Polycystic ovaries are part of the main causes why a woman can have problems getting pregnant. However, having polycystic ovaries is often confused with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a somewhat different disease.
The two concepts have points in common, but also important differences, above all, when applying treatments to achieve pregnancy. From, we will explain how to get pregnant with polycystic ovaries and we will help you differentiate the polycystic ovaries from polycystic ovary syndrome so that you can better detect your symptoms.
Polycystic ovaries: what they are and symptoms
Polycystic ovaries are a problem of gynecological origin that is detected through an ultrasound. Women with polycystic ovaries do not always have cysts on their ovaries, but they do have more follicles (hormone-secreting sphoroidal cells) that cause their size to increase. There are still no clear causes that explain why there are women who are diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, but most studies and professionals say that genetics plays an important role in this problem.
Symptoms of polycystic ovaries
Here are some symptoms of polycystic ovaries so you can identify them:
- Body hair: women who suffer from polycystic ovaries usually have an increase in hair in several areas of the body such as the face or chest.
- Cysts: While it is true that not all women who have polycystic ovaries have cysts on the ovaries, there are cases in which these are common.
- Irregular menstruation: polycystic ovaries can lead to irregularities in menstruation.
Polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome: differences
Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS, is defined as an endrocrine-type disorder that is reflected in the woman's body with imbalances in sex hormones. This is the biggest difference between polycystic ovary syndrome and polycystic ovaries, because while PCOS has an endocrinological origin, the second has a gynecological origin. Here are some symptoms by which you can identify polycystic ovary syndrome:
- Irregular menstruation: It is common for women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome to have very little bleeding during menstruation. There are cases in which it is also possible that there is an absence of bleeding.
- Larger ovaries: As with women who have polycystic ovaries, those who suffer from this condition have larger ovaries than those considered normal.
- Hair: Again, women with this problem have more hair on certain parts of the body and it usually grows faster. On the contrary, there are times when PCOS manifests itself with alopecia or with hair loss problems.
- Acne: episodes of acne may appear even if the woman in question is not in the adolescent stage.
- Overweight: Women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome usually have increased insulin resistance. This can lead to weight gain or even, in some cases, diabetes.
Risks of pregnancy with polycystic ovaries
As you may have already heard if you have polycystic ovaries, this problem is often closely linked to infertility and problems getting pregnant. This is because women with polycystic ovaries have lower ovulation and lower oocyte quality (germ cell necessary for ovulation). These problems make fertility challenging.
If you are wondering what the risks of pregnancy with polycystic ovaries are, you should know that the greatest risk that can occur is miscarriage, especially during the first months of pregnancy. However, you should also consider other risks such as gestational diabetes or macrosomia (excessive size of the fetus).
To avoid these risks and reduce the chances of these situations occurring, it is essential that you trust your gynecologist and follow all his guidelines, because depending on your particular case he will offer you a treatment or another both to increase the chances of pregnancy and so that it develops normally and without problems.
How to get pregnant with polycystic ovaries
How can I get pregnant with polycystic ovaries naturally? Is there a diet to improve fertility with polycystic ovaries?
There are many questions asked by women who have polycystic ovaries and want to get pregnant. From we want to anticipate that having this problem does not mean being sterile, so you can get pregnant even if you have polycystic ovaries. In addition, if you wonder if it is possible to get pregnant naturally with polycystic ovaries, we tell you that it is; it is entirely possible although not all women in this case can achieve it.
In many cases women with this problem do not encounter excessive complications, because changing elements as basic as diet and lifestyle manage to better control their menstrual cycles. However, there are cases where more complex treatment will be required:
- Oral antidiabetics: women who wish to become pregnant but have a lower quality of oocytes, are usually treated (initially) with oral antidiabetics to improve the quality and regularity of their menstrual cycles.
- Ovulation stimulation: If treatment with oral antidiabetics does not work, the doctor may bet on stimulating ovulation with hormones or specific medications to regulate the quality of oocytes and menstruation. However, there is a risk to take into account in these cases, as sometimes they can lead to a multiple pregnancy due to the stimuli themselves.
If none of these treatments work and pregnancy is not achieved, the doctor may consider performing some other treatment so that the woman in question can see her dream of being a mother come true.
