A Modern Plague on Women; Understanding PCOS and How it Can Be Managed
By Rachel Scott
The weather forecast shows a 20% chance of rain today.. we automatically ready our umbrellas and brace ourselves, right? It seems that we take our hypothetical day-to-day weather more seriously than actual health conditions. 20% of women in Northern Ireland also have PCOS, 70% of which are undiagnosed and most likely, unaware that they even have this condition. The long-lasting symptoms that these women manage alone, more often than not, go unspoken and therefore untreated.
The list of potential symptoms are exhaustive, but can be summarised to:
- Irregular periods
- Difficulty maintaining a healthy weight
- Increased PMS
- Thinning hair or alternatively excess hair
- Acne
- Fertility problems
The frustrating factor, is that many women that may have this condition seek out help via their GP, and instead of answers, they just receive more questions. Some GPs may try to quickly be rid of the unwanted annoyance by attributing it to hormones (which in part is correct but does nothing to counteract the problem), others may thrust the combined contraceptive pill as a magic cure for the problem, however this only acts as a mask for the real underlying issue.
PCOS, (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) CAN be controlled. In order to do so, it is important to understand the condition. PCOS can be divided into 4 categories:
- Insulin resistant, the most common type, where elevated insulin causes the ovaries to produce more androgens.
- Inflammatory, hormone imbalance impaired by inflammation.
- Adrenal, excess cortisol in the body spurring the adrenal glands on to produce excess androgens.
- Pill induced, a rarer type caused by the hormonal changes from the contraceptive pill.
Regardless of which type of PCOS you may have, all can be boiled down to hormone levels in the female reproductive system, which prevents a healthy and regular menstrual cycle and ovulation. The excess androgen hormones being produced from the ovaries often prevents ovulation from occurring, in which case, the unfertilised egg becomes a small fluid filled follicle on the ovary. These small cysts produce even more androgens which further exacerbate the problem.
The issue with the current treatment using the combined contraceptive pill, is that there are correlations between the pill and weight gain, which only fuels the problem, making it worse. The fact that the pill will regulate periods whist taking the medication, does not treat the issue, but rather acts as a sticky plaster. Regular periods do not necessarily mean regular ovulation. The excess androgens will still be present on the ovaries and the other symptoms will continue. Fast forward to a time when you may want to conceive, this is when women with PCOS have to face their issue. The many years of sticking heads in the sand or using the pill will have had no effect in improving a woman’s ability to conceive if ovulation is still impaired.
What can be done?
The first thing any doctor will tell you if you have PCOS is to lose weight. Obviously, this is easier said than done whenever the condition works as a vicious cycle. Addressing the underlying issues is a much more effective way to treat PCOS (Please note that there is no set cure for the condition. It can be managed through lifestyle but sadly there is no magic tablet to make it go away.
- Naturally lower androgens, foods that contain omega 3 fatty acids, as well as spearmint tea ca be helpful in managing androgen levels
- Reduce cortisol levels as this can result in excess androgenic secretion. Mindfulness activities, and a nutritious diet should help lower cortisol. Ashwagandha tea is a personal favourite of mine for relaxation.
- Maintain a healthy gut. Gut health is instrumental to all other strands of health. A poor gut biome can impact how the body responds to insulin and inflammation.
- Reduce inflammation, physical signs of inflammation could include swelling, rashes and rosacea flare ups. Anti- inflammatory diets can be helpful i.e. controlling the amount of dairy in your diet.
- Glucose. Avoid constant small spikes of blood glucose levels i.e. have that sweet treat right after your meal instead of an hour later, as this will just result in another glucose spike. Glucose levels are connected to the insulin resistance problem, which is connected to the excess androgen production, which contributes to the development of PCOS. I know, mind-blowing how it’s all related.
Final thoughts: PCOS is a very real and very prevalent condition which often goes undiagnosed. It often isn’t until later when a woman tries to conceive when all the puzzle pieces of symptoms come together to form a diagnosis. This condition, however, is manageable. I can vouch for that myself. I’m not a scientist, I’m just disillusioned by the NHS. Influencers such as the glucose goddess, or books such as living PCOS free by Dr. Nitu Bejekal, have been instrumental in increasing my awareness of the condition.
Source
[1] NHS hospital buddy, 1956 PCOS information leaflet
