How to Avoid a Miscarriage with PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder that affects millions of women, disrupting hormone levels essential for reproductive health. Women with PCOS often face challenges with fertility, making it significantly harder to conceive due to irregular menstrual cycles and inconsistent ovulation. It’s by far one of the hardest aspects of PCOS that Cysters have to deal with.

On top of these struggles, women with PCOS are also at an increased risk of miscarriage. This means that not only can it be difficult to become pregnant, but staying pregnant can also be a tremendous obstacle. It’s the harsh reality of how PCOS affects pregnancy.

First, let me emphasize one important thing whether an early or late pregnancy loss, miscarriage is NEVER your fault. More often than not, there’s no clear explanation for why a miscarriage occurs. However, there are steps women with PCOS can take to reduce the risk of miscarriage related to the condition to increase their chances of a healthy pregnancy. 

In today’s post, I’ll dive deeper into how polycystic ovarian syndrome contributes to miscarriage and give you advice on what you can do to support a healthy pregnancy. It’s not the end of the road, Cysters! There’s hope for healing and a healthy pregnancy even with PCOS.

How to Avoid a Miscarriage with PCOS

For many women, the hormonal dysregulation and irregular periods caused by PCOS make conceiving difficult. So, when you finally get that long-awaited positive pregnancy test, it brings SO much joy! However, it comes with stress too as the focus shifts from getting pregnant to doing everything possible to prevent a miscarriage. 

The good news is that there are steps you can take to support a healthy pregnancy while also managing PCOS symptoms. The first step is understanding how PCOS can increase the risk of miscarriage. With the right approach, you can positively impact your pregnancy journey and give your body (and your baby) the best chance to thrive. 

Are Miscarriages Common with PCOS?

Yes, miscarriages are more common in women with PCOS, and the condition can sometimes lead to recurrent miscarriages. For context, 10% to 15% of women without PCOS experience a miscarriage. However, for women with PCOS, the miscarriage rate jumps significantly from 30% to 50%. 

While these numbers can feel overwhelming and unfair (and they are!), there are steps and resources to help women with PCOS reduce their risk of miscarriage and support a healthy pregnancy, so don’t lose hope! As we better understand PCOS, we reveal plenty of natural techniques to help your reproductive system. 

If you’ve experienced a miscarriage in your PCOS journey, you might find our podcast Overcoming Miscarriages & Infertility for PCOS helpful. Give a listen and don’t hesitate to reach out to The Cysterhood community for support. 

How Does PCOS Cause Miscarriage?

The connection between PCOS and miscarriage lies in the hormonal imbalances associated with the condition. While PCOS itself does not directly cause miscarriage, the hormones essential for healthy fetal development can be disrupted. Women with PCOS often have elevated levels of androgens (male sex hormones) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which can prevent the production of healthy, mature eggs and impact the body’s ability to support fetal development.

Insulin resistance is another key factor that contributes to a higher risk of pregnancy complications. This occurs when the body struggles to process glucose into energy, instead storing it as fat, which can then enter the bloodstream. Elevated glucose levels can lead to obesity or gestational diabetes, both of which can affect the endometrial lining making egg implantation more difficult and increasing the likelihood of early miscarriage. 

While the link between PCOS and miscarriage isn’t entirely direct, the combination of insulin resistance and hormonal dysregulation associated with PCOS can significantly raise the risk. The good news is that taking steps to regulate hormones and improve insulin sensitivity can help manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of miscarrying, supporting a healthier pregnancy journey.  

How to Avoid Miscarriage with PCOS

Maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Did you know that up to 80% of women with PCOS also struggle with insulin resistance? Managing insulin levels and improving insulin sensitivity can play a crucial role in reducing the risk of miscarriage. Insulin resistance is a key factor behind elevated androgen levels, which can disrupt ovulation and impair the production of progesterone, a hormone essential for preparing the uterine lining to maintain pregnancy during the first trimester. 

