PCOS and Egg Quality: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore the Link Women with PCOS often have higher than normal levels of androgens such as
testosterone, which can increase their hair growth, cause facial hair, and increase oil production.
The combination of those androgenic effects, along with the underlying hormonal imbalance that causes PCOS, makes it hard for women
with PCOS to get and maintain their reproductive health. Furthermore, the majority of women with PCOS have difficulty getting and
maintaining an ovulation cycle or achieving a normal or near-normal reproductive health.
In fact, PCOS is so commonly linked with ovulatory issues that many doctors now consider polycystic ovarian syndrome to be synonymous
with anovulation. Somewhat paradoxically, PCOS is also linked with an increased risk of developing an egg quality issue called
hyperandrogenism.
While PCOS makes women with excess testosterone more prone to developing reproductive health issues, it can also make them more
sensitive to the effects of those androgens. In other words, PCOS can make PCO more of a problem. It can also make PCO more of a problem for egg quality.
PCOS, in combination with excessive levels of androgens, can do a number on the quality of a woman’s eggs. This is because PCOS makes it
harder for a woman’s ovaries to release eggs without any ovulation.
That makes eggs that are released from the ovaries more likely to be over-developed, or hyperandrogenic. Egg quality issues
PCOS and egg quality: What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of egg quality issues, including hyperandrogenism, depend on the woman’s age. They can include:
– Shortened egg life – The number of days that an egg remains viable before it expires.
– Loss of fertilization rates – The percentage of eggs that are fertilized and allowed to develop into a healthy embryo.
– False pregnancy – The presence of an embryo in a woman’s uterus, but not in her vagina.
– Impaired ovarian reserve – The total number of eggs that a woman has left for her entire reproductive life.
– Other issues – PCOS and egg quality is new and evolving research area, so there may be other issues that are caused by PCOS and egg quality.
PCOS and egg quality: How can you tell if you have an issue?
You can get an idea of your egg quality by getting an HSG or Endometrial biopsy. Those tests will give your doctor an idea of your
endometrial thickness and whether your lining is healthy and fully mature.
If you have an issue with PCOS, your doctor will also be able to look for hyperandrogenism. Hyperandrogenism is easy to spot: You’ll
probably be told to urinate on a stick, which will show your doctor if your hormones are elevated. Hyperandrogenism can also show up in an
egg quality test that measures the DNA fragmentation rate, or DNA FRAX. FRAX is the only egg quality test available that can detect
hyperandrogenism.
PCOS and egg quality: What causes it?
The most likely cause of PCOS and egg quality issues is an excess of androgens, specifically testosterone. Most women with PCOS have
abnormally high levels of testosterone, but it’s important to realize that other hormones like dihydrotestosterone, luteinizing hormone, and
follicle-stimulating hormone can also be elevated.
However, if doctors can confirm that your testosterone levels are abnormally high, they can treat the excess with a testosterone supplement.
Another likely cause of egg quality issues is that a woman’s ovaries are being deprived of regular stimulation.
The majority of women with PCOS have irregular or absent ovulation. This can lead to anovulation, or the release of eggs that are not fully
mature. Anovulation can also lead to hyperandrogenism.
PCOS and egg quality: How can you treat it?
Egg quality problems in women with PCOS can be treated with medication. You’ll want to choose one that targets hyperandrogenism, like an
aromatase inhibitor, or AIs. AIs are also excellent for managing symptoms of PCOS, including hyperandrogenism. Other treatments for egg
quality issues include:
– Lifestyle change – You can’t change your genetics or your hormones, but you can change your lifestyle to improve egg quality.
– Physical activity – Regular exercise is great for your physical health, but it’s also great for your reproductive health.
– Diet change – A diet rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, low-fat dairy, protein, and limited sugar can help you maintain healthy cholesterol and insulin levels, which help with ovulation.
– Stress management – It’s important to look past PCOS and focus on the things that can help you improve egg quality.
PCOS and egg quality: Is there a cure?
There’s no cure for PCOS, but there are ways to manage it. Managing PCOS means limiting the impact of androgens, like testosterone, and
managing your PCO. Are you confused yet? Understanding the link between PCOS, hyperandrogenism, and egg quality issues can be tricky.
The best way to deal with it is to be patient and persistent. You’ll get through this, and in the end, you’ll be glad you did.
PCOS and egg quality: Is there a way to prevent it?
Egg quality issues, and the treatment of those issues, are really a function of managing your PCOS. The goal is to manage your hormones so
that they are not excessive, which is why you should be doing all of the things you can to manage your PCOS.
If you’ve already done those things, but you’re still having issues with egg quality, there are a few steps you can take to help prevent
hyperandrogenism from developing.
– Limit your androgenic medications. The more medications you take, the more likely it is that you’ll have egg quality issues.
– Take your androgenic medications exactly as your doctor tells you to. – Take your androgenic medications for the time your doctor prescribes.
Final Words
Egg quality issues are a common problem among women with PCOS, but there are ways to prevent hyperandrogenism. Make sure to limit
your androgenic medications, take them exactly as your doctor prescribes, and take them for the time prescribed by your doctor.
If you think you might have egg quality issues, don’t ignore them. Get tested, get treated, and get better.
