Treating PCOS Naturally
What is PCOS? Different types of PCOS? How do I know if I have PCOS? and What are the tips for treating PCOS naturally?
WHAT IS PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects 12-18% of women. PCOS is way more than just a period problem, it is a WHOLE BODY hormonal condition that can last a life time and affect fertility, mood, weight, skin, inflammation, blood sugar regulation, metabolism and even your cardiovascular system.
It’s really a collective of symptoms which we go into a little bit later, but in essence it’s a problem with healthy ovulation, often presenting as irregular, long or no menstrual cycle and elevated androgens (male hormones) such as testosterone.
Please bear in mind that there are several types of PCOS and they all require different treatment.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PCOS
Post Pill PCOS (this is often temporary and the pill can often cause or make insulin resistance worse). Stay calm and allow your body the time to re-establish its natural rhythm. We typically use herbs and diet to nudge the body back into a healthy cycle.
Insulin Resistant PCOS this is driven by elevated levels of androgens and usually normal levels of glucose. Elevated insulin can contribute to high androgens, weight gain and conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Sugar is a major trigger, as are stress, the pill, poor sleep quality, alcohol, gut issues and nutritional deficiencies such as magnesium.
Inflammation Driven PCOS so you’ve got irregular periods and elevated androgens but no insular resistance and haven’t been on the pill…. well your PCOS could be caused by inflammation in the body! An inflammatory diet, exposure to environmental toxins, drugs, smoking and gut problems such as IBS and SIBO could be the culprit.
Adrenal DHEAS PCOS is driven by DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) which is produced by your adrenal glands. It’s often triggered by high levels of stress. You may not have insulin resistance, inflammation, been on the pill or have high testosterone, only the androgen DHEAS can be elevated.
So you can see that although you may have elevated androgens and an out of whack cycle, your treatment could vary depending on the root cause of your PCOS. I also want to highlight that having multiple follicle on your ovaries spotted during an ultrasound is not enough to diagnose the condition alone, those follicles change each and every month and may be because of various other factors not PCOS.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE PCOS?
Signs you may have PCOS:
lack of ovulation (anovulation)
irregular menstrual cycle - late periods or too many days of bleeding
high levels of androgens (like testosterone, androstenedione and DHEAS)
excessive facial and body hair (hirsuitism)
head hair loss
acne - mild to severe
weight gain (not always a given with PCOS)
increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
TIPS FOR TREATING PCOS NATURALLY
Quit sugar and limit or avoid foods that cause inflammation
Farewell sugar - it’s time to breakup with the sugary highs and the not so glamorous lows which crash down around you. Sugar is inflammatory, it affects your glucose and insulin levels and also boosts your male hormones, which we definitely don’t want!
Hello fibre – this baby helps stop testosterone being reabsorbed in the body, will help with poophoria (the perfect poo) and helps eliminate the excess testosterone out of your bowel. You should be getting around 35-50 grams of fibre a day. Make sure you are having beans, legumes and loads of vegetables.
Depending on your type of PCOS will be whether or not you need to reduce carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, potato, sweet potato and white rice.
Foods to avoid are gluten, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, dairy (especially A1), vegetable oils such as soy, corn, cottonseed and canola (these are often genetically modified and contain trans fats which are really inflammatory). It’s also a good idea to identify any food intolerances and heal your digestive system if it needs some love.
Restoring the microbiome a healthy gut microbiome can help harmonise hormones, improve mood, reduce inflammation and of course modulate the immune system. This is a really big focus of treatment for women with inflammatory type PCOS.
Herbs and Supplements to support and treat PCOS
We love these herbs and nutritional supplementation for optimal menstrual health, wellbeing and for reducing androgens, and insulin resistance. Our favourites are:
Peony – helps reduce levels of elevated androgens such as testosterone in the body, positively influences low progesterone, and modulates oestrogen and prolactin levels.
Licorice – lowers testosterone and also helps reduce male hormones by blocking androgen receptors. It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps supports adrenal function.
Myo-inositol – improves insulin sensitivity, reduces male hormones and supports regular ovulation by improving FSH signalling in the ovary.
Zinc – helps suppress androgens (male hormones), promotes ovarian function, regulates the immune system, repairs intestinal permeability, is anti-inflammatory, reduces pain and is often deficient after being on the pill.
Vitamin D – is a steroid hormone that is important for insulin sensitivity, ovulation (the healthy maturation of ovarian follicles) and regulates the immune system and hormonal function.
Magnesium – reduces pain, calms the nervous system, improves sleep, fuels cellular energy production, benefits anxiety, helps with PMS, and blood sugar regulation.
Berberine - has been shown in clinical trials to improve insulin resistance (it actually performed better than Metformin in 2 clinic trials on PCOS women). It also helps prevent the ovaries from making too much testosterone, improves acne and can even reduce anxiety levels.
Movement for PCOS
Absolutely we all need to move and enjoy the exercise that we do. Choose something that you love and build from there. You can reduce your insulin sensitivity by 25% by just 12 weeks of strength training. Even 10 minutes of core exercises per day have shown to increase blood flow to your abdomen.
Whilst PCOS is a complex condition, there are many factors which can be successfully managed or treated with natural medicine. It is important to have a knowledgeable practitioner provide you high quality herbs and supplements at the correct doses and to make sure that these are safe for you. A holistic approach can be used to reduce symptoms and improve fertility outcomes.
These strategies are what we delve into and explore during our appointments together at my women’s health natural fertility clinic. Click here to book an appointment
I am a naturopath, clinical nutritionist, mother, nature lover and yoga enthusiast – just to name a few of my passions. I’m a degree-qualified naturopath, and I help women have more rich and fertile lives. I have a passion for helping women restore balance to their hormones, connect with their fertility and lead epic vibrant lives. Learn more about how you can work with me here.