How to Get Pregnant with PCOS
Alright, ladies, time to take it back to health class - minus the embarrassing outfit choices and purple eyeshadow.
Let’s talk pregnancy and PCOS.
It should be simple…right? THINK AGAIN. The journey of getting pregnant may not be as simple as you might think…especially when we have PCOS (the leading cause of infertility).
How to Get Pregnant
You might be surprised to know that you cannot just get pregnant any time of the month. AGH. Yes, they lied to us all! Unlike we thought, you actually don’t get pregnant then die from even thinking about sex - thanks Mean Girls.
I’m here to drop the piping hot tea. Did you know you’re only fertile 4-6 days per month?
YUP. That’s it babe.
So let’s talk TTC. What does TTC mean? TTC stands for trying to conceive. If you’ve started to experience some challenges when starting to try for a baby, you may have run across this term and several others online.
When you’re TTC, you need to aim for this 4-6 day window to have sex. During this small window, your ovaries have prepared an egg to be released from a follicle. This follicle has been developing for almost 180 days before it releases its egg. Thus, trying to conceive is a process that begins many moons ahead of time.
So what’s so special about these 4-6 days? Why can you only get pregnant for those few days?
Well girl, if you’ve heard the rumor that sperm can live in the vagina for 4-6 days - that would be true, AND when you ovulate, the egg is only alive and available for 12-24 hours.
You want to either have sex or be inseminated during this window to optimize the sperm being available to the egg during ovulation. This way the sperm is there waiting for the egg when it drops. When the sperm is available, sperm can meet the egg…and voila! Baby!
Not so fast, notice I said can. Every cycle you have about a 30% chance of conceiving during the “fertile” window. Crazy right?
Cyster, from there the miracle only gets crazier. This joyous union takes place two whole weeks before your period. After sperm meets the egg, it starts its journey to your uterus. Sliding down the fallopian tubes, your fertilized egg now has to implant in the uterus.
If all goes well, the egg will implant, thus pregnancy begins. But…what if it doesn’t?
“I’m Having Trouble Getting Pregnant”
This is more common than you think girlfriend, and you’re not alone. Before you let yourself get sucked too deep into the infertility sphere, understand that there are so many factors that influence fertility, okay boo?
Here are some of the most common ones:
Anovulation - or not ovulating. This could be due to a multitude of factors including lifestyle, hormonal imbalances, stress, or PCOS.
Certain medications - talk to your doc on this one babe.
High prolactin - a hormone your pituitary gland secretes, this can be tested.
Thyroid issues - commonly seen together with PCOS so ask your doctor about this one.
Endometriosis - tissue that grows and implants outside the uterus and into surrounding organs.
Other uterine factors including fibroids or cervix changes.
Also, don’t forget that it takes two to tango. Male factor infertility is a very real thing. It’s always good to have both partners tested. Before we get too far, if you’ve clicked on this article, I know why you’re here babe. Let’s talk about PCOS and getting pregnant.
If you want to jump to the chase - check out how I help tons of other women just like you with PCOS go on to get the baby of their dreams.
Trying for a Baby with PCOS
Deciding to start a family is a beautiful, nerve-racking, and exciting choice. It brings a mixed bag of emotions all on its own. And, depending on your sexual education, you may not know the ins and outs described above. Even with the ‘ideal’ situation’, conception is a coin toss every cycle.
Add in some of the symptoms of PCOS such as not ovulating, insulin resistance, and other stressors, and babe things can get a bit difficult. But don’t worry boo, I got you! It starts with treating your PCOS to create an optimal environment for conception.
What are the symptoms of PCOS you want to focus on the most?
Hormonal Imbalances: These can cause weight gain, irregular periods, facial and body hair growth, acne, and hair loss on the head. Causes can be pinpointed through hormone testing, such as the DUTCH test. Once you pinpoint what’s imbalanced and why, you can start to identify how to go about fixing it.
Insulin Resistance: Blood sugar regulation issues can be a direct cause of the hormonal imbalances above, such as elevated testosterone. These imbalances can delay or deter ovulation altogether.
Stress: Stress can really do a number on our hormones (and whole bodies!)
Babe, are you seeing the pattern? It all comes down to your hormones - and ultimately, what’s causing them to be at high or low levels. Starting to identify what’s out of whack is the first step. Treating them is next!
If you’re ready to take control of your PCOS and hormonal imbalances, you can start here with me by becoming a boss of your PCOS with supplements designed for cysters like you and me.
PCOS Pregnancy Success Stories
Ladies, it is possible!
I’m living proof. Trust me when I say, I know this is a sensitive topic for some, and I want to be completely respectful of that.
Are there PCOS pregnancy success stories without medication?
Babe, yes. I’m proud to be one of them. TWICE. Plus, tons of other cysters who have completed my Get Pregnant with PCOS program are now mamas and mamas-to-be. You can read all about the women I’ve had the pleasure of working with here. No BS - straight from them. Using diagnostics and real tools backed by science, we work together. You’re never alone, and I’m here to help and celebrate this season with you.
PCOS and Pregnancy - You’re Not Alone
If you’re looking for a good (and fun…) place to start - you’re going to want to think about having sex (oh twist my arm….right?!). BUT, you might be asking, hey, doesn’t PCOS cause libido issues? It absolutely can. Learn more about how to increase your libido here.
Looking for more guidance on how to get pregnant with PCOS?
Cyster, I’m here and ready to help. I’ve been in your shoes more than once. Trying to get pregnant as a PCOS cyster isn’t easy, but it is possible. Together we can help create a lifestyle that fits your goals and helps you get pregnant with PCOS.
Interested in starting on your own first? Check out these amazing supplements for PCOS that tons of other cysters swear by. Target your specific needs to help you become the boss of your PCOS.