Can you still get pregnant if you have PCOS?

Without beating around the bush, the short answer to this question is yes. 

But the problem is, it doesn’t always come without complications. And, it’s not always a guarantee that you will be able to conceive.

If being a mom is something you have always wanted but suffer from this condition, do not give up on the possibilities. Many women have been blessed with healthy children despite their health diagnosis.

Here is what you need about PCOS and chances of conceiving.

Living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can drain all your emotional strength when you’re trying to conceive. Women with this condition are around three times more likely to develop complications as a result. First it’s harder because you have insulin resistance or an excess of male hormones like androgen and testosterone that interfere with the release of eggs.

Often, patients are even told that they have a short time to plan a pregnancy when they get a confirmed diagnosis. Even with that, there are ways to increase your chances of conceiving past that window you have been given. The major changes that have to happen are weight loss and diet changes. These reduce the probability of obesity and they also trigger ovulation again.

When you do get pregnant, it’s harder to carry the whole pregnancy full-term. It’s basically considered a high risk pregnancy. There are increased chances of miscarriages, higher risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease during your pregnancy and you might need to undergo a C-section delivery. The compilations can also affect your baby. There are chances of a preterm birth and babies who are larger than normal. Because of these risks, you have to be monitored closely at all times. You still have to watch what you eat, keep the stress levels down and keep up with doctor’s appointments. You might also receive instructions on different types of medication or supplements to ensure you and the baby get the necessary nutrients.

It’s completely possible to naturally conceive and have a normal delivery when with PCOS. If at all you’re not ready to have a baby and you’re active, you have to use some form of protection because there are still chances of getting an unplanned pregnancy. It’s better to plan a pregnancy with PCOS because the health risks are too high.

If you want to have a baby and you’ve lost or gained the weight and done all you can but there are still no signs of a baby, it could be time to discuss other possible medical treatments with your doctor. This doesn’t mean that you should give up quickly but trying for more than a year with no luck could be the signal to try something else.

Fertility treatments have paved way for women with PCOS and those include In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), ovulation induction which is the process of inducing ovulation, and insulin resistance medications. Surgery is also a possibility where you undergo procedures like ovarian drilling. These procedures can cost a lot of money and it’s not easy for everyone to afford the medication or treatments. This has left so many women stranded and discouraged.

Now what happens if you can’t have kids? This is a heartbreaking journey for any woman or couple that desire to have children. You need some time to recover mentally, physically and emotionally if this is what you’re going though. Take a break from working if that’s an option and put your mental health first.

Maybe you can even consider surrogacy or adoption since there are so many children out there who need a loving home to belong to.

Still, you should take time to recover by going for therapy sessions and join a support group of women who know exactly what you’re going through. That way you can accept yourself and be an inspiration to other women who are coming to terms with infertility in future.