Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age.
It is also one of the diseases that causes infertility due to ovulation problems. Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Assoc. Prof. stated that the average rate of infertility in PCOS patients is 60-70 percent. Dr. Çiğdem Yayla Abide underlines that infertility treatment is possible with the right treatment and methods.
According to World Health Organization data, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is seen in 8-13 percent of women of reproductive age. PCOS, which has many symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycle, excess weight, fatness, increase and thickening of arm and leg hair, hair loss, depression and anxiety, is also one of the causes of infertility. Although not every PCOS diagnosis causes infertility, infertility can be seen in 60-70 percent of PCOS patients. Stating that women are greatly worried by the diagnosis of PCOS, Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Assoc. Dr. Çiğdem Yayla Monument; “Menstrual irregularities and anovulation (ovulation problems) are observed in PCOS disease. And that's why fertility is declining. Many women diagnosed with PCOS think they cannot get pregnant and experience great stress. However, pregnancy is possible in PCOS patients by using assisted reproductive techniques,” he says.
Abide stated that, just as it is very important in all areas of life, it is also very important for PCOS patients to make a healthy lifestyle change, that is, a healthy diet (diet) and regular exercise; “Even losing 5-10 percent of your weight can lead to improvement in ovulation and male hormone excess symptoms, resulting in pregnancy, decreased hair growth, and menstrual regularity. "In addition, in this way, all diseases that obesity may cause in the future (such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol) are prevented."
Stating that a special diet program should be applied on a patient basis, Abide said that low glycemic index foods (brown sugar, whole wheat flour, whole wheat pasta, dried legumes, melon, watermelon, fruits other than banana) and fiber foods (bulgur, oats, whole wheat bread, fresh fruits) indicates the importance of consumption. Abide, who recommends switching to a frequent and occasional diet to reduce hunger crises, recommends consuming low-fat or lean meat, and adds that it is very important to stay away from processed foods, alcohol and cigarettes.
Stating that they recommend all exercises that help PCOS patients lose weight or keep their weight under control, Abide says, "150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobics or 75-150 minutes of heavy-intensity exercise or an equal combination of these and muscle-strengthening exercises should be a part of the program."
Infertility treatment in PCOS patients who want children:
Abide states that if the menstrual cycle is not regular or the ovulation problem persists despite losing weight with diet and exercise as the primary treatment, treatments such as clomiphene citrate or letrazol, which increase ovarian development and ovulation, are started and adds; “If pregnancy cannot be achieved with these treatments, gonadotropin hormone can be given as secondary treatment, intrauterine insemination treatment can be performed or laparoscopic ovarian drilling can be performed. If pregnancy cannot be achieved with these treatments, IVF/ICSI, that is, in vitro fertilization treatment, is recommended as a tertiary treatment. Abide also states that the success rate of in vitro fertilization in PCOS patients without any other accompanying problems (such as sperm quality or deformity, obstruction in the tubes) is approximately 65-70 percent.
