Polycystic ovary syndrome, AKA PCOS, is a condition that develops when a woman’s reproductive hormones are out of balance. It is the most common endocrine-metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age.
The ovaries produce hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and androgens (like testosterone). In women without PCOS, these hormones are produced in proper amounts. However, in women with the condition, the ovaries produce far more androgens (the “male” hormones tht we ALL make) than the body needs.
When a woman develops PCOS, it can lead to problems as mild as missing a period to consequences as serious as infertility. Did you know that roughly 1.4 million Canadian women have the condition?!
So if you are struggling with PCOS – just know you are not alone.
What are the four types of PCOS?
There are four phenotypes of PCOS. They include:
- TYPE 1: Hyperandrogenism+oligo-anovulation + polycystic morphology (polycystic ovaries)
- TYPE 2: Hyperandrogenism + oligo-anovulation
- TYPE 3: Hyperandrogenism + polycystic morphology
- TYPE 4: Oligo-anovulation + polycystic morphology
Hyperandrogenism is when the body produces too many of the “male” hormones… AKA the androgens. Oligo-anovulation is a lack of typical ovulation AND/OR longer menstrual cycles. Polycystic ovarian morphology is the term used to describe an increased number of follicles. The extra follicles contain an immature egg that never matures enough to trigger ovulation.
When a person has a combination of any of the above, they are likely to be suffering from PCOS. For example, a person with hyperandrogenism+oligo-anovulation+polycystic ovarian morphology will have high levels of androgens, a lack of ovulation, and an increased number of follicles.
Each phenotype affects how a person experiences PCOS.. AKA what symptoms they could be experiencing and what the root cause may be.
What are the Symptoms of PCOS?
The symptoms of PCOS will vary from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms of the syndrome include:
- Irregular or a complete lack of periods due to the body failing to ovulate
- Heavy bleeding caused by a build-up of uterine lining from not menstruating for long periods
- Excessive hair growth on areas of the body such as the back, belly, and chest
- Oily skin and acne
- Weight gain and difficulty losing weight
- Thinning hair on the scalp and hair loss
- A darkening of the skin in areas such as the groin, neck, or under the breasts
- Headaches
PCOS can also lead to other health complications such as:
- Infertility
- Metabolic syndrome
- Sleep apnea
- Endometrial cancer
- Depression
What Kind of Testing is Needed to Diagnose PCOS?
Testing for PCOS begins with gathering a health history along with current symptoms and how they have progressed. After that, testing can confirm a PCOS diagnosis.
One of the main tests we use is a blood test, which determines the level of hormones in your blood. Blood tests look for high levels of androgens, which are highly associated with PCOS. We can use blood tests to investigate root causes of PCOS such as insulin resistance, adrenal function, inflammatory markers. We can also test cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels because they are associated with the condition.
You will likely have to do an ultrasound and pelvic exam to check for follicle abnormalities or any problems occurring within the reproductive tract and ovaries. Together, these tests will diagnose PCOS and its phenotype.
Can PCOS be Managed Naturally?
While PCOS treatment is relatively controversial, the condition isn’t new. Its symptoms were first documented in 1721 by Italian physician Antonio Vallisneri. Traditional medical therapies for PCOS involve a short list of medications that aim to prevent symptoms, which can be helpful for some – however does not tackle the root cause of why your hormones are out of whack in the first place.
In naturopathic medicine, we aim to address the root cause of your hormone imbalance (or imbalances). We can do this through:
- Diet changes: Diet plays a crucial role in hormone regulation as well as both insulin resistance and inflammation, which are factors associated with the onset and worsening of PCOS symptoms. The PCOS diet focuses on consuming whole foods, a balanced intake of carbs and protein, and adequate nutrient levels such as iron and magnesium.
- Lifestyle Changes: Research has shown that being of a healthy weight, engaging in moderate exercise regularly, and getting good, quality sleep can ease the symptoms of PCOS by helping to regulate hormones.
- Supplementation: Supplements have shown great promise in helping women with PCOS. There are a wide variety of supplements we can choose from such as inositol, a B vitamin that helps improve insulin resistance, chromium, which can aid in maintaining or obtaining a healthy weight, and turmeric because of its anti-inflammatory effects. However it’s important to understand your root cause before deciding a supplement routine… otherwise you could be taking great supplements that are not going to do much for your symptoms. Please do not take any supplements without consulting a doctor (safety first ladies!!).
- Herbs: Some research has found that certain herbs can help balance hormones. Research shows maca root, chaste tree, black cohosh, bindii, glycyrrhiza root, and Chinese peony all have the potential to manage and treat PCOS. Similar to nutritional supplements, you want to make sure that the herbs you decide to take are addressing your root cause.
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS NOT ALWAYS STRAIGHT, BUT WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS YOU CAN FIND SUCCESS IN A WAY THAT IS NOT CONFUSING OR OVERWHELMING
PCOS can be difficult to cope with, especially those darn physical symptoms. I always say.. It’s a condition where our struggles are SO painfully obvious to those around us. The truth is, for many women, traditional treatment options don’t work as well as one may hope, or come with drawbacks and side effects. This process of trial and error, trying to figure out how you can get rid of your symptoms just so that you can get back to normality and feel confident again can be excruciating, and can lead one to feeling hopeless. Trust me, I have been there so I totally get it. The road to success and a symptom free life is not always easy.. BUT it is possible. Determination and an unwillingness to give up is what got me there, and it’s what gets my patients there.
The first step is getting educated on exactly what is going on. Understanding what is going on at a cellular level will help you understand what changes to make and why you need to make them. The second step is getting support so that you can skip past all the trial and error on your own. I have created The PCOS Plan for this purpose – to help you ladies avoid all the errors I have made and get results in 12 weeks. You can learn more about THE PCOS PLAN HERE.
If you suspect you have PCOS or have already been diagnosed and find it hard to manage your symptoms, book a FREE PCOS Intro Call with me today. We can dive into your symptoms together and create a treatment plan that works for you.
Are you a woman struggling with symptoms of PCOS? What supplement or diet changes have your tried? Were they helpful? Share your tips and experience with our fellow cysters in the comments below!