1 in every 5 women today in India has PCOS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition in women. PCOS is no longer considered a disorder today that cannot be managed. A healthy diet for PCOS can help you alleviate the symptoms naturally. PCOS is a condition in which women face irregular and infrequent menstrual periods along with secondary symptoms of PCOS like excessive hair growth, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, insulin resistance, hair thinning, acne, hirsutism (elevated male hormones) that leads to the growth of dark coarse hair all across the body. Sleep apnea, mood swings, fatigue, and weight gain are also additional symptoms of PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is a chronic medical condition that can affect your reproductive, metabolic, and psychological health. However, PCOS symptoms often go overlooked and undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness, proper treatment protocol, and delayed diagnosis. Although it can feel overwhelming to be diagnosed with a chronic condition such as PCOS, it is important to remember that you can manage all your symptoms with the right care. Like any other chronic condition, the earlier you start your treatment, the better are the health outcomes.
Since PCOS is also associated with a lot of social stigma and myths around it, it is important to empower yourself with the right knowledge and work closely with your doctor to understand what treatment works best for you. PCOS in women can show up in varying degrees and you don’t have to have all the main symptoms of PCOS to be diagnosed. However, if you suspect having PCOS, It is important to get diagnosed early and start a proper treatment plan to manage all your symptoms and prevent future complications
Who Can Get PCOS?
PCOS can affect anyone – regardless of your ethnicity. It is commonly seen in women in their reproductive age i.e. 15 to 49 years. Also, PCOS does not discriminate between shapes and sizes and can affect overweight as well as lean women.
How Common is PCOS?
PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders across the world. In fact, in India alone, nearly 100 million women are suffering from PCOS. Despite how common this condition is, many people still don’t fully understand PCOS or seek proper medical treatment.
Which Hormone is Responsible for PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal disorder, which means the underlying hormonal imbalance is responsible for producing a range of symptoms that can affect your reproductive, metabolic and psychological health.
Mainly an imbalance in two hormones in the body – insulin and androgen (male hormone) levels can cause the symptoms and signs of PCOS.
PCOS in women can show up in varying degrees and not every woman will perfectly fit the criteria for being diagnosed with PCOS problem.
Around 70% of women suffer from insulin resistance, which means that the body is not able to effectively use insulin to keep blood sugar levels stable. The increased levels of insulin in the blood also increases the production of androgen (male hormones) in the ovaries.
The elevated levels of both insulin and androgen can affect ovulation, cause irregular cycles, excess hair growth on face and body, acne and scalp hair loss.
Symptoms of PCOS
Some of the common symptoms of PCOS are irregular periods, weight gain, excess facial or body hair, acne scalp hair loss, and mood disorders among others.
PCOS/PCOD symptoms can be managed with the right nutrition, homeopathy, and Ayurveda. Healthie4U specializes in offering integrated treatment for PCOS/PCOD with a customized diet plan & Workout plan for PCOD/PCOS. PCOS itself cannot be treated, but symptoms like insulin resistance, hair growth, irregular menstrual periods, and others can be easily treated with an integrated and holistic approach to the condition. At Healthie4U, we have successfully helped many women with PCOS/PCOD. Research shows that losing only 5-10kgs or 5-10% of the initial body weight reduces insulin resistance by 50%. The weight loss also restores the normal functioning of the ovaries, which results in the reduction of male hormones, regular menstrual periods, and improved fertility.