So, how can you manage blood sugar levels and boost insulin sensitivity? Here are a few effective strategies: 

• Focus on a balanced diet and pairing your food – Incorporate low-glycemic index (GI) foods that won’t cause blood sugar spikes (more on that in the next section!) Something I recommend all Cysters to do, especially with snacks, is to always pair your carbohydrate foods with a protein or healthy fat.
• Engage in regular low-impact exercise – Activities like walking, yoga, or slow-weighted workouts can help increase muscle mass and improve metabolism.
• Prioritize sleep and stress management – Quality rest and stress-reducing activities can make a significant difference in improving insulin sensitivity (and even your metabolism.) 
• Take supplements – Incorporate inositol, chromium, magnesium, vitamin D3, and omega-3 supplements to improve insulin sensitivity.

These small changes can add up to big improvements in your overall health and pregnancy! 

Eat a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet. 

What you eat plays a huge role in how your PCOS body functions, especially during pregnancy. Your diet can worsen insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance or your diet can be exactly what you need to reverse it, depending on your choices! That’s why focusing on a gluten- and dairy-free diet filled with anti-inflammatory, whole foods can make a world of difference in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. 

Not only does this approach improve insulin sensitivity, but it also ensures your body gets the essential nutrients needed to support your baby’s development. Following a nutrient-dense PCOS pregnancy diet can help you feel amazing while reducing the risk of miscarriage. However, always remember to go over your diet plan with your doctor to make sure you’re reaching all the expected nutrient goals! 

Need some inspiration? The Cysterhood app has hundreds of PCOS-friendly recipes to help you stay on track and satisfy those pregnancy cravings! From buffalo chicken pizza to air fryer chicken fajitas, every recipe is gluten- and dairy-free, packed with nutrients, and full of flavor. 

Learn to manage stress. 

Chronic stress can sometimes contribute to miscarriage, especially for Cysters, who often deal with chronic elevated cortisol levels (AKA the stress hormone) due to PCOS. High cortisol can lead to inflammation throughout the body and hormonal imbalances, meaning it’s essential to find ways to manage stress and support your health during pregnancy. 

Practicing yoga, meditation, spending time in nature, or other mindfulness techniques can be incredibly effective for calming your mind and body. It can also be helpful to incorporate supplements like ashwagandha, Ovasitol, and magnesium into your daily routine to lower cortisol levels and promote hormone balance. Taking these steps can make a huge difference in reducing stress and supporting a healthy pregnancy. 

Practice slow-weighted, low-impact exercises. 

Fatigue during pregnancy is completely normal when your body is working overtime to create new life! But even when you’re feeling tired, staying active is possible, especially for women with PCOS. Low-impact workouts like walking, yoga, pilates, and slow-weighted exercises can offer incredible benefits. Staying active during pregnancy helps maintain muscle mass, supports a healthy weight, reduces stress, and keeps your hormones balanced. 

Looking for PCOS-friendly workouts to stay active during pregnancy? The Cysterhood app has slow-weighted exercise routines designed to help you move safely and reduce the risk of miscarriage while supporting your overall health. 

Take prenatal supplements and vitamins. 

If you were taking supplements to increase fertility while trying to conceive like prenatal vitamins, CoQ10, iron, or Ovasitol don’t stop now! The need for essential nutrients doesn’t end once you get that positive pregnancy test. Many healthcare providers recommend continuing prenatal vitamins, such as Ovafit’s Purely Prenatal, throughout pregnancy to ensure your body gets the vital minerals and vitamins needed to support a healthy pregnancy. 

While prenatal vitamins don’t directly prevent miscarriage, they can help lower the risk of stillbirth and provide the foundational support your body needs to maintain a thriving pregnancy. Keep fueling your body and baby with the nutrients they need through supplements and vitamins! 

Adopt healthy habits and take science-backed prenatal vitamins to support a healthy pregnancy when you have PCOS. 

Although PCOS can increase the risk of miscarriage, there are steps you can take to support your body and maintain a healthy pregnancy. I have seen so many Cysters in The Cysterhood conceive and have healthy pregnancies even when they thought it would be impossible because of their PCOS. By learning from the resources we provide, taking this information and discussing it with your healthcare provider, and working on a plan together to support your PCOS and your future/current pregnancy, you can reduce PCOS symptoms that may contribute to pregnancy challenges and miscarriage. 

Your first step? Talk to your doctor about Ovafit’s Purely Prenatal vitamin. This two-supplement system is specifically designed for women with PCOS to support fertility, egg quality, and overall reproductive health. Packed with fertility-focused vitamins and minerals, Purely Prenatal helps prepare your body for pregnancy and supports you in staying pregnant.