Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects how a woman's ovaries work, but it can also affect many aspects of her health.
With PCOS, your ovaries don’t always release an egg at the end of the menstrual cycle, which can cause problems if you're trying to get pregnant.
And it's a lot more common than you think, being one of the most common causes of female infertility.
PCOS can affect your:
- hormones
- periods
- fertility.
Polycystic ovaries
A common mistake is to confuse PCOS with polycystic ovaries.
But they are not the same thing.
Polycystic ovaries are bigger than healthy ovaries and have twice the number of follicles than healthy ovaries.
Whereas PCOS is a disorder linked to having hormone levels that are not balanced, due to irregular or absent ovulation.
This can cause you to stop having periods, or to have irregular periods, which can cause fertility issues.
Lots of women without PCOS have cysts on their ovaries, and lots of women with PCOS don’t have cysts.
PCOS symptoms
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it's thought to be linked to abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin.
Its symptoms include:
- ovarian cysts
- irregular periods
- acne
- thinning hair
- weight gain.
Treatment
While there's no cure for PCOS, there are treatments available to manage the symptoms.
And the good news is that with treatment, either medicines or minor surgery, many women with PCOS can get pregnant.
But aside from medicines, there are natural ways to manage symptoms, such as through lifestyle changes and dietary supplements.
Be mindful that this is not medical advice, and you should always speak with your doctor before you try any alternative treatment.
Natural treatments for PCOS
- Dietary changes: It's not a miracle solution but eating the right foods and avoiding others could help you manage your symptoms. We all know a diet high in processed foods isn't good for us and where PCOS is concerned, it can contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance. Opt for whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and aim to eat more foods containing protein. This type of nourishing diet can help regulate your hormones and your menstrual cycle. Also aim to add anti-inflammatory foods like olive oil, tomatoes, leafy greens, fatty fish like mackerel and tuna, and tree nuts. Try magnesium-rich foods like bananas and ensure you're getting plenty of fibre.
- Maintain a healthy weight: If you are overweight, the symptoms and overall risk of developing long-term health problems from PCOS can be greatly improved by losing excess weight. Weight loss of just 5% can lead to a significant improvement in PCOS.
- Exercise: Exercise is important as it helps maintain a healthy weight and is a good stressbuster. But over-exercising can put more stress on your body, so consult your doctor about a routine that could be good for you.
- Try supplements: Supplements claim to help with hormone regulation, insulin resistance, and inflammation associated with PCOS, but speak to your doctor before taking any supplement. Some of them can interfere with other prescribed PCOS treatments and medications.
- Cut down on caffeine: Studies have shown that caffeine consumption is linked to estrogen changes. Try decaf coffee, or swap to green tea.
- Reduce stress: Life is stressful, and then we place additional stresses on our bodies in the way we eat, exercise, and talk to ourselves. If you constantly put yourself down with negative thoughts, you're placing extra stress on the body, and this disrupts the hormonal/endocrine system – resulting in the possibility of PCOS. And if you have PCOS or any of its symptoms, you will stress - so it's a vicious circle. Try yoga, meditation, and better-quality sleep to help reduce stress and regulate cortisol.
- Try a probiotic: You probably associate probiotics with gut health, but they can also play an important role in treating PCOS. Probiotics can reduce inflammation and regulate sex hormones like androgen and estrogen.
September is PCOS Awareness Month
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