Getting pregnant with PCOS: how to boost your chances

If you have PCOS and are trying for a baby, discover how PCOS can affect your fertility, how to improve your chances of getting pregnant and what treatments are available for you.

How does PCOS affect your fertility? 

How to get pregnant with PCOS

Lifestyle changes to help PCOS fertility 

Manage being overweight to help ovulation

What are the chances of getting pregnant with PCOS?

When to speak to your doctor when trying to get pregnant with PCOS 

Are there any risks once I’m pregnant?

Finding extra support



You’re not alone on your PCOS and pregnancy journey. PCOS is a common condition thought to affect up to 15 out of every 100 women. And we’ve got the best science-backed information to help you work out what’s the next best step for you.

So let’s take a look at some of the questions you may have about [polycystic ovary syndrome](/health-library/conditions/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome) (PCOS) and pregnancy, how polycystic ovaries affect your chances of pregnancy, and your options for treatment to help you get pregnant, if you need it.

## How does PCOS affect your fertility? 

While it can be difficult for some women to become pregnant with PCOS, plenty of people do – it may just take longer to conceive naturally. x 

Even so, PCOS is one of the [main causes of infertility in women](/health-library/conditions/infertility-women) who do struggle to get pregnant. This is because women with PCOS have higher levels of hormones called androgens, which are produced by the ovaries. This can disrupt the balance of hormones in your body, affecting [ovulation](/self-care/ovulation) and causing the other symptoms associated with PCOS - such as [excess hair](/health-library/conditions/hirsutism), [adult acne](/self-care/what-causes-adult-acne), insulin resistance and [weight gain](/self-care/medical-reasons-for-putting-on-weight/#polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos). Your menstrual cycle is disrupted if eggs aren’t released regularly, and that can mean fewer [periods](/health-library/conditions/periods) (or even no periods at all). 

That said, studies show that 1 in 4 women with PCOS still have regular periods and ovulate as usual. But even if this isn’t the case for you, it’s still possible to get pregnant either naturally or with medical assistance. 

__Find useful information on other areas of getting pregnant with our [complete Guide](https://www.livehealthily.com/guides/getting-pregnant).__

![How PCOS affects your fertility and cycle](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/2CgimUVSPgX2N5egwRxo4C/7455697f48a02994d456e29c2976a196/How_PCOS_affects_your_fertility_and_cycle.png)



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## How to get pregnant with PCOS

There’s no one-size-fits-all way of boosting your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS because everyone’s experiences and symptoms are unique. Even so, there’s a lot you can do to help yourself [improve your chances of conceiving](/self-care/improve-chances-getting-pregnant). 

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## Lifestyle changes to help PCOS fertility 

Making some changes to your lifestyle may improve your fertility and reduce the chances of long-term health problems, like [diabetes](https://www.livehealthily.com/diabetes/summary). 

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## Manage being overweight to help ovulation

Carrying extra weight or being [obese](/health-library/conditions/obesity) can worsen the hormone imbalance in your body and make it more difficult to ovulate. 

- __stick to [a healthy, balanced diet](/nutrition/healthy-eating-and-balanced-diet)__. In particular, some women with PCOS are (or are at risk of becoming) ‘insulin-resistant’. This means their bodies don’t respond so well to insulin, a hormone that helps the body control how it uses sugar. This ‘insulin resistance’ triggers your body to produce higher levels of insulin to control your blood sugar levels. Maintaining a healthy weight can help to manage your insulin levels.  Choose low GI ([glycaemic index](/nutrition/what-is-the-glycaemic-index-gi)) scoring foods that can help to slowly increase your blood sugar levels and stabilise your insulin levels

- __try to [stay active with regular exercise](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/fitness)__. This, combined with regular activity, can not only help you to lose weight, but it can also improve ovulation, lead to more regular periods and help your chances of getting pregnant

- __get support if you need it__. Losing weight can be hard – read more about [how to eat healthily and reduce your weight when planning a pregnancy](/nutrition/healthly-eating-while-pregnant). If you’re struggling, speak to your doctor for extra advice and support to help you get into some healthier lifestyle habits

#### Quit smoking for hormonal balance

Smoking and passive smoking affect the hormone levels in your body – for example, smoking may increase testosterone and reduce oestrogen. This can lead to weight gain and affect your fertility levels. Smoking can also affect insulin resistance. Quitting can therefore help manage your weight, your insulin levels and improve some of your PCOS symptoms. All this can help your chances of conceiving. Quitting can also reduce the risks of complications like stillbirths and premature delivery after you get pregnant.  Find out more about [how to quit smoking](https://www.livehealthily.com/stop-smoking/summary).

