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    Fertility Issue

    Fertility Issue due to PCOS

    Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal imbalance affecting women of childbearing age. This endocrine condition impacts around 10-15% of young women, often leading to difficulties in getting pregnant. In some cases, PCOS symptoms can persist even after menopause. The condition is also linked to other health concerns, including stroke, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. If you’re experiencing PCOS-related fertility challenges, visiting a fertility clinic in Mumbai can offer expert guidance and treatment options.

    Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal, Best Doctors for PCOS Treatment in Mumbai at Harleys Cosmetic & Women Clinic shares, ‘Women who have polycystic ovaries, have their ovaries slightly larger than normal and contain multiple follicles that have turned into cysts- fluid-filled sacs, because of no release of a mature egg. However, having polycystic ovaries does not always indicate women suffering from PCOS.

    What are the Signs and Symptoms of PCOS?

    To be diagnosed with PCOS, a woman may have polycystic ovaries and show some of the following signs and symptoms:

    • Irregular periods (changing length of menstrual cycles)- including missed periods, absence of menses, or very heavy periods
    • Hair fall/loss or hair thinning on the scalp
    • Oily skin or acne
    • More facial or body hair growth- usually seen on the face, stomach, chest, or upper thighs- a condition called hirsutism
    • Difficulty losing body weight or rapid weight gain, especially around the waist
    • Pelvic pain or lower stomach ache
    • Infertility (trouble conceiving)
    • Dark, velvety, and thick patches of skin found around the armpits, neck, or genitals- a condition called Acanthosis Nigricans.

    What causes PCOS?

    The definite cause of PCOS is still unknown. People believe it to be because of a combination of things including genetic predisposition and environmental factors- such as diet and lifestyle.

    The symptoms of PCOS are caused by changes in levels of two hormones: androgens and insulin. Women with PCOS have slightly higher than normal levels of androgens, such as testosterone, which is also known as a male sex hormone. The high amount of androgens is linked to many of the PCOS symptoms, such as hirsutism. Furthermore, their bodies may show insulin resistance, meaning there is no response to the insulin hormone, which is required to maintain blood sugar levels. As a result, women experience high blood glucose levels, leading to weight gain, fertility issues, and an increased risk of developing diabetes in the future. Women struggling with these symptoms often seek guidance at a fertility clinic in Mumbai to address both hormonal imbalances and fertility concerns.

    fertility-issue

    PCOS and Fertility

    How does PCOS affect the fertility of women?

    Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome negatively impacts the fertility of women belonging to reproductive age, hence not making it difficult for them to get pregnant. PCOS may even cause women to be at high risk of certain complications at the time of their pregnancy. These complications include miscarriage, gestational diabetes, preterm birth (infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy), hypertension, and preeclampsia (sudden elevated blood pressure in later pregnancy that could damage other organs). The effect of PCOS on female reproduction is all because the condition prevents ovulation- the ovaries do not release an egg every month at the end of the menstrual cycle. This happens because of the overproduction of androgens and estrogen hormones by the ovaries.

    In women affected with PCOS, the egg inside the ovary does not develop and gets released as it does normally. As ovulation does not occur regularly every month, women start to experience abnormal menses. The increased levels of testosterone in women can affect their egg quality, inhibit ovulation, resulting in insulin resistance, and make them more likely to suffer from gestational diabetes. Lastly, women face problems getting pregnant and the immature eggs turn into small multiple cysts inside their ovaries.

    If one is suffering from infertility due to PCOS and looking for an effective treatment, one must consult an expert gynecologist in Mumbai Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal, at her gyne clinic, Harleys Cosmetic & Women Clinic, or at the prestigious hospitals located in Mumbai, like Surya Hospitals: Multispecialty Hospital for Women & Children, Cloudnine Hospital, BSES MG Hospital, and Criticare Asia Multispeciality Hospital.

