Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
What is PCOS?
Symptoms of PCOS
Causes of PCOS
Consequences of PCOS
Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for PCOS
References
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS) is a hormonal condition in which the ovaries are enlarged and contain many small cysts (fluid-filled sacs).
Follicles are small sacs in the ovaries that contain immature eggs. During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle 10 to 20 eggs begin developing, but only one fully matures. At ovulation this mature egg is released from one of the ovaries. The other follicles break down and disappear. However, with PCOS the remaining partly developed follicles do not break down, but instead fill with fluid and turn into cysts. This causes the ovaries to swell in size, sometimes up to 2 to 5 times larger than normal. The follicles in polycystic ovaries rarely grow to maturity or produce eggs capable of being fertilised.
PCOS affects about 20% of women of reproductive age (between late adolescence and menopause). (1) Almost 70 per cent of cases remain undiagnosed. It is even more common in infertile women.
Diagnosis of PCOS usually involves a consultation, a blood test for various hormones, and an ultrasound. Polycystic ovaries usually but not always show on an ultrasound. About a third of all women may have polycystic ovaries show on an ultrasound, but they do not have PCOS symptoms. About 20% of post-menopausal women are shown to have polycystic ovaries on ultrasound yet may have no symptoms of PCOS.
Note: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is not the same as an ovarian cyst, and the two should not be confused. An ovarian cyst is usually a single, large, sometimes painful cyst.
Symptoms of PCOS
Symptoms can begin during puberty. Each woman's symptoms may be different, but usually they will include some or all of the following:
- Menstrual problems. Periods may be delayed or not happen at all (amenorrhoea). Some women with PCOS do not menstruate, even for many years. Alternatively, periods can be more frequent than usual, with irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Overweight or obesity, particularly around the abdomen. (Obesity is actually more a cause of PCOS than one of its symptoms.)
- Abdominal pain, often only on one side, and often more painful at certain times of the month.
- Hair growing with male characteristics. Body hair on the chest or abdomen, and excess or thicker hair on the face. Hair loss or thinning hair on the scalp in the classic male baldness pattern.
- Reduced fertility (difficulty in becoming pregnant) with less frequent or absent ovulation.
- Mood swings, anxiety, depression.
- High blood pressure.
- Problems getting pregnant, or infertility.
- Thirst or excessive urination.
- Vaginal thrush (candidiasis).
- A variety of chronic skin infections including acne.
- All the symptoms of metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
Causes of PCOS
- PCOS is primarily a disease of hormonal upsets, although the exact mechanism is not clear. It involves high insulin levels, high levels of androgens (made by the ovaries rather than the adrenal glands), low sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and high testosterone levels. These imbalances are brought on by the causes listed below.
- Insulin resistance. PCOS is common in women with diabetes or pre-diabetes (metabolic syndrome).
- Overweight or obesity.
- All the causes above are brought on by a diet high in sugar, sweet foods, starches and refined carbohydrates.
- Vitamin D deficiency.
- Iodine deficiency.
- Stress. Prolonged psychological stress.
- Sedentary lifestyle with insufficient regular and enjoyable exercise (like lots of walking every day).
- Genetic. In some cases PCOS can run in a family.
Consequences of PCOS
- Infertility.
- Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. The raised insulin level associated with PCOS tends to get worse with age. By the time they reach menopause, about 50% of women with PCOS will also have type 2 diabetes, and most of the remainder are likely to have metabolic syndrome.
- High blood triglycerides and a poor blood cholesterol profile. High risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.
- Endometrial cancer. The lack of regular ovulation and infrequent periods inhibit the proper cleansing of the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and function of the ovaries. This raises the risk of cancer.
Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for PCOS
- The key to recovering from PCOS is getting your insulin back to a low and steady level. A low carb diet, regular and enjoyable exercise, and the other remedies listed below help in attaining this goal.
- Stop consuming sugar, sweet foods, and any foods to which sugar has been added. Avoid refined carbohydrates. Eat real foods, not factory-made processed food.
- Stop snacking. Eat in a time-restricted window, or even better start fasting. When you are eating the right foods you will have plenty of energy and will not feel hungry.
- Lose weight. Research (1) has shown that even "modest weight loss of 5% to 10% of initial body weight has been demonstrated to improve many of the features of PCOS", such as helping restore hormone imbalance, more regular periods and improved fertility.
- Vitamin D and sunlight.
- Iodine.
- Exercise. Regular (daily), enjoyable exercise. Avoid sustained periods of inactivity. More intense aerobic cardiovascular exercise a couple of times per week, even for short periods.
- Reduce stress. Try to avoid stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and other drugs. Take time out, start meditating, review how you are living your life (again, Grow Youthful can help here).
- Progesterone. Consider using a natural progesterone cream. Important - do not use synthetic progesterone look-alikes, they make the situation worse.
- See details of remedies recommended by Grow Youthful visitors, and their experience with them.
References
1. H Teede, A Deeks, L Moran.
Polycystic ovary syndrome: a complex condition with psychological, reproductive and metabolic manifestations that impacts on health across the lifespan.
30 June 2010. BMC Medicine 2010, 8:41 doi:10.1186/1741-7015-8-41.