The most common cause of infertility is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal disorder that particularly leads to irregular menstruation, male-pattern hair growth, and fat accumulation around the waist. It can be detected early in women who have regular gynecological check-ups.

However, in some cases, PCOS may not show any symptoms and may remain unnoticed until pregnancy does not occur. PCOS often worsens in parallel with being overweight (obesity). In such cases, lifestyle changes increase the chances of successful conception.

If a patient has both PCOS and obesity, losing 5 to 10% of body weight supports the return of regular ovulation. However, if obesity is also present in a woman with PCOS, losing weight is more difficult because many of these patients have insulin resistance, which makes weight loss harder.

Positive changes in diet and physical activity help regulate menstrual cycles. Research shows that especially regular exercise increases the rate of regular ovulation by about 50%.

It is possible but difficult for patients with PCOS to conceive. Assisted reproductive techniques may be required.

Infertility Treatment and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Many women with PCOS cannot have children because they do not ovulate. Therefore, initial treatments aim to stimulate ovulation. Various medical treatments are used to trigger ovulation in patients with PCOS.

In patients where medical treatment is ineffective, hormonal support is given by injection. These treatments enable these patients to conceive.

If ovulation treatments fail, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is applied in PCOS cases. IVF produces successful results in many patients with PCOS. The pregnancy success rate for treated patients rises to about 70%.