CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

PCOS and Pregnancy: Can You Get Pregnant With PCOS?

While polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) might make it trickier to conceive, there are lots of treatment options that can help.
save article
profile picture of Colleen De Bellefonds
Published February 27, 2024
NEW!
gynecologist doctor talking to patient in exam room
Image: RossHelen | Shutterstock

If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and are trying to conceive, you may have heard that the condition is linked to infertility. But while PCOS might make it trickier to get pregnant, thankfully there are treatment options that can help. Read ahead for advice on how to get pregnant with PCOS and more frequently asked questions about PCOS and pregnancy.

What Is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones that affects about one in 10 women of childbearing age, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). PCOS can cause irregular periods, which can lead to infertility and development of cysts in the ovaries. Most women find out they have the condition in their 20s or 30s, when they experience difficulty getting pregnant, but it can occur anytime after puberty.

Can You Get Pregnant with PCOS?

The short answer is yes—but it could be more difficult due to lack of regular ovulation. “Successful ovulation is required in order to get pregnant,” explains Lindsay Drew, MD, MS, an ob-gyn at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Specialty Care in Bedford, New Hampshire. “Achieving pregnancy is also more successful when intercourse can be timed properly around ovulation, so it can be hard for patients with PCOS to figure out this timing with unpredictable cycle length.”

With PCOS, the ovaries produce an excess of androgens (aka male hormones), which “stimulates many small [ovarian] follicles to grow and prevents normal maturation of one dominant follicle that will go on to release its egg during ovulation,” says Drew. This is why you may not ovulate or get your period during some menstrual cycles.

Related Video

What are the chances of pregnancy with PCOS?

“Pregnancy rates vary tremendously in PCOS and depend on the clinical presentation of the syndrome and its severity,” says Alexis P. Melnick, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Research estimates that about 70 to 80 percent of women with PCOS struggle with infertility.

PCOS pregnancy rate—aka your chance of conceiving—depends on several factors, notes Julianne Lauring, MD, an ob-gyn and maternal-fetal medicine expert at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. “No two individuals with PCOS are identical,” she says. “How PCOS impacts pregnancy will depend on how PCOS is expressed in your body combined with your age, your weight, your chronic health conditions [and more].”

How to Get Pregnant with PCOS

Getting pregnant with PCOS is challenging, but entirely possible. Because of the increased risk of infertility with PCOS, Drew recommends working with a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as soon as you decide you want to get pregnant. The following options can also help your chances of conceiving, according to HHS:

  • Ovulation-stimulating medicine. Your doctor may prescribe the oral medications clomiphene or letrozole to help induce ovulation, says Drew. (Letrozole has been associated with higher rates of ovulation and live birth, Drew adds.) If these don’t work, your provider may put you on gonadotropins, which are injectable hormones that directly stimulate the ovaries, says Melnick. Research suggests that about 70 percent of women with PCOS who use ovulation-stimulating medications eventually have a baby. Melnick notes that all of these medications lead to a higher possibility of having twins or multiples.
  • Losing weight. People with PCOS are predisposed to weight gain, as well as diabetes and unhealthy cholesterol, says HHS. “Even losing a small percentage of body weight can help to restore normal ovulation in many patients and can also greatly reduce incidence of insulin resistance, diabetes and hypertension, all of which can have major effects in pregnancy,” says Melnick.
  • In vitro fertilization (IVF). Your doctor may recommend IVF if medication doesn’t work, says HHS. With IVF, you can also better minimize your risk of having twins or multiples, if you wish to do so, says Melnick.
  • Surgery. If other options don’t work, your doctor might suggest a surgery called ovarian drilling, which can temporarily restore ovulation, according to HHS.

PCOS Pregnancy Risks for Mom and Baby

PCOS can increase the risk for several pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes, miscarriage and preeclampsia, says HHS. It can also increase the chances of having a c-section. Research says that an estimated 40 to 50 percent of pregnant people with PCOS have gestational diabetes.

It’s important to be aware that PCOS also increases the risk of mood disorders, including postpartum depression, Drew says. If you think you might have symptoms of anxiety or depression, make sure to speak with your provider. “If negative alterations in mood are noticed, it’s important to address them proactively, as pregnancy and postpartum periods are very emotionally vulnerable times for patients which can take a toll on stress, anxiety and depression,” says Drew.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes PCOS?

Doctors don’t know what exactly causes PCOS, although HHS says it’s linked to both high levels of androgens (male hormones) and high levels of insulin. Overproduction of androgen can “interfere with the brain’s signaling to the ovaries that normally [leads] to ovulation,” causing missed or irregular periods, says Melnick. High levels of insulin further increase androgen production, which can worsen PCOS symptoms, including excess hair growth and acne, Melnick adds. “The syndrome is likely due to an unknown mix of heritable and environmental factors,” adds Drew.

