Pregnancy With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The Indian mindset is such that people don’t like to visit the doctor for a routine examination, even annually which often lands them in a soup later on in life. Many women do not realise that there might be an underlying cause for them to not be able to conceive. By the time they understand what is happening, they have had lost a lot of precious time that could have been used for their treatment. But with the increase in awareness about possible medical conditions, people are growing more and more responsible towards themselves and their health. PCOS is one such condition that many women come to know of only when they are unable to conceive. Find out more about pregnancy and PCOS below.

What is PCOS?

PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. The condition affects the ovaries that produce estrogen and progesterone, and a small amount of male hormones called androgen, the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. PCOS is called a syndrome because it is a group of symptoms that affects the ovaries and ovulation, typically a woman affected by PCOS will be diagnosed with cysts in the ovaries, high levels of male hormones, and irregular or skipped periods.

Polycystic means many cysts, cysts that are actually follicles, each one containing an immature egg that never mature enough to trigger ovulation. When there is no ovulation taking place, the levels of estrogen, progesterone, Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are altered, causing the levels of male hormone-androgen to go higher than the rest. These extra male hormones disrupt the menstrual cycle, causing irregularity in the menstrual cycle.

Symptoms of PCOS include, irregular menstrual cycles, cysts on the ovaries, infertility, weight gain, acne, excessive face and body hair, thinning of hair, balding, insulin resistance.

How does PCOS affect pregnancy?

If you suffer from PCOS,

• There are higher chances of you struggling to conceive.
• You will be at a higher risk of developing complications during pregnancy that would include a three-fold increase in the risk of  miscarrying in early pregnancy as compared to women who don’t suffer from PCOS.
• You are  at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) which can lead to you giving birth to babies that are bigger than normal babies.
• You might suffer preeclampsia, a condition characterized by sudden elevated blood pressure and swelling in the body after the 20th week of pregnancy.
• You could even end up delivering a preterm baby.

However managing the symptoms can prove helpful to many women with PCOS, in conceiving and delivering a healthy baby.

How can PCOS be managed to conceive and deliver a healthy baby?

There are a number of fertility treatments combined with a few lifestyle changes that can help you conceive with PCOS. If have already conceived, it is important for you to be taking preventive measures and be careful during the term of your pregnancy.

• Check your blood sugar as often as your doctor recommends. And be extra careful during pregnancy.
• See a dietitian for nutrition therapy  tailored for you to make sure you get the nutrients you need and gain the right amount of weight, while controlling your blood sugar.
• Being physically active is very important, you should ask your doctor what type of activity is best for you.
• Losing weight is one of the first things recommended, but changing your diet and eating in a way that keeps your blood glucose stable also plays a part in improving PCOS related infertility issues.

Our team of doctors at Premier include experienced obstetricians, dietitians, and therapists who ensure a proper plan for you to follow and have a healthy pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.

[Also Read: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL): An Overview]

About The Hospital:

Since the inception of Premier Hospital in 1991 till today, we have grown to unprecedented levels, due to our excellence in medical sciences and healthcare. Premier Hospital is the creation of Dr Mahesh Marda and when it was first established, was only a small, 30-bed hospital facility. Back then, we provided only secondary care to patients, but that certainly has changed in the present landscape.