Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common ovulation problem in women of reproductive age, with 1in 10 women diagnosed with this condition. Women with PCOS can have infrequent or absent ovulation — the body’s process of growing and releasing eggs from the ovary. If you are having irregular menses, this could be related to PCOS.
For individuals with PCOS who are actively trying to conceive, the first step is to understand what PCOS is and then explore what treatments will work best for you as an individual.
Can patients with PCOS get pregnant?
Being diagnosed with PCOS does not mean that you cannot get pregnant, but you may have more difficulty conceiving without fertility treatment.
Unlike women who ovulate and have a period every month, women with PCOS often don’t ovulate in a predictable fashion (or at all), and therefore, may have fewer opportunities to become pregnant over their lifetime.
For many patients with PCOS, lifestyle changes, such as achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, can be enough to resume ovulation and become pregnant. Nutritional guidelines like regulating blood sugar and insulin levels, decreasing inflammatory foods, and correcting any nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin D are beneficial for patients with PCOS, too.
What does fertility treatment look like for patients with PCOS?
At SGF, we provide personalized treatment plans for all patients – including those with PCOS. We offer several treatment options for our patients from affordable low-tech fertility treatment options st and through advanced treatments.
When lifestyle modifications on their own are not enough to help you begin ovulating, simple fertility treatments for patients with PCOS can include oral medications (i.e. pills) to help with ovulation such as clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene) and letrozole (Femara).
If a patient has not become pregnant after 3-4 rounds of medicated menstrual cycles, it may be time to consider a different course of treatment such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
What other health concerns are related to PCOS?
While many women come to a fertility specialist worried about their chance of getting pregnant, there are other health concerns that patients with PCOS should be aware of and address.
One of the causes of PCOS is a decreased sensitivityto insulin, which in turn causes male-type hormone (aka androgen) excess. This can lead to a higher likelihood of diabetes of pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and greater risk factors — such as high cholesterol — for heart disease. There is also an increased risk of endometrial cancer in women who have gone more than 90 days without having a period.
Does PCOS affect your weight?
There is a common misconception that all women with PCOS are always overweight. In some cases, insulin resistance can be associated with obesity, but there are many patients with PCOS whoare not overweight. However, excess weight which produces hormones, can make it even harder for patients with PCOS to release an egg. Being overweight increases the severity of insulin resistance and further drives the process.
Studies have shown that weight loss of just five percent can lower androgen levels by a significant amount. In some cases, even modest weight loss can significantly help bring on regular menstrual cycles by restoring ovulation.
I have PCOS, when should I reach out to a fertility specialist?
If you’ve been diagnosed with or believe you may have PCOS or an irregular period, you should seek help from a fertility specialist when you are ready to start trying to conceive.
To learn more about an individualized treatment plan for PCOS or to schedule a new patient appointment, please call our New Patient Center at 877-971-7755.
Medical contribution by Lauren Kendall-Rauchfuss, M.D.
Lauren Kendall-Rauchfuss, M.D., FACOG, completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she also completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Kendall-Rauchfuss brings her expertise, warmth, and dedication to SGF Orlando, where she is eager to help patients achieve their dreams of building a family.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in May 2018 and has been updated as of October 2025.
