Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS, as it is more commonly referred to, is a condition of hormonal imbalance found in women of childbearing age.
Some of the symptoms of PCOS are:
Irregular periods
Fertility problems
Difficulty losing weight with a distribution of weight around the middle
Unwanted hair growth on the chin, jawline, chest or upper legs
Acne
Loss of scalp hair
Ovarian cysts (This is where the name poly cystic ovarian syndrome originated.
However, since not all women have this sign, it is a bit of a misnomer)
What causes Insulin resistant PCOS?
Genetics
Insulin Resistance
Childhood Obesity
There seems to be a genetic predisposition to PCOS. In other words, if another woman in your family has it, you are more likely to have it as well.
Insulin is a hormone which helps with blood sugar regulation. In individuals with insulin resistance, the body cannot utilize insulin correctly and excess fat is stored causing obesity. Insulin resistance can also cause problems with ovulation and is associated with excess androgen production. Androgens are the hormones which produce hair growth, acne and loss of scalp hair in women.
PCOS may also be related to the rise in obesity in the US. For example, children who are overweight have an increased risk of having this syndrome when they are older. Obesity causes a hormone imbalance during puberty that sets the metabolism and puts that individual at a higher risk for obesity and problems with normal ovulation for the rest of her life.
Conventional Treatments for PCOS:
Oral birth control to help control symptoms and to regulate periods
Drugs to reduce insulin resistance- like metformin
Drugs to induce ovulation for fertility- like clomid
Weight loss
These medications can help many women reduce symptoms and achieve pregnancy. But there are a lot of other women who do not find success with these therapies alone.
Naturopathic Treatments for PCOS:
Individualized PCOS nutrition plan
Herbs to encourage regular ovulation
Nutrients to improve insulin function and hormone balance
Exercise to increase lean muscle
Weight loss and proper nutrition is a key part of PCOS treatment, however, women with PCOS have disrupted metabolisms making weight loss difficult. Simply cutting calories never works for these individuals, which can be very frustrating.
Naturopathic treatments provide an individualized plan, including nutrition focused on the PCOS metabolism. This can reduce insulin resistance and repair the hormonal disruption caused by it. Other naturopathic treatments are: herbs to help encourage ovulation and normalize the menstrual cycle, vitamins and minerals to optimize hormone function, exercise plans to increase lean muscle mass and drug therapies when needed. This type of treatment protocol can actually reverse the hormone imbalance and help women achieve regular cycles naturally. I have seen this happen many times!
If you or someone you know wants to more information about how I can help with hormone imbalances like PCOS or fertility challenges call or email Connect Wellness for a 15 minute naturopathic phone consultation with Dr. Schroeder.