We see a lot of young women in the clinic diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS is a hormonal condition and is associated with symptoms of irregular ovulation, irregular periods, increased androgen (male hormone) activity, insulin resistance and weight gain.

This all sounds very medical, so today I am going to break down PCOS for you. To make this condition more understanding and give you some tools that can help you on your journey.

Let’s start

• Firstly I would like to clarify PCOS is not an ovarian syndrome. The cause of PCOS is a combination of a metabolic and genetic condition.
• The best way to diagnose PCOS is to have a pelvic ultrasound scan.
• The medical term “polycystic ovaries” is described by the appearance of more than 12 follicles on each ovary. The ovaries are generally larger in size.
• Women diagnosed with PCOS do not react normally to insulin.
• Did you know that insulin molecule is very similar in shape to another molecule that has receptors and lives on our ovaries.
• When we consume foods that contain sugar, the body requires extra insulin to process the sugar.
• The higher levels of insulin released into the blood stream effect different areas of our body including messing with the signal on our ovaries. Remember that the insulin molecule is similar in shape to another on our ovaries.
• Insulin then falsely attaches to our ovary causing it to release too much male hormone. This causes increased facial hair and body hair growth, acne and weight gain.
• What happens next is the excess male androgen hormone then gets converted to excess estrogen in our fat cells. Estrogen is stored in our adipose (fat) tissue.
• This excess estrogen makes weight loss difficult leading to weight gain.
• Estrogen is also our hormone that is responsible for creating and thickening our endometrial lining in our uterus.
• With PCOS it is much harder for women to lose weight and keep it off due their body’s resistance to insulin. As you continue to gain weight the fat cells continue to secrete additional hormones that worsen the insulin resistance. It then becomes a viscous cycle.
• The ovary desperately tries to make its egg grow each month, however despite its attempt the egg never reaches maturity. This hormonal imbalance results in the ovaries filling with cysts and creating immature follicles. This leads to a swollen ovary with multiple tiny cysts. This can impede ovulation and cause a long follicular phase or prevent ovulation entirely.
• For those trying to conceive. Women will struggle with fertility due to the ovaries inability to ovulate despite its best effort.

To be correctly diagnosed with PCOS there are several blood tests that will help support your diagnosis along with your scan.

1. Irregular Periods
2. Elevated Testosterone levels > 1.8 (lab results)
3. Elevated levels of DHEA (lab results)
4. Increased levels of insulin – glucose fasting blood test

No need to worry! PCOS is a challenging condition but the good news is it’s manageable and treatable!

Eating well and exercising are your best strategies for maximizing ovulation and fertility when you have PCOS. For both Western and Chinese medicine the first line of treatment is diet and weight control. I recommend eating vegetables, some fruits, whole grains and lean poultry. These foods have many healthy attributes and help improves the body’s use of insulin and processing of sugars. They help normalize blood sugar and hormone levels.

I advise cutting out junk food, processed food and added sugars. You should put more emphasis on healthy fats and protein and limit starchy carbs. For some women, reducing insulin levels and improving insulin sensitivity through weight loss, a low glycemic diet and exercise can restore normal ovulation.

Angea’s Top 10 Tips for PCOS

• Eat a wide range of vegetables and proteins such as chicken, fish and beans.
• Balance your blood sugar by limiting your carbohydrate intake. Don’t cut out carbs altogether, as that will lower seratonin levels and leave you feeling depressed. Instead, eat healthy carbs such as whole grains.
• Keep your blood sugar stable by eating regular meals and snacks every three to five hours that includes some protein and good fats
• Get plenty of antioxidants nutrients from foods and supplements. They fight inflammation, which can exacerbate PCOS.
• Get regular exercise to increase your metabolism,
• Try Women’s Health Yoga or meditation
• Protein foods take up to 5 hours to digest while carbohydrate foods digest within 30 minutes. Have a small portion of protein with each meal.
• Add one or two Tbsp of cinnamon to food to help decrease insulin resistance.
• Have a cup of legumes weekly
• Try not too stress

Would you like to try and regulate your cycle?

Are you unsure if you have PCOS?

Would you like to know more on how to treat PCOS?

For Women’s Wellness week we are giving away our complimentary “PCOS tea” along with all PCOS Acupuncture consultations for only $80. Normally $155. You SAVE $75

To book an appointment you visit us online at www.mindbodyonline.com or call the clinic on 9510 3700.

Connect to your inner goddess mind-body-spirit.

Lots of love

Amanda & The Angea Team.