Is pregnancy possible with polycystic ovaries?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a very common diagnosis. It is given to every fifth woman. There is an opinion that polycystic ovaries and pregnancy are incompatible things. The exact causes of this disease are still unknown, but it is known that polycystic disease is a hormonal disease caused by a malfunction of the endocrine system, which reduces the ability of a woman to become pregnant and bear a child, since the body does not produce enough hormones necessary for conception.

A large number of women are wondering: is pregnancy possible with polycystic ovaries? Pregnancy with such a diagnosis is possible! Many manage to endure and give birth to a he althy baby on their own. For others, this is achieved through well-administered drug treatment or ovarian surgery. Undoubtedly, it is better to undergo treatment at the stage of pregnancy planning.

Definition of polycystic diseaseovary

Polycystic, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is a pathological change on the ovaries, characterized by the presence of small cysts on their surface. They can be single, and can form whole clusters. Because of what the body cannot function normally, the development of the follicle is disrupted. With polycystic ovaries, there is an excessive production of male hormones, especially androgen, against the background of a decrease in female production, which leads to the fact that the eggs do not mature, ovulation does not occur and, therefore, pregnancy cannot occur. Also, PCOS can provoke obesity and lack of menstruation.

Reasons

The exact causes of PCOS are still unknown. But there are a number of factors that can provoke this disease:

• Hormonal disruptions in the body.
• Overweight.
• Stress.
• Abortions.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Genital infections.
• Thyroid disorders.
• Insulin resistance.

Polycystic disease can form with the onset of puberty, and if treatment is not started on time, problems may arise in the future. There is an assumption that women with such a diagnosis can become pregnant on their own no earlier than 24-25 years old, and this requires a good combination of circumstances, for example, the occurrence of ovulation at the right time of the cycle.

Symptoms

• Absenceor menses or their failure.
• Unable to get pregnant for a long time.
• Overweight.
• Excessive body hair growth.
• No or irregular ovulation.
• Cystic formations on the ovaries with ultrasound.
• Possible endometrial thickening.
• Increase cycle time.
• Appearance of acne.
• Ovarian enlargement.
• Scanty or too heavy periods.
• Skin pigmentation.

Diagnosis

If polycystic ovaries are suspected:

• Gynecological examination.
• Laboratory tests of blood and urine are prescribed. First of all, a check is made for hormones, cholesterol, glucose.
• The results of ultrasound have a big role in the diagnosis, because it is with the help of this method that you can see the cystic formations of the ovaries, the thickening of their membrane, the thickness of the endometrium.
• Laparoscopic examination scheduled.

PCOS and pregnancy

Polycystic ovaries are not a death sentence. Some women manage to get pregnant without the intervention of doctors. This, as a rule, occurs when there are no failures of the menstrual cycle. In confirmation of this, you can read a lot of reviews about pregnancy with polycystic ovaries, the main thing is to follow all the doctor's recommendations. At this time, it is recommended to monitor the basal temperature and do ovulation tests. If pregnancy does not occur within a year, the doctor prescribes the appropriateindividual treatment based on the tests. After the onset of pregnancy, in order to avoid complications, the expectant mother will have to be under the close attention of the attending physician - more often than others, undergo ultrasound and take tests.

Pregnancy planning for PCOS

If the test results confirm the diagnosis, before planning a pregnancy, you should undergo all the necessary treatment, since polycystic disease can provoke miscarriage, premature birth, pressure surges and obesity. It is necessary, if possible, to exclude all the causes that provoke polycystic disease - obesity, hormonal disruptions, stress, any chronic diseases and others.

Treatment

Treatment of polycystic ovaries during pregnancy should be comprehensive, depending on the collected history. This may include:

• Hormonal therapy. Appointed strictly individually. Normalizes the hormonal background of a woman, restores the balance of female and male hormones in the body, helps to wake up the follicle, prepares the endometrium. Oral contraceptives are often prescribed, with the help of which the menstrual cycle is restored, the ovaries return to their previous size, acne disappears from the face. Then, if necessary, ovulation stimulation is prescribed with special drugs. At this time, ultrasound monitoring is recommended to know the presence or absence of ovulation, whether the thickness of the endometrium is sufficient for implantation of the egg.
• Surgical intervention. If hormone therapy does not help, the doctor decidesschedule a laparoscopy.

Laparoscopy for polycystic disease

Laparoscopy is a type of surgery in which operations are performed not through an incision, but through small holes through which instruments are inserted into the abdominal cavity. During the operation, general anesthesia is used. This method has many advantages over conventional abdominal surgery:

• no big scars on the stomach;
• minimum blood loss;
• reduced risk of infection;
• reduces the likelihood of adhesions of the pelvic organs;
• short recovery period compared to open surgery.

Laparoscopy can be performed in several ways:

• moxibustion (used for polycystic and endometriosis);
• excision of benign formations - adhesions, cysts;
• complete or partial removal of the ovary or other pelvic organ, if a strong inflammatory process has begun.

Before the operation, a woman must undergo a series of tests, such as:

• blood and urine tests;
• cardiogram;
• ultrasound;
• fluorography;
• blood clotting test;
• sometimes a doctor may require an MRI.

Women's reviews of laparoscopy for polycystic ovaries and pregnancy due to the operation suggest that this type of treatment is very effective. But in this case, compliance with all the recommendations of the attending physician plays an important role. With severe pain, bleeding shouldimmediately call an ambulance, because, despite the operation being considered quite safe, there are still complications - medical errors, non-compliance by the patient with the doctor's recommendations, inflammatory processes.

Reviews about pregnancy after laparoscopy of the ovaries with polycystic disease are very numerous. The long-awaited event occurs in 70-80 percent of women 6-12 months after surgery. Preservation therapy is prescribed during pregnancy.

Consequences of polycystic ovaries

The danger of polycystic disease deserves special attention. This is a very serious disease that requires mandatory treatment. Running polycystosis can provoke:

• endometriosis;
• spikes;
• CVD risk;
• uterine bleeding;
• it is important to note that cysts tend to degenerate into oncology, and not only the ovaries themselves, the cervix, the uterine mucosa, but also the chest;
• Launched polycystic ovaries and pregnancy are practically incompatible concepts. It will take great effort to cure the infertility caused by this disease.

If polycystic disease is detected already during pregnancy, then there is a danger:

• miscarriage;
• preterm birth;
• severe pregnancy;
• diabetes.

Timely competent treatment is very important.

Prevention of polycystic disease

There are basic measures to prevent PCOS:

• controlweight;
• low carb diet;
• physical activity;
• attention to your menstrual cycle;
• visiting a gynecologist-endocrinologist with excessive hair growth and acne;
• parental control of these signs in your daughter is very important in order to have time to see a doctor in time and prevent complications.

PCOS and pregnancy are not mutually exclusive. The main thing is to consult a doctor in a timely manner and start treatment, following all the prescribed recommendations. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure this disease. Therapy reduces the risk of consequences and helps to get rid of symptoms. Laparoscopy also has a temporary effect, after which the ovaries may again stop working normally and the likelihood of adhesions will increase. But, despite this, with proper therapy, there are many positive reviews about pregnancy after polycystic ovaries.

Preventive measures and treatment restore women's he alth, helping the onset of ovulation, and preservation therapy during gestation protects the child and expectant mother from serious consequences.