Being a mother is the best blessing that a woman can have. Each moment of motherhood is treasured and is the only one where one can expect unconditional love. Every woman looks forward to this amazing transition in life but the path leading to the destination of “motherhood” is not always a piece of cake. It sometimes becomes a roller coaster ride. It comes with a lot of challenges, difficulties, and struggles when a woman is dealing with infertility issues. Among the number of causes of infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common causes.
What exactly is PCOS and how does it impact fertility?
Ovaries are organs of the female reproductive system that produce the ovum (egg). The ovaries are oval-shaped organs that are located in the lower abdomen. During the period of ovulation, it releases the egg, and then the egg travels through the fallopian tubes. Fertilization occurs in the fallopian tubes, if there are sperms available. The fertilized egg then slides down to the uterus and gets implanted in the uterus, where the pregnancy begins. Ovaries are usually smooth and firm. Since they are one of the key organs for women getting pregnant, any disorder or abnormality of these organs can cause infertility, making it difficult for a woman to conceive. PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome), as the name suggests, is an abnormal condition directly related to the ovaries. It is a type of hormonal disorder that affects hormone levels and usually appear in women in their reproductive phase. The hormonal imbalance usually causes irregular menstrual cycles and makes it difficult for a woman to get pregnant.
The main features related to PCOS
- Irregular periods – Dysregulated ovulation.
- Excessive androgen levels- Domination of male hormones in the body characterized by excessive body or facial hair.
- Polycystic ovaries – Enlarged ovaries with sacs filled with fluid (follicles). Polycystic ovaries consist of ovarian follicles that are tiny sacs which are underdeveloped. When one suffers from PCOS, these sacs will not be able to release the egg, which simply means that ovulation is hindered.
Symptoms of PCOS
While some of the symptoms associated with PCOs are listed above, there other symptoms to watch.
- Difficulty in conceiving despite hard efforts
- Acne
- Hirsutism – excessive hair growth on the chest, face, buttocks, or back
- Abnormal weight gain
- Loss of hair or thinning of hair from the head In addition to the above symptoms, women with PCOS are also at risk of developing serious health issues like high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes.
Causes
The exact cause for PCOS is not known but often it is thought to be due to high levels of androgen which interfere with the process of ovulation. It is also believed to sometimes be hereditary and runs in families. It has been identified that there does exist a correlation between PCOS and high insulin levels. Despite having PCOS, one need not feel like one is at the edge. Medical science has made a lot of advancements and PCOS is also a situation that can be managed. Today, the available treatment has increased the success rates of conceiving and fulfilling the dream of parenthood. GarbhaGudi IVF Center – Where miracles happen often !!!
For further details, you can also write to GarbhaGudi at dreams@garbhagudi.com or directly talk to our team at 8880000909
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