Pregnant with PCOS: The Uphill Battle to Pregnancy

Periods or menstruation cycles are an important part of a woman. The purpose of menstruation is to prepare the body for getting pregnant. Periods are also essential for your well-being and it is the way your body releases the tissue it no longer needs. Having regular periods is a sign that you are healthy. Now let’s see how these menstruation cycles in a woman are important for pregnancy.

How periods are related to pregnancy?

The ovary is one of the parts that produce eggs in a woman’s body. It resides on either side of the uterus.  This ovary contains millions of eggs, every month one free egg is released into the fallopian tube, now after the egg is released either it meets the sperm and fertilizes or it arrives in the uterus unfertilized and absorbed back into the body resulting in the menstruation cycle.

So if the egg doesn’t fertilize it means you didn’t conceive in your previous cycle.

This is the normal process of pregnancy, however, women with PCOS tend to face difficulties in getting pregnant due to hormonal imbalances.

Let’s now talk about the difficulties pregnant women with PCOS may encounter.

Impact of PCOS on woman trying to get Pregnant :

Women with PCOS face many challenges however one of the main challenges is related to fertility and getting pregnant. Here are some of the challenges they may encounter:

1. Irregular or missed periods :

   Irregular periods in women with PCOS can make predicting ovulation and conceiving difficult. A lack of regular menstrual cycles may suggest irregular or missing ovulation, which reduces the likelihood of becoming pregnant.

2. Anovulation:

   Anovulation means the absence of ovulation i.e., an egg is not released which is necessary for conception. This can have a significant impact on pregnancy in women with PCOS. PCOS frequently results in irregular or missing menstrual cycles, which leads to anovulation. Ovulation deficiency makes it difficult to conceive naturally, lowering the chances of pregnancy. Furthermore, PCOS-related hormonal abnormalities might alter the uterine lining, making it less susceptible to implantation.

3. Insulin resistance:

   Most women with PCOS are insulin resistant. However, this insulin resistance had a bad impact during pregnancy by leading to gestational diabetes, a level where blood sugar levels become elevated. This can impact not just the mother but also the developing fetus. The infant may become macrosomic (big at birth), increasing the risk of problems during delivery. Additionally, maternal problems like hypertension might be brought on by insulin resistance.

4. Increased levels of male hormones:

   In women with PCOS the levels of male hormones i.e., androgens are elevated. These higher levels of androgens are nothing but hormonal imbalances and these hormonal imbalances also increase the risk of miscarriage.

5. Ovarian Cysts:

   Ovarian cysts can have a variety of pregnancy-related complications in women with PCOS. PCOS frequently results in numerous little cysts on the ovaries, which can interfere with regular ovulation and produce irregular menstrual cycles, making conception difficult. Not all cysts, nevertheless, have a deleterious effect on pregnancy. Cysts may occasionally release hormones that encourage conception in their early stages and may even go away on their own throughout pregnancy. However, larger cysts or ones that continue to grow could potentially result in difficulties or call for medical attention

   .

6.  Endometrial abnormalities:
   These abnormalities in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can make pregnancy more difficult by interfering with embryo implantation. Inadequate shedding of the endometrial lining and irregular menstrual cycles can result in thinner and less responsive endometrium. This diminishes the likelihood of successful embryo attachment, resulting in lower conception rates in PCOS patients.

7. Obesity:

   Women with PCOS who are obese or have weight problems may experience pregnancy complications. Obesity can exacerbate hormonal imbalances, which can result in irregular menstrual periods and decreased fertility. Obese women with PCOS are more likely to experience pregnancy issues such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, and premature birth. Furthermore, obesity can reduce the efficiency of reproductive therapies.

8. Risk of infertility:

   Ovulation, or the regular release of eggs from the ovaries, is disrupted by hormonal imbalances in PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), which can lead to infertility. Ovulation can be inhibited by high levels of androgens (male hormones), which can cause irregular or nonexistent menstrual cycles. The development and release of eggs might also be hampered by the existence of several tiny cysts in the ovaries. These elements may make it more challenging for women with PCOS to get pregnant naturally, raising the likelihood of infertility.