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Video: [UK Parliament](https://www.parliament.uk/)

## What are the chances of getting pregnant with PCOS?

It’s difficult to give a clear figure for the success rate of getting pregnant with PCOS given that treatment options and individual circumstances vary so much. 

However, what we do know is that a majority of people with PCOS are able to conceive with the help of fertility treatment. This is especially true for people under 35. 

Treatment outcomes are generally pretty positive:

- 3 out of 4 women with PCOS who take clomifene citrate find they are able to ovulate. Of those, around half are able to get pregnant within 6 months of treatment
- If clomifene citrate does not work, your doctor may recommend daily hormone injections or keyhole ([laparoscopic](/health-library/medical-exams/laparoscopy)) surgery. These are thought to prompt ovulation in around 4 out of every 5 women

Read on to find out more about these and other treatment options. 

![Daily hormonal injections are a potential fertility treatment for women with PCOS](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/2RWMDVZqVrlgyIRa7x743R/50d660e3daccafb19c74c3ea041a2414/Hormonal_injection.png)
### Medical treatments to improve PCOS fertility 

If you’ve made changes to your lifestyle, but you’re still struggling to get pregnant, don’t give up – there are treatment options available. Usually, these are recommended by fertility specialists and need regular monitoring both during treatment and pregnancy. It’s important to be aware that some of these options increase the possibility of twins or triplets. 

You may be offered:

- clomifene citrate – a medication that’s been used for many years to help  stimulate the ovaries to release eggs
- letrozole – a newer treatment that has shown encouraging results in stimulating ovulation and healthy pregnancies. 
- metformin – a medication normally used by people with [type 2 diabetes](/health-library/conditions/diabetes-type2). It can also help balance insulin and blood sugar levels if you have PCOS. There is evidence it can help with ovulation. Metformin would usually be prescribed alongside another medicine such as clomifene 
- gonadotrophins – these are hormone-based medicines used to stimulate your ovaries. They are usually given by injection 
- keyhole ([laparoscopic](/health-library/medical-exams/laparoscopy)) surgery – this can be used to help restore ovulation. This is usually done by destroying the tissues around your ovaries that are producing too many androgens and causing the hormone imbalance 
- [IVF](/health-library/treatments/ivf) – when eggs are removed and fertilised outside the body before being placed into the womb

## When to speak to your doctor when trying to get pregnant with PCOS 

If you’re experiencing irregular periods or any other possible [PCOS symptoms](/health-library/conditions/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome/#symptoms) it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor – particularly [if you’re struggling to get pregnant](/health-library/conditions/infertility) after 12 months of trying (or 6 months if you’re 35 or over). 

Your doctor will look at all possible causes of your symptoms and discuss how you can increase your chances of getting pregnant, including self-care and treatment options. 

If trying for a baby is affecting your mood or making you feel anxious, it’s also worth speaking to a doctor. 

## Are there any risks once I’m pregnant?

Most pregnancies in women with PCOS will be straightforward with no complications. However, having PCOS and being obese may increase your risk of certain [pregnancy-related problems](/self-care/common-pregnancy-problems). 

These can include:
- [miscarriage](/health-library/conditions/miscarriage) - while miscarriage is common and might happen to any pregnancy, having PCOS can increase your risk by about 3 times. Your doctor may prescribe metformin to help manage this risk 
- pregnancy-induced [high blood pressure](/health-library) and [pre-eclampsia](yourmd:/condition/pre-eclampsia) – having PCOS increases your risk of these by about 3-4 times
- [gestational diabetes](/health-library/conditions/gestational-diabetes) - PCOS can triple your risk of developing this type of diabetes, which only pregnant women get 
- [caesarean section delivery](/self-care/caesarean-section) – a higher risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia can make it more likely you’ll need to have a C-section

## Finding extra support

There is now more support than ever for people with PCOS and fertility problems. Ask your doctor for local contacts or try reaching out to:

- [Verity](https://www.verity-pcos.org.uk/) – a UK-based PCOS charity and support group
- [PCOS Awareness Association](https://www.pcosaa.org/) – a US advocacy and support group
- [Fertility Network UK](https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/) – free and impartial advice about fertility
- [Tommys](https://www.tommys.org/) – advice and support on all sorts of issues relating to pregnancy and childbirth


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References

Judith Ozkan

Lynette Eyb

Dr Ann Nainan

Dr Adiele Hoffman

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If you have PCOS and are trying for a baby, discover how PCOS can affect your fertility, how to improve your chances of getting pregnant and what treatments are available for you. 

Getting pregnant with PCOS

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