How PCOS can cause infertility among women?

​PCOS is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility among women. Read what Dr. Vibhuti Rao, Ayurveda doctor says- how PCOS can potentially make you unable to conceive. 

Few days back, a young couple walked into my clinic seeking Ayurvedic treatment for work-related stress. They did not want to take any Ayurveda medicines and just wanted to undergo some external therapies. I believe, they had ‘self-diagnose’ themselves and also looked up for the treatment for their problem on internet. Not many clinical practitioners would deny the fact that they need not to work hard sometimes in diagnosing a disease as most of the patients come with a self-diagnosis, however, self-diagnosis is not always safe. Well, I was not satisfied with their diagnosis as ‘work related stresses’ as both were not agreeing on the cause of their stress level. After taking some history, I asked few questions about their marital life and that’s all, I confirmed my diagnosis as ‘infertility’- Bandhyatva in Ayurveda. They both agreed soon that they had been seeing many doctors for this issue but they have got no success. And so they are tired now to talk about it as they both do not know the proper cause of it. ​

Married for 5 years and not having any child has started ruing their relationship, they admitted, and this is the prime cause for their stress level. Moreover, they believe that there is not major problem with them and both are healthy. The woman does not have thyroid problem, diabetes or any other issue. However, now a days her periods have started becoming little irregular. I checked the woman and suspected if she has some ovulation problems. She stated that she has been putting on weight and some hair growth around the nipples and chin.  I started my Ayurveda investigations.

Having a baby is not an ‘easy task’ as it should have been understood or believed. The rates of infertility are on increase in many developed and developing countries including India. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a leading cause of infertility among women. One third of women with infertility suffer from PCOS.  Moreover, polycystic ovary syndrome causes more than 75% of cases of anovulatory infertility. There is no set criterion of diagnosing PCOS as agreed by all the medical professionals. However, having irregular periods, imbalanced hormones, cysts in the ovaries and facial hair growth are some of the common clinical presentation of PCOS among women.
​
So, when we actually do not know much about the cause and pathology of the disease itself, then why we are so concern about it so much? Of course, the answer is, the syndrome adverse the fertility among women. Now days, PCOS is a growing concern among young girls, as having PCOS may affect their fertility levels.  Moreover, mothers of most of the young girls with PCOS worry constantly as they imagine their daughters not having children in future.
 
 
Fake ‘good fertility’ symptoms with PCOS-
Some women coming to my clinic claims that they are very well fertile and there no associated problem with them, however, they are unable to conceive. Further they say that they have regular cycles and mid cycle fertile mucous. After proper examination, they show me high levels of LH and FSH in their hormonal reports. High levels of FSH and LH leads to high level of Estrogen which often shows as paradoxical fertility signs where a women appears extremely fertile than others. But reality is this show an impending ovulation and so the women never ovulate and finish their cycle (An ovulatory cycle).

What essentially occurs in PCOS- affects ovulation-
Let us understand how PCOS affects the chances of having children. We know that the ovulation is a process where an egg is released from the ovary which meets with sperm for conception. In PCOS, the follicles which develop every month need to ‘ovulate’ to release egg actually get trapped inside the ovary itself, which means that the follicles may or may not get mature enough and rupture further . After this, the follicles swell with fluid and turn into cyst in the interior of the ovarian wall. If not taken care in the time, this cyst becomes hard like a shell even outside the ovary. And so, the ovulation does not take place or irregular ovulations occur. Therefore, women with PCOS find difficulties in falling pregnant.
 
Hormones in PCOS-
PCOS is a hormonal disorder where certain hormone levels gets impaired which cause the pathology in the ovaries.

• Excess male hormone (Testosterone)
• Excess FSH (follicular stimulating hormone)
• Excess LH (Luteinizing hormone)
• Excess Insulin

10 PCOS causes that affect fertility levels

1. Insulin resistance, where lot of free glucose circulates in the body and body becomes insensate to insulin- which is needed for sugar conversion into energy. This further causes many underlying cardio-vascular disorders. 
2. High androgens
3. Anovulation/irregular ovulation
4. Weight gain- women with obesity have less chances of falling pregnant.
5. Type 2 diabetes- High blood sugar levels interrupts the process of conception.
6. High cholesterol levels
7. Ovarian cysts
8. Decreased sexual drive
9. Thyroid complications
10. Depression and Anxiety

10 PCOS symptoms that affect fertility levels

1. Irregular Periods
2. Heavy periods
3. No periods
4. No ovulation
5. Obesity
6. Hard to lose weight
7. Sugar cravings
8. Lack of mental alertness
9. Sleep apnea
10. Hirsutism

What is the solution?
Ayurveda, talks in detail about female related problem, their treatment and how a women can restore her fertility and prevent all menstrual disorders.  Fertility is not required only to have babies but is a very “core concept” of being a women.  It is more to do with a healthy life.
Ayurveda offers body cleansing-Panchakarma therapies, different Ayurvedic formulations to balance doshas and moreover provide a holistic approach in treating PCOS. I want to explain that if you are diagnosed with PCOD or PCOS, you should not delay coming to Ayurveda, as most of the patients do, they only come to Ayurveda with a long history of being on pills or just getting off the pills or with 1-2 IVF failed.  And here comes the role of Ayurveda in presenting and early management of PCOD.  You needn’t to live with this disorder; you can have healthy periods with Ayurvedic medicines.

• Watch out what you eat and do. 
• Reduce and maintain your weight if you are overweight.
• Walking, yoga, or any physical activity is must for 20 minutes daily. 
• You can choose to avoid high sugary and refined diet and follow a healthy Ayurvedic diet to stay healthy.