9. Difficulty in identifying pregnancy:

   Because PCOS women have irregular cycles, it can be difficult to determine if a missed period is related to pregnancy or PCOS. This can result in delayed pregnancy awareness.

10. Psychological Issues:

    Due to hormonal imbalances and fertility concerns, women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) may face psychological issues during pregnancy. Anxiety, depression, and stress are all widespread, affecting mothers’ health and potentially leading to bad delivery outcomes. It is critical to manage these psychological disorders since they can impair prenatal treatment adherence and overall maternal health throughout pregnancy.

 How to get pregnant with PCOS without medication:

Yes, women with PCOS might have challenges getting pregnant but it is not impossible. Women with PCOS can definitely get pregnant through natural means. However, it is always suggested to reverse PCOS first and then try getting pregnant so that there will be a healthy womb for the baby to grow and there won’t be any consequences of miscarriages due to hormonal imbalances.

How can a woman who wants to conceive naturally and wants to reverse PCOS achieve it?

This might be challenging as it doesn’t involve any medication that shows immediate or speeder effect however it is not impossible. Below are the steps a woman should follow to achieve this.

1. Healthy lifestyle

   : A healthy lifestyle is nothing but

• Adapting to eating habits that balance your blood sugar levels and including food that has high nutritional value than fat content,
• regular exercise and
• Managing stress and anxiety.

All these help to maintain hormonal balance which is vital to reverse PCOS.

2. Weight management:

   Generally, women with PCOS may carry excess weight. But if you are trying to get pregnant losing weight will help to increase chances of fertility. Losing weight should be understood as losing fat in the body which is not necessary. Fibre-rich and water-rich foods are preferred as they give you energy and due to water content, it makes you full.

3. Reduce carbohydrates:

   Limiting the intake of refined carbohydrates helps in maintaining blood sugar levels and improves hormone balance. Carbohydrates are nothing but sugar molecules. Along with proteins and fats carbohydrates are one of the three main nutrients that are present in food and drinks.

4. Balance hormones naturally:

   The main cause of PCOS is hormonal imbalances. And most of the challenges a woman with PCOS face to pregnant are due to hormonal imbalances. So balancing the hormones is the only way to reverse PCOS naturally which then helps to conceive naturally.

 So to balance the hormones naturally we have to focus on 5 pillars:

•  Eat right: It’s not just what you eat that affects your health but also when you eat will affect. Our bodies work best to digest food when they are active and when sunlight is present, so if our biological clocks are out of sync with the environment, it may cause problems throughout the entire system. Therefore, eating or drinking in the dark or when your body anticipates rest hampers metabolism and prevents food from being properly digested.
•  Move more: Our body needs physical activity like exercise or workouts to keep it active. So lack of movement in the body makes it dumb and it functions slowly which results in hormonal imbalance. So regular exercise should be adopted to keep the body active so it works effectively there by the hormones are balanced.
• Breath aware: Breath awareness is just noting each breath we take, which instantly reduces stress and promotes relaxation. We unlock a crucial doorway to enhance glandular function and hormone balance as we get a greater understanding of Pranayama, the science of breath. By utilizing the breath’s holistic effects, we transcend the ordinary and enhance our hormonal health.
• Sleep better: Getting enough sleep improves the body’s capacity to balance hormone levels and promote healthy menstruation. Learn about the advantages of deep sleep, a powerful strategy for healing and rejuvenation. Through the practice of YogNidra, we embrace holistic potential, revealing hormonal equilibrium in the dream world. Prioritizing quality sleep thus aids in the management of PCOS.
•  Mind free: Actually, clearing your mind can help you feel less stressed. Explore the world of feelings, thoughts, and stress resilience; here, gratitude, journaling, and emotional practices serve as our moral compass. We may change our stress-to-calm narrative and boost our hormonal landscape by embracing emotional intelligence.

The above-mentioned 5 pillars of integrated lifestyle help women with PCOS to get pregnant by reversing PCOS naturally. However due care must be taken throughout the entire process and these 5 pillars of integrated lifestyle shall be followed even after reversing PCOS and during the pregnancy journey to make a healthy womb for the baby to grow.