Ovarian Cysts and Fertility

Do Ovarian Cysts lower your chances of falling pregnant?

Yes, ovarian cysts affect your fertility. They are not just a pain that you feel; they contribute to 'insulin resistance', which results in your body converting more energy into fat so you gain weight and your chances of falling pregnant fast are lowered dramatically. They often occur due to imbalances with the female reproductive hormones and these imbalances can be a major contributor to weight gain and lowered fertility potential.

What are ovarian cysts and how do they affect my fertility?

Ovarian cysts often manifest as an irregularity of ovulation, dramatically decreasing your chances of falling pregnant naturally. Normally the ovary develops a cyst that holds the egg every month during the normal menstrual cycle. When an egg is mature, the sac breaks open to release the egg, so it can travel through the fallopian tube for fertilization. Then the sac dissolves.

One irregularity is when the sac doesn't break open to release the egg and the cyst continues to grow. Another type of cyst can form after a successful ovulation when the sac doesn't dissolve afterwards. Instead, the sac seals off after the egg is released. Fluid then builds up inside of it and forms a cyst that can grow up to four inches or more and bleed, twist the ovary or cause pain.

Another reason you may form cysts is 'Estrogen dominance', an imbalance where excess estrogen contributes to weight gain and lowered fertility. Other female hormonal imbalances such as PCOS, Fibroids and Endometriosis may be causing your Cysts to form.

This can be caused by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC's) that are common in our everyday life. These are environmental pollutants such as hormones in meat, plastics, and chemicals found in household products like cleaning products and make up. These chemicals mimic or block the action of our own hormones, setting the body up for the "right environment" for cysts to form. The problem is that once you have a cyst it can be like a "vicious cycle" as the cyst can continue to feed excess estrogen into your system.

Symptoms of Cysts

If you suffer from Cysts, you may experience breast tenderness, pressure and fullness or pain in the abdomen, a dull ache in the lower back and thighs, painful periods with heavy, irregular bleeding and weight gain.

How do Cysts cause fertility issues?

Cysts cause weight gain as they imbalance estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and insulin - all of which work together to regulate your metabolism and appetite.

Cysts also contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Insulin helps your cells take in glucose and convert it to energy. Insulin resistance however is a dangerous cycle where your cells become resistant to insulin and can't use the energy, leaving you with excess glucose and insulin circulating in your blood. The excess glucose can lead to diabetes and the excess insulin then leads to the body storing more fat, increasing the chances of heart disease and stroke and lowering your fertility potential.

An Excess of fat saving hormone (Insulin) = Excess weight.

If you suffer from cysts, you should consider implementing dietary changes and natural remedies to improve your fertility.

If this sounds like you, then you must get assessed today because it can lead to a difficulty in getting pregnant.