5 Valuable Fertility Questions to Ask Your Doctor That Will Help Your PCOS The Most
If you're trying to get pregnant with PCOS, then I am so happy that you are here! Today I'm sharing with you five valuable fertility questions to ask your doctor. These fertility questions will help you get the clarity you need in order to help improve your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS.
Has your gynecologist been dragging you through the hoops?
Have you been learning more about PCOS from TikTok than your doctor?
When you try to talk with your doctor do they just tell you to "just lose the weight and everything will happen"?
Are you left feeling lost and overwhelmed? Do you just want to feel normal and like your body hasn't failed you?
If that's you, then you are in exactly the right place today.
These questions are going to help you get the clarity you need for your fertility. Take these five questions into your doctor. If they can't answer them, then I'm going to share with you what to do.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that causes period problems, ovulation issues and hormonal imbalances.
These are some of the most common PCOS symptoms. Do any of them sound familiar to you?
—> Period problems
Period problems can include having irregular cycles, no cycles at all, issues with ovulation, or fertility problems.
—>Unwanted hair growth
Ever found yourself searching for laser hair removal salons near to you? You may have PCOS. You may find hair growing in places like the chin, back, lower belly and upper thighs.
—> Polycystic ovaries
Polycystic ovaries means there are 12 or more cysts on one ovary.
—>Metabolic issues
Insulin-resistance is a metabolic issue that is common in PCOS. It can lead to fertility struggles because it shuts down ovulation.
In order to get diagnosed with PCOS, you need to fit into at least two out of these three criteria.
PCOS Diagnosis criteria:
Cysts on the ovaries.
Elevated androgen hormones like testosterone or DHEA.
Ovulation issues like long or irregular periods.
What is infertility?
Infertility is defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as not being able to get pregnant within one year of having unprotected sex. And for those who are over the age of 35, not getting pregnant after six months of trying.
5 Fertility Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Fertility Questions to ask Your Doctor #1: What are the next steps to figure out the root cause of my hormonal and fertility issues?
As a doctor, I see myself as a detective. When I'm working with someone to help them improve their fertility, I am always focused on figuring out the root cause. I do this through asking questions and ordering lab work.
Is this a trait that your doctor has as well? Ask them!
You want to be working with a fertility doctor who doesn't just make you feel like you are in a baby-factory.
You want to be working with a doctor who really sees you. A doctor that asks you lots of questions to help them get your full health picture. One that can connect different symptoms to understand what's happening underneath the surface. And a doctor that is happy to order comprehensive testing to help you see what is contributing to your struggles.
These are some areas that help get to the root cause that you want to be sure your doctor can help you with.
What hormonal imbalances are happening in your body?
Is there something that is causing those hormone imbalances?
What vitamin and nutrient deficiencies are contributing to your fertility struggles?
Fertility Questions to ask Your Doctor #2: What food-based fertility support can you give me?
Having a nutritious and fertility-supportive food plan is a powerful foundation to help improve your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS.
And I'm not just talking about the food-based advice like, "Go try the keto diet. If that doesn't work then you'll need weight loss surgery".
This is the opposite of what you're looking for! This type of information is dismissive and keeping you feeling like your body has failed you.
But it hasn't. You just need the proper tools, like a nourishing food plan, that will help improve your chances of getting pregnant.
You want a doctor who can give you a food plan that includes:
Nourishing food recommendations
Ways to replenish your body with fertility-specific nutrients
How to eat in a way that will support hormone balance
Doesn't that type of food plan feel like a breath of fresh air? Make sure you are working with a doctor who can help you with this level of nutrition support.
Fertility Questions to ask Your Doctor #3: What are my options to help improve my fertility that aren't medicine?
Now don't get me wrong, fertility medications can be a very important part of the fertility path for many people. The issue that I see over and over again is that they are being used in the wrong time of the fertility process.
Did you recently get diagnosed with PCOS? Is your doctor recommending letrozole at your first visit? That's a red flag that they are pushing you along the line of the fertility conveyer belt.
What's the fertility conveyer belt? It's when your doctor is fitting you into a one-size-fits-all-approach. They recommend a medication like letrozole for a few cycles. If that doesn't work? Then they push you forward to IVF.
This type of fertility care doesn't work for PCOS. What does work? An individualized plan that is specific to your fertility needs. Ask your doctor how they can help you with a holistic plan that addresses what your body needs to open up fertility and what that looks like from a medicine-perspective and a non-medicine perspective.
Fertility Questions to ask Your Doctor #4: I'd like to get a full lab picture completed, what are your recommendations?
Lab work helps you understand what's going on underneath the surface. It helps you get to the root cause of your fertility struggles to see what needs to be optimized in order for fertility to open up.
This fertility lab work is so important that it is step two in my PCOS Fertility Protocol.
Here's the thing, I get a chance to talk to a lot of women who are trying to get pregnant with PCOS. The most common issue I hear from them? Is that they don't have a comprehensive fertility lab panel completed.
If their doctor is looking at their thyroid, their doctor is only ordering the main thyroid hormone, TSH. The problem is, this only gives a small view of what the thyroid is doing.
You need a comprehensive lab evaluation that gives you a complete view of what your hormones are doing (or not doing!) and fertility-specific nutrient levels.
To learn even more about fertility lab testing, head over to get my top 7 labs for PCOS fertility. Ask your doctor if they are willing to order all of these.
Fertility Questions to ask Your Doctor#5: What is the most effective way to help improve my egg quality?
Egg quality is a frequent missing piece to fertility plans. Don't let poor egg quality keep you from getting pregnant!
Some fertility doctors continue to give the dismissive advice that you can't do anything to improve your egg quality. This isn't true and it's important to have improving egg quality as a part of your fertility plan.
The reason that egg quality is so significant is because egg quality determines if your egg can ovulate and if it can connect with the sperm and implant.
If you have poor egg quality?
Neither of those things can happen.
Ask your doctor if they are able to help you with a plan to help boost your egg quality.
Here are the egg-quality articles to read next if you want more information:
Is Improving Egg Quality with PCOS Worth It? Here are the Details You Need to Know
Top 5 Reasons to Improve Egg Quality
Here's What You Need to Know About Egg Quality and PCOS Fertility
5 Powerful Ways to Improve Egg Quality with PCOS
Summary
Here are the five valuable fertility questions to ask your doctor about PCOS:
Next steps to figure out the root cause of my hormonal and fertility issues?
What food-based fertility support can you give me?
What are my options to help improve my fertility that aren't medicine?
I'd like to get a full lab picture completed, what are your recommendations?
What is the most effective way to help improve my egg quality?
Your next step is to go ask your doctor these questions and see how they respond so you can know if they are the right fertility doctor for you.
If you've asked your doctor these questions and you don't like their answers, I’m here for you.
Jump on a call with me and I’ll help you get the clarity and answers you need in order to help improve your chances of getting pregnant.
If you want to get off the roller-coaster of hormones, this is your next step and I’m happy to help.