How to stop polycystic ovary syndrome feeling like a life sentence
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of hormonal problems in women. The symptoms of PCOS vary a lot, and so does the severity. The main ones are:
irregular periods
lack of ovulation
infertility
excessive hair growth or hair in inappropriate places
weight gain
acne / excessively oily skin
If you’ve had a diagnosis of PCOS you’ll probably also have been told there’s no cure. This can be pretty devastating on many levels.
What’s going on in the body?
PCOS is a disorder of the endocrine system. That means it’s to do with hormonal imbalances, mainly the hormone testosterone.
It’s normal for the ovaries to make some testosterone, but with PCOS it’s produced in excess. This can be because levels of luteinising hormone (LH) are too high, or because there’s a problem with insulin (a hormone responsible for balancing blood sugar).
If you have PCOS, the imbalance of hormones means you’re unlikely to ovulate every month. You might assume that getting your period is a sign you’re ovulating, but this isn’t always the case.
Some women with PCOS never ovulate, in others it’s intermittent. This is why it’s a common cause of infertility.
Normally, ovaries are filled with ovarian follicles. Every month these follicles grow, burst and are reabsorbed by the body. (The follicles are a bit like cysts, but different to ovarian cysts that cause pain.)
If you don’t ovulate, the follicles don’t develop properly, and don’t disappear. You end up with multiple follicles (cysts) on the ovaries – hence the term ‘polycystic’ ovaries.
Treatments for PCOS
As there’s no cure for PCOS, conventional medical treatments are aimed at managing the symptoms. There are two main treatments:
The contraceptive pill – this brings about a regular bleed, but it’s not a normal menstrual cycle. The pill can also help control excess hair growth and acne.
Clomiphene and Metformin – these drugs are used to stimulate ovulation in women who are trying to get pregnant.
Diet can help
Women with PCOS often have a problem regulating levels of insulin in their blood. Having high levels of insulin can cause weight gain and may lead to type 2 diabetes.
Insulin imbalance can also make the symptoms of PCOS worse by causing the ovaries to make too much testosterone.
Paying attention to what you eat can help correct insulin imbalances. Eating foods with a low glycaemic index (GI) is the key.
The lower the GI rating the better – these foods are absorbed slowly by the body and keep blood sugar levels steady. Examples of foods with a low GI are:
Vegetables
Wholemeal bread and pasta
Lean meat
Lentils and pulses
Examples of foods to avoid with a high GI are:
Sugar and sugary foods / drinks
White bread, rice and pasta
Potatoes
Saturated fats
Homeopathy can help
You might be very happy with the medication you’re taking to manage symptoms of PCOS.
Medication doesn’t work for everyone though. Some people experience side effects.
It’s important to say that while medication might alleviate the symptoms of PCOS, it doesn’t cure the problem. Once you stop taking it the symptoms come back.
If you want to be medication-free, it’s important to understand why you have PCOS.
Homeopathy is an individualised treatment and takes into account all the symptoms you have and how these affect you.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to PCOS. Homeopathy aims to help the body resolve hormone imbalances so it can work normally.
I know from my own experience that a diagnosis of PCOS doesn’t have to feel like a life sentence.
I was diagnosed with PCOS in my early 30s.
I assumed I might never be able to have children.
I got pregnant naturally several times.
I no longer have polycystic ovaries.
I now have a normal menstrual cycle.
Homeopathy helped make these changes and I’m so grateful I discovered it.
PCOS can be addressed. Book a free call with me to find out more:
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