By: Vaishnavi Raju | Date: August 28, 2020

How To Treat Infertility In Women With PCOS

"From hormonal imbalances to stress to lifestyle choices, a lot of factors contribute to female infertility. Getting to the root of the cause is the first step towards conception.

Are you having trouble conceiving after trying for almost a year? Fret not, infertility affects nearly 3.2-16.8% of couples in India and 15% couples globally.

If you have also failed after trying to have a baby for more than a year, we recommend consulting your doctor as infertility can occur due to both male and female factors combined. Below, let us try to understand the causes and treatments of infertility.

What Causes Female Infertility?

From poor lifestyle choices to hormonal imbalances, many factors contribute to female infertility. These restrict a woman from getting pregnant. Some of these factors include:

Female Infertility Hormonal Issues

Hormonal Imbalances remain the most common cause of female infertility. To get pregnant, your ovaries must produce eggs and release them in the fallopian tube. This process is known as ovulation.

However, women suffering from PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome), a type of hormonal imbalance, are less likely to go through normal ovulation. Because PCOS can cause infrequent menstrual periods and restrict ovaries from producing eggs.

Infection in Fallopian Tubes

Fallopian Tubes  are a vital organ of the female reproductive system.The egg and the sperm meet inside these tubes. As a result, fertilization occurs.

The Fallopian Tubes carry the fertilized egg to the uterus, where the baby’s body grows over nine months. An infection in the fallopian tubes restricts the sperm from meeting eggs. This results in tubal infertility.

Uterine Fibroids

Uterine Fibroids are abnormalities that develop inside the uterus. If they aren’t treated, Fibroids can have a negative impact on women’s fertility.

How Poor Lifestyle Choices Impact Fertility in Women

Believe it or not, but poor lifestyle choices are also one of the major causes of female infertility. Studies have shown that too much alcohol consumption usually causes ovulation disorders and increases the risk of infertility in women.

Apart from alcohol, excessive emotional stress is also a common reason behind infertility. When you try to conceive, your body must regulate all the necessary hormones for ovulation. However, excessive stress is found to affect the proper hormone release during ovulation and you’ll find it difficult to get pregnant.

What Factors Increase the Risk of Infertility?

The following factors may increase the risk of female infertility.

Obesity:

Being overweight causes several medical conditions and infertility is one of them. Women struggling with obesity are at a higher risk of miscarriages, menstrual disorders, and several other pregnancy complications [4].

Age:

Your age plays a significant role in getting pregnant. Several studies have shown that women who are above 35 are most likely to face fertility problems. Why? Because, with age, the body starts to produce unhealthy eggs. This is the reason why only 5% of women are capable of getting pregnant in their 40s [5].

Unhealthy Diet:

An unhealthy diet increases the risk of female infertility. Women who eat excessive carbohydrates and sugar have high insulin levels. This affects the ovulation process and causes several fertility problems.

When Should You See a Doctor For Infertility?

As we mentioned earlier, infertility can occur due to both male and female factors. When you’ve already tried to get pregnant for over a year and failed, it is a good idea to visit a fertility specialist.

In addition to this, there are several other situations when consulting a specialist will help.

• You are encountering irregular periods with heavy bleeding. This indicates the presence of Uterine Fibroids inside the uterus, which require immediate medical care.
  If you’ve even been diagnosed with STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) [6], there’s a huge probability that your fallopian tubes might have some infections. In this case, the fertility specialist will prescribe medication to mitigate the infection and allow proper fertilization.
  If your partner has a low sperm count, you are less likely to get pregnant. Visit a male fertility specialist as they have expertise in treating such conditions.
  If you are above 35 and already had 3+ miscarriages. This could be an indication of uterus infection and you must seek professional help to avoid repeated miscarriages in the future.

Since infertility can be distressing, many women wonder if it’s possible to prevent it or not? The truth is you can prevent infertility by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as:

Quit Smoking

Tobacco can damage your reproductive organs and slow down the ovulation process. If you are an avid smoker, make sure to stop immediately when you’re trying to conceive.

Stay Away from Alcohol

You should stay away from alcohol while trying to get pregnant as it can cause hormonal imbalances. Moreover, you should also avoid drinking after getting pregnant as it can cause several birth ailments.

Exercise Daily and Maintain Your BMI

If you are overweight, this would be the time to buy a gym membership and consult a nutritionist. Keep your workout intensity moderate, as intense physical activities increase the risk of miscarriages.

The Bottom Line

The inability to conceive is frustrating for both men and women. Instead of ignoring the condition, seek medical care. This will help you identify the cause and undergo the required treatment. What steps did you take before conceiving? Let us know!