Anecdotal evidence suggests that perhaps one fifth of all women are born with some
degree of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO). Many, if not most, of these women will never find out since they will
be able to conceive. These women have a mild degree of PCO.
Women with a more severe PCO will, at least
temporarily, lose the regularity of their menstruations and may need medical help with conceiving.
In its most severe forms, the polycystic ovarian syndrome could make it quite difficult for a woman to ovulate and conceive
even with ovarian stimulation.
Women with PCO who need medical treatment to get pregnant comprise a special group of patients.
Their ovaries can be exquisitely sensitive to the stimulatory medications, their eggs tend to be
more immature and there is an increased risk of multiple pregnancies and ovarian hyperstimulation.
The physicians must be aware of the presence of even the mildest degrees of PCO before IVF, egg
donation or gestational surrogacy ovarian stimulation begins. PCO ovaries do need to be stimulated differently than ovaries
of women without PCO.
At Nova IVF, for many years, we have been using hormonal assays and ultrasonic ovarian assessment to
guide us in selecting the most successful method of ovarian stimulation for women with PCO.
Please contact us if you would like any additional information regarding polycystic ovary syndrome or any other
areas of infertility.
