Being diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can already be a tough journey especially when many doctors will not take your symptoms seriously. However learning that it will probably be harder for you to get pregnant also makes this journey that much tougher, especially if becoming a mother is something you have been dreaming about since you were a little girl.

Regrettably, being diagnosed with PCOS does in fact influence your chance of getting pregnant.  This is because women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly. In fact, all those apps that tell you when you ovulate do not work if you have PCOS. So I recommend you do not spend any money on them.

Does it get any easier?

However, with the right guidance and knowledge, it can get easier. One thing I always tell my clients is – knowledge is power. First of all please know that you are not alone. There are also very high success rates without the need for expensive fertility medication if you arm yourself with the right knowledge so the answer is yes. you can get pregnant with PCOS. Make sure that knowledge is coming from the right sources though. I have been seeing so much misinformation on social media. Anything that you find on my website is evidence-based and I will not share anything that has not been proven.

The first thing I recommend to improve your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS is to know your cycle. Learn proper cycle tracking techniques by using basal body temperature, checking cervical mucus. Regular ovulation predictor tests do not work well for women with PCOS.  This should be the starting step for any woman with PCOS even if you are not thinking about conceiving just yet. Why? Because understanding your menstrual cycle is key to managing your PCOS Long term.

After you have learned how to understand your cycle and if you are ovulating or not then you need to focus on your nutrition and lifestyle to help you get pregnant and have a successful pregnancy.

Tips to improve your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS

1. Rule out any Thyroid issues: Having imbalanced thyroid hormones can lead to a negative effect on ovulation. Visit an endocrinologist and do a full hormone profile and make sure it includes thyroid function.
2. Resting your body is essential. Studies show that women who sleep 6 hours per night have 25% less FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) than women who sleep 8 hours every night. Lack of sleep also leads to inflammation. Having high inflammation not only prevents you from getting pregnant but is also linked to high miscarriage rates.
3. Adding in foods that can boost fertility such as cruciferous vegetables, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, and avocado as well as avoiding processed and high sugar foods. I will be discussing nutrition to improve fertility in my fertility masterclass.
4. Improve insulin sensitivity: By using supplements such as Inositol, exercising, and eating a PCOS-friendly diet.
5. Lower testosterone levels:
6. Stress reduction: Stress can be extremely detrimental to the production of estrogen which is vital to ensure ovulation. So put your phone down, switch off the TV and take a long bubble bath or follow yoga or breathwork class.
7. Moving your body: Moving your body for 30 minutes a day can lower your cortisol levels. Also doing the right exercise to boost your sex hormones is essential. So work with someone who knows about fertility hormones and not just any personal trainer.
8. Being open and communicative: Speak with your partner about anything that could be stressing you out. Support is vital in this process.
9. Follow my PCOS Blueprint program where I go into detail on how to improve your chances of getting pregnant and improving your PCOS in general.