Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Our Approach
If you’re one of the 20 to 30% of people with ovaries who have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), you’ve likely talked to your doctor about medical interventions like the birth control pill or metformin. They may or may not have also advised you that dietary and lifestyle interventions can provide significant relief from common symptoms, as well as reduce the risk of long-term negative health outcomes like metabolic syndrome or heart disease.
However, because PCOS has a profound impact on how our body functions—not least in terms of insulin resistance—many patients can get frustrated with a perceived lack of results from traditional diet or exercise programs. That’s why we believe it’s important to tailor your strategies with a specific and detailed understanding of PCOS and how it is manifesting itself in your life.
What is PCOS, and why does it matter?
If you have ovaries, then it’s not uncommon to have PCOS. In fact, while it too often goes undiagnosed, it’s believed that about 20-30% of people with ovaries experience some form of PCOS. It’s a relatively complex hormone disorder that’s not necessarily tied to a single identifiable cause or process. There are, however, a common range of symptoms that include irregular periods and excess androgens (testosterone). Patients with PCOS are at increased risk of both infertility and health problems like heart disease or metabolic syndrome.
How can I tell if I have PCOS?
PCOS presents itself differently in different patients. However, a common list of symptoms includes:
Hair on the chin, breasts or belly
Acne
Irregular or heavy periods
Insulin resistance and difficulty losing weight
Episodes of low blood sugar and carb cravings
If you or your doctor suspects you have PCOS, it may be a good idea to schedule either blood tests to measure testosterone levels, or an ultrasound—which can look for enlarged ovaries, and/or a series of cysts on the ovaries.
How does Whole Health Partners help patients to manage PCOS?
Many patients with PCOS have already been told that losing weight may help them with symptoms, including potentially reducing the risk of infertility. However, because PCOS tends to mess with the body’s hormones, it can make weight loss significantly more difficult to achieve. However, according to the American College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, even a relatively modest 5% weight loss can help with many common symptoms.
That’s why Whole Health Partners takes a comprehensive approach that seeks to understand both the specific ways that PCOS may be influencing your body’s natural functions, as well as the ways that all aspects of your lifestyle—food, movement, sleep and mindset/stress—may be either exacerbating and/or alleviating those symptoms.
We also may recommend using remote monitoring devices like Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) to help get a better picture of how PCOS may be interfering with insulin resistance and blood sugar. Once we’ve got a good sense of how you are currently living with PCOS, we work with you on a realistic plan that’s focused on attainable goals that are specific and realistic for you.
There is no one size fits all approach to eating with PCOS. So we work with our patients on a ‘nutrition prescription’ that’s specifically informed by the latest research on food and PCOS and that is individually tailored to the patient’s needs. These interventions can be undertaken alongside any medical interventions recommended by your primary care physician or wider care team.
What would you like help with?
Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance
Blood Glucose Management, Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Thyroid Disease, Hormonal Health
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Perimenopause/Menopause
