PCOS: All you need is the right guidance

PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome, known as PCOS, is one of the most common hormonal imbalances or metabolic disorders of today. To further understand its commonality, surveys state that , A hormonal disorder among females, PCOS includes irregular periods, excess hair growth, and weight gain. It occurs when the ovaries produce too much of the hormone testosterone – primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. This can cause the ovaries to become enlarged and can lead to the development of cysts (small sacs of fluid) on the ovaries.

A stark contraction between what you already know and what it actually is, is valid enough. Identifying the first signs of PCOS is not only driven by your awareness of PCOS but also your willingness to know more, barring the various myths surrounding PCOS. A key hindrance in figuring out the exact figures is that PCOS is not an easily diagnosed disorder. Hence, we estimate the actual numbers may be even as high as 50% in certain clusters. Unfortunately, this lack of timely diagnosis leads to many women not receiving proper help. This is the primary cause of the unawareness of PCOS treatment or even the knowledge that most, if not all, of their symptoms could be reversed.

So what are the main symptoms of PCOS?

Can PCOS be cured permanently?

How to check for PCOS?

What is the best treatment for PCOS?

As you read further, you would find a number of queries being resolved and by the end of it, have a clearer idea on your next set of actions to be taken.

Getting to the Roots: PCOS Causes

Like  any other modern-day ailment, the initial step to counter the problem is to identify, assess and get to the root cause. Merely curing it for the sake of it or temporary relief can rather exaggerate the problem. In case you are still wondering about can PCOS be cured permanently? Yes. So what is the best treatment for PCOS? Since the primary root cause of PCOS is driven by lifestyle, thus, the most effective long term reversing solution is making relevant changes in one’s lifestyle along with the following:

• Correcting nutritional imbalances through food choices
• Reducing and removing Infections/inflammations in the body
• Addressing dehydration
• Identification and removal of environmental toxins & protection from EMR
• Addressing insulin resistance – since too much insulin stimulates the ovaries to increase their production of androgens, upsetting the male/female ratio of hormones and leading to the many downstream manifestations of PCOS
• Addressing & fixing Gut Dysbiosis and building a healthy gut
• Reducing chronic stress

Among the various forms of treatment available, the most effective is an early PCOS diagnosis along with a personalized treatment plan. This is aimed at reducing long-term impact on health. What are the ways to check for PCOS? You could prepare your PCOS symptoms checklist after doing a thorough research from the right sources to counter any misleading information. What are the first signs of PCOS? For beginners, it is important to note that most, not all, women with PCOS have insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is therefore, among the root causes of PCOS. So as a step ahead in countering this ailment, focusing on insulin resistance and other lifestyle changes, can help to treat PCOS as a whole.

What Causes Large Cysts in the Ovary?

Large cysts in the ovary can be a result of several other underlying causes. The most common of these is when ovaries are not producing eggs or ovulating consistently. In other words, the egg maturity process is impaired, so the follicles are trying to mature but are not able to finish the process and allow for ovulation. This results in a lot of cysts, which are an evidence of attempted maturation, but because the eggs are underdeveloped they do not lead to ovulation. Although ovarian cysts are not a major enabler of PCOS. This means that ovarian cysts are not fundamental to the occurrence of PCOS.

Another important observation is that you could be suffering from PCOS without necessarily having cysts in your ovaries. This means that you may have a normal ovary along with the symptoms of PCOS. Polycystic ovary is only a symptom of PCOS and not the cause.

Do you have PCOS?

As you would gauge from the numerous women who suffer from Polycystic ovary syndrome, the utmost rage is usually against side effects of unwanted facial/body hair and male pattern balding. By taking a closer view on how to detect PCOS, you would eventually gain more information and enhance your ability to take better control.

Below are the two primary causes of PCOS:

1. Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance is when the body doesn’t respond properly to insulin, and this can lead to high levels of sugar in the blood. Women with PCOS are more likely to have insulin resistance, excess body fat, and high waist-to-hip ratios. Type 2 diabetes often begins with insulin resistance. This means that the body’s cells don’t respond properly to insulin. As a result, blood sugar levels become elevated. That’s why it’s important to get your insulin levels checked frequently if you have Polycystic ovary syndrome.
2. Estrogen dominance: Estrogen dominance is a state in which a woman has too much estrogen in her body relative to her levels of other hormones, including progesterone. This can occur during PCOS. Estrogen dominance can be caused by a variety of factors, including birth control pills, obesity, and stress.

