Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine and metabolic disorders. It usually affects women during their reproductive years, and it is estimated that 13-15 % of all women suffer from PCOS. (1) Even though PCOS is common and highly prevalent, many women suffer from it without knowing due to a lack of awareness and credible information about the topic in the Middle East region.It is common for women to think that they are unable to lose the extra weight because they don’t have the will power, or their body is stubborn. Moreover, some women suffer from fatigue, mood swings and sleep disturbances believing it’s only due to chronic life stressors. Due to the mentioned reasons, awareness about the correct diagnosis and treatment is much needed so that women get the early detection and the proper medical or lifestyle intervention to manage their PCOS. It is interesting to mention that a woman can have PCOS without even developing ovarian cysts, which shows that the diagnosis is not that simple and needs to be done by a healthcare professional only.Continue reading to learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, causes and treatment of PCOS.
Hyperandrogenism, an excess level of male hormones such as testosterone and androgens. Which leads to these physical symptoms:
Hyperandrogenism, an excess level of male hormones such as testosterone and androgens. Which leads to these physical symptoms:
Hyperandrogenism, an excess level of male hormones such as testosterone and androgens. Which leads to these physical symptoms:
The disorder is diagnosed if causes of the same symptoms have been ruled out and at least two of these three conditions are met: (1)
The exact cause of PCOS is still unknown, however, scientists believe that there are different genetic and environmental factors that are linked to it.
Studies have demonstrated that there is an association between some genes and PCOS which explains why PCOS runs in families.
The constant consumption of unhealthy inflammatory foods and the frequent consumption of refined carbs and sugar throughout the day lead to high blood sugar and high blood insulin. Over time, this can lead to insulin resistance, the failure of the body’s cells to respond to the hormone insulin due to its chronic overproduction.High levels of insulin stimulate ovarian androgen and testosterone production, meaning the excess of insulin in the case of insulin resistance causes hyperandrogenism, disrupting the development of the follicles and preventing normal ovulation.On the other hand, high insulin levels lead to weight gain and fat accumulation in the abdominal area. In addition to that, obesity disrupts the production of hormones in the body, such as insulin and androgens that play a major role in the development and worsening of PCOS.Falling into this vicious cycle -hyperinsulinemia, abdominal obesity, hyperandrogenism and PCOS- is alarming and needs to be addressed with proper medical or lifestyle interventions.
Several studies have shown that there is a role for inflammation in PCOS, direct correlations have been found between increased levels of inflammation markers (CRP, ferritin, leukocyte TNF-α, IL-6, IL-18) and the development of PCOS. (2)Inflammation increases in our bodies from consuming hydrogenated vegetable oils, preservatives, food toxins, sugar, food colorings and artificial flavourings. This shows the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and consuming fresh clean food.
The gut microbiota is super important for our overall health as it influences the appetite, carbohydrate metabolism and body weight through its various metabolites.Gut dysbiosis is the biological imbalance between harmful and beneficial bacteria in the small intestine and the colon. This disproportion leads to an increase in the number of “bad” bacteria and fungi in the digestive system, causing indigestion and insulin resistance.
PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women. Women who suffer from PCOS might not be ovulating regularly; this lowers the number of released eggs that can be fertilised for pregnancy to occur.
Overweight or obese women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome which is a combination of the following health conditions:
Irregular ovulation can cause the lining of the uterine that should be shed to build up, and this increases the woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer with time.
PCOS symptoms are not easy to deal with because they affect your mental health and your physical appearance. Acne and facial hair can cause some type of embarrassment for a woman. Abdominal obesity and the inability to lose weight due to PCOS could cause the woman to be self-conscious and uncomfortable in her body.Other mental health battles that women suffering from PCOS go through are anxiety, sleep disturbances and fatigue. These symptoms can sometimes affect the person and lead to depression. During these tough times, support from close people specially the family and friends can be beneficial.
Inositol is known to be vitamin B8, and it is usually found in pharmacies in the form of myo-inositol or d-chiro inositol. Taking this supplement for 3 to 6 months showed great benefits for PCOS patients such as lowering insulin and androgen levels.In comparison to metformin, myo-inositol is as effective in improving the metabolic profile of women with PCOS and the metabolic disorders associated with diabetes. However, metformin is associated with side effects that are not experienced with inositol. (2)Inositol is also considered a safe and effective form of PCOS therapy in improving the development of ovarian follicles, and the stimulation of pregnancy. (2)
Physical activity in all its types is beneficial for the human body. However, women suffering from PCOS are advised to do resistance training to improve insulin sensitivity and increase muscle mass.Another type of recommended training is long walks in nature, yoga, and pilates to lower stress and cortisol levels and promote positive energy and relaxation.
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