Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which there is an imbalance of a woman's female sex hormones. This hormone imbalance may cause changes in the menstrual cycle, skin changes, small
cysts in the ovaries, trouble getting pregnant, and other problems. I remember having a cyst bursting an the worst experience ever, but thank God for his healing.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Female sex hormones include estrogen and progesterone, as well as hormones called androgens. Androgens, often called "male hormones," are also present in women, but in different amounts.
Hormones help regulate the normal development of eggs in the ovaries during each menstrual cycle. Polycystic ovary syndrome is related to an imbalance in these female sex hormones. Too much androgen hormone is made, along with changes in other hormone levels.
It is not completely understood why or how the changes in the hormone levels occur.
Follicles are sacs within the ovaries that contain eggs. Normally, one or more eggs are released during each menstrual cycle. This is called ovulation. In polycystic ovary syndrome, the eggs in these follicles do not mature and are not released from the ovaries. Instead, they can form very small cysts in the ovary.
These changes can contribute to
infertility. The other symptoms of this disorder are due to the hormone imbalances.
Women are usually diagnosed when in their 20s or 30s, but polycystic ovary syndrome may also affect teenage girls. The symptoms often begin when a girl's periods start. Women with this disorder often have a mother or sister who has symptoms similar to those of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Doctors may decide to test you for PCOS, other signs are irregular menstrual cycle, weight gain, diabetes, acne, infertility, miscarriage, blood sugar imbalances etc. Metformin is a drug that is typically prescribed to women with PCOS that are suffering from a diabetes-like insulin resistance. It is also prescribed to women with PCOS trying to conceive.
Side Effects from Metformin are as follows:
10%- 25% of women who take Glucophage just don’t feel well. They experience a general malaise, fatigue and occasional achiness that lasts for varying lengths of time. Malaise a signal for the physician to closely monitor body systems affected by metformin, including liver, kidneys, and GI tract.
GI DISTURBANCE. About one third of women on metformin experience gastrointestinal disturbances, including nausea, occasional vomiting and loose, more frequent bowel movements, or diarrhea.
VITAMIN B12 MALABSORPTION. Of patients who take this drug, 10%-30% show evidence of reduced vitamin B12 absorption. A substance formed in the stomach called “intrinsic factor” combines with B12 so that it can be transferred into the blood.
ELEVATED HOMOCYSTEINE. People who take Glucophage tend to have higher homocysteine levels.(14) Women with PCOS also tend to have elevated homocysteine.(15)
Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood. A normal amount is OK. But an elevated level means that your metabolic processes are not working properly. Elevated homocysteine is associated with coronary artery disease, heart attack, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia,(16) cognitive impairment.(17), and cervical cancer. (18)
Vitamin B12, along with vitamin B6 and folic acid (another B vitamin), is responsible for metabolizing homocysteine into less potentially harmful substances (19). Therefore, when metformin reduces absorption of vitamin B12, you lose one of the nutrients needed to reduce homocysteine and thus reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
LIVER OR KIDNEY PROBLEMS. If you have liver or kidney problems of any kind, metformin could pose a problem, because it alters liver function and is excreted through the kidneys. A healthy liver and kidneys will improve your outcome with metformin.
LACTIC ACIDOSIS. About 3 of every 100,000 people who take metformin will develop a medical emergency called “lactic acidosis”. Lactic acid is a metabolic byproduct that can become toxic if it builds up faster than it is neutralized. Lactic acidosis is most likely to occur in people who with diabetes, kidney or liver disease, multiple medications, dehydration, or severe chronic stress.
The list goes on and on.
Treatment
1. Avoid Sugar : Hormones are intricately related to blood sugar balance and insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone and all of our hormones work together in a very delicate little dance. When one oversteps its boundaries, the others fall out of line. Additionally, sugar contributes greatly to weight gain and obesity. Being overweight contributes to hormonal imbalance, as fat stores are directly related to levels of some hormones. Many women with PCOS find that as soon as they are able to lose a bit of weight, their cycle begins to regulate itself.
