PCOS and Infertility

Infertility in women originates from varied reasons and circumstances but PCOS has been known to be the main culprit. The POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME affects women and in some women a dose of excessive insulin in their bodies is responsible for the high secretion levels of male hormones also known as androgens. Most women with this kind of syndrome are resistant to insulin and as a result end up with diabetes.

In any normal menstrual cycle, follicles mature and evolve into eggs within the ovaries. Normally, only one egg cell is developed and due to the surge of LH level, it stimulates the egg to split from the follicle resulting to ovulation. Women with PCOS, lack the female hormones required for ovulation and their follicles fail to evolve into eggs. Some follicles may mature into an abnormal membranous sac containing gaseous liquid or semi-solid substance called cysts. In this modern age, PCOS can be detected with the use of Ultra Sound and seen on the monitor are “string of pearls” which are actually undeveloped follicles. Several minute cysts may be found covering the ovaries for as long as ovulation has not occurred due to the absence of progesterone intensifying the lining of the uterus.

Women with irregularity in their menstrual cycle or frequently missing their monthly period may be suffering from PCOS. This syndrome appears to be worst in older women. In some cases, women tend to irregularly ovulate but in other women, some do not at all. As per survey with child-bearing age women, a 5 to 10 % are PCOS positive and most of them are unaware of such condition. Some women are lucky enough despite of having an irregular ovulation cycle manage to get pregnant. There are several indications that one may recognize the syndrome for instance, hair growing on the chest, back or face. Likewise, the thinning of hair, obesity, high insulin levels or type II diabetes, acne and pelvic pain are indicators. The symptoms vary with each woman. While others have unpredictable menstrual cycle, some may show all of the signs aforementioned above.

It is medically conclusive that Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome causes infertility to most women due to ovulation failure in the ovaries. To eradicate this problem, women may just have to lose excess weight to correct hormonal imbalances. The drug Metformin helps the body absorb insulin and is safe for non-diabetic women to use. Though when applied affecting insulin levels, however it does not directly lower the blood sugar. Another drug which known as Clomid, often is used for treating the syndrome and with its dosage, estrogen receptors in the brain are blocked and mindfully recognizes it to be as low estrogen levels. At this given level of estrogen, the brain urges the body to an increase of FSH and LH signaling the ovaries to ovulate. Clomid induces ovulation in women but only 30 to 40 % get pregnant. During an In Vitro Fertilization or In Vitro Maturation, it offers an alternative to PCOS afflicted women. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure allows eggs to be harvested after it reaches maturity, then fertilized and implanted into the woman’s uterus. In Vitro Maturation (IVM) applied on the other hand, harvested eggs are still in immature stage. They are then incubated to age in a laboratory and fertilized upon maturity for future fertilization. This is where artificial insemination begins and infertility ends.