Ovulation Issues in Individuals with PCOS
Many women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly, thus hindering their natural menstrual cycle, and making it difficult to conceive naturally. These are a few ovulation issues you need to keep in mind if you have been diagnosed with PCOS:
In a healthy reproductive system, ovaries release healthy and matured eggs which are necessary for conception. When this process is disturbed due to hormonal imbalances, egg production will not occur regularly. Additionally, excessive production of androgen (male hormones), insufficient levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) hormones lead to irregular or absence of ovulation which is called anovulation. Similarly, when ovulation takes place once every 5 or 6 months, it is usually referred to as oligo ovulation.
- Incomplete Follicle Development:
In women with PCOS, the ovaries develop multiple small follicles (often referred to as cysts) that fail to mature and release eggs. For ovulation to occur, a mature follicle must release an egg, but in PCOS, this process is disrupted, making conception more challenging.
- Irregular Menstrual Cycles:
Irregular or absent ovulation often leads to irregular periods. It ranges from an abnormal gap between the periods (shorter than 21 days or longer than 45 days) to an absence of one's period entirely.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances are at the heart of understanding PCOS and its symptoms. These imbalances can affect everything from your menstrual cycle to ovulation and even your overall well-being. But don’t worry— this is something that can be managed with the right approach. To give you a clearer picture, here are some of the key ways hormonal imbalances show up in women with PCOS:
Male hormones such as testosterone are present in small amounts in the female body. However, in women with PCOS, the ovaries produce higher-than-normal levels of androgens, leading to symptoms such as excess facial hair growth, male-pattern baldness, and acne.
- Imbalanced LH and FSH Levels
Sufficient levels of LH and FSH help the ovaries to produce eggs regularly. The disturbances in LH and TSH levels disrupt the maturation and release of eggs.
Insulin is well known for its role in regulating blood sugar levels. However, women with PCOS often develop insulin resistance, meaning their cells do not respond effectively to insulin. As a result, the body compensates by producing more insulin, which can eventually lead to higher blood sugar levels.
Due to absent or irregular ovulation, women with PCOS may also develop a progesterone deficiency. Low progesterone levels are often associated with irregular periods and difficulty in maintaining a pregnancy.