PCOS and IVF: What You Need to Know
Posted on September 19th, 2024
Whether you have been officially diagnosed or suspect you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), you may be wondering what your fertility journey will look like. PCOS occurs when the ovaries produce unusually high levels of androgens, which are sex hormones that can impact menstruation, ovulation, and fertility. As a result, getting pregnant naturally can be challenging. Fortunately, there are fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), available to help individuals with PCOS conceive.
PCOS Fertility Medication and IUI
Before starting IVF, your doctor will likely recommend the use of medications to induce ovulation. Oral medications such as Letrozole and clomiphene citrate (Clomid) can help regulate ovulation. If these oral medications are not effective, the next option is to use injectable fertility medications. Injectable medications are highly effective in stimulating the production of multiple eggs but also carry the risk of multiple births.
Fertility medications can be used in conjunction with intrauterine insemination (IUI). During this process, you’ll start the ovulation-inducing medicines a few weeks before the procedure. Your doctor will monitor egg development using ultrasounds. Once you're ovulating, they'll directly insert the semen sample into your uterus.
The IVF Process
If PCOS medications and IUI are unsuccessful, the next step is to consider IVF. IVF is more invasive than IUI, but it’s the most effective type of fertility treatment involving eggs or embryos and sperm. One full cycle of IVF takes about 2 to 3 weeks. The IVF process involves the following steps:
- Pre-treatment tests, including blood tests, ultrasounds, and semen analysis
- Medications to stimulate egg production in the ovaries
- An egg retrieval procedure, where a fertility physician will remove mature eggs from the uterus
- Fertilization, where reproductive specialists will combine eggs and sperm in a lab to create embryos
- Embryo transfer, a procedure where the physician will insert the embryos into the uterus, hopefully resulting in a successful pregnancy
Learn More About PCOS Fertility Options
Before you begin fertility treatment for PCOS, you’ll work closely with your fertility team to develop a plan that best meets your needs and family-building goals. Based on your condition and medical history, your doctor may recommend IVF immediately. At Aspire HFI, we're committed to helping patients with PCOS and other fertility-affecting conditions achieve their goal of starting a family. Our team can evaluate your condition and create an appropriate treatment plan. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment at our Houston, Willowbrook, Cypress, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, The Woodlands, Memorial City, Beaumont, Kingwood, or Clear Lake locations.
