PCOS ( Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)- A lesser recognized, common and complex hormone imbalance many of women face. Women live different types of PCOS and there is very limited that people talk about this.
I have a close friend with PCOS; A beautiful, young , vibrant women often body shamed by own parents and close people as she does not have a “marriage ready” body. Because they failed to see the personality hidden in her “less attractive” body. And I am terrified to know that she is ‘less than a woman’ just because she has PCOS.
But why?
Why is she treated as less than a women?
Menstruation is not optional, no women choose to have PCOS or any other reproductive disorders- In Fact, No one chooses to have a disorder. Right?
So when we know that it was not her choice, why are we pointing our fingers and treating her different? I am disheartened by the fact that the quality of the life of a women is depended on many aspects which is related to menstruation.
How do we define being satisfied with our quality of life?
For one woman it may be having a family and being a mother, for another woman it may be having a successful career, or for some it may be both.
For some women, having children is an important part of the female identity. Not only may her quality of life be affected, her partner or family may be affected; it should be noted that the extent of infertility on quality of life varies according to socio-cultural factors, traditions, and religious beliefs.
Infertility is often associated with divorce, low social status, lowered self-esteem, altered self-perception, and job dissatisfaction. PCOS may also trigger infertility by causing stress and other psychosocial factors including distress, depression, anxiety, sexual problems, marital, and social maladjustment, lost of control, and lowered self esteem.
Symptoms of PCOS such as obesity, hirsutism and infertility have a strong influence on the psychosocial experience of women.Additionally, women with PCOS sometimes also have to deal with higher levels of depression and overall psychological morbidity and decreased quality of life in overall health and sex.
But… If Sarah Ali Khan & Sonam Kapoor can tackle PCOS, You can too.
The first and most evident symptom of PCOS is irregular periods. Acne and hair loss come eventually. But one doesn’t need to be afraid of these as a few changes in the lifestyle do wonders in battling PCOS. But first and foremost, You need to know what kind of PCOS you are having!
PCOS is not one thing. It is not one disease.It is a set of symptoms. The key primary symptom is failure to ovulate regularly.
* TYPES OF PCOS
1) Insulin-resistant PCOS
This is the most common type of PCOS and insulin resistance is caused by sugar, smoking, trans fat, and environmental toxins. If you are borderline diabetic, or you had an abnormal glucose tolerance test. You probably have elevated insulin, and you may also have elevated LH (luteinizing hormone).The first step to treat your Insulin-resistant PCOS is to quit sugar and also consider gentle intermittent fasting, which works well to improve insulin sensitivity.
Best supplements for insulin resistance are magnesium, lipoic acid, inositol, and berberine.
2) Pill-induced PCOS or post-pill PCOS
Hormonal birth control suppresses ovulation. For most women, it’s a temporary effect, and ovulation will usually resume fairly soon after the Pill is stopped. But for some women, ovulation-suppression can persist for months or even years. During that time, it is not unusual to be given the diagnosis of PCOS. Some deny the existence of Pill-induced PCOS, but it is very real. It is the second most common type of PCOS.
If your LH is elevated, the best herbal treatment is Peony & Licorice combination.Peony is a powerful herb which work wonders on your pituitary-ovarian axis.
Do not take them if you are a teenager, or if you have just come off the Pill.
3) Inflammatory PCOS
Inflammation—or chronic immune activation—results from by stress, environmental toxins, intestinal permeability and inflammatory foods like gluten. Inflammation impedes ovulation, disrupts hormone receptors, and stimulates adrenal androgens. And if you have Inflammatory PCOS, reduce stress and exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides and plastics. Eliminate inflammatory foods such as wheat, dairy, and sugar.
4) Hidden-cause PCOS
This is the ‘simpler-than-you-think’ type of PCOS because it usually means that there is one simple thing that is blocking ovulation. Once that single thing is addressed, this type of PCOS resolves very quickly, usually within 3-4 months. Thyroid disease,Iodine deficiency,Too little starch in your diet and Vegetarian diet are the main reasons of Hidden-cause PCOS.
And most importantly, do not self medicate – always, always, always seek help from a professional when you know there is something wrong in you.
For any assistance on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Hidden-Pockets are here on a text away- WhatsApp: 88617 13567.
Sources :
a) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911514/
b) https://www.floliving.com/what-kind-of-pcos-do-you-have-my-treatment-guide-for-the-pcos-spectrum/
c) https://www.larabriden.com/treatment-for-4-types-of-pcos-treat-the-cause/
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