OKLAHOMA CITY — June marks World Infertility Month, a time to raise awareness about infertility, a condition that affects both men and women. In the U.S., roughly 13.4% of women of reproductive age face challenges with conception.
One of the most common causes of infertility is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). However, a national trial at OU Health offers new hope for women battling this condition.
Lexy Burnett, a mother of twin girls, shared her emotional journey to motherhood. “My cycles were irregular, and I didn’t know what PCOS was at the time,” she said.
After stopping birth control, Burnett suspected something was wrong. Her doctor suspected PCOS, and after three failed cycles of oral medication aimed at inducing ovulation, she was officially diagnosed at OU Health.
“PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women,” explained Karl Hansen, an infertility specialist.
Affecting up to 10% of women of reproductive age, PCOS is characterized by irregular ovulation. The exact cause remains unclear, and while there’s no cure, the condition can be managed according to a woman’s specific goals.
“Oral contraceptives work well for managing PCOS, but they don’t help women who want to get pregnant,” Hansen said.
Irregular ovulation is the main reason many women with PCOS have trouble conceiving. Oral medications are usually the first treatment, but Hansen notes that about 20% of women with PCOS don’t respond to these drugs and still fail to ovulate.
When oral medications don’t work, treatment options become more complex and expensive, including injections, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. These options can be difficult to manage and require frequent doctor visits.
Now, a groundbreaking national trial called Rebalance, led by Dr. Hansen, offers a new, less invasive alternative.
The Rebalance trial uses a device designed to restore ovulation through a type of ovarian ablation performed in-office. This makes the procedure more accessible to women in need of treatment.
OU Health was the only U.S. site to test this procedure in a pre-trial study about two years ago. The study included five patients locally and 25 in Europe. Dr. Hansen reports that more than 40% of patients in the trial achieved a pregnancy.
Veronica, a pre-trial participant, shared her experience: “After four years of trying, I want to introduce Eliahana. This is really big. We’re so happy. I’m so grateful for the chance to try this.”
Around 60% of women in the pre-trial were able to ovulate on their own after the procedure. The new national trial will enroll 195 women across the U.S. and track pregnancy, ovulation, and hormone changes over a three-year period.
“This trial marks a significant advance in our ability to treat patients with ovulatory disorders,” Dr. Hansen said.
For millions of women with PCOS, the Rebalance trial represents a promising new path to parenthood.
“I can’t imagine how much emotional exhaustion I would have saved if I didn’t have to go through all those shots and pills,” Burnett reflected. “This could save so many women from that emotional roller coaster.”
The goal of Rebalance is to provide women with a less invasive and more effective option for restoring their fertility and overall health.
Related topics:
