Understand PCOS and Infertility Treatment | Dr Simon Nothman

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex medical condition affecting around 10% of women of reproductive age. If you’re a woman living with PCOS, you know that the symptoms can be more than an inconvenience, negatively impacting your mental health and causing anxiety, depression, and low body image.

In addition to the association between PCOS and infertility, this condition is linked with several health concerns in the long-term, including cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, endometrial cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Though there is no cure for this chronic condition, Dr Simon Nothman is an experienced PCOS doctor who can help you manage its symptoms and navigate the impacts of PCOS on fertility.

What is PCOS?

PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility and is a relatively common condition found in women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS produce abnormally high levels of certain hormones, such as insulin and androgens (normally found in higher levels in men). These elevated hormones cause the typical PCOS symptoms, including:

  • Excessive hair growth on the face and torso
  • Baldness and hair loss from the scalp
  • Irregular or absent periods
  • Acne
  • Weight gain
  • Infertility

The exact cause of PCOS is not fully understood, but is thought to result from a combination of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. There is also a strong link between insulin resistance and PCOS, meaning the cells of your body have difficulty taking up glucose from the bloodstream.

Treatment for PCOS and infertility

Around 70% of women with PCOS have fertility problems. Irregular or absent ovulation, high levels of androgens and insulin resistance can all contribute to difficulties in falling pregnant and maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Managing PCOS effectively can take a team of healthcare professionals, including a gynaecologist, fertility specialist, dietitian, and psychologist.

Medical management of PCOS

Your specialist may recommend one or more medical treatments to help you manage your PCOS symptoms. These can include:

  • Oral contraceptives (the pill) for women who are not looking to fall pregnant at this time
  • Metformin to manage insulin resistance
  • Hormone therapy, such as drugs to stimulate ovulation when trying to conceive
  • Lifestyle interventions for improved insulin sensitivity, weight loss, and reduced pregnancy risks
  • Antidepressants or other interventions to support your mental health

Lifestyle management of PCOS

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the first step towards successfully managing PCOS and its symptoms. Doing this can potentially be enough to enable you to fall pregnant. Managing PCOS with lifestyle choices includes:

  • Eating a well-balanced diet low in processed foods
  • Engaging in regular physical activity
  • Quitting smoking
  • Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption
  • Maintaining a healthy weight

In addition to improving your chances of conceiving, these lifestyle modifications can also help to regulate your periods, reduce your risk of future disease such as cardiovascular problems, and boost your mental health. You can read more about a PCOS-friendly diet here.

If you have been unable to conceive despite trying other options to manage PCOS and improve your fertility, you may wish to consider IVF.

Dr Simon Nothman is a fertility specialist with extensive experience in managing PCOS and infertility. He practices out of clinics in Sydney CBD and Bondi Junction, with access to Genea’s world-leading IVF technology. If you’ve been finding it challenging to manage your PCOS symptoms, Dr Nothman can provide expert advice and treatment.

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