Fertility Treatment Options for Women with PCOS
Vermont Fertility Clinic Provides Fertility Treatment for Women with PCOS
Among women with infertility problems, between 15 and 20 percent suffer from an endocrine disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Although doctors aren’t sure what causes PCOS, some studies suggest it may be genetic. In addition, women diagnosed with PCOS abnormally metabolize estrogen and androgens while others have high blood levels of testosterone, DHEAS and other hormones. Because women with polycystic ovary syndrome experience anovulatory cycles, or menstrual cycles absent of ovulation, they are unable to conceive naturally.
If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, our clinic offers fertility treatment options that can help you conceive safely and naturally. Call us today at (802) 655-8888 to learn more about our state-of-the-art fertility clinic and treatments.
Symptoms of PCOS
One of the classic signs of PCOS is the inability for a woman to conceive because she is not ovulating. Periods may be irregular, absent or infrequent. She also may have acne or excessive oily skin, be overweight and suffer bouts of pelvic pain. Higher levels of testosterone can cause male-pattern baldness in women with PCOS or thick, dark brown patches of skin on her thighs, breasts and neck.
Correctly diagnosing PCOS involves a doctor taking your medical history, completing a physical and pelvic exam and checking your blood for abnormal levels of glucose and androgens. Your doctor may also want to perform a vaginal ultrasound for detecting cysts and evaluating the lining of your womb, which tends to thicken when periods are irregular or absent.
Reversing Infertility Caused by PCOS
Fertility treatment for women with polycystic ovary syndrome begins with medications designed to induce ovulation. Fertility clinics in Vermont typically prescribe clomiphene and letrozole, two FDA-approved medications you take at the beginning of your cycle. At the appropriate time, a transvaginal ultrasound is done to determine if follicles have reacted favorably to the medication.
To further induce ovulation, you may be given human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which causes the egg to exit the follicle and move towards the fallopian tube.