Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – Causes and Solutions
Dr. Sheldon Bjorgaard, ND
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS for short, on the surface sounds like an intimidating diagnosis. Contrary to many misconceptions however, PCOS is not a “disease” in itself, rather, it is a “syndrome” which means that it is simply a group of symptoms that tend to occur together. PCOS is one of the most common metabolic disorders of women of childbearing age, it has been estimated that PCOS affects up to 12% of women with the majority being undiagnosed. Depending on which diagnostic criteria is used, the symptoms may include all or several of the following:
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Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
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Infertility
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High testosterone
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Hair thinning/loss
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Excessive hair growth on face and/or body
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Acne
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Obesity or being overweight
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Cysts on one or both ovaries
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High blood sugar
These symptoms like many others are non-specific, meaning they could be due to several different causes. Therefore it is important to seek the guidance of a healthcare provider in the diagnosis and treatment of PCOS or other health conditions. A naturopathic doctor can help confirm or rule out PCOS by taking a detailed medical history, and ordering several lab tests to evaluate hormone balance.
What Causes PCOS?
Whenever we see certain symptoms appearing together we always want to identify the root cause. In the case of PCOS, it is clear that hormonal abnormalities are responsible for many of the symptoms present. The major hormones affected are Insulin and Androgens (male hormones such as testosterone). There may also be other hormones involved such as the stress hormone cortisol or thyroid hormone imbalances.
Solutions for resolving PCOS
Weight loss
When excess body weight is associated with PCOS, losing weight and maintaining a healthy bodyweight is the most effective lifestyle measure in restoring hormonal balance. Studies have shown that in these cases weight loss resulted in increased fertility, restoration of regular menstrual cycles, a decrease in androgen hormones, and improved quality of life. Unfortunately many people find it difficult to achieve and maintain weight loss in the long term, and the many fad diets and weight loss programs can be confusing. At Arc Integrated medicine we offer several medically supervised weight loss programs for long-term, sustained results.
Dietary modifications
A low glycemic index diet is important for women with PCOS, as it lowers blood sugar and increases insulin sensitivity. This basically means a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, while low in carbohydrates and refined sugars. In addition, brassica family vegetables and fibrous fruits contain healthy fibre and phytonutrients called Indoles, which aid in the metabolism and detoxification of excess hormones, helping to restore balance.
Supplementation
There are several nutritional supplements and botanical medicines that have been shown to improve the symptoms of PCOS by multiple mechanisms resulting in the restoration of hormonal balance. These include Inositol, Vitex agnus-castus, Indole-3-Carbinol, Isoflavones, and Chromium.
Before starting any new supplement regimen, it is always best to consult with a naturopathic doctor to ensure supplements are both safe and indicated for your particular concerns.
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