📩 05/10/2023 13:50
Yeditepe University Hospitals Gynecology, Obstetrics, In Vitro Fertilization Specialist Prof. Dr. Erkut Attar drew attention to the effect of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which causes ovulation defects in women, on women's reproductive health.
Attar said, “Ovulation disorder seen in PCOS disease has a close relationship with weight. As weight increases, ovulation defects become more obvious. But not every PCOS patient experiences infertility; "When treated correctly, a PCOS patient is very likely to have children," he said.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common diseases among women, paves the way for different health problems beyond the cosmetic problems it creates. Yeditepe University Hospitals Gynecology, Obstetrics, In Vitro Fertilization Specialist Prof. Dr. Erkut Attar underlined that PCOS is one of the most important causes of ovulation disorders and naturally infertility.
“Women apply to doctors due to infertility”
Prof. said that the prevalence of PCOS in women varies between 5 and 25 percent. Dr. Attar continued his words as follows: “It is mostly known as the disease that causes ovulation defects. For this reason, women come to us with infertility problems due to ovulation defects, menstrual irregularities or decreases in egg quality. Apart from this, patients also contact us due to cosmetic defects such as hair growth, acne, and excess weight. However, these complaints are actually short-term symptoms of the disease. In the long term, the risk of uterine cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases increases in these women, which is a much more serious condition. Therefore, it is very important to follow up PCOS patients throughout life.”
“Not every PCOS patient experiences infertility”
Underlining that approximately 50 percent of the problems related to ovulation defects are due to PCOS, Prof. underlines that these women can also become pregnant. Dr. Erkut Attar explained the relationship between PCOS and infertility and pregnancy as follows: “We cannot say that all PCOS patients have ovulation disorders. Therefore, PCOS patients can also become pregnant spontaneously. However, at this point, the woman's weight is very important. Because as weight increases, ovulation defects become more obvious. There is a serious relationship between the woman's weight and infertility in these patients. For this reason, when the treatment begins, we first work with nutritionists to ensure proper nutrition and to get rid of excess weight, if any. We aim for the woman who reaches normal weight to become pregnant naturally without resorting to second-line treatment. In couples where the man also has problems, we can continue the treatment with vaccination. Sometimes we treat the patient with simple medications that increase ovulation without going for insemination. As can be understood, this process, in which personalized treatment is applied, can take up to 6 months. Therefore, the patient must be patient and not despair.”
“With the right treatment, PCOS patients can also have children!”
"If treated correctly and there is no other cause, the probability of a PCOS patient to have children is very high," said Prof. Dr. Erkut Attar noted the following about the treatments used in the disease:
“According to the current view, all infertility patients are referred to in vitro fertilization treatment if they do not become pregnant despite two or three inseminations. However, since the complication rate in in vitro fertilization treatment in PCOS cases is much higher than in other patients, care and effort should be made to ensure that these patients become pregnant by normal means before deciding on in vitro fertilization treatment. The most serious complication is a condition called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which can occur as a result of overstimulation of the ovaries. In this case, after the cracking needle is given, water begins to collect in the body cavities and the fluidity of the blood is disrupted. This causes electrolyte imbalance in the body. An excessive amount of fluid accumulates in the lungs and abdominal cavity and causes breathing difficulties. This situation is considered as three stages depending on its severity. Especially the third stage is a serious stage that requires intensive care. Therefore, it is appropriate for the in vitro fertilization treatment of these patients to be performed by experts in experienced centers.”