What is Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome?
What is it?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) also known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome or Syndrome O, is a metabolic disorder that causes hormonal imbalances as well as a vast array of other symptoms. Including:
- Irregular or absent periods (normally the main symptom)
- Ovarian cysts
- Infertility
- Insulin resistance
- Hair loss or even excess facial hair
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure and/or high cholesterol
- Acne
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
Of course, not all woman experience these symptoms in the same way. Some may have only one or two, while others feel each and every one of them. Sometimes getting a diagnosis is difficult, as test results aren’t accurate. Personally I’ve had multiple blood tests and the doctors have always mentioned that my hormone levels were considered ‘normal’. But the fact I was not ovulating meant otherwise. Some women also don’t even show the classic ‘cysts’ on their ovaries (the cysts are actually empty follicles) and others even have a period every month, although they don’t actually ovulate (annovular cycle).
And a staggering 10% of women actually suffer from this disorder, as it’s the most common cause of infertility.
What causes it?
It’s unknown as to why some women may suffer from this disorder while others don’t, but your genes are thought to be a large factor. Researchers have also found that insulin production is also a large part of it. What you may not know, is that insulin is actually a hormone. And when one hormone is off balance, they all are.
It’s a domino effect.
An excess of insulin also seems to increase the production of another hormone, androgen. Androgen is actually a male hormone (that all women produce, but it’s supposed to be to a much smaller extent) that is made in fat cells, ovaries, and in your adrenal gland. When your body has to much androgen, it can cause ovulation problems as well as excess hair growth and weight gain.
Risks associated with PCOS
When I was younger, a lack of periods never bothered me. It was one less thing I had to worry about! But as I started researching, I found that there were also a host of other issues that could accompany a PCOS diagnosis. Women with PCOS have higher instances of:
- endometrial cancers
- heart disease and heart attacks
- type II diabetes
- strokes
- miscarriage
And personally I think the reason these risks are there is due to the diet that a lot of women with PCOS eat! Infertility is just a symptom of a greater issue within your body.
What can you do about it?
PCOS can actually be greatly helped by better nutrition and change of lifestyle. While not easy, it can be done successfully. Most women find that being at a healthy weight relieves a lot of their symptoms. (excess toxins and hormones are stored within your fat cells!)
My own personal journey with PCOS began when I was very young. And since puberty, I never once had a regular cycle. Sometimes going years between each one. When my husband and I started trying to conceive, we knew it would take much longer than it would for normal couples for the fact that I would still go 6-8 months between cycles and of course, never knew when I was actually ovulating. After my son was born, I decided I needed to try and get a handle on it and change my health, and after about 6 months, I had started ovulating regularly (every 8 weeks, but still – it was every 8 weeks On. The. Dot!)
A few things that helped me the most were:
- Eating little to no processed foods
- Giving up a low-fat diet and eating only good, natural foods
- Cutting sugar out of my diet and using only natural sweeteners (i.e. honey)
- Lowering my carbohydrate/grain intake, not cutting carbs completely, but cutting back
PCOS doesn’t have to be a devastating diagnosis. It’s a livable and manageable condition. Just think of it as a wake up call to get your health in order. And not only will healthy living reduce or eliminate your symptoms, it can actually prolong your life by reducing the associated risks.
Other resources for you:
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association
- Soul Cysters (an online community for those w/ PCOS)
No related posts.
I definitely feel better eating low carb.
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It’s funny, I do to. I never thought carbs/gluten bothered me at all and then I went on the Maker’s Diet this past spring and couldn’t believe how much I started to bloat when I starting eating them again. (The maker’s diet has 3 phases and the first one is no grains)
I think one of the reasons so many are sensitive to gluten is that we start babies out on them so much younger than we used to and the other is we don’t prepare them like they did ‘way back when’.
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Quick question…my husband and i have been trying to get pregnant for almost a year now. I went to the dr about 2 months ago and he ran a bunch of blood tests to find out that i have not been ovulating at all and that i have low progesterone levels. We lead a very heathy lifestyle (excersise and food)….i have been taking fish oil, b12, cinnamon (to help with blood sugar now) and a prenatal. He dr. just put me on metformin….i HATE being on medications like this but am willing to do what it takes. What do you think??? Should i also look into a natural progesterone cream?? Also, have you heard anything about Peru’s Maca root herb and how it affects progesterone? Sorry for the lost comment. I really appreciate your website and love reading.
Thank you!
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Anonymous – I hope you look back here and see my reply since I have no other way of contacting you.
As to a healthy lifestyle, I don’t know exactly what you eat on a daily basis, but I too, thought I led a healthy lifestyle prior to a few diet changes. Try cutting out all refined sugar and using only honey for a couple months. This includes checking out processed foods, which you most likely won’t be able to eat anymore since they all have sugar in them. Also, make sure you’re not eating any white bread products.
Personally I don’t like the option of metformin, since it only helps your body out in a ‘fake’ sense. Once off of it, you’ll still suffer the same issues and a lot of times need to be on hormones throughout pregnancy as well.
As to maca powder, I was looking into that as an option but since have found myself pregnant so I am not going to be trying it personally. I’ll refer you over to Kimi at http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com
She is actually testing out several brands right now, using herself, her hubby and her parents as guinea pigs.
Let me know if you have any other questions, or if you’d like to speak in detail, just shoot me an e-mail to
donielle@naturallyknockedup.com
(and don’t worry – all e-mails are kept confidential)
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I just found your blog and I’m working through your archives (I know, I’m crazy for commenting on a post that’s so old!) But I just felt I needed to stop and say ‘Thank You’ for this post.
My situation is similar to yours, crazy cycles from day one, then put on ‘the pill’, then I got married and found out the bad news (PCOS). The diagnosis itself just about killed me. We almost lost our house trying to go the medical route. I was fast on my way to becoming a very angry, very bitter person.
So I finally started Paying Attention and started making small changes to my diet and lifestyle and while my weight refuses to cooperate, I’m having a cycle roughly every 4 months…. just, thank you.
Your writing is very gentle, non-dogmatic, and perfectly positive (ie, not that kind of happy-go-lucky positive that makes someone who IS still yearning for their first baby want to bite something). I feel that for sure I’m putting this badly, just…
Thank You
(and now I’ll get back to going through your archives)
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donielle Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:27 pm
@Alexis, Thanks Alexis! And yes, I do know what you mean.
When I was TTC and searching for answers I got soooo tired of sites that “sprinkled baby dust”. Bleh. Gag. If you can’t find something you’re looking for, or have other questions, just let me know!
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