5 common myths about PCOS

For any woman who has the most common endocrine disorder in females – polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS – is well aware of the mystery surrounding this condition and how best to treat it.  The condition is not well understood and therefore many women may be getting bad advice from their physicians while suffering needlessly from the side effects of PCOS. 

What is PCOS?

PCOS was first recognized in 1935 and is associated with small cysts on the ovaries leading to hormonal imbalances.  Women with PCOS can also have insulin resistance increasing the risk for diabetes in addition to developing high blood cholesterol. 

PCOS may affect as many as 5 million women in the United States and can occur in girls as young as 11 years old.  The cause is unknown but seems to run in families as women with a mother or sister with PCOS are more likely to develop it also.  The main issue is a hormonal imbalance where the ovaries are making more androgens (male hormones such as testosterone) than what normally a woman makes.  The high androgen levels can lead to various symptoms in women:

·      Weight gain

·      Acne

·      Excessive hair growth

·      Menstrual irregularities – infrequent, and/or absent

·      Infertility – PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women

·      Cysts on the ovaries

·      Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair

·      Skin tags – excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area

·      Pelvic pain

·      Anxiety or depression

·      Sleep apnea

·      Patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black

5 Myths about PCOS

Because of many myths surrounding PCOS, here are 5 that are commonly believed to be true about the condition but are not:

1.  Myth - Women with PCOS are unable to have children

A main cause of female infertility is PCOS but that does not mean a woman with this condition is automatically infertile.  The majority of women with PCOS can conceive on their own or if they do have problems with conceiving, can use the help of fertility treatments.

If a woman with PCOS is having difficulty in conceiving, diet and lifestyle changes are a first approach to remedy this.  Following a healthy diet along with regular physical activity or weight loss can improve ovulation.  They can also seek out new advancements in fertility treatments such as the use of letrozole as an alternative to Clomid for ovulation induction. 

2.   Myth - Weight loss is impossible

It is true that losing excess weight for women with PCOS is harder but not impossible.  Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance so increasing the intensity of workouts and including resistance training can improve calorie burn.  Changing up their diet by eating a variety of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans, and whole grains along with a focus on lean protein can also help.

3.   Myth - To regulate periods, birth control pills must be taken

Women with PCOS who experience irregular or absent menstrual cycles have traditionally been placed on oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives are often used to regulate periods but are only considered a band-aid affect for treating PCOS.  Women using birth control pills long-term may also be putting their health at risk as they have been associated with increasing the risk of blood clots, cholesterol, and may affect the absorption of vitamin B12.  Women instead should try to restore their menstrual cycle by losing weight, eating a healthy diet, or increasing exercise. 

4.  Myth - Women with PCOS should not eat fruit

This myth is based on the fact that fruit contains carbohydrates and break down into sugar. But there is no need to avoid fruit as fruits supply rich sources of important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber offering numerous benefits to women with PCOS. Individuals who eat at least 5 servings of fruit each day have lowered blood pressure, lowered insulin levels, improved cholesterol levels, and better body mass indexes. 

A study published in the Journal of Human Reproductive Update showed that women with PCOS who ate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lost more abdominal fat and had significant improvements in their insulin sensitivity and inflammatory markers. 
 

5.  Myth - Metformin must be used for PCOS

The popular diabetes medication, Metformin, is commonly prescribed for women with PCOS.  Metformin helps to reduce glucose and insulin levels, and for some women may improve help regulate menstrual cycles.  However, Metformin can also result in unpleasant GI side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Metformin is not the only option for treating PCOS as there are more treatments for women with this condition.  To help manage insulin, newer insulin sensitizing medications can be used to manage PCOS.  Another effective method for some women is certain nutrition supplements such as inositol and n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) which have shown to help improve insulin in PCOS.