Category Archives: Human Reproduction

The president has had a life-threatening, infectious disease for over a week, and he and his doctors havent been very transparent about the timeline and course of his affliction. In lieu of detailed disclosures, reporters have to piece together his condition based on the treatments hes been receiving.

Trump was started off on an experimental therapeutic an antibody cocktail and then advanced to another remdesivir. The other biomolecules coursing through Donald Trump's system (and this week's headlines) are corticosteroids, called dexamethasone.

You may have heard of cytokine storms, where the body's immune response to severe COVID-19 bombards healthy cells, making the illness worse. Trump has been given dexamethasone, an immuno-supressant that doctors prescribe to temper that effect. Unlike the other experimental treatments, dexamethasone is common and somewhat easy to access. However, it is rarely administered to a patient with a case as (self-)reportedly mild as Donald Trumps. In an interview with New York Magazine's Intelligencer, the co-author of a recent study testing dexamethasone elaborates:

That lack of evidence is concerning as Trump heads into a critical point in the course of his illness. COVID-19 is known for being a bit of a roller coaster, with intermittent fevers, mysterious symptoms, and rapid declines. Abraar Karan, a physician with experience treating patients with COVID-19, told Monique Brouillette at Scientific American that some people have turned corners and left the hospital, only to come back feeling much sicker, with even worse oxygen levels and possibly other harm to the bodys organs.

It is theoretically possible that the early steroid treatment may ward off a dangerous auto-inflammatory reaction. But beyond the inherent risks of immuno-supression, corticosteroids may also cause behavioral side effects in the President. Trump's cognitive and behavioral state has been a point of concern for years. Potent steroids such as dexamethasone are known to increase appetite, decrease restful sleep, and bring about heightened "maniacal" energy states.

As the nation enters the weekend, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is rolling out a 25th amendment commission, Trump is boasting a miraculous recovery with a Fox News doctor, and the rest of us continue to wait and learn how biology will run its course. For better or worse, the side effects our president experiences may prove to have historical consequences. To my knowledge, roid rage has never been a factor in nuclear geopolitics.

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What will dexamethasone do to President Trump? - Massive Science

On the November ballot, Washington voters will decide if public schools should be required to teach comprehensive sexual health multiple times during a students K-12 education.

Supporters say the bill will give all Washington students equal access to sex ed, protect students from sexual abuse and harassment, and help them make healthier decisions.

Opponents say its so much more than that, arguing the bill doesnt provide enough local and parental control and teaches young students graphic information about sex. However, the lessons taught in kindergarten through third grade only require social-emotional learning, according to the bill. Nothing about sex is taught.

So what will really change if Referendum 90 passes this November? The Spokesman-Review looked at current sex ed materials throughout the Spokane area, as well as bill requirements and OSPI guidelines.

Heres what you need to know.

Background

The controversial sexual health education bill passed both chambers of the state Legislature in March with only Democratic votes. Gov. Jay Inslee signed it into law later that month.

Referendum 90 was put on the ballot after a grassroots effort gathered a record number of signatures to put the referendum on the ballot. More than 266,000 signatures more than twice the minimum required were filed with the Secretary of States office. The referendum will ask voters if they approve or reject the bill that requires age-appropriate sexual health education to be taught to students multiple times from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Voters will be asked to vote yes if they support the sex ed bill as passed, or no if they want to see it repealed.

What will it actually change?

If Referendum 90 passes and the law is affirmed, the biggest change will be that every school in Washington will now have to provide sexual health education.

With the new law, school districts still have the opportunity to decide their own curriculum, and parents still have the opportunity to opt their children out, according to the bill.

Current law mandates HIV/AIDS prevention education but allows school districts to decide if they want to provide sexual health education.

Most school districts already teach some form of sex ed, even if it is not considered comprehensive, as defined in the new law.

Currently, state law doesnt require public schools to teach sex ed. But if they do teach it the curriculum must include:

If Referendum 90 passes, the only addition to that list is: Affirmative consent and recognizing and responding safely and effectively when violence, or a risk of violence, is or may be present with strategies that include bystander training.

Affirmative consent means a conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity as a requirement before sexual activity, as defined in the bill.

In addition to consent, the new law will require sex ed to be taught in multiple grade bands: once in kindergarten through third grade, once in grades 4-5, twice in grades 6-8 and twice in grades 9-12 .

Students in kindergarten through Grade 3 must have social-emotional learning that is consistent with standards set by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, according to the bill. In OSPI guidelines, social-emotional learning teaches how to identify and express feelings, how to achieve goals and how to act responsibly when interacting with others, among other guidelines.

If school districts decide their own curriculum, they must ensure it meets all requirements as laid out in the law, and they must allow parental and community input.

We dont have a final say, said Laurie Dils, OSPI sexual health education program supervisor.

For some districts nothing will change based on the outcome of the November election, as their curriculum meets the proposed requirements. This means the district is already teaching social-emotional learning and consent in K-3. Other schools will have to rethink their curriculum phasing it in over the next three years.

Spokane Public Schools

Spokane Public Schools will be unaffected by the new law, if it passes, as their curriculum currently meets the new standard, according to Heather Bybee, the districts director of secondary curriculum.

Spokane students in kindergarten, first and second grades receive instruction in what the district calls personal safety. These early lessons focus on informing trusted adults of suspicious activity, both online and in the real world. One instructional animated video features a brightly colored robot named Clicky rapping a message to kids, encouraging them to say no to strangers who offer them gifts or ask to take them somewhere.

Students begin receiving instruction about gender identities and sexual orientation in fourth grade under a new set of materials adopted by the Spokane School Board of Directors in June. Instruction includes another animated video featuring various anthropomorphic fruits and vegetables comprising whats called a love salad, with definitions not only for gay and lesbian orientations but also pansexual and asexual people.

There are currently no requirements for teaching about gender identities and sexual orientation at any grade level, Dils said, and that will remain the case if Referendum 90 passes.

Students in fourth and fifth grades are also asked to examine stereotypes about genders, and how the media both social media and traditional entertainment like movies, TV and advertising enforce those beliefs. In fifth grade, students are introduced to the topic of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and the ways in which the virus is and isnt transmitted.

Sixth-graders learn about the differences between romantic and nonromantic relationships through scenarios.

Seventh-graders receive instruction on making positive health choices, including whether to have sex. The stages of pregnancy are first discussed. Instructors also review what health services are available to minors, including abortion services, with and without parental consent.

During a 15-day curriculum for eighth-graders, students are instructed about consent for sexual activity. Classroom discussion includes statistics on teenage access to pornography, and how the images and videos are distorted presentations of reality that perpetuate troubling gender stereotypes.

Abstinence is taught as the only method to eliminate the threat of sexual transmitted diseases, but eighth graders also receive instruction on what methods of contraception are available. During high school health courses (grades nine and up), students can choose whether to participate in a hands-on demonstration of properly using a condom, or they can opt out and order the written-out steps instead.

High school students watch a video called Big Status Update that dramatizes a teen pregnancy and its many demands through messages and status updates on the screen of a smartphone.

Central Valley

The Central Valley School District will likely only need to make minor changes to its curriculum if Referendum 90 passes, based on the 2018 OSPI survey and copies of the lessons obtained by The Spokesman-Review.

The biggest changes in Central Valley will likely be the frequency at which sex education is taught and the addition of consent and bystander training.

In kindergarten through third grade, Central Valley teaches a social-emotional learning program called Second Steps, according to communications director Marla Nunberg.

Similar to OSPIs guidelines, the lessons often focus on dealing with emotions and taking care of mental health, Nunberg said. This is something that has been important during the COVID-19 pandemic, she added.

Human-growth and development lessons start in fourth grade, when students learn about puberty. Boys and girls are separated for their lessons and are shown videos on the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty. Students are also taught how to make healthy choices, such as exercising and eating well.

In middle school, students are taught specific ways sexually transmitted diseases and HIV are transmitted, as well as the stages of pregnancy and the ways to reduce the risk of pregnancy and STDs. Middle schoolers are also taught responsible behaviors and practices, and how they influence relationships.

In high school, students learn how to further protect themselves from STDs and HIV, and the importance of making educated decisions when having sex.

Mead

The Mead School District will likely only need to make minor changes to its curriculum, including the frequency at which sex ed is taught and the addition of consent and bystander training.

The district may also need to start teaching social-emotional learning in kindergarten through third grade, but Dils said most teachers already teach some form of that, even if its not a specific curriculum.

We would need to review the exact requirements and definitions in the new law, if passed, to ensure we are in alignment, wrote Todd Zeidler, district public information officer, in an email.

Mead currently provides sexual health education once per year in grades 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, Zeidler said.

In fifth grade, students are taught the basics of puberty as well as HIV/AIDS transmission. Lessons also focus on decision-making and self-esteem. Teachers encourage students to wait until they are older to have sexual intercourse.

In sixth grade, students begin learning about human reproduction. Seventh grade focuses on making responsible decisions and preventing STDs.

In eighth grade, students learn about the importance of healthy relationships and receive a list of local resources and what they offer, such as contraceptives or testing.

Ninth grade lessons focus on human sexuality and the reproductive system, the effects of healthy relationships, prevention resources and how to protect yourself from criminal sexual behavior.

Liberty

The Liberty School District may have to make a few changes to its curriculum, according to OSPI available data as well as documents obtained by The Spokesman-Review.

The school district currently teaches the KNOW curriculum, the states HIV/STD prevention curriculum, at least once in all grade bands. It also teaches a curriculum called Always Growing and Changing in later grade levels.

The use of the KNOW curriculum meets the requirements of the AIDS Omnibus Act, but it does not meet all of the requirements for the new law, Dils said.

Because it addresses only HIV/AIDS prevention, it is not a comprehensive sexual health curriculum, Dils wrote in an email.

Superintendent Brett Baum said the district is in the process of reviewing its materials and will be updating them if the new law is enacted.

Deer Park

The Deer Park School Districts curriculum does not meet the comprehensive sex ed requirements, Superintendent Travis Hanson said. It currently only teaches the states required HIV/AIDS prevention with students in Grades 5 through 12 using the KNOW curriculum.

The district was in the process of reviewing its current curriculum and adopting a more comprehensive one last year, Hanson said. However, once the Legislature began looking into a statewide mandate, Deer Parks process paused.

If Referendum 90 does not pass, Hanson said the district will revisit the adoption process.

Opponents

Multiple organizations, coalitions and committees formed to oppose the comprehensive sex ed bill, arguing that it allows for too much state control and includes graphic curriculum.

Mindie Wirth, chair of Reject Referendum 90 Campaign, led the movement to get the measure on the ballot.

This issue has drawn bipartisan support as many people across Washington State grow increasing frustrated with the ongoing overreach into our daily lives by Olympia, Wirth, of Bothell, wrote in an email. Many individuals have stated that they have never been active on a political issue until getting involved in Referendum 90.

Anniece Barker at A Voice for Washington Children said she was concerned about the bill when she realized most of her friends and family didnt even know it existed.

When Barker, who is from Spokane, started to tell people about it, she said they were stunned.

Her biggest concern is a lack of parental and district control in decisions. Parents can still opt their children out and districts still have the opportunity to choose their own curriculum, but for Barker, it is not enough.

For the state to come in and say they know better than parents about what is age appropriate, that in itself is inappropriate, Barker said.

Barker said she is not against sex ed.

Curriculum really isnt the point about it, she said. Its about giving parents the right to decide whats right for their child.

Kim Wendt, co-founder of Informed Parents of Washington, said the bill does not allow enough choices for school districts. She said the state allows districts to choose a curriculum, but that curriculum must be comprehensive, something she called a radical philosophy.

There is no real choice here, Wendt said.

For Wendt and Jennifer Heine-Withee, president of the Southwest Washington Parents Rights in Education, the biggest concern is the curriculum that is being taught. Although the bill states the K-3 requirement is only for social-emotional learning, Heine-Withee said she is worried including Grades K-3 in this bill will allow school districts to teach sexual health education to younger grades.

You put a door there, and theres going to be teachers going through it, she said.

Wirth said school districts should be focusing on other programs instead of sexual health education, such as improving literacy and graduation rates.

At a time when state and local budgets are facing massive deficits which threatened funding for basic programs, schools cannot afford to add an expensive new requirement, or design their own curriculum that meets those same state standards, Wirth wrote in an email.

Supporters of the bill say it allows for more parental and local control than before and gives students across the state equal access to sex ed.

A coalition called Approve 90 formed this summer in support of the referendum. It includes parents, teachers and larger organizations such as Planned Parenthood, the Washington State Public Health Association and the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The coalition and its supporters argue that comprehensive sexual health education will make kids safer by making them less likely to take part in risky sexual behavior and by improving health equity across the state.

Erin Williams Heuter, of Lutheran Community Services Northwest in Spokane, said she believes comprehensive sex ed protects children from sexual abuse and harassment.

Survivors of sexual assault often experience shame and guilt, which leads to them struggling to talk about it, Williams Heuter said. Being able to speak about sex in general more comfortably will likely prevent sexual abuse.

We want to make sure all kids have a safe person to talk to, she said. It really makes everybody safer.

Mandy Manning, 2018 National Teacher of the Year and Spokane teacher, said in her experience, kids actually want sex ed taught in their schools.

She said teaching consent, which is the biggest change with the new bill, will make more students safer.

How great for teenagers to know that they are the ones who get to be in control, she said.

Courtney Normand of Planned Parenthood said there is still plenty of flexibility with the new law. Parents can opt out their children from the courses, and districts can decide their own curriculum.

Including K-3 in the bill has been controversial, but Normand said its important for kids to have social-emotional learning at an early age as it can lead to less abuse or harassment.

Dr. Matt Thompson, a pediatrician with the Kids Clinic in Spokane, said the bill is necessary to provide children with accurate information about their health and their safety.

This allows students to have accurate information and make better decisions, and to be more aware of consequences of their actions, he said.

Spokesman-Review reporter Kip Hill contributed to this report.

Laurel Demkovich's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspapers managing editor.

Original post:
What would comprehensive sex ed look like in Spokane-area public schools? Here's what might change if R-90 passes this November - The Spokesman-Review

Failure of neurons to efficiently repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) contributes to cerebral damage after stroke. However, the molecular machinery that regulates DNA repair in this neurological disorder is unknown. Here, we found that DSBs in oxygen/glucose-deprived (OGD) neurons spatiotemporally correlated with the up-regulation of WRAP53 (WD40-encoding p53-antisense RNA), which translocated to the nucleus to activate the DSB repair response. Mechanistically, OGD triggered a burst in reactive oxygen species that induced both DSBs and translocation of WRAP53 to the nucleus to promote DNA repair, a pathway that was confirmed in an in vivo mouse model of stroke. Noticeably, nuclear translocation of WRAP53 occurred faster in OGD neurons expressing the Wrap53 human nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2287499 (c.202C>G). Patients carrying this SNP showed less infarct volume and better functional outcome after stroke. These results indicate that WRAP53 fosters DNA repair and neuronal survival to promote functional recovery after stroke.

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Nuclear WRAP53 promotes neuronal survival and functional recovery after stroke - Science Advances

New research out of Japan suggests the novel coronavirus can live on human skin for up to ninehours.

In a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseaseson Oct. 3, researchersfrom the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicinefound that SARS-CoV-2outlived the influenza A virus (IAV) on human skin, which remained viable for about twohours.

New research out of Japan suggests the novel coronavirus can live on human skin for nine hours. (iStock)

The researchers generated a model that allows the safe reproduction of clinical studies on the application of pathogens to human skin and elucidated the stability of SARS-CoV-2 on the human skin, they wrote. The models were created from samples of human skin taken from autopsies, per Live Science.

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK AT NORTH CAROLINA HAIR SALON TIED TO AT LEAST 1 DEATH

Using the model, the researchers found the survival of SARS-Cov-2 was significantly longer compared to IAV, with 9.04 hours and 1.82 hours, respectively.

When both viruses were subsequently mixed with mucus to imitate a cough or sneeze, the novel coronavirus lasted about 11 hours, the researchers found.

OKLAHOMA CORONAVIRUS HOSPITALIZATIONS HIT RECORD HIGH FOR STATE

Thankfully, however, both SARS-CoV-2 and the influenza A virus were completely inactivated within 15 [seconds] by ethanol treatment, or hand sanitizer containing 80% ethanol, they said.

The 9-[hour] survival of SARS-CoV-2 on human skin may increase the risk of contact transmission in comparison with IAV, thus accelerating the pandemic. Proper hand hygiene is important to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection, they concluded.

