Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of infertility in women in the United States.
If you have PCOS and haven’t become pregnant after a year of trying, you can find help at Alpha OB GYN. Sowmya Reddy, MD, FACOG, takes an empathic approach to treating infertility and other symptoms that can result from PCOS.
Dr. Reddy works closely with you to find the right solution for your fertility issues, so you can plan for the family you want.
PCOS develops when your body produces too many male hormones. The hormones can cause fluid-filled sacs (cysts) to grow on your ovaries, which makes it harder for eggs to meet up with sperm for fertilization.
Having PCOS can also increase your risk for pregnancy complications, including:
Gestational diabetes is a condition that causes high blood sugar (glucose) levels in expectant mothers. The condition often resolves after childbirth but can increase the risk that a woman and her child may develop Type 2 diabetes later in life
Preeclampsia describes a sudden increase in an expectant mother’s blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy. This can lead to eclampsia, a condition that causes organ damage, seizures, and even premature death for women and their babies.
A miscarriage is an early loss of pregnancy. Women with PCOS are three times more likely to miscarry in the early stages of a pregnancy than those without the condition.
If you’re not able to get pregnant or if you experience a miscarriage soon after conceiving, Dr. Reddy may recommend several treatment plans to help you achieve a healthy, viable pregnancy.
To find out how to best treat PCOS-related issues that compromise your fertility, Dr. Reddy spends time learning about your personal and family medical histories and evaluating your physical health.
She may order blood tests to assess your hormone levels and perform a pelvic exam and ultrasound to identify cysts on your ovaries. Dr. Reddy also checks for other symptoms that PCOS can cause, including:
You may also need additional testing to ensure PCOS isn’t causing high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
When you’re not able to get pregnant because of PCOS, Dr. Reddy may start you on medications to stimulate your ovaries to produce eggs. Other fertility medications are also available to increase your chances for a successful pregnancy.
If medications aren’t enough to address your infertility, Dr. Reddy may recommend in vitro fertilization, a procedure where your eggs are fertilized by sperm outside of your body.
If you have large cysts, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery. We use the latest surgical techniques to remove cysts without damaging surrounding tissue to increase your chances for successful egg fertilization.
Find out how you can get the family of your dreams by scheduling a fertility consultation at Alpha OB GYN. You can call the office nearest you, or book an appointment online today.
