Those with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome might be worried about fertility issues. Some might worry about how much time it takes to conceive, and some might be concerned if it is possible to conceive at all. Several variables are at play concerning fertility. But in most cases, you can get pregnant. Let us explore how to get pregnant with PCOS quickly.
11 Effective Tips on How to Get Pregnant With PCOS Quickly
Several factors affect your odds of pregnancy, such as age, general health, and your partner. PCOS will require you to manage your health conditions well. If you ovulate regularly, are under 35 years of age, and if you and your partner have no other fertility conditions, you may be able to conceive within a year of trying. As stressful as this may seem, we can offer guidance on how to get pregnant with PCOS quickly naturally.
We must first understand the factors that boost your fertility. With PCOS, you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Not smoking
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Undertaking regular physical activity
- Getting adequate hours of sleep and rest
Studies demonstrate that it is possible to conceive with PCOS if you have a healthy lifestyle. If you can manage regular periods, you have a higher possibility of conceiving. Regardless of your reason, we understand how difficult it can be in your journey of conception.
You might have asked all doctors - with PCOS how to get pregnant fast? Yes, they might have told you it takes longer to conceive with PCOS. However, it is not impossible.
We will help you have a fighting chance at pregnancy. Here are some tips for how to get pregnant fast with PCOS:
1. Follow an Anti-inflammatory Diet
Diet plays a huge role in managing the symptoms of PCOS. Many women with PCOS tend to suffer from inflammation due to higher levels of androgens, which promote increased insulin production. Hence, the wrong foods can affect your hormones.
With an unhealthy diet, you might cause oxidative stress in the body that stimulates an inflammatory response. To counter this response, you must follow an anti-inflammatory diet that will nourish your body and help you balance your hormones and blood sugar. Here are some diet tips:
- Limit red meat
- Avoid sugar
- Switch your regular tea or coffee with green tea
- Add omega-3 rich fish to your diet
- Eat lots of fruit and vegetables
- Use herbs and spices in your food (ginger, cumin, fennel, bay leaves, etc.)
- Consume unsaturated fats (nuts, seeds, olive oil)
2. Track Your Menstrual Cycle
You should track your period because it helps you deduce when you are ovulating and when is your fertile window. There are 4 days in a month(usually beginning from the 12th day of the menstrual cycle) when the chances of conception are high. Hence, track your period.
3. Confirm Ovulation With Test Strips
If you struggle to tell when you are ovulating, you can use ovulation kits. They are similar to pregnancy tests. Note down when you are ovulating every month so you can chart how regular your ovulation is.
4. Reverse Your Insulin Resistance
Many women with PCOS experience insulin resistance. This means they have high blood sugar levels, which can risk their chances of conceiving. Sometimes doctors prescribe medicines to help, but you might want to consider their side effects before taking them.
You should first try cutting sugar and refined carbohydrates from your diet. Also, ensure you eat adequate protein, healthy fats and fibre so that your blood sugar levels stay low. Your doctor might recommend myo-inositol as it is effective in addressing insulin resistance. Newer medicines are being developed that can help reverse insulin resistance more effectively.
5. De-stress
Balanced hormones and nurtured adrenals affect your fertility. Our adrenal glands produce a stress hormone called cortisol that has an effect on all our hormones. If you can effectively manage and lower your stress and anxiety levels, you might have a better chance of pregnancy. You can try different stress management techniques like mindfulness, meditation, yoga, exercise, etc.
6. Seek Medical Advice
PCOS is associated with hormonal imbalances that interfere with the growth and release of eggs from your ovaries. Ovulation is necessary for pregnancy. Hence, you should seek medical advice from your doctor on how you can improve your ovulation and increase your chances of conceiving.
If you are under the age of 35, you should consult a doctor if you don’t conceive within a year of trying. However, if you are over 35, that time frame drops to 6 months. If you have other fertility issues like irregular periods or endometriosis, seek medical help from a reproductive endocrinologist.
7. The Need for Medication
Healthy ovulation is affected by high levels of androgens. A healthy egg should be released during ovulation for successful conception. Hence, many women have to rely on medication for ovulation. These medications help you to ovulate regularly so that you can get pregnant. Approach your doctor or a fertility specialist to find out the best medicine and dosage for yourself.
8. Find Your Healthy Weight
Since the majority of women with PCOS gain weight, they can help improve ovulation and hormone production by losing even 10% of body weight. Even the smallest changes in body weight can help improve your menstrual cycle, insulin resistance, and fertility.
Studies have found that women who exercise regularly tend to have better fertility than those who do not exercise at all. However, do not over-exercise as it may increase levels of inflammation in the body, which will affect your fertility. It would be enough to exercise 3-5 days a week.
9. Assisted Reproductive Technologies
If you have given ovulation medications a shot and it didn’t work, you might want to consider assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Studies show that women with PCOS who opt for IVF usually have the same level of success as women without PCOS. Your doctor will start you on medication and lifestyle changes to improve your fertility. However, if those interventions are unsuccessful, you might need to rely on ART.
10. Surgical Routes
If ART is unsuccessful, you might require to undergo certain surgeries to improve your fertility. One such surgery is ovarian drilling. This surgery often triggers ovulation. While this surgery is not required in most cases, it has been found that up to 50% of women who undergo ovarian drilling can conceive within the first year of the surgery.
11. Don’t Lose Hope
PCOS is actually quite common. Yes, it may make pregnancy a tad bit more difficult. But it does not make it impossible. Hence, put in your best efforts and do not lose hope. It is quite possible to have a healthy pregnancy even with PCOS. Contact your healthcare provider for the best advice on diagnosis and treatments.
These are some of the easiest ways to know how to get pregnant fast with PCOS. When trying to get pregnant with PCOS, the most important thing is to take care of your health. The healthier you are, the healthier your bundle of joy will be.
Also Read: List of 10 Foods to Avoid in PCOS & 7 Best Foods to Eat!
References
- Robert J Norman, Helena J Teede, March 2019; Lifestyle changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6438659/
- Anderson Sanches Melo, Rui Alberto Ferriani,, November 2015; Treatment of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: approach to clinical practice - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4642490/
