Can PCOS cause infertility? Here’s what a fertility expert has to say

PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is an imbalance in the body of a female. The imbalance is in the female sex hormone. One’s menstrual cycle is not only controlled by the ovaries but is mainly controlled by the brain which signals the ovaries to release eggs. This condition is characterised by ovulatory dysfunction, high levels of androgen (also known as male hormones) and polycystic ovaries.

Hormonal imbalance in the body can cause many consequences in the body like more acne, irregular menstrual cycles or absent menstrual cycles, more hair on their body, etc. This is one of the most common problems that girls and women undergo, about 1 in 10 women undergo this condition. 

What are PCOS health risks? 

Having polycystic ovarian syndrome increases one’s chances of having: 

PCOS can affect a person’s fertility in different ways:

Polycystic ovarian syndrome not only impacts the health of a person as stated above but also impacts fertility and the ability to conceive a child. What happens is that even if a woman has a high ovarian reserve (resting follicles), however, those follicles do not get matured in time and therefore they do not have regular ovulation. 

It is not impossible for a woman with polycystic ovarian syndrome to get pregnant, it just gets a little more difficult to get pregnant. It gets more difficult because, ovulation is not regular, and without regular ovulation, conceiving becomes very challenging. If polycystic ovarian syndrome is not diagnosed and is not treated with medications and a lifestyle change it can hamper your fertility. 

What is the fertility treatment for PCOS?

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About the author: Dr Saroja Koppala, Fertility Consultant at Nova IVF Fertility, Hyderabad.

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