#pcosinformation

Do you have PCOS? Do you often feel tired and sluggish? Do you have trouble sleeping? Do you have mood swings? Read on....

Top things to know:

The majority of people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have insulin resistance or high insulin

High insulin is both a symptom of PCOS and an underlying physiological driver

Testing for insulin resistance can be helpful to rule out other conditions that are commonly misdiagnosed as PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) sounds like it’s exclusively a disease of the ovaries, but it’s not. While PCOS does affect the ovaries and ovulation, it’s actually a full-body endocrine and metabolic disorder that is closely tied to insulin resistance.

What is insulin resistance?

Under normal conditions, the hormone insulin rises briefly after eating. It stimulates the liver and muscles to take up sugar from the blood and convert it to energy. That then causes blood sugar to fall, and then insulin to fall. With normal insulin sensitivity, both sugar and insulin are normal on a fasting blood test.

With insulin resistance, blood sugar may be normal, but insulin is high. Why? Because the pancreas has to make more and more insulin to try to get its message through. Too much insulin generates inflammation and causes weight gain. It can also lead to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Too much insulin is also an underlying physiological driver of PCOS.

The relationship between insulin resistance and PCOS

Insulin resistance is a key feature of both obese and lean PCOS.

High insulin is not just a symptom of PCOS—it is also a major driver of the condition. High insulin can impair ovulation and cause the ovaries to make excess testosterone.

Conventional treatment of insulin resistance and PCOS

Conventional treatment recommendations for the insulin resistance aspect of PCOS include weight loss, aerobic exercise, and the diabetic drug metformin, which improves insulin sensitivity. Resistance training may also be effective.

Oral contraceptives are the other officially-recommended treatment for PCOS, but they can interfere with sugar regulation and insulin resistance that underlies PCOS. The link between PCOS, insulin resistance, and oral contraceptive pills has been dubbed a “modern medical quandary” in need of further research.

Nutritional supplements for insulin resistance and PCOS

Hey peeps! Who here is still going through a never-ending rollercoaster of emotions after being diagnosed with PCOS? I can tell you I am till today!

I can still remember the day sitting in my doctor's office and she is telling me that I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and it is a condition that I have to be live with for the rest of my life because there is no real cure for it. I feel gutted, sad, angry, and disappointed in my body. How did I get it? Why did I get it? Why can't I be normal like other girls out there or like my sisters? Was it because of all the alcohol and fatty food I consumed during my uni days? Why was God so mean to me? These were some of the questions racing through my mind when I was diagnosed with it.

10 years on and I still ponder about these questions and why am I so unlucky? I think you would agree that 99% of people care about their appearances i.e. their skin, weight, body. I have battled not going out to see friends because my acne was so bad or my hair looking so greasy even though I just washed it yesterday. Damn! And when my girlfriends talk about the little whiteheads, sun spots, freckles on their perfect flawless skin and I am sitting there going, seriously, you girls have no idea what it feels like having active acne and acne scars all over your face!!!! You should be so damn lucky to have such beautiful skin and yet, it's never enough! WHY!

Don't even get me started on social media! SIGHH...when did we start becoming so darn self-conscious about our hair, skin, weight, size! What about beauty on the inside???? Does that not count anymore these days???

And when my period didn't come during the month, it's the never-ending questions again popping up in my head. Does it ever end? Sometimes I feel so tired of feeling this way but there is nothing I can do about it.

More often than now, women with PCOS have low esteem and low confidence due to the physical changes in their bodies. I know I am one of them! I started feeling I was not so much of a woman after being diagnosed with PCOS and could possibly be infertile. I had terrible acne, oily skin, hair loss, hairy in all places, and was so bloated.

I had to keep reminding myself of this. Please note that you are 100% beautiful on the outside and inside. I had to re-learn to love myself and it took a long time but it was so worth it!

I understand your pain, suffering, sadness, and frustration. I have been there so many times. It hurts when I look into the mirror and go, why me???

