In this article, we take a look at how fertility is affected by PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and Type 2 Diabetes. The two conditions often go hand in hand.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a painful condition that causes a woman’s body to bunch immature follicles together every month rather than allowing each follicle to release an egg. When the follicles come together, they form a lump that does not allow the release of an egg. This results in infertility in many women with PCOS.

PCOS and diabetes are often thought to be related, as many women have both. There is thought to be a direct correlation between the amount of insulin in a woman’s body and her ability to become pregnant. High levels of insulin are thought to increase the level of androgen in the body, which furthers the risk of PCOS.

How Fertility Is Affected By PCOS

Most women with PCOS do not have a regular menstruation period. In fact, many women do not get a period at all. This means that their body is not ovulating, which makes it impossible to get pregnant. Many women that have PCOS and/or diabetes take medication to induce ovulation. They also take insulin-sensitizing medications that help to decrease the levels of androgen in the body. These steps are meant to help encourage ovulation to occur naturally.

In addition to the difficulty in getting pregnant, women with PCOS and diabetes also often have difficulty with staying pregnant. Many women suffer a miscarriage because their body is unable to carry to term. This could be due to late ovulation resulting in a decreased quality of the embryo, which results in difficulty with the embryo’s growth. 

In order to ensure a woman with PCOS and diabetes has the ability to get pregnant and prevent a miscarriage, the hormone and insulin levels should be regulated. This will help ovulation to occur. It will also help diabetes to stay under control to promote a healthy pregnancy.

If you would like to know more about how fertility is affected by PCOS and Type 2 Diabetes, please book a free consultation with our fertility nurse.  

Read more about: 

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Prevention and Natural Treatments
Free infertility Book – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome