Understanding and Treating PCOS

Losing Weight with PCOS

Posted in PCOS on December 14th, 2006

One of the major obstacles facing women with PCOS is the weight gain that has become synonymous with it. Approximately 50 to 60% of all women with PCOS are classified as obese. One of the major reasons why obesity is common in PCOS sufferers is the body’s inability to process insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the conversion of sugar, starches and other food into energy for the body to use or into fat for the body to store. Women with PCOS make too much insulin; therefore a special diet must be adhered to in order to prevent weight gain. In healthy women, studies have shown that losing just 5% of your body weight can lead to an improvement in skin clarity, improve the regularity of menstrual cycles and decreased insulin levels. So for women with PCOS, losing even a small amount of weight can have massive benefits.

The common sense diet that most healthy people use to lose weight might not work for many PCOS sufferers. Adding extra carbohydrates to your diet, especially in the form of sweets, white bread and white rice, also know as refined carbs, will rapidly turn to sugar in the body and cause higher levels of insulin. High levels of insulin have been known to cause a myriad of health problems for PCOS sufferers. A better way to approach dieting for women with PCOS is a low glycemic diet (Low G.I). This is essentially any diet that limits foods that the body can quickly turn into sugar.

Once you’ve cut down on the amount of refined carbs in your diet, it may take some guesswork to find the optimal balance for your body. There are several dietary suggestions available, such as the food pyramid, which states that you should receive approximately 55% of your calories from carbs, a diet called “The Zone”, which says 40% is the desirable target and even diets like Atkins which say no more than 20% of your calories should be from carbs. There is no way to say which dietary plan will work for you, personally. Every woman is different, and that difference is amplified with PCOS.

Recent studies have shown that for women suffering from PCOS, a diet with approximately 50% of calories from carbs is recommended, but only if you’re not obese and you exercise regularly. If you’re obese and you’ve shown to be resistant to insulin, you shouldn’t consume more than 40% of your calories from carbs, or even less depending on your degree of carb resistance. These, however, are only guidelines. The most important thing you can do before staring a dietary regimen is to consult a doctor who is knowledgeable about PCOS.

A good way to tell if the diet is “working” is if you have fewer cravings and a higher energy level, weight loss, decreased insulin levels in the body and regular periods.

Please be aware that some of the popular diets out there tell people to replace carbs in their diets with fat. This isn’t a wise choice for women with PCOS, since PCOS raises a woman’s chances of heart disease and a high fat diet seriously raises the risks further. Make your diet as healthy as possible, it’ll be easier to follow and the results will be better for you!

For more information on living with and treating PCOS discover the PCOS Matters Gold Audio Interviews. By listening to these interviews you will learn:

* Gentle and effective therapies…with no dangerous or embarrassing side effects

* A thorough medical view of PCOS…never feel at a loss with your doctor again

* Medical, nutritional and natural remedies for a successful, healthy pregnancy:
Click Here For More Information

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PCOS and Fertility

Posted in PCOS on October 31st, 2006

Unfortunately, one of the most common side effects of living with PCOS is infertility. Since the ovaries are not able to function properly due to a lack of hormones, having consistent and regular periods are uncommon. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to get pregnant and most sufferers with PCOS struggle to fall pregnant without the help of various fertility medications.

These medications come in both natural and drug forms and each have their own side effects. As a last resort, in vitro fertilization has been recommended if natural conception isn’t possible. The best thing a PCOS sufferer can do is to speak to their doctor about what fertility treatment is best for them.

One of the most popular drugs used for sufferers of PCOS is called clomiphene. This drug is often prescribed to women that haven’t had their periods for an extended length of time. Clomiphene, in addition to hormone therapy, has been successful in inducing menstruation for many PCOS sufferers so that pregnancy becomes possible. Studies have shown that between 70-90 percent of women who take the drug ovulate, with a pregnancy rate varying from 30-70 percent.

As with all drugs, there are side effects associated with clomiphene. Users have reported hot flashes, abdominal discomfort (already common in women with PCOS) and blurred vision.

Another popular treatment is hormone injections with hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). HCG can trigger ovulation in women who don’t produce enough of the hormone to trigger it themselves.

A final alternative is what is called gonadotropin therapy. This is also a form of hormone injection that can trick the body into ovulation. This treatment has the highest rate of pregnancy (60%), but 35% of those pregnancies have been shown to end in miscarriage. Also, with this hormone treatment, the likelihood of a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets or more) is much greater. A multiple pregnancy is considered high-risk for the mother and the babies.

There are natural alternatives to PCOS-induced infertility. While doctors may disagree on the effectiveness of these treatments, if you wish to keep your body as chemical-free as possible, you might want to take these methods into consideration.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of healing pain, stress and pretty much everything else with the use of thin, sharp needles. It is based on the idea that the body should have a balance in the energy that flows through it to remain healthy. If you are experiencing pain or sickness, than your body is not properly balanced. Acupuncture is used to realign the body back to health.

