Between 5 and 10 percent of women develop polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a pathology of endocrine origin that can lead to sterility or fertility problems. It is one of the most common reasons for consultation that we find at iGin.
The most common visible symptoms of PCOS that first attract attention are irregularities in the menstrual cycle, acne, being overweight or insulin resistance. Elevated levels of estrogen and androgen (which increases the risk of endometrial hyperplasia) and hirsutism (more hair than usual or in strange areas) may also be detected. Other symptoms may include fatigue, lack of energy, sleep problems (including sleep apnea), mood swings, depression, anxiety or the appearance of darkened areas of skin. Regarding the reproductive system, there may be irregular menstruation or amenorrhea.
What usually brings patients to our clinic are problems getting pregnant. The appearance of multiple cysts in the ovaries that cause infertility is characteristic. This is because during the menstrual cycle the ovary does not develop the egg normally and therefore ovulation does not occur, which means that the smallest follicles in the ovary do not disappear and accumulate, creating these microcysts around them.
We are then faced with problems of sterility or infertility because, even when pregnancy is achieved, there may be more miscarriages than in the rest of the population. So much so that PCOS is one of the main causes of repeated miscarriages.
To certify polycystic ovary syndrome in the clinic, we usually perform pelvic ultrasounds and hormonal analyses, which leads us to a diagnosis with relative ease. From then on, at iGin we proceed to propose the most suitable assisted reproduction treatment for each case, studying the characteristics of the couple, the age and the functionality of the tubes and the semen.
Aunque por sí mismo el síndrome de ovario poliquístico no es determinante para decidir qué técnica aplicar, lo más habitual suele ser decantarse por una FIV/ICSI, que en IGIN arrojan unas tasas de éxito por encima de la media con independencia del SOP. Eso sí, esta patología es relevante para establecer la medicación que se prescribirá durante el tratamiento.
Recuerda: para determinar si puedes tener SOP o cualquier otra afección que dificulte la consecución del embarazo, en IGIN te ofrecemos nuestras consultas siempre gratis y sin compromiso.