In addition, the liver is responsible for eliminating excess hormones (e.g. in the case of estrogen dominance). In addition, estrogen-mimicking chemicals found in many products and in the environment would also be eliminated by the liver. Therefore, supporting the liver is an important and essential part of treating hormonal imbalance.
-Balance sugar by avoiding FAST FOODS!, simple carbohydrates - white sugar, white pasta, white bread, sodas, lots of juices, hormones enhanced foods especially in meats, chicken, lamb, goat, grass fed buffalo - try natural meats, eggs, milk etc. Avoid chinese fast foods, canned cooked foods except natural and you are confident about what the ingredient says. Add spices like cinnamon to balance sugar and cayenne to encourage circulation.
2. EAT WHOLE FOODS: Our body craves nutritional foods and when it doesn't get them, this will cause the blood sugar to spike and hormone imbalance. I know its hard eating healthy but guess what I actually have to force myself. If you are not a vegetable eater. Then you can certainly get a juicer and Juice! Make sure he vegetables and fruits like - apples, spinach, peach,carrots, pears those with light flesh are organic. Natural cleansing like- lemons and raw apple cider vinegar. You can find great deals at Trader Joes without breaking the bank. Also when making smoothies add whey protein powder.
Vitacost - Olympian Labs pea protein powder with vanilla $19.77, Jarrow Formula brown rice protein vanilla powder $8.48. They are both soy, gluten, gmo free. Also Jarrow Formulas Natural Whey Protein Unflavored/Vanilla/Chocolate -- 2 lbs $16.29 has low lactose.
MegaFood DailyFoods® Organic Pure Food™ High Fiber Hemp Shake Cocoa -- 16.2 oz $31.16 ** I recommend this - has organic veggies and maintains blood sugar.
Living Harvest Organic Hemp Protein Powder Vanilla Spice -- 16 oz $12.59 - has cinnamon to balance blood sugar and maca great fertility natural aid.
I hated eating brown rice, so having it in the powder form is GREAT!
Eat only foods that were created to be food (no chemicals, dyes, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, modified ingredients, GMO, etc.) and eat them whole, complete and as close to the way that they were created as possible. My friends laugh whenever I go to stores and read labels, hey guess what at least I know what goes into me. Avoid soy, alcohol, milk (still debatable - some say drink whole milk, I actually have stopped and now only consume Almond Milk - has Calcium, Vitamin E, Magnesium.etc I still drink yogurt, cheese and kefir, also avoid caffeine and processed foods. Drink Tea especially green tea but avoid drinking green tea after ovulation. Substitute for white sugar - honey, agave nectar, stevia(great and does not spike blood sugar even in diabetic people). Eat more protein - Beans, quinoa, natural chicken, turkey, fish and less read meat, free range eggs, yogurt - especially greek, kefir(read my post about kefir) I love Lifeway kefir, stonyfield, liberte, chobani and I love Trader Joe's greek yogurt with honey!!! Reminds me of quality yogurt from europe.
When you eat equal amounts of proteins and carbohydrates this helps to keep your insulin at a balanced level, thus increasing your fertility.
Some examples of whole grain and sprouted grain products are:
Ezekiel breads
Whole spelt- pastas and breads
Quinoa – pastas, flour, grain
Millet- breads, grains, cereal
Brown Rice- cereals, breads, grain
Healthy fats are a crucial component to hormone balance.
Balance your body sugar with spice - like cinnamon and good fats- extra virgin olive oil, avocados, organic natural butter(we love Kerrygold abut $3 at Trader Joes - Is totally worth it) every time you eat carbs like bread, baked potato, rice or pasta, try to switch to almond butter, almond milk(I love Trader Joes almond milk its about $1.69 and they have vanilla, original and chocolate flavor).
Eat nuts and seeds like almonds, pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts as trail mix snack Eat iodine rich foods and avoid iodine table salt - use sea salt instead.
