Polycystic Ovary Syndrome affects about 1 in 10 women worldwide. It is one of the most common endocrine/metabolic disorders. PCOS is primarily a disorder of ovulatory dysfunction, but in addition to negatively impacting fertility, it has potential long-term physical and mental health consequences.
Your most common Questions
FAQs
PCOS FAQs
- irregular menstrual cycles
- Increased hair growth on the face, chin, or parts of the body called “hirsutism”
- Acne on the face, chest, and upper back
- Thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp; male-pattern baldness
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Darkening of skin, particularly along neck creases, in the groin, and underneath breasts
- Increased risk for diabetes
- Increased risk for obesity
- High cholesterol
- Sleep disturbances
- Endometrial cancer
- Difficulty conceiving
- Poor pregnancy outcomes, increased risk of miscarriage, high blood pressure, preterm delivery
- Anxiety and depression
- Disordered eating
- Sexual problems
The best and first line treatment is optimizing your lifestyle. Positive changes will result from a healthier lifestyle whether or not weight loss occurs. Regular exercise and a good diet will stabilize and improve metabolism and mood. These lifestyle changes are very powerful and some women with PCOS will ovulate without additional treatment or medication.
It is particularly important to maintain a well-balanced, low-fat diet that is both rich in whole-foods and fiber AND low in processed food and saturated fats. The challenge for those with PCOS is that weight loss is more difficult because elevated androgens increase appetite with intense food cravings and insulin, which is a growth hormone, promotes weight gain, especially in the abdomen.
While there is no single best diet for PCOS, some diets such as the Mediterranean diet are rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains, which are well balanced. Intermittent fasting may be considered if you are not trying to get pregnant. Even a weight loss of only 5-10% may reduce androgens and help restore normal ovulation.
Fun fitness and movement have been shown to be particularly beneficial for people with PCOS. Exercise can help decrease insulin resistance, prevent weight gain or stabilize weight, regulate ovulation, and improve mood.
The best part – many of the benefits associated with exercise can be achieved regardless of whether or not you lose weight.
Although it takes time and effort, those with PCOS can successfully achieve a pregnancy with a strong lifestyle foundation and sometimes combined with ovulation induction medication. Commitment to a strong lifestyle program can double your chance of pregnancy without IVF and will have a beneficial impact not only on pregnancy but also on your long-term health.