If you have found it hard to conceive, it could be because you are infertile due to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). PCOS and infertility are linked, but having PCOS does not mean that you necessarily cannot become pregnant or that not having it means you will not have a problem becoming pregnant.

One of the key signs that you have PCOS is an irregular period. Some women already are aware that they have this condition before they try to get pregnant. They usually know because they have experienced extremely painful periods, extremely heavy flows, and, in addition to pain during their menstrual cycle, they may have pain in their hips at other times of the month as well.

The connection between PCOS and infertility is that the eggs do not mature as they should and cause small cysts resembling a strand of pearls. This is why a woman may not be fertile and usually has abnormal periods.

A doctor may perform a series of tests to see if you have PCOS. He will first check with you to see if your menstrual cycle is regular, then he may want to see if you carry excessive amounts of male hormones. Approximately 80% of women have elevated levels of androgens with PCOS. Other tests that should be ordered are tests to measure insulin levels and a test called the A1c to screen for diabetes and a lipid profile to check cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Lastly, he would want to do an ultrasound to check for small cysts on the ovaries.

There are other signs that women have that can tell if she has PCOS. Some of these signs are obesity, skin tags, excessive hair and soft velvety patches on the skin (usually on neck or thighs), known as acanthosis nigricans.

A current issue in the news today is diabetes and PCOS caused infertility is also insulin related. Your body needs insulin but PCOS causes an insulin resistance and your body needs to be able to store these sugars to use at later times. Insulin helps to regulate all kinds of hormones, including those that help regulate the reproductive system.

If your body is not storing insulin properly, it can result in irregular menstrual cycles because of the hormonal imbalance. Your chance for a successful pregnancy is slim to none when your body doesn't produce eggs on a regular basis. This explains why PCOS and infertility are so closely related.

Once you decide that you want to have a baby, it is very important that you maintain a healthy weight. You should maintain it all of your life to prevent diabetes and insulin imbalances. Obesity is the leading cause of diabetes in both men and women.

If your menstrual cycle and egg production has been affected by PCOS,

losing weight will not help you right away. Your doctor however, has other means to help you become pregnant.

If your doctor thinks that your infertility problem is caused by PCOS, he may be able to set you up with a drug regimen that has a 90% fertility success rate. The series of drugs include glucophage to regulate insulin imbalances, clomiphene which are used for the first phase of infertility drugs and as a last resort, he will try to use gonadotropins. However, these drugs may raise the risk for multiple births. These measures, combined with maintaining proper weight and nutritional balance, treatment of underling diabetes and high cholesterol, and managing the ovulatory and menstrual abnormalities will increase your chance of conceiving a child