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• Method 1 of 3: Recognizing early signs of pregnancy
• Method 2 of 3: Regulate your cycle
• Method 3 of 3: Have a healthy pregnancy with PCOS

A common symptom of PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is having irregular menstrual cycles. This can make it difficult to determine if you are pregnant or just haven't had your period that month. While a positive pregnancy test from a doctor is the only way to be 100% sure, there are some early signs of pregnancy to look out for. In addition, there are steps you can take while trying to conceive to help regulate your ovulation to increase your chances of pregnancy.

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Method 1 of 3: Recognizing early signs of pregnancy

1. Notice if your breasts seem more sensitive than usual. Sensitive and swollen breasts can be an early indication that you are pregnant, so if you notice that your breasts are sore or that your bra is tighter than usual, you may be pregnant. This often happens in the first few weeks as your body adjusts to the new hormones you produce and it often only lasts about 2 weeks.
   • Breast tenderness usually occurs before or around the time your normal period would be. The pregnancy may be too early to be detected by a home pregnancy test.
   • However, it can also be a sign of your period soon, so this should be just one factor to consider.
2. Consider whether you feel tired even after a full night's sleep. If the rest of your schedule is unchanged, but you suddenly need to take a nap in the middle of the day, it could be a sign that you're pregnant. Feeling tired all the time can be an early sign of pregnancy, especially if you feel this way even after 7 or 8 hours of sleep a night.
   • The reason this happens is because your body increases the production of progesterone when you are pregnant, and high levels of this hormone can lead to a feeling of drowsiness.
3. Watch for nausea or food aversion for no apparent cause. If you are eating relatively healthy, and have not eaten anything that could have resulted in food poisoning, and no one around you is sick, feeling sick can be a sign that you are pregnant. Many women experience nausea at some time of the day during early pregnancy. While this is often referred to as morning sickness, pregnancy-induced nausea can occur at any time of the day, often improving around the second semester.
   • Some women don't experience morning sickness at all, so a lack of nausea doesn't necessarily mean you aren't pregnant.
   • You may also experience an increased sense of smell that can amplify your nausea, and you may develop severe food aversions. For example, you may suddenly find yourself unable to tolerate the smell of garlic, or your favorite ice cream may turn your stomach.
   • Try to stay hydrated by taking small sips of cold water or clear carbonated drinks. See your doctor if you experience nausea accompanied by a severe headache, or if you vomit for more than two days.
4. Pay attention to how often you go to the bathroom. One sign that you may be pregnant is if you suddenly notice that you need to urinate more often during the day. If you find yourself going to the bathroom more often than usual, try to estimate when your normal period would be and take a pregnancy test after that date.
   • Later in pregnancy you will need to urinate more often because the fetus is resting on your bladder. However, in the early stages, this happens because of the hormonal change your body is going through.
   • Of course you may also have to urinate more often because you have drunk a lot of fluids or because you have problems with your blood sugar level.
5. Watch for bleeding that is lighter than your normal period. When you are pregnant, you may experience implantation bleeding, which is bleeding or brownish discharge that occurs around the time you would normally have your period. However, this is usually much lighter than your period and can last for several weeks.
   • Implantation bleeding can be a good indication that you need to take a pregnancy test.
6. Check your temperature if you tracked it. If you've been tracking your basal body temperature, checking your most recent temperatures can also help you determine if you might be pregnant. In general, your body temperature will drop right when your period starts, but if your temperature remains high after your expected period, it could be a sign of pregnancy.
   • This temperature shift can be very small, sometimes as little as 0.3 ° C or warmer.
   • You can even get a fever, such as a temperature of 38 ° C or higher.
7. Watch for unusual back pain or bloating. While back pain and bloating can also be signs of an impending period, in some cases it can also indicate that you are pregnant. Report these symptoms to your healthcare provider along with any other symptoms you notice.
8. Don't worry about every single signal and symptom. If you think you may be pregnant, it can be tempting to pay attention to any small changes in your normal routine to see if it's a sign. However, if you keep a close eye on your body, you will start noticing many things that you might otherwise have ignored. While it's okay to take note of any signs that you are pregnant, try not to lose yourself in it.
   • Try spending time with friends, watching a new show, or taking up a hobby like writing or painting to stay calm until you are sure.

   Tip: Being stressed allows your body to mimic certain things that you would experience during pregnancy. For example, stress can make you feel nauseous, so if you're constantly worried about whether you might be pregnant, you could be causing digestive problems!

   
   
9. Take a home pregnancy test if you suspect you are pregnant. Home pregnancy tests are most effective when used after your period is due. However, if you have irregular periods due to PCOS and you are not sure when that would have been, take the test when you start to experience symptoms. If you get a negative result, wait about 2 weeks and take another test.
   • While some people think false negatives are more common with PCOS, it's probably because it's more difficult to know how long to wait to take the test. However, PCOS does not affect your pregnancy hormone production, so it should not affect the results of a pregnancy test.

