PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Many women are diagnosed with this condition without understanding that they have it or how serious the consequences of having PCOS may be.
A woman with PCOS may find herself needing fertility treatment due to struggles with infertility. She may also need specialized treatments due to struggles with other health conditions like an increased risk of heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and endometrial cancer among others.
If you are concerned that you or someone you love might be at risk of having PCOS, here are some of the most common symptoms you may need to know about:
- Infrequent or absent periods, especially if you have not yet reached menopause (natural causes for this include stress and hormonal changes that often accompany weight gain or pregnancy)
- Presence of ovarian cysts. This may come with symptoms such as bloating, feeling a sense of heaviness or fullness in your abdominal region, and pelvic pain which may manifest itself ass dull or sharp pain on your lower abdominal region on the side where you’ve developed the cysts
- Acne or oily skin
- Excessive hair growth. This may be observed on the face and body
- Thinning hair on your scalp, which can lead to hair loss over time
- Sleep apnea and/or increased difficulty breathing while sleeping
- Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
These conditions all occur because of one specific issue faced by women with PCOS: their bodies cannot produce enough of the hormones needed to trigger ovulation and menstruation.
How can Fertility Treatments help me Increase my Fertility with PCOS
There are conventional treatments available to women with PCOS who want to increase their fertility, including oral contraceptives and metformin, a diabetes medication that can help regulate menstrual cycles in some women. In addition to these options, many fertility clinics offer specialized treatments for PCOS patients hoping to conceive a child. These treatments include:
- Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation: In this treatment, ovulation is induced using medications that stimulate the development of multiple eggs. The eggs are then removed from the woman’s body and fertilized with sperm outside of her body.
- In vitro fertilization: IVF is a complex fertility process used to treat many different types of infertility problems, including PCOS. Women who have PCOS often respond better to ovarian stimulation techniques during IVF procedures because they produce fewer follicles than other women undergoing the same treatment regimen. During an IVF cycle, a woman will take medication for several weeks to help develop multiple eggs instead of just one or two as in normal ovulation cycles. Some women with PCOS can use their own eggs after taking oral contraceptives to simulate menstrual cycles to increase their chances of successfully conceiving. Some women find success when undergoing an IVF cycle by undergoing the procedure twice in one year; this method is called “stacking.”
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI): For women struggling with fertility issues due to PCOS, IUI can be a good option because it does not require expensive equipment or medication regimens that can be difficult to maintain for some patients. During IUI, sperm is collected and then placed inside the woman’s uterus close to her cervix using a small catheter inserted into her vagina during natural ovulation. Using this method, many doctors believe there is less chance of having multiple eggs fertilized simultaneously, which can reduce the risk of multiple births. Another advantage to using IUI over IVF is that the woman is able to use her own eggs instead of needing an egg donor, which can significantly decrease the costs associated with having a baby for some women.
Costs of Different Types of Fertility Treatments
The cost of fertility treatment varies considerably depending on where you live and what type of treatment you are undergoing. In Singapore, the cost for one cycle of assisted reproductive technology can range from $13,000 to $19,000 per patient.
The high cost has helped fuel demand for slightly cheaper options, including more affordable techniques such as IUI. However, this comes at a price, too, because doctors are able to collect fewer sperm cells using this method than they would during an IVF cycle.
To improve the IUI process, some women choose to undergo a procedure that will harvest their eggs during a natural ovulation period and fertilize them using direct intrauterine insemination at home. With this method, patients can save money because they do not have to pay extra for clinic time or transportation, but there is a higher risk of multiple births because more than one egg could be released during the same cycle.
More Information on what to Consider before Starting any Type of Infertility Treatment
While many women are more than capable of carrying a child to term, there are some cases where issues with the reproductive system can impact whether or not a woman will be able to conceive. Women who have PCOS experience hormonal imbalances that interfere with ovulation and make it difficult for them to become pregnant on their own. By seeking out proper fertility treatments, many women have had success in being able to carry healthy pregnancies despite having this condition.
There are several ways women with PCOS can increase their chances of becoming pregnant while using assisted reproductive technology. The benefits associated with each type of treatment vary significantly depending on the patient’s specific needs and financial situation. If you need help deciding which option is best for your case, consulting a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist is a good idea.
Final Thoughts
Fertility treatments can help women with PCOS increase their fertility by using advanced techniques that require less stringent conditions and that are more likely to yield a healthy pregnancy. With the help of fertility treatments, many women have been able to become pregnant and give birth to happy and healthy babies despite having PCOS. Please, contact us if you need any additional information on fertility treatments that help women with PCOS. Call +65 6474 3900 now to schedule an appointment.
Advanced Centre for Reproductive Medicine – OBGYN, Gynaecologist, Fertility & Urogynaecology
6A Napier Rd, #05-35, Singapore 258500
+65 6474 3900