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Infertility Treatment for Women With PCOS

Table of Contents


Overview

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) do not ovulate regularly. They often have trouble getting pregnant. The medicines clomiphene and letrozole are commonly used to stimulate ovulation. But medicine doesn't work for some women who have PCOS. This is because many body systems are involved in PCOS ovulation problems. Often other treatment can restore balance to the body's metabolism and hormone system, so that ovulation medicine is not needed (or works better if it is used).

Laparoscopic ovarian surgery or in vitro fertilization (IVF) is sometimes used for women with PCOS who have tried weight loss and medicine, but still are not ovulating. (A surgery sometimes used is ovarian drilling. This involves partial destruction of an ovary, which can trigger ovulation.)1


References

Citations

  1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2018). Polycystic ovary syndrome. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 194. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 131(6): e157–e171. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002656. Accessed July 12, 2018.

Credits for Infertility Treatment for Women With PCOS

Current as of: November 27, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
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