Pregnancy and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Pregnancy and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) who become pregnant may experience more health problems than the general population, including gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, miscarriage and premature delivery (1). Researchers have also documented health issues such as pre-eclampsia, macrosomia, (babies bigger than 4,500 grams at birth) and clotting factors in pregnant women with PCOS (2). All of these serious problems are yet more evidence that it is extremely important to address PCOS and make the lifestyle changes necessary to reverse it and the underlying cause of Insulin Resistance. This is vital to prevent the health issues that can compromise long term wellness for both mother and child during and after pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women who have never had diabetis may experience high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, which is also known as gestational diabetes. This complication affects about four percent of all pregnant women. Studies have shown that women who have been diagnosed in pregnancy with gestational diabetes are found to have a higher prevalence of PCOS on subsequent screening (3).
The risk is believed to be greater in obese women with PCOS who require ovulation induction in order to conceive. Ovulation induction is a procedure in which women who are infertile are treated with medication to stimulate the development of mature follicles in their ovaries to facilitate the growth of eggs. Women who have been diagnosed as having PCOS before pregnancy should be screened for gestational diabetes in early pregnancy, with referral to a specialized obstetric diabetic service if abnormalities are detected. Such patients should be screened for abnormal glucose tolerance in pregnancy and, if appropriate, referred for antenatal management by an obstetrician with special interest in pregnancy and diabetes.