Homeopathic healing is another popular alternative. Trained Homeopaths look to treat the symptoms instead of the conditions since PCOS sufferers all tend to have their own unique individual symptoms. Before any remedies are given, a person’s complete family history, their medical history and things like moods, likes, dislikes, sexual history and emotional state are taken into consideration.

The use of herbs as fertility drugs has been around since the beginning of time. Herbs such as liferoot, chasteberry, partridgeberry and red clover show incredible potential to help in fertility treatments.

No matter what path you choose, please know that no treatment is absolute and that the path to parenthood may be a tough one. Be patient and stay positive and you might hear the pitter-patter of little feet sooner rather than later.

For more information on living with and treating PCOS discover the PCOS Matters Gold Audio Interviews. By listening to these interviews you will learn:

* Why natural, holistic health therapies shouldn’t be your last resort

* Medical, nutritional and natural remedies for a successful, healthy pregnancy:

* Gentle and effective therapies…with no dangerous or embarrassing side effects

* A thorough medical view of PCOS…never feel at a loss with your doctor again

* Medical, nutritional and natural remedies for a successful, healthy pregnancy:
Click Here For More Information

PCOS Diet

Posted in PCOS on October 24th, 2006

Losing weight and eating right with PCOS can be tough. The PCOS body doesn’t process insulin normally, so a controlled diet should be adhered to remain healthy. But if weight loss isn’t on your agenda, how can a person with PCOS eat right and how different is that diet than what you’re already use to?

The key for PCOS sufferers is the same non-sufferers: Balance. You don’t need to go out and purchase special foods that are only for PCOS sufferers. The best thing you can do is to stick to a diet of veggies, fruit, whole grains and lean meats (stay away from processed foods, this is even more important for women with PCOS). Another good tip is to start reading food labels at the grocery store, if you don’t already. Try to buy foods with high fibre and avoid low fiber foods like regular pasta and white rice.

Reading food labels is just the beginning, however. You have to understand what you’re reading to get the full benefit. Foods that are listed as “fat-free” sound like something you would want to add to your diet, but be careful. Most of the time, these foods are high in sugar, and that can be bad news for women with PCOS. At the same time, foods that are listed as “sugar-free” can still raise your insulin level if they contain high amounts of white baking flour or other high-carb ingredients. The best thing to do to satisfy your sweet tooth is to look for foods like sugar-free Jell-O, diet pop, Crystal Light and sugar-free popsicles because they are not only sugar free, but carb free, as well.

If you can’t stay away from those refined carbs, try to slow them down by adding protein or a little fat. If you have to have bread with dinner, try putting some peanut butter or, even better, hummus on it. The addition of the protein or fat will slow the absorption of the carbs into your blood stream and help keep the insulin levels down, too.

Also, don’t forget that not all fats are created equal. Try to stick with the healthy fats found in foods like nuts, avocados, fish, canola and olive oil, as opposed to foods high in saturated fats such as margarine, cheese, red meat and mayonnaise.

Finally, some common sense tips to keep in mind when it comes to eating right with PCOS. The most important thing is attitude. Don’t get down about not having your favourites and stay positive about what you can have. You will feel better, look better and be happier if you don’t look at your PCOS diet as a burden, but as a chance to try new things and feel healthier.

Try not to get frustrated because you don’t lose weight right away, the goal isn’t necessarily to shed pounds quickly, a healthy diet is a long-term eating plan to keep your body healthy. Lastly, please consult a doctor before you make any drastic changes to your eating habits or patterns. You should already have a doctor helping you with your PCOS, have him or her recommend a dietician who can help put together a diet that will work for you!

For more information on living with and treating PCOS discover the PCOS Matters Gold Audio Interviews. By listening to these interviews you will learn:
* How to avoid fad diets and create an effective long term answer to nutrition and health
* Gentle and effective therapies…with no dangerous or embarrassing side effects
* A thorough medical view of PCOS…never feel at a loss with your doctor again
* Medical, nutritional and natural remedies for a successful, healthy pregnancy:
Click Here For More Information

How Do I Know If I Have PCOS

Posted in PCOS on October 17th, 2006

PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a health condition that affects approximately 8 to 10 percent of all women that have the ability to have children, making it one of the most common ailments women face today. So, how do you know if you have PCOS?

Women that have PCOS usually display the following characteristics:
- Higher than normal hormones (usually male), called androgens
- Irregular or non-existent menstrual cycle
- They also may have small cysts (small sacs filled with fluid) on their ovaries.

