PCOS Fertility How Long Will It Take Me to Get Pregnant If I Have PCOS? By Nicole Galan, RN facebook twitter linkedin Nicole Galan, RN, is a registered nurse and the author of "The Everything Fertility Book." Learn about our editorial process Nicole Galan, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD on December 02, 2019 linkedin Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Learn about our Medical Review Board Brian Levine, MD on December 02, 2019 Print If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and you're interested in having a baby, you may be wondering how much time it might take you to conceive. It’s a tricky question because there are many variables and few guarantees. Paul Bradbury / Getty Images For example, how old are you? How old is your partner? Are you both in general good health? Do you have any risk factors for conditions that might damage your fertility (like exposure to toxins, heavy drinking or drug use, or a history of sexually transmitted infections)? And how well is your PCOS managed? How Long It May Take to Get Pregnant If you are under the age of 35, ovulate regularly (even though you have PCOS), and you and your partner have no other medical conditions that affect your fertility, the likelihood is that pregnancy will occur within a year and probably even sooner. If either you or your partner has other medical conditions that also affect your fertility, like a lowered sperm count or uterine fibroids, it might take even longer than a year. Natural fertility also starts to significantly decline for women around age 32 and it declines even more substantially by age 37. While some women do conceive naturally into their 40s, the need for fertility drugs or technology is much more likely. Factors That Can Boost Fertility Fertility-boosting measures, like changing your diet, taking nutritional supplements, or increasing your physical activity can make your body healthier and help you have a healthier pregnancy. In certain cases, weight loss that's associated with healthy eating can be an effective tool to help you get pregnant. For women with PCOS, weight loss and a healthier lifestyle can be of the utmost importance in getting pregnant more quickly. Some studies have shown that women who live a healthier lifestyle have more regular periods and as a result, have increased rates of conception. When to Seek Help Most experts recommend that you seek treatment if you are not pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse if you are under the age of 35. If you are over the age of 35, that number drops to six months. If you do not get regular periods or are aware of another fertility problem, like PCOS or endometriosis, seek help right away from a reproductive endocrinologist. How to Detect Ovulation If you are trying to conceive and have regular periods, there are a few steps that you can take to get pregnant faster. The most important thing that you can do is make sure that you are timing intercourse properly. If sperm isn’t meeting an egg at the right time during the woman’s cycle, pregnancy cannot occur. There are many strategies that you can use at home. If you are having difficulty detecting ovulation on your own, ask your doctor to help you monitor ovulation by using blood testing and ultrasonography to determine when ovulation is about to occur. You can also try the following. Basal Body Temperature Take your temperature first thing every morning, before you even get out of bed. After several months of charting, you may notice subtle changes in your body temperature over the course of your cycle that may be helpful in predicting ovulation. Detecting Ovulation With Basal Body Temperature Ovulation Predictor Kit Use an ovulation predictor kit. Urinate on a test stick each morning, starting a few days before you think ovulation is going to happen. When you get a positive result (check the package insert of your test for specific instructions), that indicates that ovulation is imminent. These kits may not work well for all women with PCOS because they detect a hormonal surge that is normally found right before ovulation. Some women with PCOS have persistently high levels of this hormone, causing their tests to always show a positive result. Ovulation Kits If You Have PCOS Cervical Mucus Changes Monitor your cervical mucus. Subtle changes in your cervical mucus or where the cervix is positioned in your vagina can signal impending ovulation. These clues can be less accurate and depend on your comfort level by observing your mucus or checking your cervix. Using Cervical Mucus to Predict Ovulation Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Female age-related fertility decline. Updated 2014. Sharma R, Biedenharn KR, Fedor JM, Agarwal A. Lifestyle factors and reproductive health: taking control of your fertility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2013;11:66. doi:10.1186/1477-7827-11-66