Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Hi, tribe! September is PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) awareness month!
PCOS is a complex female endocrine disorder which affects 1 in 15 women worldwide! At Adorn Naturopathic Medicine, I treat many women with PCOS which often impacts their fertility. At my practice docere or “doctor as teacher,” is a key component. It is my responsibility to educate patients on their conditions. Below is information about common symptoms, testing options, potential causes, and treatment + therapeutic considerations for PCOS.
What is PCOS “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome”?
PCOS is a common health problem caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. This hormonal disorder causes enlarged ovaries with immature cysts (follicles) to surround the ovaries on the outer edges. Many body systems are affected by PCOS, resulting in several health complications.
Symptoms:
Menstrual dysfunction → women with PCOS may miss periods or have fewer
Infertility
Excessive body hair growth (hirsutism) → often on the face, chin, or parts of the body where men usually have hair.
Thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp or male-pattern baldness
Acne → often on the face, chest, and upper back
Obesity or difficulty losing weight
Darkening of skin (acanthosis nigricans) → particularly along neck creases, in the groin, and underneath breasts
Skin tags (acrochordon), which are small excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
Metabolic syndrome → is diagnosed when you have three or more of these conditions:
Central or abdominal obesity (measured by waist circumference)
Men - greater than 40 inches
Women - greater than 35 inches
High triglycerides – 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more, or you’re taking medicine for high triglycerides
Low HDL cholesterol, or you're taking medicine for low HDL cholesterol
Men - Less than 40 mg/dL
Women - Less than 50 mg/dL
High blood pressure – 130/85 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or more, or you’re taking medicine for high blood pressure
High fasting glucose (blood sugar) –100 mg/dL or more, or you’re taking medicine for high blood glucose
Has been linked to other health problems such as diabetes, high LDL (or bad) cholesterol, sleep apnea, endometrial cancer, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety
Potential Causes + Pathophysiology:
While the exact cause of PCOS is not known, it may involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
High levels of androgen (hyperandrogenism): Adrogens are a group of hormones that play a role in male traits and reproductive activity. The principle androgens are testosterone and androstenedione. Other androgens include dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S). One of the main purposes of androgens is to be converted into the female hormones called estrogens.
High levels of insulin - blood sugar disorders (prediabetes and type 2 diabetes)
Testing:
Physical exam
Pelvic exam
Pelvic ultrasound (sonogram) → must have at least one of the following:
Presence of 12 or more ovarian follicles [measuring 2-9mm], arranged peripherally in the ovary like a string of pearls
Increased ovarian volume to greater than 10 cm3.
Hyperechoic stroma
Blood tests
Treatment + Therapeutic Considerations:
Diet and lifestyle should always be addressed to get to the root causes that led to PCOS
Balance blood sugar and reduce insulin resistance
Reduce stress and nourish your adrenals
Reduce environmental toxins and environmental hormone exposures
Support your body’s natural detox pathways
Reduce inflammation
Hormonal therapies
To learn how to prevent PCOS and various treatment options to help avoid medications and surgery, book a consultation with Adorn Naturopathic Medicine!
