PCOS - increasing odds of conception?

Question:

Does anyone have any tips for conceiving while suffering from pcos? I was diagnosed 2 years ago and am now trying for a baby. I try to be as holisitic as possible.

Thanks

Answers:
One of the first things to consider with PCOS is weight management. Most women with PCOS are overweight or obese. This is usually due to insulin resistance, which is thought to cause most cases of PCOS. Insulin resistance is a state in which the cells do not respond to insulin as efficiently as they should, so the pancreas secretes more and more insulin in an effort to keep glucose levels within a normal range. This results in excessive insulin floating around in the body. The excess insulin is thought to affect the ovaries, causing them to produce too many male hormones. From the male hormones you get some of the classic PCOS symptoms: acne, hirsutism, irregular cycles, infertility, thinning hair. From the insulin resistance, you get the others: unexplained weight gain, difficulty losing weight, acanthosis nigricans (patches of dark skin), skin tags. So for many women, treating the underlying insulin resistance can help with PCOS symptoms and with fertility.

Women with PCOS are usually advised to follow a low-carb, diabetic diet and exercise regularly. Losing weight can help with insulin function and can help restore ovulation, and it can help improve your overall health. But for many of us, weight loss is either very difficult or not sufficient to restore ovulation.

Metformin (glucophage) is often used in women with PCOS to treat insulin resistance. By treating this problem, many women find that they begin ovulating and have less difficulty losing weight. It is a relatively safe, inexpensive, and quite successful treatment for PCOS, and many patients are able to conceive while using it.

For those who could not conceive on metformin, the fertility drug Clomid is often used. Whereas metformin is not a true fertility drug, Clomid is because its sole purpose is to cause ovulation. Some women with PCOS may need multiple cycles of Clomid before becoming pregnant. Clomid is sometimes used in conjunction with metformin.

The most "natural" way I know of to improve your chances of conceiving would be to develop a diet and exercise plan with your doctor, or with a nutritionist who is familiar with PCOS, with the goal of weight loss. If you need medicine, however, metformin is helpful for many women with PCOS.

Other Answers:
I also have PCOS. I was told that Pregnancy for me is nearly impossible without fertility treatment.

If you are overweight, one thing to try is to lose some weight. Don't smoke or drink.

Funny thing is, there is a strong possibility i am pregnant, and this is purely by chance. If after a few months to a year of trying you are unsuccessful, see your OB/GYN about other options.

hey.. do you have any holistic approaches to regulating your cycle without being on The Pill?

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PCOS - increasing odds of conception?

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