Yes—pregnancy is possible with PCOS, even when periods are irregular. Some people conceive naturally, while others benefit from fertility treatment.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause infrequent or absent ovulation. This means fewer opportunities to conceive and makes the fertile window harder to predict.

What should you know?

• Irregular periods do not mean pregnancy is impossible.
• Calendar apps may be less reliable when cycles vary.
• Ovulation tests can be misleading because some people with PCOS have higher baseline LH levels.
• Fertility depends on more than ovulation—age, sperm health and other reproductive factors also matter.

Your healthcare provider may recommend appropriately timed progesterone testing or ultrasound monitoring to assess ovulation. Treatment may include lifestyle support and medication to help ovulation, depending on your needs.

If your periods are irregular or absent while trying to conceive, seek advice early rather than waiting a full year.

Contact us to discuss your fertility concerns.

Not necessarily. A positive ovulation test detects a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH), which usually occurs about 1–2 days before ovulation. It suggests ovulation may be approaching, but does not confirm that an egg has been released.

What should you know?

• An LH surge can sometimes occur without ovulation.
• Some people with PCOS have higher baseline LH levels, which can make results misleading.
• False-positive and false-negative results can occur. Follow your kit’s instructions carefully.

How can ovulation be confirmed?

When needed, your healthcare provider may recommend a progesterone blood test approximately one week before your expected period—not automatically on cycle day 21. Ultrasound monitoring may also help assess follicle development and signs of ovulation.

If your periods are irregular or absent, or your test results are repeatedly confusing, discuss them with your healthcare provider.

Preparing for your first fertility consultation can help you make the most of your appointment.

If available, bring:

• Recent bloodwork and hormone test results
• Pelvic ultrasound and fallopian tube testing reports
• Semen analysis results
• Records from previous IUI or IVF treatments
• A list of medications, herbs and supplements, including doses
• Notes about your menstrual cycles, symptoms and pregnancy history

It can also help to write down your questions beforehand. What would you like to understand better? What concerns or preferences would you like your doctor to know?

You do not need to have every test completed before your appointment. Bring the information you already have, and discuss whether any further assessment is appropriate.

At Longevity Fertility Centre, we review your history, concerns and fertility goals to help guide an individualized care plan.

Serving Calgary and Edmonton.

Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that helps support breast milk production. Levels naturally rise during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Outside these stages, elevated prolactin may disrupt the hormonal signals that regulate ovulation, making periods irregular or stopping ovulation altogether.

Possible signs include:
• Irregular or absent periods
• Difficulty becoming pregnant
• Milky nipple discharge when not breastfeeding
• Sometimes, no noticeable symptoms

Possible causes include an underactive thyroid, certain medications, and a usually non-cancerous pituitary growth called a prolactinoma. Stress, exercise and nipple stimulation can also temporarily raise prolactin.

One elevated result does not automatically mean infertility. Your healthcare provider may recommend repeat testing and review your symptoms, medications and thyroid function.

Treatment depends on the cause. When needed, appropriate treatment can help restore ovulation.

If your periods are irregular or absent while trying to conceive, ask your healthcare provider whether prolactin testing is appropriate.

Endometrial polyps are growths of the uterine lining that extend into the uterine cavity. Most are benign (noncancerous).

Polyps may interfere with embryo implantation, but having a polyp does not automatically mean you cannot become pregnant.

Possible signs include:
• Spotting between periods
• Irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding
• Difficulty conceiving
• No noticeable symptoms

A transvaginal ultrasound may detect a polyp. A saline sonogram can provide a clearer view of the uterine cavity, while hysteroscopy allows a specialist to look directly inside the uterus and remove a polyp when appropriate.

Does every polyp need removal?
Not necessarily. Your gynecologist or fertility specialist will consider your symptoms, the polyp’s features, medical history, and pregnancy plans when discussing monitoring or removal.

If you are trying to conceive or preparing for an embryo transfer, speak with your doctor about whether a suspected polyp needs further assessment.

When planning a pregnancy, thyroid health is worth understanding.

Your thyroid produces hormones that help regulate metabolism and support normal reproductive function. An underactive or overactive thyroid can affect menstrual cycles and ovulation.

What is TSH?
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is produced by the pituitary gland. It signals your thyroid to make thyroid hormones.

• High TSH may suggest an underactive thyroid.
• Low TSH may suggest an overactive thyroid.
• Free T4 testing can help clarify the results.

One TSH result does not tell the whole story. Results should be interpreted alongside your symptoms, medical history, medications and pregnancy status. A mildly abnormal result does not automatically mean infertility or a need for medication.

If you have known thyroid disease, discuss your care with your healthcare provider before trying to conceive. Thyroid hormone needs can change during pregnancy, making timely testing and follow-up important.

Conceived easily before, but now struggling to have another baby? This can feel confusing and unexpected.

Secondary infertility means difficulty becoming pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term after previously having a baby. A previous successful pregnancy does not guarantee that conceiving again will be easy.

Possible contributing factors include:

• Age-related changes in fertility
• Irregular ovulation or hormonal conditions
• Changes in sperm count or movement
• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• Endometriosis, fibroids or other uterine conditions
• Complications from a previous pregnancy or surgery

Both partners should be considered during a fertility evaluation.

When should you seek help?
• Under 35: after 12 months of trying
• Age 35 or older: after 6 months
• Seek advice sooner if periods are irregular or absent, or you have a known fertility concern.

A rainbow baby is a baby born after a previous pregnancy or infant loss, such as miscarriage or stillbirth.

Like a rainbow after a storm, the term represents hope and new beginnings while honouring the baby who was lost. A rainbow baby does not replace that baby or erase the grief.

Pregnancy after loss can bring many emotions at once—joy, gratitude, anxiety, fear, and sadness. These feelings can coexist, and every family’s experience is different.

Some families find comfort in the term “rainbow baby,” while others prefer different words. There is no right or wrong way to describe your journey.

If you are navigating pregnancy after loss, compassionate support from your healthcare team, a counsellor, or a pregnancy-loss support group may help you feel less alone.

At Longevity Fertility Centre, we honour every family’s unique journey. 💛

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on or within an ovary. They are common, and most are benign. Many functional cysts form during a normal menstrual cycle and disappear without treatment.

Not every ovarian cyst affects fertility. Its impact depends on the type, size, location, symptoms, and whether one or both ovaries are involved.

Some cysts may be more relevant to fertility:

• Endometriomas are associated with endometriosis and may affect ovarian function.

• Large or persistent cysts may interfere with ovulation or require further assessment.

• Ovarian surgery can sometimes affect ovarian reserve, so fertility goals should be discussed before treatment.

Ovarian cysts are different from PCOS. In PCOS, the “cysts” seen on ultrasound are usually multiple small follicles rather than true ovarian cysts.

Ultrasound findings, symptoms, menstrual history, and fertility testing can help determine whether a cyst may affect conception.

If you are trying to conceive and have been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, an individualized assessment can help clarify your next steps.