PCOS- What is it and how can a Naturopath help
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or, PCOS is a common reproductive syndrome affecting 1 in 8 women, in Australia and is the most common cause of female infertility due to it contributing to lack of ovulation.
The cause of PCOS is still yet to be determined however, it is quite often associated with increased BMI, insulin resistance, acne, excessive body hair, elevated androgens i.e. Testosterone, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. It is not just a reproductive issue but also a metabolic and endocrine issue.
The diagnosis of PCOS is based upon the revised version of the Rotterdam Criteria. PCOS is diagnosed when a patient has irregular cycles and clinical hyperandrogenism (excess body hair), or irregular cycles and biochemical hyperandrogenism(elevated Testosterone), or either irregular cycles or hyperandrogenism alone plus, in adults, polycystic morphology on ultrasonography or elevated antimüllerian hormone levels.
It is a complex syndrome that is multifaceted and not one treatment alone can resolve it. As a Naturopath and functional medicine practitioner, I look at the person as a whole. Quite often, diet and lifestyle interventions are crucial in improving insulin sensitivity, improving BMI as well as improving hormonal balance. Even when PCOS women are within the healthy weight range, it has been found that insulin resistance can still exist.
Herbal and nutritional medicine are key in the management of all patients with PCOS. The benefit of this is, we can address the root contributing factors to PCOS and correct them. Herbal medicine has the capacity to balance hormones and restore the communication between the pituitary gland and ovaries to support hormonal cascades and restore ovulation and thus, the menstrual cycle.
Certain nutrients and herbal medicine have been researched to improve insulin resistance and glucose uptake, restore hormonal cascades and ovulation as well as reduce Testosterone levels and reduce the symptoms and clinical signs of hyperandrogenism. Examples include, Licorice, Paeonia, Inositol, just to name a few.
The diagnosis of PCOS does not make you infertile for life. There are many options and despite the medical management of PCOS being the OCP, this does not correct the underlying causes but purely, masks it and makes it difficult to manage in the long run.
If you want to get to the root cause and correct your imbalances contributing to PCOS, get in contact. I formulate individualised plans for each patient and no two patients are the same and thus what may work for one, may not work for another.