Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects as many as 1 out of every 15 women. It is highly under-diagnosed because the symptoms on their own seem to be unrelated, but when multiple symptoms begin to appear, it can be something to worry about. This syndrome affects a woman’s hormones, often causing the body to create too much androgen (male sex hormone). In addition, the body frequently will over produce insulin, leading to something called insulin resistance.
Other symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, hypo- or hyper-thyroidism, weight gain and trouble losing weight, pre-diabetes, access acne, among others. Women who have PCOS often have tiny cysts on their ovaries, which are not harmful, but lead to the hormone imbalances. These are usually detected with an ultrasound, but just because there are no detectable cysts does not mean they’re not there, sometimes they are too small to be visible. Many women with PCOS have trouble with fertility because of hormone imbalances. While every part of PCOS is manageable, it is a widely misunderstood disease.
Losing weight while having PCOS is an extremely difficult battle. Because the body’s hormones are out of balance, simple dieting such as cutting out extra calories, does not do the trick. In order to effectively diet, a woman needs to be foods that are low on the Glycemic Index, in other words that do not prompt the release of insulin. As insulin resistance is a very common symptom of PCOS, in order to lower blood sugar levels, eating protein at every meal, or in conjecture with a high glycemic index food is necessary. Exercise is also important, but in order to really lose weight, you have to exercise for about two hours a day—a hard task for anyone who is attending school or working.
PCOS is a vicious cycle when it comes to weight loss. The best way to counter act the effects of PCOS are to lose weight, but when it comes to losing weight, hormone imbalances caused by the syndrome hold on to weight, making it nearly impossible to drop those pounds. Many women who have dieted or exercised for years without results may be facing a situation similar to this. Their doctor may recommend more exercise, or to eat less calories, but they simply are not eating the right kind of foods. In addition, their bodies are making holding on to excess weight, not allowing to lose it despite constant exercise. There is a common misconception that women who are overweight are simply not working hard enough. While it’s true that there are women who do not exercise or eat healthily, many may suffer from situations such as this, where no matter what they do, weight loss is an uphill battle.
As a woman who suffers from PCOS myself, I am dedicated spreading knowledge about the syndrome. If you suffer from multiple of these symptoms, it may not be a collection of things, but something that can be pinpointed, so go see your doctor today.