Help For Infertility - Understanding PCOS
Posted: Friday, January 29, 2010
by John Williamson
http://health-vitality.com
What is Infertility?
Infertility is a condition affecting both men and women and getting help for infertility begins by understanding the condition. Statistics have noted a significant rise in infertility cases in women as it reached 7.3 Million in 2002- a big leap from 1995's 6.1 Million. This translates to suggest that twelve percent of the total reproductive couple population is experiencing difficulties in conceiving.
Infertility,
as defined, is the inability to conceive or become pregnant in a span
of 6 months to 1 year of regular and unprotected sexual intercourse. It
is also further defined as the woman's inability to carry a pregnancy
to its full term, and resulting to miscarriages.
I have PCOS, am I infertile?
There are a number of causes that have been pointed out as to cause female infertility. Among these factors are a woman's age, woman's biological make up, sexually transmitted diseases, hormonal imbalances, and even stress. Studies have shown that 75% of the reported infertility cases are caused by biological abnormalities like sperm count and quality for men, ovulation and hormonal imbalance for women and tubal blockages for both men and women.
A majority of the female infertility cases has reported a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or commonly known as PCOS. Also called "Stein-Leventhal Syndrome", this condition has been correlated with infertility as it has been identified as one of the leading causes of difficulties in conception.
Understanding PCOS as a condition brought about by the body's hormonal imbalance resulting from a disruption in the normal ovulation process, helps one grapple the many issues surrounding infertility.
PCOS is characterized by the existence of multiple cysts in the ovaries. These growths affect hormonal levels, as cysts cause an altered production of estrogen and progesterone, the hormones necessary for ovulation. These cysts materialize from abnormal maturity of follicles housing a woman's eggs due to pre-empted ovulation. Once these eggs do not mature, the follicles become cysts that outline the ovaries and fallopian tubes, causing blockages and hormonal changes in a woman's body.
Tell-tale signs of PCOS include irregular menstruation periods that stretch to months, abnormal menstrual cycles accompanied by pelvic cramps, presence of male hormones in the blood stream, Type II diabetes condition, increased weight gain, increased hair formation in back, chest and even face area, and excessive acne.
As an increase in insulin is an offshoot of the condition, type II diabetes is the most common condition that comes along with the hormonal imbalance. Medical research has established the relationship between diabetes and infertility, pointing out that the overproduction of insulin directly contributes to infertility. Insulin resistance also increases the risk of miscarriages, affects the egg production and maturity cycle, and hampers the ovulation and menstrual cycle.
Is there Help for Infertility?
Understanding PCOS can help one understand infertility. Going into the root of the problem has always been the best solution, and once PCOS has been established to be the cause for an infertility case, overcoming the difficulty in conceiving may not be too far from the picture. PCOS may be a serious condition, but it can be treated.
Your fertility specialist may recommend hormone-regulating and ovulation-stimulating drugs like Clomid and Metformin to encourage normal ovulation and menstrual cycle. Prescribed to be taken days early in the cycle, these medications aid in stabilizing hormone production and can directly aid in conception and cyst formation reduction. Limited to six ovulation cycles only, the prescription and intake of these drugs are closely monitored and regulated by your fertility specialist. If one has PCOS then they are also encouraged to lose weight, as weight reduction can aid in restoring normal and spontaneous ovulation.
Help for infertility comes as a long and arduous process of understanding, learning and combating the many causes of the condition. Understanding PCOS and learning to spot early warning signals of the condition can help one understand and overcome infertility.
Speak with your fertility specialist the soonest that you can, once you feel like you exhibit the most common symptoms of the disorder. Note that only a thorough fertility work out can identify the cause of infertility, thus a need for a number of tests and procedures should be considered.
Infertility is a condition affecting both men and women and getting help for infertility begins by understanding the condition. Statistics have noted a significant rise in infertility cases in women as it reached 7.3 Million in 2002- a big leap from 1995's 6.1 Million. This translates to suggest that twelve percent of the total reproductive couple population is experiencing difficulties in conceiving.
I have PCOS, am I infertile?
There are a number of causes that have been pointed out as to cause female infertility. Among these factors are a woman's age, woman's biological make up, sexually transmitted diseases, hormonal imbalances, and even stress. Studies have shown that 75% of the reported infertility cases are caused by biological abnormalities like sperm count and quality for men, ovulation and hormonal imbalance for women and tubal blockages for both men and women.
A majority of the female infertility cases has reported a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or commonly known as PCOS. Also called "Stein-Leventhal Syndrome", this condition has been correlated with infertility as it has been identified as one of the leading causes of difficulties in conception.
Understanding PCOS as a condition brought about by the body's hormonal imbalance resulting from a disruption in the normal ovulation process, helps one grapple the many issues surrounding infertility.
PCOS is characterized by the existence of multiple cysts in the ovaries. These growths affect hormonal levels, as cysts cause an altered production of estrogen and progesterone, the hormones necessary for ovulation. These cysts materialize from abnormal maturity of follicles housing a woman's eggs due to pre-empted ovulation. Once these eggs do not mature, the follicles become cysts that outline the ovaries and fallopian tubes, causing blockages and hormonal changes in a woman's body.
Tell-tale signs of PCOS include irregular menstruation periods that stretch to months, abnormal menstrual cycles accompanied by pelvic cramps, presence of male hormones in the blood stream, Type II diabetes condition, increased weight gain, increased hair formation in back, chest and even face area, and excessive acne.
As an increase in insulin is an offshoot of the condition, type II diabetes is the most common condition that comes along with the hormonal imbalance. Medical research has established the relationship between diabetes and infertility, pointing out that the overproduction of insulin directly contributes to infertility. Insulin resistance also increases the risk of miscarriages, affects the egg production and maturity cycle, and hampers the ovulation and menstrual cycle.
Is there Help for Infertility?
Understanding PCOS can help one understand infertility. Going into the root of the problem has always been the best solution, and once PCOS has been established to be the cause for an infertility case, overcoming the difficulty in conceiving may not be too far from the picture. PCOS may be a serious condition, but it can be treated.
Your fertility specialist may recommend hormone-regulating and ovulation-stimulating drugs like Clomid and Metformin to encourage normal ovulation and menstrual cycle. Prescribed to be taken days early in the cycle, these medications aid in stabilizing hormone production and can directly aid in conception and cyst formation reduction. Limited to six ovulation cycles only, the prescription and intake of these drugs are closely monitored and regulated by your fertility specialist. If one has PCOS then they are also encouraged to lose weight, as weight reduction can aid in restoring normal and spontaneous ovulation.
Help for infertility comes as a long and arduous process of understanding, learning and combating the many causes of the condition. Understanding PCOS and learning to spot early warning signals of the condition can help one understand and overcome infertility.
Speak with your fertility specialist the soonest that you can, once you feel like you exhibit the most common symptoms of the disorder. Note that only a thorough fertility work out can identify the cause of infertility, thus a need for a number of tests and procedures should be considered.
Get the Best Advice and Information on PCOS and Infertility and everything you need to know about Infertility Symptoms and alternative treatment at http://www.NewInfertility.com.
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