Fertility is about giving life. Therefore, when one has fertility problems this usually means that she is infertile and cannot get pregnant or is having problems doing so. Women who get pregnant but have repeated miscarriages are also said to be infertile.

People who have PCOS tend to be infertile because they don’t ovulate. Failure to ovulate results in no mature egg being released through the fallopian tube to the uterus for fertilization. Fertilization is the union of sperm and the egg cell to produce an embryo which can be defined as the “start of life”. If there is no mature egg no fertilization can occur.

The cause is still unknown though many experts believe that PCOS is caused by a hormonal imbalance. This is most likely insulin and hightened male sex hormones. It may also be genetic meaning it may be passed down from parent to offspring.

Women with PCOS tend to have above average testoste levels. Normally women will have a low levels of testosterone and a higher levels of estrogen the female hormone. But this increase in testosterone levels interferes with the egg cell production. The eggs that normally develop become cysts and are not released. This prevents conception because fertilization cannot occur because there is no egg cell to be fertilized by the sperm. Fertilization not occurring means no products of conception.

PCOS fertility problems affect the majority of women with PCOS. PCOS itself is the most common reason for infertility among the child-bearing female population. It also affects 5% of the whole female population of woman.