EMERGENCY COVID-19 VACCINE APPROVAL TO REQUIRE 2 MONTHS OF FOLLOW-UP DATA, FDA SAYS

The study had at least one limitation, however. The researchers in their review did not consider the viral load needed to cause a COVID-19 infection from contact with contaminated skin, Live Science noted.

The research comes after a separate study conducted early on in the pandemic, in March, found that the novel virus can live on surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to three days.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Thatresearch, published in the medRxiv depository, noted that the virus can remain on copper surfaces for four hours and carboard for up to 24 hours. The research also found it could stay on stainless steel and plastic for anywhere between two and three days.

Fox News Chris Ciaccia contributed to this report.

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The coronavirus can survive on skin for this many hours, study suggests - Fox News

Mumbai: Edelweiss Asset Management on Monday announced a partnership with MSCI to launch the country's first passive thematic index fund which will bet on 45 healthcare companies from India and abroad. The company feels that healthcare as a category has under-performed over the last two years during which it has seen issues like difficulties in getting US FDA licenses, and will do better in the future due to which the offering has been launched through a tie-up with MSCI.

Radhika Gupta, the chief executive of Edelweiss AMC, told reporters that the fund will invest 70 per cent of its corpus in 25 top local companies and the remaining 30 per cent in global ones listed in the US.

It is a passive fund and the investment decisions will not be done by humans at all, she said, adding that this is first in a series of collaborations between Edelweiss and MSCI.

Apart from growing demand, export opportunities and a conducive policy environment are also a growth driver for the sector, she added.

The new fund offering for the 'Edelweiss MSCI India Domestic & World Healthcare 45 Index Fund' will open on Tuesday and close on October 20.

Follow this link:
Edelweiss launches India's first passive index fund for healthcare sector with MSCI - ETHealthworld.com

Many tactics can help people with PCOS get pregnant, from losing weight if necessary to surgery to certain medications.

Image Credit: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/DigitalVision/GettyImages

Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility among people with ovaries, according to the Office of Women's Health (OWH).

In fact, PCOS is the most common hormone-related issue in women having difficulty conceiving, says David Diaz, MD, reproductive endocrinologist and fertility expert at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

The condition affects between 6 and 12 percent of those with childbearing reproductive organs in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But it is possible to get pregnant with PCOS. Here's what you need to know about PCOS and fertility and what treatments are available.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is derived from the Greek words poly, which means "many" and kystis, meaning, "bladder, pouch," Dr. Diaz explains. Hence, the name implies that an organ in this case, the ovaries has "many cysts."

Due to an imbalance of hormones, the eggs in the ovaries of people with PCOS either don't develop normally or aren't released as they should be. As a result, small cysts develop on the ovaries. But having cysts on the ovaries doesn't necessarily mean that you have PCOS, Dr. Diaz says. PCOS is only diagnosed with the presence of ovary cysts along with other symptoms.

"In treating PCOS, it is best not to use a cookie-cutter approach since no two patients are alike."

For people with PCOS, it's common for doctors to find more than 15 to 20 sacs that are eggs in development on each ovary (compared to the normal six to seven typically found), Dr. Diaz says.

"This means there is no lack of eggs, but that they are simply stunted in their growth process," Dr. Diaz notes.

How PCOS Affects Fertility

The exact cause of PCOS is not known, but it's thought to be a combination of different factors, including genetics, that lead to insulin resistance the body's inability to use the hormone insulin properly and a change in hormone regulation, which will ultimately interfere with normal ovulation (the process of an egg being released from the ovaries).

Many people don't get diagnosed with PCOS until they are trying to get pregnant and are unable to conceive.

PCOS is different for everyone, Dr. Diaz says. For instance, some people will be more sensitive to hormone changes, which could make their symptoms more severe.

Although PCOS varies from one person to another, common symptoms, per the OWH, include:

What's difficult about PCOS symptoms is that they are often linked together as well, so the symptoms can become a vicious loop.

For example, Dr. Diaz explains that the menstrual cycle is regulated by the ovaries, which are in turn regulated by hormones. Any abnormality due to high insulin levels and insulin resistance disturbs the normal release of the hormones needed for ovulation, which then throws off the menstrual cycle.

High insulin levels also activate the formation of androgen hormones, which in turn, also stop normal ovulation from occurring. And finally, the high rates of obesity in PCOS patients results in excessive levels of androgens and estrogen, which will stop the hormones needed to regulate ovulation.