What are PCOS symptoms?

PCOS symptoms include, according to HHS:

  • Irregular or missed periods (fewer than eight periods a year, or periods that come more often than every 21 days)
  • Extra body hair, aka hirsutism
  • Acne, particularly on the face, chest and upper back
  • Thinning hair
  • Weight gain
  • Darkening of skin on certain body parts, particularly along neck creases, in the groin and underneath the breasts
  • Skin tags (small excess flaps of skin) on the armpits or neck

Can PCOS cause miscarriage?

PCOS can increase the odds of a pregnancy loss. Research says miscarriage occurs in about 30 to 50 percent of women with PCOS, compared with 10 to 15 percent of those in the general population. “Why PCOS increases the risk of miscarriage is incredibly complex and may be different for each patient,” explains Lauring. “The hormonal and metabolic changes that occur in PCOS affect the uterine lining and the hormonal signaling necessary for pregnancy. PCOS is associated with a change in the immune system and an increase in inflammation.”

Can PCOS cause birth defects?

“PCOS doesn’t cause birth defects,” says Lauring. However, people with PCOS are more likely to have diabetes, which can increase the risk of birth defects due to higher blood sugar levels, she says. “It’s important to see your doctor and be screened before getting pregnant.”

If you work with a specialist, you’ll be more likely to overcome the challenges PCOS can bring. “While there may be increased chances of complications, the majority of people will have a healthy and successful pregnancy despite living with PCOS,” says Lauring.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Sources

Lindsay Drew, MD, MS, is an ob-gyn at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Specialty Care in Bedford, New Hampshire. She received her medical degree from University of South Florida College of Medicine.

Julianne Lauring, MD, is an ob-gyn and maternal-fetal medicine expert at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. She received her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine.

Alexis P. Melnick, MD, is a reproductive endocrinologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. She received her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine.

US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, February 2021

Clinics (Sao Paulo), Treatment of Infertility in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Approach to Clinical Practice, November 2015

Obstetrics & Gynecology, Letrozole Compared with Clomiphene Citrate for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, March 2023

Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, 2013

Learn how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

gynecologist doctor talking to patient in exam room
PCOS and Pregnancy: Can You Get Pregnant With PCOS?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
LGBTQ couple looking at pregnancy test
New Infertility Definition Includes Singles and LGBTQ+ Individuals
By Wyndi Kappes
Heather McMahan on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen - Season 20 on October 2023
Comedian Heather McMahan’s New Netflix Special Tackles Infertility
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
young woman relaxing at home
8 Ways to Destress While Trying to Conceive
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
couple holding hands while sitting on couch at home
6 Ways to Be an Advocate During National Infertility Awareness Week
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of woman holding negative pregnancy test
Infertility Affects 1 in 6 People Worldwide, New WHO Report Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
couple embracing while holding negative pregnancy test
Men’s Sperm Count Has Dropped More Than 60 Percent Over Past 45 Years
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Actress Jennifer Aniston attends the 21st annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on on January 17, 2016 in Santa Monica, California
Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About Trying Every Option to Get Pregnant
By Wyndi Kappes
scientist performing in vitro fertilization procedure
New Protein Discovery Could Make Fertility Treatments More Successful
By Wyndi Kappes
Things No One Tells You About Secondary Infertility
Things No One Tells You About Secondary Infertility
By Melissa Chapman
ADVERTISEMENT
family embracing on lakeside dock
What Is Secondary Infertility?
By Lauren Barth
overhead view of woman's feet on digital scale next to smartphone and dumbbell weights
Study: Weight Loss Might Not Solve Infertility for Some Women
By Nehal Aggarwal
Lessons Learned: My Journey Through Infertility and Pregnancy Loss
Lessons Learned: My Journey Through Infertility and Pregnancy Loss
By Sheri Rodman
ADVERTISEMENT
tami smith during the birth of her daughter
My Hard Road to Motherhood and How I Learned to Advocate for Myself
By Tami Smith
happy mom holding her daughter at the beach
One Mom’s Story of Infertility Struggles and Survivor’s Guilt
By Nathalie Carpenter
couple talking and sitting at table in a cafe
New Fertility Test for Men May Help Couples Struggling to Conceive
By Nehal Aggarwal
Cleveland Clinic delivers baby from deceased donor's uterus
Clinic Delivers Second Baby Born From the Uterus of Deceased Donor
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
couple holding hands facing away on a pier by the water
How to Talk to Your Partner About Infertility
By Nicole Hannel
silhouette of hands lifting in the air in front of sunset
Chlamydia Vaccine Trial Shows Success—What It Means for Infertility and High Risk Pregnancies
By Stephanie Grassullo
sun flares captured through nature landscape
Meet the First Baby in the US to Be Born From the Uterus of a Deceased Donor
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List