Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder that affects as many as 1 in 10 women. It occurs in all ethnic and racial groups and is considered to be one of the leading causes of infertility in women worldwide. Unfortunately, only about 25 percent of women with PCOS have actually been diagnosed, which can slow down the proper treatment of infertility associated with PCOS. At least 30 percent of the women cared for at Fertility Partnership suffer from PCOS, and our Medical Director Dr. Elan Simckes has helped many women with PCOS successfully conceive.
 
PCOS is actually the common end result of various hormonal abnormalities that affect fertility by disrupting the natural cycle of ovulation. Most commonly, there is an underlying resistance to insulin that makes the woman "prediabetic". This leads to, or is possibly caused by, obesity. As the condition progresses, testosterone or other "male hormones" commonly start to rise, causing acne and excess body hair. But, it is not rare to find a woman with PCOS who is within a normal weight range with no evidence of excessive male hormones.

Women with PCOS may not ovulate at all or may only ovulate sporadically. The eggs in the ovaries are in small fluid sacs called follicles. Because the ovaries are not ovulating or releasing the eggs, the ovaries appear to look like pomegranates with many small, poorly developed follicles. When ovulation doesn’t occur, progesterone is not produced, which in turn causes the menstrual cycle to be either irregular or totally absent.
 
Symptoms of PCOS
•      Irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles
•      Infertility
•      Increased hair growth on face, back or chest
•      Multiple cysts on the ovaries
•      Thinning hair
•      Obesity
•      Elevated insulin levels or Type II Diabetes
•      Acne
•      PMS or pelvic pain

Treatment of Infertility Caused by PCOS
At Fertility Partnership, our first goal is to find or confirm a suspected cause of infertility. If PCOS is suspected, blood tests will confirm the syndrome. From there, we’ll conduct additional tests to determine whether or not you are ovulating. If you are not, according to Dr. Simckes, "We have ways of making you ovulate!” Any one of several medications can be used to stimulate ovulation – Clomid is the most well-known of the ovulation-stimulating drugs. Sometimes injectable medications are used. Since women with PCOS are at a higher risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS),  Dr. Simckes monitors your progress closely to watch for early signs of OHSS.
 
For more information about PCOS in general, there are a number of online resources and communities, including SoulCysters and PCOSupport. To learn more about treating infertility caused by PCOS, contact Fertility Partnership to schedule a consultation with Dr. Simckes.

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