It is important to remember that some of the symptoms of PCOS, such as hormonal imbalance and associated weight gain, can return and even worsen after pregnancy – and that being pregnant and successfully giving birth does not mean that PCOS has gone away.
Can pregnancy cure PCOS? No, unfortunately, PCOS is a chronic condition. However, it is not uncommon for women with PCOS to experience a cessation of their symptoms while they are pregnant.
There is no treatment for PCOS. It can only be managed symptomatically. 'Depending on how PCOS is affecting a woman's postpartum life a plan can be chalked out. However, losing weight postpartum is crucial.
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at higher risk for certain problems or complications during pregnancy. In addition, infants born to mothers with PCOS are at higher risk of spending time in the neonatal intensive care unit or dying before, during, or right after birth.
It's also important to note that some women with PCOS find it easy to get pregnant with a first or second child but then struggle with infertility in later pregnancies, something known as secondary infertility.
As previously stated, the shape of a PCOS belly differs from other types of weight gain. It often appears large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genetics and other factors. The PCOS belly involves the accumulation of visceral fat in the lower abdomen and typically feels firm to the touch.
If you've been diagnosed with PCOS, you could experience chronic irregular or missed periods, acne and abnormal facial hair growth, small cysts on your ovaries, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance – which could make you gain weight more easily than other women, or make losing weight after baby more difficult.
Women with PCOS may gain weight due to insulin resistance and metabolic issues. This means they're more susceptible to obesity, which is known to have a negative effect on lactation. It's also believed that insulin resistance can affect the growth of the breasts, along with milk synthesis and production.
Best age to get pregnant with PCOS
The best time for women with PCOS to get pregnant is before they turn 30. It's possible to conceive up to the age of 37, but fertility declines after the age of 32 with steeper decline occurring after age 37.
PCOS and Postpartum
Women with PCOS are more likely to experience heart and psychiatric complications during the postpartum period. 7 These include postpartum preeclampsia, congestive heart failure (a poorly pumping heart that causes fluid buildup in the lungs), and postpartum depression.
So women with PCOS are more likely to have trouble conceiving than other women. While most women who have PCOS become pregnant, they often take longer to fall pregnant and are more likely to need fertility treatment than women without PCOS.
Fortunately, with lifestyle changes or infertility treatment, most people with PCOS can become pregnant. Talk to your doctor or fertility specialist for individual advice for your situation.
PCOS can make your body resistant to insulin, causing your pancreas to make more the hormone. That extra insulin promotes fat storage and increases hunger, which can cause weight gain. Other hormones that regulate hunger and fullness can also be affected with PCOS.
Many women with PCOS have higher levels of androgen hormones, such as testosterone. These androgen hormones can interfere with the way prolactin works in the body, leading to a lower milk supply during breastfeeding.
Upon assessment, many women with PCOS describe little or no breast changes during the pregnancy, and examination reveals breasts that are tubular in shape, widely spaced, or asymmetrical.
One of its common symptoms is abdominal weight gain, which is sometimes referred to as the PCOS belly. The PCOS belly doesn't look like other types of weight gain, as many women report having a big stomach while the rest of the body remains the same.
While there is no cure for PCOS, a healthy diet can help promote weight loss, lower your blood glucose levels and improve high blood pressure and cholesterol. These six tips can get you started: Monitor your portion sizes.
Myth #2: If You Lose Weight, You Can Get Rid of PCOS
Unfortunately, there is no cure for PCOS, but overweight and obese women can help balance their hormone levels by losing weight.
Often, the skin can be a window to what is occurring inside your body. For women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, this this may mean acne, hair loss, excessive facial or body hair growth, dark patches on the skin, or any combination of these issues.
Women with PCOS have a different balance of gut bacteria that can reduce the absorption of nutrients and can have trouble digesting food properly. This can lead to bloating and abdominal discomfort.
PCOS after pregnancy
It is important to remember that some of the symptoms of PCOS, such as hormonal imbalance and associated weight gain, can return and even worsen after pregnancy – and that being pregnant and successfully giving birth does not mean that PCOS has gone away.