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:
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 having PCOS have slightly higher than normal levels of androgens- testosterone, 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 body may show insulin resistance- no response to insulin hormone, which is required to maintain blood sugar levels. As a result, women experience high blood glucose levels in their body which further leads to their weight gain and fertility issues as well as their increased risk of developing diabetes in the future.
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?
PCOS is one of the most common reasons behind female fertility. Up to 80% of women with PCOS experience fertility issues, and it is a common reason that women consult a gynecologist. The good news is that women with PCOS can get pregnant in their life without getting treated and with fertility treatments they can increase their odds of getting pregnant.
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.
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.
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.
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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