One in ten women struggle with PCOS, often without even knowing. PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and is the most common cause of infertility among women.
How do you know if you have PCOS?
There are a number of common PCOS symptoms women may experience. Here’s what may happen when you have PCOS:
- Increased facial and/or hair
- Trouble with conceiving and/or getting pregnant
- Hair loss, especially “male” pattern baldness
- A lower voice
- Irregular or non-existent period
- Acne
- Weight gain
- Darkening in skin folds
- Development of ovarian cysts
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
If you think that you might have PCOS, we suggest you talk to your medical practitioner or healthcare provider. Practitioners will usually look for three things for a PCOS diagnosis:
- An irregular or non-existent menstrual cycle
- An increase in androgen production, determined via a blood or urine PCOS test
- The presence of ovarian cysts, determined via an ultrasound
Women with two of three PCOS signs listed above are given a PCOS diagnosis.
If you have a PCOS diagnosis, you may also have an insulin resistance
Women with PCOS commonly also struggle with insulin resistance or Type 2 Diabetes. Insulin resistance causes many of the most severe PCOS symptoms, including weight gain and ovarian cysts.
Why is this? Well, insulin resistance causes a vicious hormonal cycle. Women with PCOS who struggle with an overall insulin resistance issue have another problem: their ovaries still remain insulin sensitive even though the rest of their body is resistant. In response, the body increases insulin levels, and the ovaries respond by increasing androgens, aka male sex hormones. The resulting hormonal imbalance causes many of the most severe PCOS symptoms.
So you have a PCOS diagnosis, what now?
After asking, “what is PCOS,” many women ask, “what now?” It is necessary for women with PCOS to begin increasing their insulin sensitivity. You can do this easily by trying these three ways to manage your PCOS symptoms.
#1 Exercise
Women with PCOS benefit greatly from reaching a goal of 60 minutes of exercise per day. This exercise can be low impact, like a long walk or yoga session. Exercising can also be endurance-based, such as running or weight lifting. If 60 minutes per day seems like too much for right now, try starting with 90 minutes of exercise per week!
#2 Diet
Many women dealing with PCOS find success after switching up their diet. We recommend focusing on the fats, carbohydrates, and fiber you consume. Some healthy fats to add to your diet include nuts, seeds, avocados, coconut oil, and dark chocolate. Opt for complex carbs, such as xyz, instead of simple carbs (e.g refined sugar, white bread, white pasta, baked goods, candy, etc.).
For PCOS support, try increasing your fiber intake by adding vegetables, whole grains, and legumes to your daily meals.
#3 Supplement Routine
To beat a PCOS diagnosis, make sure you’re adding the right PCOS supplements to your vitamin regimen.
There are a number of research-backed PCOS supplements proven to help with PCOS symptoms, including Chasteberry (Vitex), Myo-Inositol, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin D, and probiotics.
Chasteberry, the primary ingredient in our Birth Control Cleanse, has been shown to help with infertility, reduce testosterone and androgen levels, and improve obesity and insulin levels in women with PCOS.
How do you get pregnant if you have PCOS?
Many women dealing with PCOS ask about getting pregnant. Here at Premama, we created a product specifically with PCOS support in mind. The driving ingredient in our Fertility Support for Her is Myo-Inositol.
Myo-Inositol is a substance naturally produced by the body that can help improve insulin sensitivity and hormone balance. Myo-inositol has been widely studied for its ability to improve PCOS symptoms, including struggles with infertility.
If you are struggling with PCOS, let us know how we can help! We’re here to improve your journey to conceiving.