How Do You Know if You Have PCOS?

Diagnosing PCOS can be tricky, since it's different for everyone. There is no one single test that can show you have it. Instead, clinicians look for clues that can point to the root causes of your symptoms, Dr. Diaz says.

Doctors typically look for signs of PCOS using a combination of blood tests, physical examination and a pelvic ultrasound.

PCOS Treatment Options if You're Trying to Conceive

While there is no one cure for PCOS, treatment is possible, Dr. Diaz says.

"PCOS is a multi-factorial condition, meaning there are many different organ systems involved," he explains. "Familiarity with hormonal function and a clear understanding of the endocrine system are paramount in designing a treatment plan. In treating PCOS, it is best not to use a cookie-cutter approach since no two patients are alike."

Individuals with PCOS should work with their doctors to come up with a treatment plan that addresses their own specific needs. Dr. Diaz says. However, the following treatments are often used for people with PCOS looking to get pregnant.

Weight loss has positive effects on PCOS symptoms, from regulating periods to improving hair growth and acne. It can also help your chances of getting pregnant, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

In fact, weight loss is often the first treatment recommended for people with PCOS who have weight to lose. About 40 to 60 percent of people with PCOS are considered to have overweight or obesity, per a December 2019 article in Clinical Medicine Insights Reproductive Health.

Compared to taking birth-control pills, lifestyle modifications aimed at weight-loss improved ovulation rates for people with PCOS, per a November 2015 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

However, because of the complexities of losing weight with PCOS (the hormone imbalances typical of condition may make losing weight difficult, for instance), it's also recommended that all factors be considered for infertility. If the person who wishes to get pregnant is on the older side, for example, it may be best to focus on reproductive assistance techniques first instead of weight loss.

Weight loss can be achieved through a variety of lifestyle modifications with PCOS, but incorporating exercise into your daily routine is associated with improved fertility, per the Clinical Medicine Insights Reproductive Health article.

Aim to get 150 minutes every week of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity, combined with two non-consecutive days of muscle strengthening activities, per guidelines published in July 2018 in Fertility and Sterility.

If you want to lose weight, try to get 250 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise or 150 minutes of vigorous exercise, along with strength training, per the guidelines.

Because weight loss can be difficult for people with PCOS, some individuals may be a candidate for weight-loss surgery. Bariatric surgery can help people with PCOS both manage their symptoms and improve their fertility and chances of getting pregnant, per an October 2016 overview in the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology.

However, there are risks involved with surgery, including a possible chance of babies who are small for their gestational age, so you should consider the procedure carefully with your doctor.

Medications for PCOS aim to regulate your hormones to increase your chances of ovulating on your own or help your body maintain your blood sugar levels. They can help both manage symptoms and increase your chances of conceiving.

For instance, insulin-sensitizing drugs like Metformin can help your body use insulin more effectively and help restore ovulation, per the UK's National Health Service.

Doctors may use clomiphene to induce ovulation, letrozole, which can help balance estrogen levels (which can also help your body naturally ovulate) and if necessary, thyroxine may be prescribed for hormone regulation, Dr. Diaz says.

Some people may also have hyperplasia, which is excessive tissue in the uterus that can often be treated with progestin. This hormone can be given in a variety of ways, including oral medications and creams, according to ACOG.

Hyperplasia can occur with PCOS because as your body prepares to ovulate, the lining of the uterus thickens in preparation for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy isn't achieved, the lining is shed. If ovulation does not occur or if the hormones necessary to complete the process are not at adequate levels, the lining is not shed. Overtime, this process may cause the uterine lining to build up.

There is a potential link between stress and PCOS, so managing your stress levels may be helpful in minimizing symptoms and improving fertility, per a January 2018 study in the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences.

Reproductive Assistance Technologies

Dr. Diaz points out that if there are other barriers to getting pregnant, such as a partner's low sperm count, blocked fallopian tubes or recurrent miscarriages, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) may also be an option.

If you are having trouble getting pregnant, visit your doctor or a fertility specialist who will screen you for possible reasons, including PCOS. Getting a diagnosis enables you and your doctor to work on a treatment plan that can help you conceive.

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What You Should Know About PCOS and Fertility - LIVESTRONG.COM