Pregnancy comes as a blessing. Some people don’t have to struggle with it while for others conceiving can be a huge challenge. Older females often struggle with fertility or the trouble can even grow big if they are suffering from a medical condition such as PCOS.
PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a common gynecological condition that is characterized by the formation of cysts in the ovaries, increased levels of male hormones in the body and disrupted menstrual cycle. The condition can surely take a toll on your reproductive health and women who suffer from PCOS can have difficulty becoming pregnant.
I have seen one of my colleagues suffering from this problem. She was suffering from PCOS and she struggled with pregnancy for many years. Then after going through the list of gynecologists in Karachi she opted for consultation. After taking medications and a variety of fertility drugs she was able to conceive. However, you can increase your fertility with PCOS with minor lifestyle tips.
Tips to Get Pregnant with PCOS
If you are someone struggling with fertility with PCOS, here are tips that can help you
1- Maintain a Healthy Weight
Your body weight plays a crucial role in your overall health and more importantly your reproductive health. Your body weight is one of the important reasons behind your imbalanced hormones that affect your reproduction. For PCOS patients 5-10% of total body weight can increase your chances of getting pregnant. So, if you are overweight try to shed the extra body weight to increase your chances of fertility.
2- Manage Stress
Stress management is the next helpful tip when it comes to becoming pregnant with PCOS. According to research, there is an established link between stress and PCOS. Stress is known to play a role in insulin resistance that can increase PCOS complications. So, if you want to increase your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS make sure to manage your stress. To cope with your stress levels, start practising stress management techniques.
3- Follow an anti-inflammatory diet
Your dietary choices play a key role when it comes to controlling your PCOS symptoms. Ingredients in your diet can either cause or limit the limitation in your body. So, try to add more and more anti-inflammatory compounds containing foods to your diet. Before this, try to understand the relationship between inflammation and health.
When you consume a diet lacking anti-inflammatory compounds, it causes inflammation that increases the production of insulin in the body which in turn causes you to gain weight and even an increase in inflammation. Here are some of the wise dietary choices to make:
- Picking foods low in processed sugar
- Limit the consumption of red meat
- Adding healthy fats to your diet
- Adding more and more herbs to your diet
- Consume a lot of raw fruits and vegetables.
4- Proper Tracking of Menstrual Cycle
Another tip that can help you to get pregnant with PCOS is the proper tracking of your menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycle tracking can let you know about the days when you are fertile. There are mobile applications that help you see your ovulation pattern so you can try getting pregnant on those days.
5- Reverse Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance is the real culprit when we talk about the difficulty of getting pregnant with PCOS. Try to reverse insulin resistance to control the level of hormones in your body. With small and minor changes in your lifestyle, you can reverse insulin resistance. Here are tips that can help you:
- Inositol supplements might help you
- Try to reduce your carb intake
- Control your blood sugar level
- Try to add more and more fibre to your diet
- Consume more and more protein-rich foods.
However, there are even nutrients that are part of nutrient therapy. You can add these nutrients to your diet to reduce the level of inflammation in your body.
6- Try Reproductive Assistance
Assisted reproductive technologies can be a great help when you are trying to become pregnant with PCOS. From the use of reproductive medicines to reproductive technologies like in-vitro fertilization, IUI, or at-home insemination, all of these can help you to increase your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS. However, your physician after taking your medical history into account can decide to determine the need for assisted reproductive procedures.
Bottom Line!
PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that is known to affect a female’s reproductive potential to a greater extent. Some women may find it difficult to get pregnant with PCOS. However, following the right lifestyle practices from your dietary choices to the dietary supplements, all of these can help to increase your chances of becoming pregnant with PCOS. However, if you still face difficulty, you can consult your physician for the right medical advice and bring the joy of motherhood.
