: PCOS is the only reason for irregular menstrual cycle
Fact: Women with PCOS experience irregular menstrual cycles, but it is not the only reason. Around 25% of young women and 50% of women who experience irregular periods have Polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Other reasons for irregular menstrual cycles are bleeding disorders like platelet disorders, clotting deficiencies, and leukemia, uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, and adenomyosis.
If you’re trying for conception, the missed period for one or two months can signify a successful pregnancy. So, consult your fertility expert before making a decision.
Conclusion
Finally, polycystic ovarian syndrome doesn’t influence egg quality directly. However, PCOS has many indirect side effects affecting egg quality, fertility, and overall health.
Consulting a doctor when you miss one or two periods is highly recommended. So that you can easily diagnose the exact problem and undergo sufficient treatment at the early stages. Following proper lifestyle habits and a proper diet can make a lot of difference and reduce the PCOS side effects.
In addition, if you’re a married woman with PCOS, try conceiving as soon as possible to enter the parenthood phase without severe complications.
FAQs
No polycystic ovarian syndrome doesn’t completely stop the egg production. However, PCOS can interfere with the release of mature eggs.
This means that mature eggs will not be released at a particular duration every month, so ovulation doesn’t occur properly. As a result, irregular periods happen, and women get an apple belly.
Immature eggs don’t have the capability of fertilizing. Yes, women with PCOS may end up in this condition. Because polycystic ovarian syndrome prevents the growth and maturation of the follicles that release the egg cells.
Yes, there is a chance. Women with PCOS experience severe side effects, including insulin resistance, weight gain, irregular menstruation, etc. These side effects can influence the egg quality conception rate and can lead to infertility.