    What are the Fertility Treatment Options for Women with PCOS?

    Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the leading causes of fertility issues in women, with up to 80% of those affected facing challenges with conception. It’s one of the most common reasons women seek advice from their gynecologist. The good news is that women with PCOS can still conceive, both naturally and with the help of fertility treatments. For those seeking specialized assistance, a fertility clinic in Andheri can provide expert guidance and tailored treatment plans to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. With the right care, many women with PCOS can realize their dream of becoming mothers.

    There are various treatments to treat infertility in PCOS patients in Mumbai, including lifestyle and diet modifications and the use of medications and all these are offered by Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal and team.

    1. Lifestyle Changes
      Regular exercise and weight loss can help improve fertility in some PCOS-affected women. Especially, if PCOS patients are overweight (having a BMI of over 30), doctors recommend they start with a weight loss program including having a calorie-deficit, healthy, balanced diet and keeping the body physically active before trying out medications. With weight loss, obese PCOS patients can improve their menstrual cycle and ovulation.
    2. Medications
      Here are some medications usually recommended to PCOS patients to treat their infertility:
      • A pill that help eggs inside the ovaries to get mature and be released from the ovaries
      • A pill that helps slow down estrogen production and increase the levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) in the ovaries, which is necessary for ovulation.
      • Shots of certain fertility drugs containing naturally occurring gonadotropins- these have FSH, LH (Luteinising hormone), or a combination of both, and have an important role in ovulation.
      • A pill used to treat gestational diabetes- this drug can help lower the production and absorption of sugars and help with insulin resistance
    3. Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling (LOD)
      When PCOS patients do not respond to both lifestyle modifications and medications, they may get help from a minimally invasive surgical procedure called a laparoscopic ovarian drilling/ ovarian diathermy. Sometimes, this surgery is called a “wiffle ball” surgery or modified wedge resection.

      Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling in Mumbai performed by Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal is done to break through the thick, outer surface of the ovaries and reduce the production of androgens/testosterone by the ovaries. This is performed by making a small incision near the navel and inserting a thin, light, and a camera-fitted tube called a laparoscope to visualise the inside of the ovaries. The surgeon makes other tiny surgical cuts in the lower belly to make several small holes in the ovaries through which the surgeon inserts surgical tools/instruments to lower the number of androgens produced and released by the ovaries.

    4. In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)
      When lifestyle and diet changes as well as fertility drugs or surgery are not able to help women with PCOS get pregnant, the last resort to get pregnant could be the use of assisted reproductive technologies like IVF.

      During in-vitro fertilization, the doctor collects/retrieves mature eggs from the ovaries and fertilizes them with sperm taken from a male partner or donor in a laboratory. Upon fertilization, the embryo(s)- the fertilized egg(s) are transferred to the uterus- the mother’s womb. Once complete, the IVF cycle takes about three weeks. Multiple eggs are required for the success of IVF as some eggs may not be able to develop normally after fertilization or they won’t fertilize. To get enough eggs, at the start of the IVF cycle, the doctor carries out ovulation induction wherein they use synthetic hormones to stimulate the ovaries for multiple egg production.

    Dr. Shilpa B. Agrawal
    Are you experiencing infertility due to PCOS issues and want to conceive your own child? Consult now the Best infertility and PCOS doctor in Mumbai Dr. Shilpa Bansal Agrawal, at her gyne clinic, Harleys Cosmetic & Women Clinic, or at the prestigious hospitals located in Mumbai, like Surya Hospitals: Multispecialty Hospital for Women & Children, Cloudnine Hospital, BSES MG Hospital, and Criticare Asia Multispeciality Hospital. At the clinic and hospitals all these advanced treatments are available. To know more, pay a visit today!

    Address

    Harleys Cosmetic and Womens Clinic
    101-102, Jyoti Tower, DN Nagar,
    Next to Nav Chaitanya, off Link Road,
    Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053. Locate us

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