Washington, D.C. – In honor of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month and to continue its ongoing mission of educating and spreading awareness about infertility, Shady Grove Fertility’s (SGF) Meghan Sylvester, RDN, LDN of SGF’s Wellness Center will host a free webinar about nutrition for PCOS. Patients and information seekers affected by PCOS are invited to attend on Tuesday, September 24 at 12:00 p.m. EST. During the webinar, Megan will discuss how healthy food choices and positive lifestyle habits can help women who are trying to conceive (TTC) manage their PCOS. Attendees will also learn how to stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, reduce carb cravings, and learn healthy meal planning.

“I have seen many women with PCOS make small diet and lifestyle adjustments ultimately leading to better management of their PCOS symptoms,” says Sylvester.

The practice also released a new PCOS Q&A video hosted by reproductive endocrinologist, Joseph Doyle, M.D., who sees patients in SGF’s Rockville, MD office. In the video, Dr. Doyle answers common questions about getting pregnant with PCOS.

“PCOS is highly treatable and on the spectrum of infertility diagnoses, it’s a relatively good one because we’re usually first just trying to get the woman to ovulate. Once we can make a woman ovulatory, her chances of getting pregnant are high,” says Dr. Doyle.

PCOS is the most common ovulatory disorder of women in reproductive age and is thought to be the leading cause of female infertility. The condition is caused by hormonal imbalances that curtail or prevent ovulation—the body’s process of producing and releasing eggs from the ovary.

“The important takeaway is to recognize the early warning signs of PCOS. If a women is having irregular cycles then she shouldn’t wait to seek help from a fertility specialist,” adds Dr. Doyle.

For those who want to learn more about PCOS, SGF has developed a Getting Pregnant with PCOS On-Demand Webinar and eBook to inform and empower women—covering topics such as common symptoms, diagnostic testing, and success rates for women with PCOS. SGF’s inspiring patient stories are another way get a glimpse into other people’s fertility journeys and help those faced with infertility realize that they are not alone.

For those without PCOS, SGF is offering a wealth of educational resources, including live seminars and virtual webinars hosted by SGF physicians and experts, throughout September.

In a 2018 survey of SGF patients, 65% of respondents said they wish they hadn’t waited so long to see a fertility specialist, so addressing common misconceptions about fertility is one of the many reasons SGF chooses to educate and spread awareness through live and virtual events.

“For couples who are struggling to conceive, outcomes are more favorable with early diagnosis and treatment. So we encourage women with irregular or absent menstrual cycles to seek help early,” says Joseph Osheroff, M.D. of Shady Grove Fertility’s Columbia, MD office. Dr. Osheroff is one of eight physicians who will host a live “What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting” seminar in September, where attendees will learn about the patient journey at SGF and what to expect under the care of a fertility specialist.

“Many people are hesitant to make that initial appointment because they’re unsure of the process. We want to alleviate these fears. Our events allow attendees to gain the confidence they will need to make informed decisions, sooner than later,” says Osheroff who will host on Tuesday, September 17 at 6:30pm at SGF’s Columbia, MD office.

Each SGF event concludes with a question and answer session where attendees will have the opportunity to address practice physicians and experts. SGF’s September event topics will cover nutrition for PCOS, in vitro fertilization (IVF), what your menstrual cycle says about your fertility, financial options, and more.

“Most patients don’t realize that most of the time, the cause of infertility can be determined using four easy tests,” says Natalie Stentz, M.D. of Shady Grove Fertility’s Atlanta offices. “It’s important to treat the underlying cause of what’s preventing conception whenever possible, so early diagnosis and intervention is key.” Dr. Stentz will host a “Getting Started” virtual webinar on Thursday, September 19, at 12noon where she will review what patients can expect during their first appointment and fertility evaluation, throughout treatment, as well as introduce the various unique financial programs available to SGF patients.

If you are suffering with PCOS or struggling to conceive, it may be time to see a fertility specialist. Contact the Shady Grove Fertility New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete a brief online form and get started on your path to parenthood.

While all SGF in-person and online events are complimentary, interested parties must register to attend by visiting the SGF calendar of events.

September Fertility Seminars | What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting

September 7 | Hagerstown, MD | Jason Bromer, M.D.
September 10 | Mechanicsburg, PA | Melissa Esposito, M.D.
September 11 | Marietta, GA | Natalie Stentz, M.D.
September 11 | Fair Oaks, VA | Shruti Malik, M.D.
September 15 | Towson, VA | Stephanie Beall, M.D.
September 17 | Columbia, MD | Joseph Osheroff, M.D.
September 18 | Richmond, VA | Michael Edelstein, M.D.
September 19 | Washington, DC | Kimberly Moon, M.D.

September Fertility Webinars 

September 4 | Financial Options | Maria Patswald and Jennifer Cockburn, Patient Financial Services
September 10 | IVF | Lauren Roth, M.D.
September 18 | What Your Menstrual Cycle Says about Your Fertility | Ricardo Yazigi, M.D.
September 19 | Getting Started | Natalie Stentz, M.D.
September 24 | Nutrition for PCOS | Meghan Sylvester, RDN, LDN

To view SGF’s growing library of free, on-demand webinars, E-books, and other education resources on topics such as endometriosis, PCOS, low-tech treatment options, weight and infertility, and much more, visit https://www.shadygrovefertility.com/resources/educational-resources.

About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) 
SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 85,000 babies born and counting. With 36 locations throughout FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, VA, D.C., and Santiago, Chile, we offer patients individualized care, accept most insurance plans, and make treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including treatment guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com.