| If you have found it hard to conceive, it could be | | | | A current issue in the news today is diabetes and |
| because you are infertile due to PCOS (polycystic | | | | PCOS caused infertility is also insulin related. Your |
| ovarian syndrome). PCOS and infertility are linked, but | | | | body needs insulin but PCOS causes an insulin |
| having PCOS does not mean that you necessarily | | | | resistance and your body needs to be able to store |
| cannot become pregnant or that not having it means | | | | these sugars to use at later times. Insulin helps to |
| you will not have a problem becoming pregnant. | | | | regulate all kinds of hormones, including those that |
| One of the key signs that you have PCOS is an | | | | help regulate the reproductive system. |
| irregular period. Some women already are aware that | | | | If your body is not storing insulin properly, it can |
| they have this condition before they try to get | | | | result in irregular menstrual cycles because of the |
| pregnant. They usually know because they have | | | | hormonal imbalance. Your chance for a successful |
| experienced extremely painful periods, extremely | | | | pregnancy is slim to none when your body doesn't |
| heavy flows, and, in addition to pain during their | | | | produce eggs on a regular basis. This explains why |
| menstrual cycle, they may have pain in their hips at | | | | PCOS and infertility are so closely related. |
| other times of the month as well. | | | | Once you decide that you want to have a baby, it is |
| The connection between PCOS and infertility is that | | | | very important that you maintain a healthy weight. |
| the eggs do not mature as they should and cause | | | | You should maintain it all of your life to prevent |
| small cysts resembling a strand of pearls. This is why | | | | diabetes and insulin imbalances. Obesity is the leading |
| a woman may not be fertile and usually has abnormal | | | | cause of diabetes in both men and women. |
| periods. | | | | If your menstrual cycle and egg production has been |
| A doctor may perform a series of tests to see if | | | | affected by PCOS,losing weight will not help you right |
| you have PCOS. He will first check with you to see if | | | | away. Your doctor however, has other means to |
| your menstrual cycle is regular, then he may want to | | | | help you become pregnant. |
| see if you carry excessive amounts of male | | | | If your doctor thinks that your infertility problem is |
| hormones. Approximately 80% of women have | | | | caused by PCOS, he may be able to set you up with |
| elevated levels of androgens with PCOS. Other tests | | | | a drug regimen that has a 90% fertility success rate. |
| that should be ordered are tests to measure insulin | | | | The series of drugs include glucophage to regulate |
| levels and a test called the A1c to screen for | | | | insulin imbalances, clomiphene which are used for the |
| diabetes and a lipid profile to check cholesterol and | | | | first phase of infertility drugs and as a last resort, he |
| triglyceride levels. Lastly, he would want to do an | | | | will try to use gonadotropins. However, these drugs |
| ultrasound to check for small cysts on the ovaries. | | | | may raise the risk for multiple births. These |
| There are other signs that women have that can tell | | | | measures, combined with maintaining proper weight |
| if she has PCOS. Some of these signs are obesity, | | | | and nutritional balance, treatment of underling |
| skin tags, excessive hair and soft velvety patches on | | | | diabetes and high cholesterol, and managing the |
| the skin (usually on neck or thighs), known as | | | | ovulatory and menstrual abnormalities will increase |
| acanthosis nigricans. | | | | your chance of conceiving a child. |