Nutritionist post - Have you been diagnosed with PCOS?

Have you been diagnosed with PCOS but unsure what to do next. The most common outcome is that the doctor has recommended to go on the pill. Which basically masks your symptoms and does not treat or improve your concerns or symptoms.

What is PCOS? PCOS is best defined as androgen excess (high male hormones) when all other causes of androgen excess have been ruled out.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common infertility disorder affecting a significant proportion of the global population. It is the main cause of anovulatory infertility in women.

As the name indicates, the disease involves ovaries with many cysts. It is caused by a hormonal imbalance, which is further indicated by an irregular menstrual cycle, many cysts in the ovaries, amenorrhea, and hirsutism in adult females.

Symptoms of PCOS may include - an individual can have one or a number of these symptoms.

Excess hair either on face, chest, back and butt, Amenorrhea or absent periods, persistent acne, thinning hair, difficulty loosing weight especially around the stomach area.

Blood tests can show high insulin and androgens.

What can drive PCOS?

Genes

Polycystic ovary syndrome has been proven to be a familial ( genetic) condition. Although the role of genetic factors in PCOS is strongly supported, the genes that are involved in the etiology of the syndrome have not been fully investigated until recently.

Chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation has shown to increase testosterone secretion which can lead to PCOS, working on reducing inflammation through diet, exercise and lifestyle factors is imperative. Healthy weight is also important to reduce inflammation.

The oral contraceptive pill

Coming off the oral contraceptive pill can lead to an increase in androgens, its very common to have a surge in breakouts and acne during this stage. It can take 6 months for hormones to regulate or normalized. I would suggest a hormone detoxification if you have been on the pill for years, as synthetic hormones need to be supported to be removed and excreted from the body.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance are present in a large percentage (ranging from 44-70%) of women with PCOS. Insulin resistance is a key contributor to metabolic disturbance and is a driver in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Addressing insulin resistance is key to treating PCOS, high insulin drives high androgens.

PCOS is a complex multifactorial disease that primarily causes infertility, as well as acne, thinning hair or excessive hair on face and body and weight gain. It doesn’t need to affect your quality of life.

As a nutritionist and with the most current research I can help.

Whilst nutrition may not be the full solution, studies have shown that if a patient with PCOS loses weight then their symptoms will improve. Diet and nutrition play a huge role in weight management, and therefore paying attention to what you eat and adapting it accordingly could help PCOS symptoms.

Its’s not just about weight, however, as the nutrients you consume can have a direct impact on your hormone production and therefore eating certain nutrients can help alleviate symptoms at a hormonal level. When thinking about what foods to eat with PCOS, it’s important to consider every aspect of your diet from breakfast through to dinner, to ensure you’re eating a balanced diet and keeping plenty of variety, which can make healthy eating much easier to stick to.

Through pathology testing, dietary changes, supplementation and lifestyle you can reduce your symptoms and support your fertility. As a nutritionist and with the most current research I can help you with this. Give you the tools and information to help your health.

A reminder the pill does not treat PCOS it just masks the symptoms that you currently experience.