Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the main reasons for infertility problems in women.  It is believed that due to excessive insulin production in some women their bodies respond by producing high levels of male hormones or androgens.  Women with PCOC are insulin resistant which leads to diabetes.

During a women’s normal menstrual cycle, several follicles develop within the ovaries.  Each follicle contains an egg.  As the menstrual cycle continues, only one follicle will remain which will produce the egg during ovulation.  After the egg has matured, LH levels will surge causing the egg to burst from the follicle thus causing ovulation.  Because women with PCOS do not normally produce enough female hormones necessary for ovulation, these follicles do not mature to become eggs.  Some follicles may develop into cysts.

PCOS may show up on an ultra sound as a “string of pearls” within the ovary.  This “string of pearls” are the follicles that have not developed.  The ovaries will typically have several small cysts covering the outside.  Because ovulation does not occur, progesterone is not produced which is what causes the lining of the uterus to thicken.

Some symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome include the absence or an irregular period.  As a woman gets older, PCOS can become worse.  Some women may ovulate irregularly as well as not at all.  Five to ten percent of women of childbearing age have PCOS.  Most women are unaware that they have it.  In fact, less the twenty-five percent of women with PCOS have been diagnosed.

Some women are lucky enough to conceive during an irregular ovulation cycle.  Other symptoms include increased hair growth on back, chest or face, thinning hair, obesity, high insulin levels or type two diabetes, acne or pelvic pain.  Symptoms for PCOS vary with each woman.  Some women only have an irregular period as a symptom.

Obviously PCOS affects a woman’s ability to conceive because of a lack of ovulation.  But, there are several steps that can be taken to correct the problem.  Some women can simply treat their PCOS by losing weight.  Weight loss can sometimes help to improve hormone imbalances.

Metformin is a drug that improves the body’s ability to absorb insulin.  It is considered safe to use on women who do not have diabetes because it affects insulin levels and does not actually lower blood sugar directly.  Clomid or other fertility drugs are often used in the treatment of infertility relating to PCOS.

Clomid blocks estrogen receptors in the brain.  With these receptors blocked, the brain thinks there are low estrogen levels.  Low estrogen levels trigger the body to produce more FSH and LH which signal the body to ovulate.  Even though Clomid is often successful at bringing about ovulation, only thirty to forty percent of the women who do ovulate from Clomid will actually become pregnant.

In vitro Maturation (IVM) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) is also options for women with PCOS.  In vitro maturation is a procedure where immature eggs are harvested early in a woman’s cycle.  The eggs are then matured in a laboratory and afterwards can be used for fertilization. In vitro fertilization harvests the eggs after they are already mature.   The eggs are then fertilized and implanted in the woman’s uterus.

IVF treatments also include medications that help the eggs develop.  IVM is helpful for women who do not respond to drug therapy.

The trend today with regards to having a baby is when you are 30.  The rate of women trying to conceive during their 30’s going to 40’s is increasing.  Other people suggest that our “30’s is the new 20’s”.  The world we live in today is quite different than the world of our parents or grandparents and there are a number of reasons why getting pregnant at this age is happening more than before.  One reason is that, today, more and more women are focusing on careers or education than in previous generations.  Most couples will succeed in conceiving but other couples may face difficulty making them turn to fertility treatments.  The older you are, the higher your chances of encountering various fertility obstacles, challenges, and delays. In other words, our fertility declines as we age.

Couples with any age have only a 20% chance of achieving a pregnancy each menstrual cycle.  Active fertility charting and ovulation testing, however, will increase those odds substantially.  A woman who is trying to conceive in her 30’s have a chance of less than 15% to conceive.  The monthly odds of conceiving decrease as a woman age due to various physiological issues such as hormonal balance.  This means it is much harder to get a positive result that you are pregnant if you are in your 30’s.  To increase your odds in becoming pregnant, you should stay fit and stay healthy.  Predicting your ovulation is also important as well as charting fertility.  By knowing your ovulatory cycles, you will your days when to make love and increase your chances of conceiving.

As we age, the balance of hormones also decline and with this, our fertility also declines.  The balance between reproductive hormones is crucial for regular ovulation.  A woman’s egg and hormones do not flow with the same balance and stability when she is in her 30’s.  The quality of these eggs as well as the capacity to stimulate maturation also is affected.  Because of this, menstrual cycles are difficult to predict and sometimes, ovulation does not also take place.  The presence of cervical mucus also plays a vital role in fertility.  As we age, cervical mucus also declines.  This may be related to hormonal imbalances as well.  Tests such as follicle stimulating tests can be used at home to assess whether you have reproductive hormone imbalance as well as the condition of your ovaries in producing eggs.

To optimize your chance of being pregnant at the age of 35, the first thing you should do is to have a healthy mental well being.  To do this, calibrate your expectations and realize that you may or you may not get pregnant.  Note that even for someone that is in their 20’s, the chance of getting pregnant is only 20%.  Simply realize that you may not get pregnant in just one night.  Reducing stress or anxiety is the second step for boosting your pregnancy chances. The less you worry, the better your mind and body work together.

Along with healthy well-being, a healthy physical well-being is also important.  Maintaining the proper weight is crucial as being overweight or underweight can adversely affect hormonal balance and cycle regularity.  Eat a healthy diet as well as exercises like yoga can help you.  Taking prenatal vitamins also contribute to the success of you having a conception.

You should also chart your basal body temperatures.  Knowing when you are ovulating will give you a widened opportunity of getting pregnant.  If you know when you ovulate and can time intercourse for your most fertile days, your chances will increase.  However at age 35, guessing your ovulation period is not sufficient, that is why starting an ovulation calendar is important.  If you have some cycle irregularities, herbal fertility remedies such as red clover and raspberry leaves can help.

The best thing to do if your 35 years old or older is to arrange a preconception visit.  It is best that you discuss your medical history, health status, and medications that you are taking with your doctor.  You can clarify your doctor about conceiving tips as well as expectations and they will point you in the right direction.  Your doctor will likely see if you have any interfering fertility issues as well.

One of the most frequently asked questions about pregnancy is the best time to get pregnant. It is neither the Christmas time nor the Valentine’s Day. One needs to be good in mathematics if one is serious about getting pregnant as it totally depends on the ovulating days. Now the question arises that how should one calculate this crucial time? For people who are good in mathematics need not worry but others should get hold of an Ovulation Calculator. Read the rest of this entry

Have you ever wondered how to get pregnant? This question evokes varying responses from different people. Romance and emotion do play their part in the decision of having a baby. However, it is not uncommon to feel pained and frustrated, especially among the couples who are not able to become parents). Ideas of a kinky nature are bound to come to such couples. Read the rest of this entry