What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and How to Heal it Naturally

Both Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a relatively well-known condition that affects people with female reproductive organs of reproductive age (between 12 and 52). It is one of the most common hormonal conditions; it affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age. It is a hormonal disorder that is caused by an overproduction of male hormones (androgens), which interferes with regular ovulation. Another overarching PCOS symptom is the excess amount of immature follicles found in the ovaries, and the rare release of an egg. It is quite a complex disorder, with its causes, symptoms, and treatments being highly debated within the medical community. PCOS, if left untreated, can have severe consequences on your health and fertility, including:

• Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Endometrial cancer
• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer

The causes of PCOS are yet to be fully understood, but it is believed to be genetically passed down (in some cases). Other cases may be caused by insulin resistance, which leads to an increase in male hormones, or inflammation.

Symptoms of PCOS

Women with PCOS may present with a wide variety of symptoms, and rarely do two cases look the same. Some of the possible symptoms include:

• Long or irregular cycles
• Ovarian cysts
• “String of pearls”, aka immature follicles, in the ovaries
• Anovulatory cycles (cycles during which ovulation does not take place)
• Amenorrhea
• Heavy periods
• Excess body and facial hair
• Male-patterned hair loss
• Excess testosterone
• Insulin resistance
• Acne
• Oily skin
• Obesity/weight challenges
• Infertility
• Dark skin patches

Treating PCOS

The medical world treats PCOS with hormonal birth control (to stabilize the hormones). Unfortunately, this is not a solution, but rather a way of regulating the symptoms; once someone with PCOS decides to go off birth control, all of their symptoms will return. It is therefore a temporary solution.

While prescribing birth control is often times the go to treatment for PCOS, there are other medical options, including:

• d-Chiro-inositol, which increases the activity of insulin, decreasing the levels of androgens in the body
• Cyclic progesterone therapy, which allows the progesterone to oppose the excess estrogen
• Ovarian drilling, which lowers androgen levels
• Ovarian wedge resection, which decreases the symptoms, but may offer a high risk of side effects

Treating PCOS Naturally

Nutrition

As with any hormone-related condition, it is vital to keep your blood sugar stable when dealing with PCOS. Here is a link to more information on stabilizing your blood sugar curve, in order to optimize your hormone health.

In addition to this, it is important to concentrate on eating foods that are low-carbohydrate and low-glycemic index.

• Add proteins and fats to your carbs
• Choose foods that are high in fiber (lower glycemic index)
• Keep your refined carbs to a minimum
• Supplement calcium (and folic acid if you are trying to conceive)
• Drink lots of water
• Avoid foods high in saturated and trans fats, rather eating monounsaturated and omega 3 fats
• Increase vegetable proteins and iron from vegetables
• Identify and eliminate food sensitivities
• Include foods that are good for your liver: dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, lemons, beets, etc

Lifestyle Changes

Another important step in PCOS treatment is weight management. That means making sure you are moving your body regularly, with a form of exercise that works for you. It is also vital to ensure that you are not overexercising, as this can aggravate your symptoms

Other steps you can take include:

• Managing your stress
• Focusing on getting enough sleep
• Detoxifying practices such as skin brushing, castor oil packs, or Epsom salt baths
• Mindfulness exercises

Try to avoid hormone disrupters, which are chemicals that mimic or otherwise interfere with your hormones. This includes things like the lining of cans, some plastic containers, detergents, cosmetics, pesticides, toys, and even some ingredients in foods.

Common hormone disrupters include the following, which you can spot on ingredient lists and labels:

• Bisphenol A (BPA)
• Dioxins
• Perchlorate
• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyflouroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
• Phthalates
• Phytoestrogens
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)
• Triclosan

PCOS poses a threat to fertility, and as such, if you are trying to get pregnant, it might be worth it to work alongside a practitioner to ensure the highest chances of success. In fact, regardless of whether or not you are trying to conceive, it is of vital importance to your health to see a professional as soon as you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above.

If you are ready to start looking after your hormone health holistically, contact me at [email protected], so we can see how we can work together to reach your health goals.