Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common female endocrine disorders affecting approximately 5%-10% of women of reproductive age (12-45years old) and was once thought erroneously to be one of the leading causes of infertility.
The principal features are obesity, anovulation (resulting in irregular menstruation), acne, and excessive amounts or effects of androgenic (masculinizing) hormones. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly among women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity are all strongly correlated with PCOS.
Over the last couple years I've had at least six clients who have been diagnosed with PCOS. What really pisses me off about PCOS is the lack of help these women get at their doctor's offices. They get the diagnosis. They are told not to worry. It's not serious. Often they get asked if they are trying to get pregnant. If not, no worries.
Then they are sometimes prescribed drugs like metformin, an anti-diabetic drug and sent on their way without any further advice. Ahhh! Maybe a little encouragement to lose weight
Not everyone with PCOS is overweight and PCOS doesn't always present the same in everyone. I'm not doctor. But the deal with PCOS is that losing weight can become very hard for some people. And drug therapy doesn't work for everyone.
But anyone being diagnosed with PCOS and being prescribed an anti-diabetic drug should be getting nutritional and lifestyle advice. How about a referral to a nutritionist who can help manage the insulin resistance that often goes along with PCOS. I wish doctors would tell their patients that often a low GI diet can really help with managing PCOS and can even help regulate menstrual cycles. I wish with all my heart that OHIP could help cover fitness programs. Regular exercise and strength training (according to moi) will help with insulin resistance. More muscle = more insulin receptors so that sugar doesn't float around in the blood for longer forcing another jolt of insulin.
Although I hate diet books, I'm so happy to see that PCOS diet book is coming out in November 2010:
The PCOS Diet Plan: A Natural Approach to Health for Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Hillary Wright.
Here's a link to a bunch of PCOS books from eating to other strategies for managing the condition.
Eating a low glycemic diet is pretty common sense. But maybe having a book come out that publicly acknowledges the benefit of a low GI diet will encourage better advice from docs.
Anyone with PCOS and anyone else for that matter should be exercising regularly, strength training at least twice a week, focus on getting to a healthy body weight and should stay away from processed food and simple carbs. But people with conditions like PCOS are special and need to focus on self-care even more. Even if someone with PCOS doesn't lose weight, healthy eating and exercise (with strength work...sorry can't say it enough) can manage PCOS and improve fertility.
One of my former clients with PCOS managed to get pregnant without IVF and never developed gestational diabetes (another issue for people with PCOS). She did a pre-conception type boot camp. All she did was exercise 4-5 days a week and started including protein and good fats at every meal and limited simple carbs. She carried her baby to full term no problemo and had a natural birth.
So people with PCOS should not treat their condition with passivity. I refer many of my clients with hormone related issues to Dr. Penny Kendall Reed ND at PKR Health. If you're having any adverse reactions to the drug therapy or if you just want to limit the adverse affects of your condition, get some help.
Jane
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