Infertility seems like a dead end to some people, especially for couples who have been trying for the longest time. This situation can be avoided if treated at an early period. Take for example the medical condition PCOS.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or more popularly known as PCOS is one of the most common reasons for infertility in women. To understand how PCOS works, we must first know how the menstrual cycle works and how big of a deal is PCOS to create infertility.

A woman’s menstrual cycle includes follicles; each one containing an egg which develops inside the ovaries. One follicle will be left as the menstrual cycle goes on. This will produce the egg for the ovulation part. Ovulation happens when the egg has matured and has ruptured from the follicle because of the increase of the LH levels.

Women diagnosed with PCOS do not have the ability to produce female hormones for the ovulation process to happen. The underdeveloped follicles turn into cysts, which when scanned in an ultra sound looks like a "string of pearls" in the interior of the ovary. If ovulation does not push through, there won’t be a production of progesterone. When this happens, the lining of the uterus will thicken.

PCOS also makes a woman resistant to insulin. Because of the excessive production of insulin, their bodies react by generating high levels of male hormones (androgens). PCOS patients are prone to diabetes because of this.

Treating PCOS is easy once you know the symptoms associated with it.

• Having an irregular period. This is defined as menstrual cycles that are either shorter than 21 days, or longer than 36 days. Cycles that differ drastically through time; if one month your cycle is 28 days, and another it’s 40, and then another it’s 23, is also a symptom.

• Rapid hair growth on back, chest or face

• Thinning hair

• Obesity

• High insulin levels or diabetes (type 2)

• Acne

• Pelvic pain.

PCOS can be treated by the following:

• Weight loss (This improves the hormonal imbalance which causes the infertility).

• Metformin (a drug that helps the body in its insulin intake) - This helps the body to stabilize the insulin levels.

• Clomid (a fertility drug) – This blocks the estrogen receptors found in the brain so it will think that there are low estrogen levels causing the body to produce more FSH and LH, making the body ovulate.

• Invitro Maturation (IVM) - The immature eggs are harvested early in a woman’s cycle and are then stored in a laboratory for fertilization. IVM is suitable for women who do not respond right to drug therapy.

• In vitro fertilization (IVF) – The eggs are harvested after they have matured. Then they are fertilized and implanted in the uterus. These treatments include medications which aid in the maturity of the eggs.

Women diagnosed with PCOS shouldn’t worry too much because there are a lot of treatments available out there. What PCOS patients really need to do is to find the appropriate treatment for PCOS before it is too late.