Method 2 of 3: Regulate your cycle

1. Keep track of your cycles. Even if you are not trying to conceive, you should keep the dates of each period on your calendar or in a diary. In fact, charting your periods can be more important if you have PCOS, as it can be difficult to remember exactly when you had your last period if it was months ago. Then, if you decide you want to try to conceive a child, you and your doctor can review this information to create a fertility plan that's right for you.
   • Your doctor may also ask you to chart your ovulation by monitoring your basal body temperature or by checking your cervical mucus.
2. Talk to your doctor as soon as you try to conceive. If you have PCOS, it can be very difficult to conceive. Talking to your doctor can help you plan a pregnancy and increase your chances of success. You may need to take medication to regulate ovulation, or you may have certain conditions or symptoms that you should be particularly aware of. Your doctor can tell you all about this during your appointment.
   • Another reason to talk to your doctor is that certain medications prescribed to help with your PCOS symptoms, such as anti-androgens and birth control, may not be safe for an unborn child. Your doctor will let you know if you need to adjust your medication.
3. Exercise regularly and maintain a regular daily routine. Not only is PCOS more common in overweight women, but carrying extra weight can make symptoms worse. Try to do 30 minutes of cardio exercise at least 3 to 5 times a week. You can do this by going for a walk, dancing, or doing sports videos at home, swimming, or going to the gym.
   • If you only lose 5-10% of your body weight, you may find that your menstrual cycles become more regular. This can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy and help you become healthier.
   • Make sure to follow the same daily routine to maintain your circadian rhythm as well, such as waking up around the same time every day, eating dinner, and going to bed.
4. Eat little refined sugars to keep your blood sugar in balance. To stay healthy when you have PCOS, you need to eat a diet rich in protein and green vegetables, and low in carbohydrates and refined sugars. When you have PCOS, your body cannot regulate its production of blood glucose, which can lead to high blood sugar levels. This, in turn, can affect your ability to conceive.
   • For best results, talk to your doctor or dietitian about the diet that is best for you.
5. Take a vitamin D supplement if you are deficient. As many as 85% of women with PCOS are vitamin D deficient. Since Vitamime D is essential for the healthy functioning of your reproductive system, this deficiency can contribute to infertility problems if you have PCOS. A daily vitamin D supplement, which can be part of a prenatal vitamin, can help you conceive more easily.
   • Omega-3 fatty acids can also be helpful when you are trying to conceive.
   • Always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.
6. Ask your doctor about medications that can help with fertility. If you are not yet taking medication for your PCOS, your doctor may recommend certain medications to help you regulate ovulation or increase your fertility. For example, the diabetes drug Metformin is often prescribed to women with PCOS to help them ovulate more often. If you know when you will ovulate, you can plan to have sex during that time to increase the chances of conception.
   • If that doesn't work, your doctor may recommend Clomiphene to induce ovulation or prescribe fertility drugs such as Clomid, letrozole, or gonadotrophins.
   • In vitro fertilization (IVF) is often used as a last resort after other fertility treatments have failed.
   • In some cases, your doctor may recommend ovarian drilling, which uses a thin needle to cauterize parts of your ovaries. However, the effectiveness of this treatment is still under investigation, so not all doctors recommend this procedure.

Method 3 of 3: Have a healthy pregnancy with PCOS

1. Call your doctor if you get a positive result on a pregnancy test. Call your doctor as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test to schedule a checkup and blood test to confirm pregnancy. Prenatal care is extremely important for women with PCOS, as the risk of miscarriage is about 3 times greater than normal. Your doctor should provide you with a list of signs and symptoms to keep an eye out for, as well as specific instructions on when to call or go to the emergency room.
   • If you're not already using it, your doctor can prescribe metformin, which can reduce the risk of miscarriage.
2. Take prenatal vitamins daily. When you are pregnant, your body needs extra nutrients, just like the fetus. While it is a good idea to take prenatal vitamins before you are pregnant, it is essential while you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about which vitamin exactly meets your nutritional needs. However, if you want to start taking prenatal vitamins right away, make sure to choose one with folic acid. This is a nutrient important for the early development of the embryo.

   Tip: Prenatal vitamins often make your hair and nails strong, shiny and healthy. In fact, the results can be so dramatic that you may want to keep using them even after you have the baby, although this is not recommended.

   
   
3. Continue to eat healthy and exercise. While all mothers-to-be should pay close attention to their diet, your nutrition is especially important when you have PCOS. That's because when you have PCOS, your risk of gestational diabetes is higher than someone without the condition. During your pregnancy, continue to eat a diet high in low-fat proteins such as chicken and turkey, healthy fats from sources such as avocado, and leafy green vegetables such as spinach or kale.
   • To keep your energy up, try eating 3 small meals a day and 2 to 4 healthy snacks in between meals.
   • If you're unsure of what to eat each day, talk to your doctor or a dietitian and let them help you make a plan for how many calories to eat per day, how many times a day to eat, and what types foods you must choose to maintain healthy glucose levels.
4. Check your blood glucose if recommended by your doctor. If you have trouble with your blood glucose levels, your doctor may be especially concerned that they could get too high during your pregnancy. They may recommend that you use a blood glucose meter to monitor your blood sugar. This is often done by using a needle on a glucometer to prick your finger. You then place a drop of blood on a strip and then place the strip in the meter to get your reading.
   • Your doctor will tell you how often to check your blood sugar and at what times of the day to take the test.
   • If your blood glucose levels are normal, you probably don't need to check them daily unless they rise later in your pregnancy.
5. Prepare yourself for the possibility of a Caesarean section. If you have PCOS, the increased risk of complications means that you are more likely to have a cesarean section when your baby is born. By being aware of this increased risk, you can accept that it may be the safest outcome for you and your baby, which can help you if you were hoping for a natural birth.
   • Remember, the most important thing is for you and your baby to have a safe, healthy birth experience.