Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS or Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a disorder of the endocrine system that affects women during childbearing years.
It is a condition in females generally characterized by:
insulin resistance
high blood insulin levels
obesity
polycystic ovaries
menstrual dysfunction
amenorrhea (no period)
infertility (can't get pregnant)
hirsutism (course, dark hair that grows on the face and body)
male pattern baldness
acne
Let's talk INFERTILITY
One main outcome of PCOS is infertility, that is caused by a cascade of factors. In PCOS the sex hormones estrogen, testosterone and progesterone are out of balance. In many cases there is an overproduction of testosterone which leads to excess hair growth, male pattern baldness, acne, weight gain and more.
The best way to treat PCOS without meds:
Address hormonal imbalances from the root
If you want to learn the step-by-step process to balancing hormonal symptoms naturally, watch my free masterclass by saving your seat here.
Diagnosis criteria includes:
hyperandrogenism
ovulatory dysfunction
polycystic ovaries via ultrasound
excess hair growth, male pattern baldness, deepening of the voice
hormones levels
menstrual cycle irregularity
A patient does not need to be diagnosed with all of these criteria to be diagnosed with PCOS.
Lifestyle Changes that fight PCOS
Get more sleep. Proper sleep has been proved to improve blood sugar regulation and decrease one’s risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes
Increase exercise. Exercise aids in taking sugar out of the bloodstream and storing it in the muscles.
Reducing stress. Stress reduction is extremely beneficial as the hormones cortisol and glucagon that are released during high stress times breakdown glycogen into glucose, therefore elevating blood sugar. Ways to decrease stress include meditation, walking, yoga, other forms of exercise and finding time for yourself.
Eating a healthy diet
References:
Brighten, J. (n.d.) 10 best supplements for PCOS. Retrieved from https://drbrighten.com/supplements-for-pcos/
Brown, J. (2017). Nutrition through the life cycle, 6th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Cabrera, G., & Marcel, C. (2018). Polycystic ovary syndrome. CINAHL Nutrition Guide. Retrived from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.bigbrother.logan.edu:2048/nurc/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=b5f7af63-7936-466d-81dc-6f83261ac0f8%40sdc-v-sessmgr06&bdata=JnNpdGU9bnVyYy1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#AN=T908312&db=nuc
Legro RS. (2017). Evaluation and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. Retrieved from from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278959/
McCartney, C. R., & Marshall, J. C. (2016). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The New England journal of medicine, 375(1), 54–64. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1514916
Raman, R. (2017). 14 natural ways to improve your insulin sensitivity. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/improve-insulin-sensitivity
Sirmans, S. M., & Pate, K. A. (2013). Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Clinical epidemiology, 6, 1–13. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S37559
Szczuko, M., Skowronek, M., Zapalowska-Chwyc, M., Starczewski, A. (2016). Quantitative assessment of nutrition in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). National Institute of Public Health. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27925712
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