WHAT IS IT?

Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female disorder of the endocrine system. The symptoms can be varied but are connected by an underlying hormonal imbalance and almost always an excess of androgenic hormones. ‘Polycystic’ ovaries contain several small follicles which have not matured for ovulation, unlike regular ovarian follicles. These follicles are referred to as ‘cysts’ (though, confusingly, they are not actually cysts!) To add to the confusion, not everyone with PCOS has polycystic ovaries – and not everyone with polycystic ovaries has PCOS.

There are actually four different types of PCOS (I have an article dedicated to this):

  • Adrenal PCOS
  • Inflammatory PCOS
  • Post-pill PCOS
  • Insulin-resistant PCOS

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE IT?

You need a doctor’s diagnosis to confirm PCOS. A doctor will usually run various blood tests (testosterone, Leuteinizing Hormone, Follicle-stimulating Hormone, prolactin, Thyroid-stimulating hormone, sex hormone-binging globulin) as well as pelvic ultrasounds to look for enlarged ovaries or ‘cysts’ on the follicles.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

  • Irregular, absent or long menstrual cycles
  • Anovulation (meaning ovulation doesn’t occur)
  • Hirsutism (excess facial or body hair) or hair loss
  • Difficulties managing weight
  • Low mood and low self-esteem
  • Acne

MISCONCEPTIONS

There are several common misconceptions with PCOS. The first is that it makes you infertile – or that you will struggle to get pregnant. Neither is necessarily true. Firstly, PCOS affects women differently, and secondly, it is usually the hormonal imbalance associated with PCOS that affects fertility – and the great news about that is that there is a lot that can be done through diet, lifestyle and supplements.

It is also often assumed that PCOS predominantly affects the ovaries but it actually affect the whole body, including the adrenals, digestion, insulin management and inflammation. This is why I take a holistic approach to PCOS clients – I look at the individual, their health history and their unique experience with the syndrome. We work together, step-by-step, to support the whole body using functional testing, diet and lifestyle changes and supplements.

NEXT UP: THE FOUR TYPES OF PCOS