Lea Michele The Glee star has opened up about being diagnosed with PCOS after experiencing severe acne and fluctuating weight. “The side effects [of PCOS] can be brutal — like weight gain and bad skin,” Lea shared with Health. “I went to a great doctor, and the minute she looked at me, she was like, 'Oh, you have PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed.
PCOS is neither a fatal nor inherently dangerous disease and the vast majority of women with the condition do just fine. That said, there are challenges in living with a woman who has PCOS. PCOS can cause annoying symptoms and management can be tedious.
Excess insulin causes polycystic ovaries because it impairs ovulation and stimulates the ovaries to make testosterone instead of estrogen. We have an epidemic of insulin resistance, so it makes sense that we also have an epidemic of PCOS.
“There is no cure so far – all the treatment options available treat the symptoms and not the disease itself,” says Paolo Giacobini at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. He and others are now trying to develop PCOS-specific drugs.
Although a majority of cases with PCOS are obese/overweight, a small but significant proportion of patients present with normal body mass index (BMI; ≤25 kg/M2) that makes diagnostic work up and therapeutic approach more difficult. These cases are termed as lean PCOS.
Many women with PCOS find that their menstrual cycles become more regular as they get closer to menopause. However, their PCOS hormonal imbalance does not change with age, so they may continue to have symptoms of PCOS.
The ideal diet consists of a variety of foods from various food groups—healthy carbohydrates, such as vegetables and fruits; lean meats, such as poultry; fish; and high fiber grains. Doctors advise focusing on foods that are low in sugar and fat and have a low glycemic index.
If you are a woman diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you will most likely want to tell your long term partner about your condition — and discuss the potential complications that could affect your life together.
“PCOS is only one of many conditions that could fall under the intersex umbrella, and care for people with PCOS would be considerably better if it wasn't for the forced gendering and resistance to providing actual support for people with PCOS, even if it challenges society's ideas of gender,” says Zuri.
As the problem of PCOS is a life-long problem it will continue, removing the ovaries will not cure the problem. There have been circumstances where some women have had regular menstrual cycles in the months following surgery and even some pregnancies.
Victoria Beckham
The mom of four has been open about her PCOS diagnosis, irregular periods, and struggles with infertility for many years. But being in the public eye certainly didn't help the beloved Spice Girl with the stress of trying to conceive.
The age-standardised annual incidence rate of PCOS also varied substantially by country. In 2019, Kuwait [108.6 (95% UI: 71.7 to 151.4)], Qatar [105.1 (95% UI: 68.0 to 147.9)] and Saudi Arabia [103.0 (95% UI: 66.9 to 143.0)] had the highest age-standardised annual incidence rates.
Hispanic women with PCOS have the most severe phenotype, both in terms of hyperandrogenism and metabolic criteria. Non-Hispanic Black women have an overall milder polycystic ovarian syndrome phenotype than Hispanics and in some respects, than Non-Hispanic White women.
People with PCOS should avoid these foods that can ramp up inflammation: Fried foods (French fries, potato chips, corn chips and fried chicken or fish) Saturated fats such as butter or margarine. Red meat, including hamburgers, roast beef and steaks, processed luncheon meat and hot dogs.
Practice positive affirmations
When you're dealing with PCOS, being told to be positive might come across as a little annoying. However, there is an effective way to challenge and overcome pessimistic thought patterns. This is by practicing positive affirmations, which can reinforce feelings of self-love and belief.
Recent studies have shown that women who were diagnosed as having PCOS 30 years ago have a completely normal life expectancy. An inspection of more than 700 death certificates from women with PCOS has shown that there is no excess risk of cancer in any organ or of heart disease.
As a result, PCOS is associated with reduced fertility. Age is a key factor in infertility. After the age of 35, a woman's fertility decreases. Some studies suggest that age-related decline (ARD) in fertility is slower in women with PCOS.
Losing weight not only cuts your risk for many diseases, it can also make you feel better. When you have PCOS, shedding just 10% of your body weight can bring your periods back to normal. It can also help relieve some of the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome. Weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity.
Losing weight is challenging with PCOS, but not impossible. It may take you longer to lose weight than someone without hormonal imbalances. While slow progress can feel discouraging, a healthy lifestyle has benefits you may not notice right away.
Regular exercise has incredible benefits that go way beyond weight loss for women with PCOS. Weight loss is an important treatment strategy as it improves practically every parameter of PCOS. Since exercise burns calories, it can be a helpful tool to aid weight management.