Welcome to the 2014 Voices of PCOS blog series at The Infertility Voice, in honor of PCOS Awareness Month!
Treatment Options of PCOS for Fertility: Looking Beyond IVF
By Kristeen Cherney
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of infertility. With abnormalities in hormones combined with sporadic ovulation cycles, PCOS poses challenges in pregnancy. Not only is conception difficult, but miscarriage is also a possibility.
For years, the standard treatment for infertility in PCOS has been in vitro fertilization (IVF). The hormone injections potentially helps women with PCOS increase egg production, which is limited if there are a lack of ovulation cycles. The problem is that IVF carries potential health risks, and the treatment isn’t effective in all women with PCOS. New treatment options are being explored for infertility that may be safer, and more effective.
Limitations and Problems with IVF
IVF is perhaps the most well-known infertility treatment available. Some women cringe at the thought of nightly gonadotropin shots, but the negative aspects go beyond needles. Not only can IVF cause weight gain and bloating, but complications may ensue in babies who are successfully conceived through the procedure. Heart disease, cleft palate, and other birth defects are possible.
In PCOS, a lack of ovulation can make it nearly impossible to pinpoint an ideal conception date. IVF can assist this process because the fertilization between an egg and sperm is made outside of the body before being implanted in the uterus. Some women choose to use donor eggs. In theory, IVF seems promising and straightforward, but the truth is that the process is not 100-percent effective. In fact, some women with PCOS either don’t have success at all, or they have success with IVF early on only to lose the fetus later during pregnancy.
Another concern with IVF is the increased risk for ovary problems. PCOS patients may develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) from IVF. This causes inflammation in the ovaries, leading to extreme pain.
How IVM May Help PCOS
IVF is touted as the leading fertility treatment for PCOS, but it doesn’t always work. Researchers are looking for other methods that can not only help women get pregnant, but also help prevent miscarriages. One of these such treatments is in vitro maturation (IVM). IVM works by focusing on preparing the lining of the uterus first before using hormone injections.
This method might be best for PCOS because it doesn’t carry the risk of OHSS. Also, immature eggs are placed in petri dishes for maturation, rather than waiting for them to mature in the body before removal. In this respect, IVM can potentially help prevent the failed egg maturation that many women with PCOS face when trying to conceive.
IVM sounds promising, but the downside is that it’s a new treatment that is still being tested. This means that the procedure may not be widely available, and is not likely covered by insurance just yet. By bringing up IVM to your doctor, you may learn how to possibly participate in trials.
Complementing Lifestyle Habits Can Help
Until IVM and other fertility treatments for PCOS are made available, IVF isn’t necessarily your only option for getting pregnant. Poor lifestyle choices are sometimes identified as causing problems with infertility, such as being overweight, smoking, and lack of exercise. While these habits don’t cause PCOS, there is proof that changing them may actually improve fertility with this endocrine condition.
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a study of 11 women with PCOS found that nine had more regular menstrual cycles that were attributed to weight loss. These patients lost at least five percent of their body weight. Choosing healthy habits may not completely solve fertility issues with PCOS, but they can help complement the treatment plans you and your doctor choose.
Kristeen Cherney is a freelance health and lifestyle writer who focuses on preventive measures for a better quality of life. Cherney holds a BA in Communication, and is currently finishing her MA in English.
