Self-care Good nutrition, sleep and exercise form the pillars of self-care, and all three will help manage your PCOS symptoms and nourish your confidence. Learn more about the benefits of nutrition, exercise and sleep in women with PCOS.
Having a healthy lifestyle is the most effective way to manage PCOS and reduce the severity of symptoms. This includes eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and reducing or stopping harmful habits such as smoking and excessive drinking.
The purpose of our study was to describe use of coping strategies in a sample of women with PCOS from a western geographic area in the US. Self-controlling, social support, planful problem-solving, and positive reappraisal were coping subscales used most frequently based on total and relative WAYS scores.
At least 1 in 10 women have PCOS. 2 While it can be scary to hear that your partner has a medical condition, please know that she can live a full, healthy life if her PCOS is well managed. It's important as the partner of a woman with PCOS to realize that she did nothing wrong to cause her condition.
The scientific literature now shows clearly that anxiety levels, psychological distress, depressive feelings, and social fears are much higher in the women with PCOS. In one study of 300 women, nearly 30% had anxiety, and quality of life was lowest in those with a combination of stress and depression.
Women with PCOS often report signs of mood swings, depression and anxiety. Mood swings can feel like rapidly fluctuating emotions that can manifest as irritability, temper, sadness and/or anxiety that results from hormonal imbalance. Many women do experience signs of mood swings, especially near their menstrual cycle.
Some women have adrenal-dominant PCOS while other women have ovary-dominant PCOS, and many women have a combination of both. Women with PCOS have also been found to produce more cortisol at baseline than women without PCOS. This means that women with PCOS may have more sensitive stress response systems.
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.
PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain. Women with PCOS may be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and endometrial cancer.
This includes having excess amounts of androgen hormones, like testosterone, and, in some cases, a lack of progesterone. All of this can lead to brain fog, irritability, depression, and anxiety that can be severe and debilitating. It can also lead to severe mood swings, which can cause a general feeling of instability.
Women with PCOS are at higher risk of depression and anxiety and have a significantly lower quality of life compared with non-PCOS individuals.
Regular exercise, healthy foods, and weight control are the key treatments for PCOS. Treatment not only reduces unpleasant symptoms—it can help prevent long-term health problems from forming.
Depression and anxiety are common in women with PCOS but are often overlooked and therefore left untreated. Along with the physical disturbances, many mental problems are also associated with PCOS.
Women with PCOS often have too high androgen levels. Researchers believe that this can throw a woman's hormones out of whack and cause low libido and low sexual satisfaction.
DON'T LOSE HOPE
PCOS affects almost 10% of women in the United States. Though the condition can make pregnancy more complicated, having a baby is not impossible and women should not lose hope. Women with PCOS who want to become pregnant can consult with a healthcare provider for diagnoses and treatment options.
PCOS was misnamed. Despite the fact that it's called poly "cystic" ovary syndrome, women with PCOS don't have cysts. Instead, they have tiny immature follicles that surround their ovaries. Having a misleading name has contributed to confusion regarding its diagnosis.
PCOS is a prevalent condition found in 6-10% of the female population in developed countries (9). It is a familial polygenic condition thought to be attributed to both genetic and environmental factors (6-8). There has been much debate about the origin and pathological cause of PCOS in the past decade.
Will SSA Approve My Claim If I Have PCOS? As mentioned, PCOS syndrome alone is not a qualifying condition for disability claims.
Foods to Avoid if You Have PCOS
Processed meats (ex. sausages, hamburgers, and hot dogs) Refined Carbohydrates (ex. white bread, pasta, and pastries)
HIIT workouts
Short cardio bursts in HIIT are fantastic for helping women with PCOS. The main advantage of HIIT is that you can boost your cardiovascular fitness faster by working harder instead of longer. One study found that HIIT improves insulin resistance and aids fat burn.
Child maltreatment is independently associated with PCOS in women without psychiatric disorders. In the context of all maltreatment subtypes, emotional abuse remained associated with PCOS, suggesting its unique effect on this endocrinopathy.
PCOS does not cause fatigue directly. However, many common symptoms of PCOS can lead to fatigue. Conditions closely associated with PCOS can also cause fatigue. A person who is experiencing unmanageable fatigue or who thinks they may have PCOS may wish to speak with a healthcare professional.