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Last Updated:
May 4th, 2010 - 14:24:33
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Question
Can someone with PCOS get pregnant the natural way or is it asking the impossible? I have been married for 18 years and still have not been pregnant...We can't afford any treatment since it's very expensive here in Asia. Am I prone to cancer if my PCOS remains untreated? My OB GYN said it was a syndrome and not a disease therefore can I just be treated not cured? I am really very sad now and worried also. Please help me.
Hazel
Answer
Dear Hazel,
There are many degrees of severity of polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS). While there is no cure, we do have many effective treatments. Woman can and do get pregnant with and without treatment when they have PCOS. The fact that you have not been able to conceive for 18 years leads me to conclude that you likely have a relatively more severe form of PCOS.
Many women with PCOS do not ovulate or only ovulate rarely. In these cases, the continual unopposed estrogen can lead to cancerous or precancerous changes of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus. These women need close surveillance that may include ultrasound and endometrial biopsy.
PCOS can also be associated with metabolic imbalances including obesity, pre-diabetic states, diabetes, disorders of cholesterol and high blood pressure. All this needs to be monitored and treated if needed. For you, the bottom line is: don’t ignore your PCOS. The basic monitoring will help you stay healthy and prevent cancer of the endometrium.
In health,
George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
Culture of Life Family Health Care
Voluntary Associate Clinical Professor
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. is a Fertility Care Medical Consultant, a physician with Pregnancy and Family Care Centers of San Diego and
Escondido, and a Voluntary Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
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