Eat vitamin C and B rich foods. And add Zinc natural ways. **Read combining God's word and health for fertility**
Add Fish to your food consumption. Especially Wild Salmon .Wild salmon are free and active, eating their natural diet of algae and krill and the pink to red color is 100% natural. The wild salmon is full of omega-3 fatty acids and the powerful antioxidant and carotenoid, Astaxanthin. Other good choices are sardines and anchovies. There is one drawback and that is that the oceans are becoming quite polluted and salmon is not as safe as it was several years ago. PCBs and heavy metals are wreaking havoc on our oceans, seas, lakes and rivers. Unfortunately, toxins and chemicals tend to store themselves in fat and these are fatty fish. To be safe, eat these fish and/or salmon maybe 2-3 days a week maximum. You can also take a high quality purified fish.Also oily coldwater fish like salmon, herring, tuna, cod, and trout.
Eat a diet high in fiber
Fiber helps in two ways with PCOS. The first way they help is by slowing down the digestion of sugars in the body, so there is no spike in insulin. The second way they help is by removing excess estrogens from the body, which may also help to reduce fibroids.
Great sources of fiber are: broccoli, celery, whole grains, Ezekiel bread, apples, and dark leafy greens.
3.
Detox:
****Read my post on Cleansing******
We nearly all live in an environment of toxic substances that attack our bodies in small ways. Detoxification can be dealt with externally and internally as well.
Externally you want to rid your home of substances that are toxic. Get rid of chemicals and sprays that are suspect and replace chemical cleaners with more organic alternatives. Living in a cleaner environment does amazing things for your body and help the environment too.
Internally however you must also pay close attention to. Flushing the accumulated toxins from your body allows better working of all of your organs and the process of detoxing will boost your immune system as well which is vital for a healthy pregnancy.
3. Get Moving: Along with diet exercise must be performed to invigorate the body and also to lose weight. Weight loss helps reduce the severity of insulin resistance and while it is more difficult for those with PCOS to lose weight regular light exercise can have an amazing effect when combined with a good diet.
For many of the women that I’ve known who also have PCOS, regular exercise is a necessary ingredient for weight loss and maintenance, and to bring some regularity to their cycle.
It doesn’t have to be time-consuming or elaborate to be effective. Taking walks or jogs in the evening, doing a 20 minute exercise video a few mornings a week, or playing a game of soccer at the park with your kids. It all helps and it’s that consistent physical activity that does the most to balance things out.
It still needs to be said, though, that there is no magic pill, no one supplement or miracle food that will do the job.
Living healthfully with PCOS requires a lifestyle change, but it is worth it every step of the way.
4. Get rid of Stress:Stress lowers your immune system and increases a hormone called cortisol which is yet another hormone thrown into a volatile mix which can lead to the symptoms of PCOS and infertility. Destressing is a great help
getting pregnant with PCOS and is something you must customise to your particular situation. My best advice is that you should not sweat the little things and not worry about things you cannot change.Allow God to work it out. Listen to some clean comedy, music, take a bath or better still get a massage!
A little about massage - you can also do a fertility massage - by massaging from down until the bottom of your navel - anti clockwise not too deeply. Can do it after menstruation and before ovulation. If your uterus are fells cold always try applying warm cloths to encourage circulation.
5. Rest and Confess God's Word: His word never changes and IT WILL COME TO PAST! Gen 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."Envision being totally healed from PCOS, envision you holding your baby.
The benefits of following this steps are:
Increases the rate of spontaneous ovulation.
Significantly improves the environment of the uterus, preparing it for a healthy conception.
Decreases the potential for miscarriage
Prevents PCOS from turning to diabetes
But I do know this:
Change is possible. There are simple, manageable steps that any woman can take to bring at least some level of relief and even recovery to her body.
Take heart, my friend
. There is
indeed something that you can do about it.
God doesn't need your tears he needs your FAITH!
As always please contact your doctor before taking or stopping any medication.
