Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is the most common ovulatory disorder among women with fertility problems and affects as many as 10 percent of all women in their childbearing years. What treatments help when infertility is related to PCOS?
What is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that disrupts the maturation and release (ovulation) of eggs, among other effects on the body. Women with PCOS have three main symptoms, according to RESOLVE, the National Fertility Association: irregular periods; excess androgens (male hormones), measured through blood tests or seen through symptoms such as excess hair growth and acne; and ovaries with multiple small follicles, which may be seen on ultrasound. Because the ovaries don’t grow and ovulate a mature egg each month, women with PCOS may have trouble getting pregnant. PCOS is also associated with a higher miscarriage rate and may be associated with serious conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
It’s not clear what causes PCOS. Many women who have PCOS are overweight or obese, but they may be thin as well. At any rate, obesity worsens the symptoms. Another cause of PCOS is insulin insensitivity, which is also associated with obesity and an excess of male hormones. PCOS is thought to have a genetic basis and may run in families.
Treatments for Infertility Related to PCOS
The first line of treatment for women with PCOS who are overweight or obese is lifestyle changes that result in weight loss, such as diet and exercise. Losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight may be enough to restore regular periods and let you ovulate on your own. Weight loss also lessens the chance of miscarriage and, if you need fertility treatment, will improve your response to fertility medications.
If weight loss alone isn’t enough, your fertility specialist may recommend treatment with clomiphene citrate (Clomid or Serophene) or letrozole (Femara). Clomiphene citrate blocks the action of estrogen in the brain resulting in increased production of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), causing follicles to develop so you can ovulate. When insulin resistance is found, some physicians prescribe metformin as well. Clomiphene citrate or letrozole is only used for a limited number of cycles because the treatment is usually effective within three or six cycles if it’s going to work. Clomiphene citrate and letrozole do mildly increase your chances of having multiple births. Treatment with clomiphene citrate or letrozole may require monitoring with ultrasound, and sometimes a trigger shot is given to cause the ovulation to happen once a follicle is mature.
Similar to clomiphene citrate, letrozole works by blocking estrogen production which causes the brain to release more FSH which stimulates the ovaries to make follicles. Some doctors may use letrozole as the first line of treatment due to recent studies that show higher ovulation rates and live birth rates with letrozole when compared to clomiphene citrate in women with PCOS. In addition, this is another option for anyone for whom clomiphene citrate has caused side effects, for those who do not respond to clomiphene citrate and/or those who have otherwise been unsuccessful with the use of clomiphene citrate. Recent studies have shown no significant difference in pregnancy loss or birth defects for letrozole when compared to clomiphene citrate.
If clomiphene citrate or letrozole in combination with metformin doesn’t result in ovulation, then alternatives such as injectable agents or IVF should be considered. If ovulatory cycles don’t result in pregnancy, or if there are other factors such as blocked fallopian tubes, male factor infertility, or you are older, your reproductive endocrinologist may recommend IVF. It’s very important to consult a reproductive endocrinologist and get a full fertility workup if you suspect or know you have PCOS. Your fertility specialist will develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs, so you can have the family you want. The good news is that most women with PCOS will eventually get pregnant, but a lot depends on making lifestyle changes and getting the right treatment.