Women with PCOS can experience a wide range of symptoms, including, but not limited to: irregular bleeding in lieu of a period or no period at all. Suffer with infertility or the inability to get pregnant because of a lack of ovulation. An increase of hair growth on the chest, face, back, stomach, fingers or toes. Increased presence of acne and oily skin along with dandruff. Commonly felt is pain in the pelvic area with obvious weight gain, especially around the midsection. The development of type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol and increased blood pressure are also risks. Baldness (male-pattern) or a thinning of hair can occur as can patches of darkened, thickened skin on the arms, neck, thighs and breasts or the development of skin tags and possibly sleep apnea.

The causes of PCOS are unknown at this time. While there is evidence that most PCOS sufferers do have a sister or mother who also has PCOS, there is no concrete evidence showing a genetic connection. To understand PCOS fully, it helps to have a complete knowledge of the female reproductive system and how PCOS affects women. The ovaries are made up of two tiny organs located on either side of the uterus and are dotted with follicles. Follicles are tiny sacs that contain liquid that keep hold of the eggs. Another name for the sacs are cysts. As with all women, about twenty different eggs in the ovaries begin to grow each month, but most times, only one egg wins out. As that one dominant egg matures, the cyst gathers liquid in it. When the egg reaches maturity, the cyst bursts open to allow the egg to travel up the fallopian tube to be fertilized. This is what is called ovulation.

For women that suffer from PCOS, the ovaries do not make the proper hormones needed for the egg to fully grow and be released. Most times, the eggs will begin to mature and gather liquid, but no single egg becomes mature enough to be released for ovulation. Instead, the eggs remain in the cysts. Since there is no egg released, ovulation never happens and the hormone known as progesterone isn’t made. Without the hormone, the woman’s menstrual cycle is absent or very irregular. Making things worse, the cysts can produce a male hormone, which further inhibits ovulation.

There is no cure for PCOS at this time, and the onset of PCOS can spell a myriad of health problems. Eating a healthy diet, losing weight, getting pregnant and even enjoying exercise can become a major challenge. For more information on living with and treating PCOS symptoms please visit:

Understanding And Treating PCOS

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Benefits of Exercise on PCOS

Posted in PCOS on October 10th, 2006

While there is no scientific proof that exercise helps those suffering with PCOS more than it helps the average person, common sense does tell us that since such a large number of women with PCOS are obese exercise is vital to long-term health.

Exercise helps the body’s cells use sugar for energy, reducing the amount in the blood stream. For PCOS sufferers who are also type-2 diabetic, it’s believed that exercise helps the body use insulin in a more efficient way. But that’s not the only benefit. Exercise has been shown to improve circulation, reduce blood pressure, increase levels of good cholesterol, build muscle and help in weight loss.

Exercise in women with PCOS is also believed to help regulate abnormal menstrual cycles. And although no major studies have been done, exercise is thought to help PCOS sufferers deal with blood pressure issues and even with excessive hair growth due to high levels of male hormone found in women with PCOS.

So, the common sense benefits of exercise are clear. The question is then, what’s the right routine and how do I stick to it? The answer will be different for everyone, but there are a few guidelines you can use. First off, consult a doctor. He or she can help point you in the right direction and make sure you don’t overdo it. The second thing is to keep it fun! Exercise can be so much more than just running around the block until you can’t run anymore, or sitting on a stationary bike in a crowded gym for an hour.

The best way to keep exercise fun and to help make sure that you stick to it is to get an exercise buddy. This way, you can set goals and try to help each other achieve them. You can do tandem exercises like playing basketball or even a spirited game of catch. You can make a list of fun things do to so that every time you exercise, you’re doing something different and things don’t get repetitive and boring.
Also, listen to your body. Don’t overdo things, and if you come back from a day out and you’re sore, it’s ok to take a day off until you feel better.

Don’t be afraid to try unorthodox methods of exercise. Going for a hike in the woods counts just as much as doing a workout tape in front of the TV. Ice skating is a fantastic aerobic workout and can be substituted for a long run. A night out dancing at a club instead of a bike ride works just fine. Don’t be afraid to try new things and keep your exercise routines fresh and exciting. Getting into a rut of doing the same few things over and over is the number one cause of people giving up on their exercise. The most important thing to remember is to just stay active, no matter what. Since PCOS sufferers are prone to obesity, you have to be extra vigilant with diet and exercise to stay in shape.

For more information on living with and treating PCOS symptoms please visit:
Understanding And Treating PCOS

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Welcome

Posted in PCOS on October 3rd, 2006

Hi and welcome to my brand new Understanding and Treating PCOS blog! I’m really excited about this blog as I’ve got some fantastic indepth articles lined up ready to post all aimed at helping women suffering who are suffering with PCOS. Make sure you come by again real soon and catch the first post.