Women struggling to conceive often struggle due to PCOS because their ovaries do not ovulate naturally due to too many androgens (male sexual hormones) being produced, leading them to form small cysts (fluid-filled sacs with immature eggs). This condition often produces too many male sexual hormones which leads the ovaries to produce too many androgens which in turn causes small cysts on ovaries to form as well.
Women may be prescribed medication to induce ovulation. This involves taking pills or injections which stimulate their ovaries to release an egg for fertilization during intercourse or intrauterine insemination (IUI).
1. Change Your Diet
Diet plays an essential role in managing menstrual cycles and increasing fertility for women living with PCOS, particularly when it comes to increasing fertility. Eating fruits and vegetables along with whole grains, lean protein sources and healthy fats is proven to lower insulin resistance and facilitate ovulation. Avoiding processed food and sugary beverages also helps regulate hormone levels more effectively.
Women living with PCOS often have irregular periods or don’t ovulate at all, which makes determining when their fertile period occurs difficult. Following a PCOS-friendly diet and making other positive lifestyle changes may help reverse insulin resistance, balance blood sugar levels, and promote ovulation; although this treatment could take from several months to an entire year to take effect it provides hope to women hoping to become pregnant.
Track your cycle and ovulation using body basal temperature (BBT) tracking, cycle day 21 progesterone blood tests or an over-the-counter ovulation kit. When ovulation takes place, your uterine lining becomes healthier and more suitable to receive an embryo – something which can be verified both through monitoring the results of an ovulation kit as well as with a doctor appointment.
If ovulation is irregular or nonexistent, doctors can administer gonadotropins to stimulate ovarian activity and produce an egg. This treatment is often combined with intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization for enhanced results; however, its risks can increase for women with health conditions that prevent or cause premature ovulation; the chances of complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or multiple pregnancy are high; to reduce this risk further it’s recommended following a healthy diet while taking supplements like inositol, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, N-Acetyl Cysteine and chromium to lower its risks further.
2. Exercise
Ovulation is an indicator that your hormones are functioning normally and your fertility may suffer as a result. If there are irregular ovulation or no ovulation at all (anovulation), fertility could suffer significantly and negatively impact it.
Good news is that leading a healthy lifestyle can help regulate and increase ovulation. This includes regularly exercising and eating a well-balanced diet.
Exercise has been proven to reduce insulin resistance and enhance ovulation for women with PCOS. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day if you’re new to exercising; gradually build up to longer intervals as necessary. It can also reduce stress levels and blood pressure – all contributing towards improved ovulation rates and an increase in chances of conception.
3. Get Enough Sleep
Normal ovulation cycles are an indicator that your hormones are balanced and healthy; if yours becomes irregular or absent ovulation can have serious repercussions for fertility. To increase chances of ovulation and fertility, several lifestyle changes that have been scientifically proven can help balance hormones and encourage ovulation.
One of the key steps you can take to increase ovulation is getting enough sleep. Studies have demonstrated that not getting enough rest can reduce fertility by dissolving balance between FSH and LH levels, both of which play an essential role in the process of egg release each month. Therefore, maintaining an healthy ovulation cycle requires adequate rest.
Track and confirm your ovulation to increase its rate. On average, ovulation occurs once every 28 to 35 days during your menstrual cycle and this information can help when trying to conceive as it allows you to plan when to intervene or inseminate during the fertile window. You can track it using either BBT (body temperature dips right before ovulation and then quickly rises again) or an at-home progesterone monitor/app to confirm ovulation.
As well as getting enough restful sleep, other steps that may help boost ovulation include regular physical activity and eating a nutritious diet. Furthermore, it’s wise to limit stress and limit alcohol intake during this process.
4. Reduce Stress
Ovulation, the process by which mature eggs are released for fertilization by sperm, is an integral component of fertility. When this process becomes irregular or even stops entirely (known as anovulation), it can hinder pregnancy-making capabilities – particularly among women who suffer from PCOS.
If you have PCOS, lifestyle changes and dietary supplements may help increase the odds of ovulation. Examples include seed cycling – eating different kinds of seeds during specific cycles to balance hormones – as well as herbal remedies that stimulate progesterone production to support healthy ovulation; for instance ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, is a stress-reducer which may help balance cortisol levels to facilitate healthy ovulation; another natural option includes licorice root which boosts progesterone production for ovulation support.
Women experiencing difficulty ovulating may benefit from medical treatments to induce ovulation, such as taking oral Clomiphene Citrate and injecting human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). HCG acts similarly to LH hormone produced in the body that triggers ovulation; however, its effect is stronger. HCG injections are sometimes combined with IVF treatments in order to stimulate multiple eggs for laboratory fertilization.
If ovulation becomes an issue for you, it is crucial that you visit a gynecologist or fertility specialist as soon as possible. They can assess what may be causing it and suggest treatments, including inducing ovulation. Anovulation could also be indicative of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which needs treating before you can conceive successfully. If you want to start a family quickly then make necessary lifestyle changes now and consult your healthcare provider about what may help.
5. Change Your Lifestyle
Women living with PCOS often have irregular periods or fail to ovulate (anovulation). Diet and lifestyle changes can help reverse insulin resistance, regulate blood sugar levels and aid weight loss. Exercise regularly, cut out smoking and manage stress can all help increase fertility; once regular ovulation has become regular enough and cycles have been tracked using a Fertility Awareness Method pregnancy is often possible.
Women experiencing anovulation should make lifestyle changes immediately to balance hormones and increase progesterone, both essential components for fertility in general, but especially important when faced with an infertility challenge such as anovulation. A diet rich in fertility-friendly fats such as avocados, olive oil, coconut oil nuts and seeds may also promote hormone balance and lead to ovulation; alternatively supplements and herbal remedies like vitex or ginseng may support the process further.
If these measures don’t help, consult your physician about ovulation induction medications such as Clomiphene (Clomid, Serophene), Metformin and Letrozole (Femara).
If you are trying to become pregnant but experiencing anovulation, it may be wise to speak to your physician regarding available fertility treatments. While some women with PCOS can get pregnant without these therapies, if it has been trying for more than one year and you experience very irregular and light periods it may be worth consulting a medical provider regarding potential fertility solutions such as inducing ovulation induction and other fertility therapies. Your GP could refer you to a fertility specialist who may assist in helping induce ovulation as part of treatment options or fertility specialists may assist in inducing ovulation and providing additional fertility treatments if necessary.