But as long as we are healthy and we are alive, we can make changes to improve our condition and be stronger! There is no cure for PCOS but we must not let PCOS bring us down. There have been many success stories of women getting better with PCOS, having kids, and living their best lives!

We can add to that success story and be one of them!

Hi all, Happy Thursday! Glad we are almost at the end of another hectic week at work. Can't wait for TGIF!

I have started my own blog to talk about PCOS and my journey through it. I would love for you to check it out and my new post titled PCOS Meal Ideas. These are some of my favourite recipes to keep myself healthy and help keep PCOS symptoms at bay.

I came off the pill nearly 2.5 years ago after being on the pill for nearly 10 years. The pill has actually solved many of my PCOS symptoms including regulating my periods, reducing mood swings, managing my skin and hair loss and helped keep my weight under control. As good as the Pill was, there were also drawbacks to taking them. You have to ensure that you take the Pill every night at the same time for it to be effective. My libido also went down from taking the Pill for so many years. It served its purpose but I decided that I wanted a break from pumping my body full of chemicals and I wanted to find more natural and safer ways to deal and manage my PCOS.

In addition to that, after reading countless articles about the potential side effects of the Pill including the possibility of blood clots terrified me and it really got me thinking twice about whether I wanted to continue taking it for another 10 years. According to a published article, the risk of getting a blood clot per year from being on the Pill is one in 2,500.

I went cold turkey after making my decision to part ways with the Pill and let me tell you, it has been one heck of a rollercoaster ride! It took a lot of hard work, dedication, patience and persistence to continue with my regime, accepting the side effects whilst doing research about other ways to manage PCOS.

My acne started coming back within a couple of weeks, my hair started shedding and of course, my periods went haywire! I did not get my first period until nearly 3 months later. I also battled insomnia because I was constantly worried about my periods, my skin and my hair.

This is by far one of the hardest things that I have done in my life and there was so much anxiety, worry and concerns about the changes in my body. I would like to say that despite everything, I have also learned a great deal about myself and my body, and I am so proud for not giving up and fighting till the end. I have read and gained so much knowledge about PCOS and the different supplements, and natural ways to manage PCOS.

If I could just say one thing and that is I wish I did not start the Pill 10 years ago and read about other alternatives out there. Don't be afraid to read and do your own research if you are thinking to come off the Pill. It has been life-changing for me not to rely on medication for my PCOS :)

What has been your experience coming off the Pill and do you regret being on it knowing that there are other ways to deal with PCOS naturally and just as effectively?

ONE: It is indeed a syndrome but do not panic.

PCOS’ name is literal: “Poly” refers to the multiple cysts that collect on ovaries. The syndrome stems from a cluster of signs.

A hike in hormones, including androgen or testosterone, can spur acne, lower your voice and lead to unwanted hair on your face and elsewhere and hair loss.

PCOS also puts you at risk for another condition: metabolic syndrome. Traits include hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, which spikes resistance to insulin.

TWO: See a doctor immediately if you suspect you have PCOS. Doctors need to rule out other conditions.

Some PCOS symptoms can be due to genetics, an underactive thyroid (a gland in your neck), or overactive adrenal glands (above your kidneys).

“If the diagnosis is wrong, the syndrome will not improve.”

Blood tests, pelvic ultrasound, and physical exam may confirm the diagnosis of PCOS, which may involve a dozen follicles or a large single follicle.

THREE: Treatment takes time.

There’s no magic pill or quick fix to resolve PCOS. Lifestyle changes such as exercise, weight loss, and a healthy diet often help if you have PCOS.

Weight loss is often the first line of defense, and successful treatment takes time and motivation. Don't give up!

Doctors may initially prescribe drugs that target specific symptoms. Birth control pills are the common medication prescribed to help regulate your menstrual cycle, while letrozole, clomiphene, and Metformin can propel ovulation and improve fertility. Spiroaldactone can help with hair loss and stop the growth of unwanted hair.