Managing PCOS Naturally

PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects between 12-18% of women of reproductive age. It is a complex condition with lots of symptoms and you do not have to have all of them to be diagnosed.

These symptoms include:

• Weight gain and difficulty managing weight

• Menstrual problems that may make it difficult to conceive (eg missing periods, no ovulation)

• Depression and anxiety

• Excess hair growth

• Acne

• Increased risk of diabetes

PCOS can be defined by the following:

• Irregular or missing periods

• High levels of androgens on a blood test or symptoms of high androgens (eg excess hair growth)

• Possible polycystic ovaries on ultrasound.

There are 3 different types of PCOS that we encounter at the clinic:

• Insulin Resistant PCOS - too much insulin causes the ovaries to make more androgens instead of estradiol. The pituitary is stimulated by too much insulin, which makes more Luteinizing Hormone (LH), which in turn makes more androgens. Insulin resistant PCOS is usually caused by too much sugar in the diet among other things.

• Pill Induced PCOS - if you meet all the above criteria AND your periods were normal before going on the pill

• Inflammatory PCOS -all the symptoms above AND signs of inflammation such as headaches, muscle and joint pain, inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and unexplained fatigue.

The first step is to find out which PCOS category you fall under (if none then it may be hidden cause PCOS which needs further investigation). Once we know the cause we can begin working with you on a treatment plan including diet and lifestyle advice, herbal tonics, teas and nutritional supplements. Ideally, you would like to see a period within four months of treatment. Our practitioners specialise in hormones and have successfully treated many PCOS clients.

If you feel like we may be able to help you please phone us or book online for an appointment. We offer free 15 minute introductory appointments where we can discuss what to do and which tests may be needed for an accurate diagnosis.