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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, you are not alone.

PCOS affects 1 in every 10 women of childbearing age, according to The United States’ Office of Women’s Health. If you have been struggling with infertility and are at the beginning of your fertility treatment journey, especially if you are in the diagnosis stage, understanding what PCOS is and how it can affect your fertility can help you determine your next steps to expanding your family. PCOS is attributed to upwards of 70% of ovulation issues in women. Thankfully, there are many actions you can follow to control your PCOS and provide you with the best fertility success rates.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is caused by an imbalance in the reproductive hormones. Hormonal imbalances can cause issues with the healthy development or proper releasing of the eggs during ovulation.

Some women experience symptoms such as irregular cycles, acne, weight gain, skin tags, hair growth typical in men, thinning hair, or skin darkening, however, some women don’t experience any outward signs of PCOS, at all. The best way to determine if you have PCOS is through a physical exam with your doctor, blood tests to check your hormone levels, and a pelvic exam or ultrasound.

While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, many experts believe that in addition to a family history of PCOS and obesity, high levels of insulin and androgens (male hormones) may increase your risk.

How does PCOS affect fertility?

A PCOS diagnosis doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to get pregnant. In fact, PCOS is considered one of the most common and treatable causes of infertility in women. Our Connecticut fertility centers have helped many women with PCOS experience the excitement of a positive pregnancy test. Most PCOS infertility issues are caused by:

  • Ovulation problems caused by unbalanced hormones such as increased testosterone levels
  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Inadequate uterine lining preventing egg implantation
  • Thickened ovaries preventing spontaneous ovulation

Fertility success with PCOS

Getting pregnant with PCOS is possible! Fertility is personal, which is why Park Avenue Fertility provides a one-patient-to-one-doctor experience. We will partner with you to create an individualized action plan that considers the whole person. Depending on your health needs, we may recommend beginning your PCOS-related infertility treatment simply with medication. In cases where medication is not enough, IVF may provide the support needed to achieve a healthy pregnancy. We are very proud of our live birth rate and are committed to helping you experience the joy of parenthood.

Contact us

To learn more about treating polycystic ovarian syndrome-related infertility at our Trumbull, Fairfield, and Norwalk reproductive fertility centers, please call 203-372-6700 or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to partnering with you.