Best Age to Get Pregnant with PCOS; Your Ultimate Guide

Even though PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility, it is not an infertility sentence. Far from it. 

Understanding how age interacts with PCOS and fertility is, no doubt, a critical piece of the fertility puzzle. However, despite the title of this blog, age is not everything. 

Even if you are no longer at the “best” age to get pregnant with PCOS (i.e. in your 20’s to early 30’s), there is still so much you can do to minimize the impact of this condition on your health, and to get pregnant more quickly and easily. 

The research is on your side, showing that overall rates of childbirth among women with PCOS are comparable to those without PCOS. 

This blog will answer essential questions, including what PCOS even means, how to know if you have it, the best age to get pregnant with PCOS, and getting pregnant with PCOS after 30. 

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common metabolic and reproductive disorder that affects an estimated 5-20% of women of reproductive age, worldwide.

One of the most challenging aspects of PCOS is that it can show up very differently from woman to woman. Some women experience irregular periods, some struggle with weight, some get male-pattern hair growth or acne, some (lucky ones) have none of the above. 

This variability from woman to woman is why it’s so important for each cyster to get an individual assessment, to fully understand what is driving her PCOS, and how to best manage her unique symptoms, so she can maximize her chances of a healthy pregnancy. 

How is PCOS diagnosed? 

Although there is some dispute in the medical world about how to identify PCOS, the Rotterdam Criteria is the most widely accepted diagnostic tool. 

According to Rotterdam, PCOS is diagnosed by having at least two out of the following three symptoms: 

• • Irregular cycles (> 35 days from one period to the next), or missing periods (medically known as amenorrhea);

• • Elevated androgens. Androgens are called “male” sex hormones, even though women have them too, just in lower levels. Elevated levels often result in stereotypical PCOS symptoms like male-pattern hair growth on your face and body, a receding hairline, and acne along the chin and jawline. 

• • Polycystic Ovaries (with >/= 12 cysts, and an enlarged ovary) as seen on an ultrasound. 

Note: despite the name polycystic ovaries, NOT all women with PCOS have cysts. 

You could have PCOS that shows up as irregular cycles, and cysts on your ovaries, but normal androgen levels; or

You could have elevated androgens and cysts on your ovaries, but still have perfectly regular periods; or 

You could have missing periods and elevated androgens, but no concerning cysts on your ovaries. 

However PCOS shows up for you, it’s critical to understand what’s driving your PCOS, so you can address the potential health risks that can come along with PCOS. 

How does PCOS impact your fertility? 

PCOS can significantly contribute to female fertility struggles by causing hormone imbalances and disrupting ovulation. In fact, it’s the most common cause of anovulatory fertility, worldwide. 

In cases of PCOS with elevated androgens, this hormonal imbalance disrupts the growth follicles in the ovaries, and can stall the release of eggs from the ovaries. 

Without ovulation, conception cannot occur. 

Typically women with PCOS do ovulate, it’s just sporadic and unpredictable, resulting in irregularly long cycles. While conception IS absolutely possible, it’s much more challenging to identify your fertile window and effectively time sex for conception. 

With less frequent ovulation, you have fewer opportunities to conceive each year, which can mean it takes longer to get pregnant – at all ages. 

Additionally, about 60-75% of women with PCOS also struggle with insulin resistance. This metabolic condition can impair overall fertility by worsening egg quality, and increasing inflammation, which can block a fertilized embryo from implantation.

Best Age to Get Pregnant with PCOS

Studies show that the biological fertility window for women with PCOS aligns with trends seen in women without the condition: fertility peaks in the late 20’s to early 30’s.

For all women, those with and without PCOS, fertility often gradually declines until about the age of 32, and then takes a more rapid decline after the age of 37. 

Similar to those without PCOS, the best age to get pregnant with PCOS is in your 20’s to early 30’s. 

In your 20’s and 30’s is the best age to get pregnant with PCOS because you’re more likely to have maintained better egg quality, so you can conceive  more quickly, and you face less risk of pregnancy complications. 

Getting pregnant with PCOS after 30

This does not mean you’re doomed if you’re over 30 and trying to get pregnant with PCOS – not at all. 

In fact, for women with PCOS there is some emerging evidence that fertility declines at a slower rate over the age of 35 compared to women without PCOS. This is likely because women with PCOS maintain a higher ovarian reserve. 

What is ovarian reserve and what does it mean for getting pregnant with PCOS? 

Ovarian reserve describes the number of remaining eggs in a woman’s ovaries at any given time. It is one indicator of a woman’s reproductive potential and helps predict her ability to conceive, either naturally or with assistance.

Women with PCOS often have a higher ovarian reserve because PCOS is characterized by many undeveloped follicles that do not fully mature for ovulation, and thus remain in the ovary. 

Egg quality vs quantity

For women getting pregnant with PCOS after 30, your higher ovarian reserve is a source of hope, and! not your only silver lining.

The number of follicles in your ovaries is not the full story. For anyone who has read, “It Starts with the Egg”, you know that quality can mean more for your fertility than quantity. 

Again, this is good news! 

As long as you are still in your reproductive years, you can improve the quality of your eggs –  naturally, through nutrition and lifestyle, to help you get pregnant with PCOS after 30. 

To learn more, read Improve Egg Quality in 30 Days Naturally.

Conclusion

While the best age to get pregnant with PCOS typically falls between your 20s to early 30s, you can still get pregnant with PCOS over 30! 

Combining customized lifestyle strategies and trustworthy professional support can pave the way for a successful pregnancy at any stage within your reproductive years.

Empowering yourself with knowledge and making informed, strategic decisions can transform your fertility journey. Remember, with the right approach, women with PCOS can (and DO!) have healthy pregnancies – you can too! 

Read more: Diet to Get Pregnant with PCOS