Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS functions as a type of hormonal disorder that is often seen in many women who are looking to get pregnant. Women with PCOS tend to have prolonged or rather infrequent menstrual periods.
They may also be found to have excess androgen levels in their bodies. Multiple small fluid follicles can be found in the ovaries which can make it difficult for the woman to release eggs regularly.
Causes of Polycystic ovary syndrome
The exact factors responsible for PCOS are not known. However, some of these factors described below may play a role in PCOS.
- Heredity is a common cause responsible for PCOS. Medical researchers have found that certain specific genes have a correlation with PCOS.
- Excess insulin is yet another factor that can give rise to PCOS. Insulin is a type of hormone that is produced within the pancreas. It helps the regulation of sugar in the body and provides it with the energy it needs to manage all functions. When body cells become insulin resistant, the blood sugar levels tend to spike and your body can produce excess amounts of insulin. This can increase androgen production which in turn can lead to ovulation difficulty.
- Excess androgen in the body can cause hirsutism and acne and even make it difficult to get pregnant.
- Low-grade inflammation has been observed to have a strong relation with PCOS. This can trigger the polycystic ovaries to generate androgens that can cause cardiac and blood vessel issues.
It is necessary to diagnose this condition early so that proper procedures can be carried out to treat PCOS. This can help in avoiding long term complications like heart diseases and type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Polycystic ovary syndrome
The symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome are usually noticed during puberty around first instance of menstrual period. In many cases, the signs of PCOS can develop later along with weight gain. The symptoms of PCOS can also vary from one woman to another. Some of the common signs of PCOS are described below.
- The most common type of symptom associated with PCOS is of course irregular periods. If the menstrual periods are irregular, prolonged or rather infrequent, then it can be indicative of PCOS. It is common for a woman having PCOS to have abnormally heavy periods or less than 9 periods within a given year.
- High levels of androgen or the male hormone is related to PCOS. Patients may show signs like hirsutism, male-pattern baldness and severe acne in some occasions.
- Patients of PCOS tend to have polycystic ovaries. The ovaries can get enlarged and have follicles surrounding the eggs. Hence the ovaries can fail to function in a regular manner.
The symptoms of PCOS are usually more severe and critical for women who are obese.
Complications associated with polycystic ovary syndrome
If you don’t treat PCOS it can lead to the following complications.
- Infertility
- Premature birth or miscarriage
- Gestational diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Prediabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Depression and anxiety
- Type 2 diabetes
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
- Eating disorders
- Endometrial cancer
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a type of severe liver inflammation resulting from accumulation of fat in the liver
How to treat PCOS naturally?
If you are diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, there are a number of natural methods that you can try out to treat PCOS.
- Patients of PCOS are normally obese or have a weight problem. Losing weight is therefore considered to be healthy as it can not only reduce the chances of heart diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome but also minimize the severity of the PCOS symptoms.
- It is also essential to get regular exercise as this can help to maintain insulin levels of the body and also improve sleep patterns and moods.
- Foods with anti-inflammatory properties should be included in the diet as PCOS is a form of inflammatory condition. Some of the food items with anti-inflammatory properties include tree nuts, olive oil, leafy greens, tomatoes and fatty fish variants like tuna and mackerel.
- The diet should be filled with whole foods as they do not contain artificial sugars and preservatives. Vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains can be good for the body when you are looking to fight PCOS.
- Since PCOS can cause a lot of bleeding during your menstrual periods, it is advisable that you eat a lot of iron-rich foods to compensate for that.
- Instead of coffee, try to have green tea as it can enhance your insulin receptivity.
- You should also add some generous levels of fibers in your diet so that it can help you to boost the functioning of your digestive system. Avocados, pulses and broccoli are high in fibers.
- Proteins and carbohydrates have a major role to play in regulating your body’s hormone levels as well as the energy you have on the whole. Make sure that you have high carbohydrate foods that can boost insulin sensitivity. You should also consume food that offers a protein that help generate insulin in your body.
- It is also important to include sufficient amount of magnesium in the diet as this can improve symptoms of diabetes and minimize the chances of stroke, and heart disease. Almonds, spinach, cashews, and bananas are certain foods that are high in magnesium.
- Omega 3 fatty acids can help you to achieve positive health and well being when you are struggling with PCOS.
- Measure calories every time you have a meal. You cannot totally cut off calories from your diet. The trick is to have just the right amount or portion.
- You can also consult your doctor to include a number of health supplements in your diet, such as zinc, chromium, turmeric, cinnamon, berberine, cod liver oil, evening primrose oil, calcium, and vitamin D. This can definitely help a lot with hormone regulation and insulin resistance. It can also reduce the inflammations linked to PCOS.
It is significant that you do not lose hope just because you have been diagnosed with PCOS. You can treat PCOS and become pregnant. A lot of women have been successful in achieving pregnancy and gave birth to healthy children even with PCOS.
If you are not able to heal the symptoms of PCOS naturally, you can still opt for an IVF procedure to get pregnant. To know more about PCOS and its treatment options, you should consult with the medics at KIC Bangalore. KIC Bangalore is one of the best fertility clinics in Karnataka.
Visit the website of KIC Bangalore at https://kicbengaluru.com/ to find more about PCOS treatments and dietary practices.
Follow and like our Facebook Page for more such interesting information and updates. Visit here: https://www.facebook.com/KICBengaluru/
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kic_bengaluru/