PCOS Relief
What were your symptoms of PCOS?
I have had PCOS symptoms running after me the whole of last year. It sadly came as new year curse! For me, it came right after my ACL surgery in December 2007, that required me to be static and bed-ridden for 6 weeks at a stretch.
During this time, (and trust me 6 weeks and being static is really bad for your health), as I remained inactive because of post-surgery measures, when compared to my usual self, I had PCOS symptoms. There used to be irregular periods at first. I used to shrug it off but then this continued for 3 months at a stretch. Later, a gynaecologist and an endocrinologist examined me and suggested that I take a Uterus scan.
I had to do a uterus scan atleast twice in three months to know what the problem was. I did the scan twice and the doc found that the size of the ovaries was increasing by the months. Another symptom was a dark spotting skin forming around my neck and dark areas on my armpits. This is a sign of insulin resistance. On the chin and on places between the chin and the lower neck, I had small hairs formed, which were not present before. Also, I kept on putting weight or rather I was not able to shed any even while I did jogging in the morning everyday for 30-45 mins. I became stressed out, used to get quite hot-tempered and would be easily sad at small things. All this did not help at all!
My gynaec suggested birth control pills, and forced the periods to come. This went on for some months. Later, my weight began to become steady and there was neither an increase or decrease. My doctor suggested a whole diet plan which included wheat bread in the morning, chapattis for dinner and some rice in the afternoon for lunch. He asked me to completely stop munching in between. He also asked me to continue my brisk walking/jogging. I started doing 'pranayam' in the meanwhile because the doctor explained that the cause for this PCOS to occur is a disbalance in the hormones. 'Pranayam' was my first saviour! Also, I began eating soya protein, this helped in reducing the insulin resistance in my liver and as a result the cysts formation declined. I started to lose weight after 12 months of relentless trying, exercising, 'pranayam' and including soya protein in my diet.
My periods became regular and are still so.
The reason for PCOS is generally genetics or unhealthy and stressful lifestyle. I had the latter as my cause – too much work related stress, post-surgery stress and inactivity that lead to the PCOS condition.I found my TSH hormone was also abnormal which triggered an insulin resistance in my liver and hence caused cysts to be formed in my ovaries. It was a vicious cycle that had taken place. But, I think I have been able to control it.
The only thing I advise you is that you need to keep your calm during this time. It is tough I know, but it is easy to get angry, upset and disheartened at people's comments on your weight and your looks. But do not give up, try what I suggested or alternatives to 'pranayam' and I am sure you will be fine again. God Bless!
For more info on Pranayam, see:http://www.holisticonline.com/Yoga/hol_yoga_breath_home.htm
For PCOS information, see:http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.cfm
One of the most common questions I get from women who are newly diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome is “Will I ever get pregnant?” I have not been able to find specific studies regarding fertility and PCOS-likely because it is so hard to track those who are successful in getting pregnant without medical intervention. One source said that women with PCOS have an 80-90 percent chance of having a baby, but I was unable to find any research studies to back this up. While some women with polycystic ovarian syndrome will not be able to get pregnant, I believe that the majority can and do eventually have healthy babies.
First, 5-10% of women of childbearing age have PCOS. If their symptoms are mild they are often undiagnosed. If they have even one child, many physicians will say they can not have PCOS. This is ridiculous if you look at the diagnostic criteria. The most common criteria for diagnosis include a failure to ovulate regularly. However, for many women this means they have long cycles (35 days or longer in many cases) but they DO ovulate.
Some women with PCOS have unhealthy eggs because their periods are too far apart, in many cases this is correctable with herbs, diet or drugs. Many women with PCOS also have a thyroid condition. Frequently, if this is treated they begin to ovulate. Many women with PCOS have frequent miscarriages, but they eventually have a healthy baby-often with the help of progesterone cream or suppositories. Some women find that losing weight, taking vitex or other herbs, or reducing stress cause them to begin ovulating (for me it was all three!). Some learn to detect ovulation through cervical mucus and basal body temperatures (BBT or temperature charting). Again, these women often have healthy babies without medical intervention.
It is hard to know how many women with PCOS become pregnant without help since many women are first diagnosed with PCOS because they are having trouble getting pregnant. Often metformin or other insulin-sensitizing drugs work wonders and they are able to get pregnant and carry a baby to term.
The fact is, only a small percentage of women with PCOS ever make it to the stage of trying fertility drugs. Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is often the first drug of choice since it is cheap and easy to take. I did find studies indicating that Clomid alone works for 70% of women with PCOS. Other women find that they need Clomid and metformin or stronger fertility drugs. The success rate tends to drop a bit as time passes and stronger methods are tried, but the bottom line is that most women who have PCOS and want children have them.
Even for those who are told they will never succeed at getting and staying pregnant, there is much reason to hope. Several close friends of mine have surprised themselves and their doctors by getting pregnant after years of infertility. “Lisa” adopted three children and then found herself pregnant in her late 30’s. It seems that for many women their PCOS symptoms mellow out as they get older. “Anne” went to the doctor to find out why she was infertile after several years of marriage-she was 3 already months pregnant and boy number two followed just 15 months later. “Susan” had three miscarriages and was told she would never carry a baby to term. Four months later she was pregnant with her daughter and her son is two years younger. “Barb” got pregnant when she was not even thinking of fertility and now counts herself extremely blessed to have two healthy boys.
I know many women who have done everything possible to get pregnant, even IVF, and have not succeeded. But the majority of women with PCOS DO get pregnant. There is even more reason to hope for the young women who are just now learning they have PCOS. First, they are more likely to be diagnosed at all. This means many women will be diagnosed who would have been overlooked ten or fifteen years ago when my generation was first beginning the march from doctor to doctor looking for answers. We know so much more than we did then. Treatments, both natural and medical, are much, much better than ever. In addition, being diagnosed now means they have the chance to prevent much of the physical and emotional trauma older women have experienced because our doctors just didn’t know how to help us.
My advice to any particular woman is to do all you can to increase your fertility (see my other articles and my books for more information about this). Then do your best to relax and let your body work. The odds are with you in the long run.
Julie Renee Holland is a life coach who specializes in helping women with chronic disease to live passionate lives and fulfill their dreams. You can learn more at http://www.pcoscoach.com
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Related posts:
- pcos symptoms – PCOS – How is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Treated?
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Kadence Buchanan
- An Insight Into PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) – free article courtesy of ArticleCity.com
- pcos treatment – YouTube – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- ovarian cysts Pcos – What Are The Symptoms Of Polycystic Syndrome
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