Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal disorder in which the ovaries produce too many male hormones. These hormones can disrupt a woman’s normal ovulation cycles and thereby cause infertility. Other conditions associated with PCOS include excessive hair growth, acne, weight gain and cysts in the ovaries, as well as increased risk of metabolic disorder, Type 2 diabetes and endometrial cancer. Although some research indicates that the B vitamin folic acid may help reduce certain complications of PCOS, talk to your doctor before taking dietary supplements for PCOS.
Preliminary evidence suggests that folic acid supplementation may help treat ovulatory infertility – one of the major complications of PCOS. According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in 2006, women who took a multivitamin at least six times a week reduced their ovulatory infertility by 40 percent in eight years
researchers concluded that the multivitamin ingredient most directly linked to the women’s improved fertility was folic acid. According to Cleveland Clinic, while fertility issues should be discussed with a doctor, women with PCOS may be able to improve their chances of getting pregnant by taking 400 micrograms of folic acid per day.