Wondering what leads to insulin resistance and/or estrogen dominance? Here’s a quick overview:

• Poor diet-including refined carbohydrates/sugar/trans fats
• Nutritional deficiency
• Food sensitivities like gluten, dairy, etc.
• Increased gut permeability
• Imbalance in gut
• Microbiome / dysbiosis
• Malabsorption
• Chronic stress
• Non-native EMF
• Toxin load from heavy metals, plastics, personal care products, etc.
• Poor detoxification can cause constipation, etc.
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Estrogen mimicking foods-dairy & meat fed with hormones, or hybrid soya
• Human genome

1. Most PCOS cycles can be anovulatory cycles: Many women with PCOS have anovulatory cycles, which means that they don’t ovulate. When this happens, the body produces more testosterone. The brain is still trying to stimulate ovulation, which causes the body to release more luteinizing hormones. When the ovaries are overwhelmed with luteinizing hormones, they produce higher levels of testosterone.
2. Testosterone is a male hormone: Testosterone is a hormone present in both men and women, but at much higher levels in men. Testosterone is responsible for the development of male characteristics, such as facial and body hair. In women, high levels of testosterone can lead to an increase in body hair, particularly on the face, around the nipples, or on the belly button area as a symptom of Polycystic ovary syndrome.
3. High dihydrotestosterone or DHT: High testosterone levels can lead to an increase in the levels of dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT is a hormone that can contribute to hair loss in men and in women suffering from PCOS.
4. Large cysts with hormonal imbalance: Larger cysts can develop and cause physical impingement, but they typically go away on their own. In rare cases, they would have to be removed if they’re growing uncontrollably due to PCOS.

Spreading Awareness with Self-Diagnosis

Adding to the discomfort, there are other symptoms associated with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The most common and evident symptoms are as follows:

• Acne: Androgens play a role in sebum production. Sebum is a type of oil that is secreted by the skin’s oil glands. If there is an excess of sebum, it can lead to the pores becoming blocked. When the pores are blocked, it can cause whiteheads, blackheads or acne. Eventually, ruining your look and vibe for times when you would instead, want to feel your best.
• Weight gain or trouble losing weight: Women with PCOS frequently have hormonal imbalances which can impact their metabolism and lead to weight gain. It makes it an immense struggle especially for women who suffer with body dysmorphia as well and/or are not yet been diagnosed by the syndrome.
• Extra hair on the face and body: Women suffering from PCOS often experience changes in facial hair, including increased growth and darkness. They may also notice more hair on the chest, belly, and back.
• Thinning of hair on the scalp: A high level of androgen leads to loss of hair around the temple region and scalp, in women. In a way, they experience balding, facilitated by PCOS. It is not as common as the other symptoms, but an evident one among many.
• Mood swings: Women with PCOS are more likely to experience anxiety and or depression. Given that there are not enough resources for mental health support or diagnosis anyway, short-term episodes of anxiety or related neurodivergent disorders are an added struggle.
• Bloating: Women with PCOS typically have an imbalance of gut bacteria that can reduce nutrient absorption and cause difficulty digesting food.
• Irregular periods: Under this syndrome, women often experience irregular menstrual cycles with fewer than nine periods in a given year. Some women may stop menstruating altogether, while others may have heavy bleeding.
• Fertility problems: PCOS is often characterized by an excess of androgenic hormones. Many women who have PCOS experience problems while conceiving.

Seek Proper Cure: Stay Away from Misguidance

Are you done making your PCOS checklist? After having gone through the above details, you might wonder if you have PCOS. You might have already begun with a bit of self-diagnosis, As you realise the need to take any further steps or get a health check-up to detect the symptoms of PCOS, we repeat – keep yourself safe from the half truths that are more dangerous than the completely hidden lies.

If you have PCOS, please don’t get a treatment that promotes itself as a cure against the “permanent nature of PCOS”. PCOS is not permanent because PCOS can be cured permanently. Solely because it is a lifestyle disease which can be reversed by addressing the root cause. An accurate diagnosis along with your personal symptoms and signs followed by a personalized plan and interventions can not only help you with your immediate concerns but also help to improve your long-term health.

Drugs only provide symptomatic relief.

Hence ask yourself, what do you want to choose – A temporary band-aid fix or a complete reversal?

References:-

1. John E.Nestler. (1997) Insulin regulation of human ovarian androgens.
2. Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome. (2004, January 1). ScienceDirect.
3. Dunaif, A. (1997). Insulin Resistance and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Mechanism and Implications for Pathogenesis. Endocrine Reviews, 18(6), 774–800. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.18.6.774
4. Pelusi B, Gambineri A, Pasquali R. Type 2 diabetes and the polycystic ovary syndrome. Minerva Ginecol. 2004 Feb;56(1):41-51. PMID: 14973409.
5. Diamanti-Kandarakis E., Bourguignon, J. P., Giudice, L. C., Hauser, R., Prins, G. S., Soto, A. M., Zoeller, R. T., & Gore, A. C. (2009). Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Endocrine Reviews, 30(4), 293–342. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2009-0002
6. De Leo V, Musacchio MC, Morgante G, La Marca A, Petraglia F. Polycystic ovary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Minerva Ginecol. 2004 Feb;56(1):53-62. PMID: 14973410.

Source credit for this blog: Dr. Ruhi Agarwala, FM Diagnostics