High levels of caffeine have been said to make your PCOS symptoms worse by: Increasing the stress hormone cortisol, which raises insulin, which suppresses progesterone production. Increasing sugar cravings (when you're on a low after having a caffeinated coffee earlier, you often crave a sugar boost).
PCOS-Friendly Drink Substitutes
Many of these benefits come from the fact that they're nutritionally “better” than what you'd drink otherwise: Substitute coconut water, kombucha, or seltzer water for soda. Make tea, turmeric lattes, or chicory root your morning drink for PCOS. This is much better than coffee.
In fact, if you're trying to balance your hormones, caffeine may be a no-go. Research shows that it can increase estrogen levels. While caffeine is known to give you a quick energy boost, it can also disrupt your hormones, particularly estrogen levels.
Caffeine contributes to dehydration and inflammation, which contribute to the development of ovarian cysts.
Caffeine may be included in a healthy lifestyle for PCOS, but moderation is key when it comes to preventing negative side effects. Regular and modest caffeine consumption may increase your productivity, help prevent chronic disease, and regulate your metabolism and energy balance.
If you're struggling with your period, fibroids, cysts of any kind in the breast or ovary, endometriosis, infertility, low sex drive, moodiness, low energy, and weight issues – coffee is making all of these problems much worse.
Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance. This means the body can't use insulin well. Insulin levels build up in the body and may cause higher androgen levels. Obesity can also increase insulin levels and make PCOS symptoms worse.
Caffeine causes sex hormone imbalances.
Because of its capacity to contribute to HPA axis dysfunction and cortisol dominance, regular caffeine intake can affect the delicate balance of your reproductive hormones, including oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
If you drink coffee on an empty stomach, your cortisol levels can increase and, depending on your individual hormone levels, it could cause unnecessary stress in your morning. However, generally, it shouldn't be anything to worry about.
High levels of caffeine have been said to make your PCOS symptoms worse by: Increasing the stress hormone cortisol, which raises insulin, which suppresses progesterone production. Increasing sugar cravings (when you're on a low after having a caffeinated coffee earlier, you often crave a sugar boost).
Women with PCOS tend to have adrenal glands that over-produce stress hormones like cortisol that impact the nervous system. While we often use coffee to get through stressful times, this research suggests it might be best to avoid caffeine during busy or overwhelming periods to avoid extra cortisol spikes.
Insulin resistance: Women with PCOS are more likely to have insulin resistance, which means that their bodies have difficulty using insulin effectively to process glucose. It can lead to high blood sugar levels, which can make it more difficult to lose weight.
While these effects can benefit both men and women, intermittent fasting may be an especially useful dietary strategy for women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (commonly known as PCOS). Intermittent fasting for PCOS can reduce symptoms and improve fertility and other quality-of-life outcomes.
And while PCOS doesn't have a clear hereditary pattern, per the Genetics Home Reference, there does seem to be some sort of family association—an estimated 20%–40% of those with PCOS have an affected family member, usually a mother or sister.
Summary. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex hormonal condition. PCOS can be associated with problems such as irregular menstrual cycles, excessive facial and body hair growth, acne, obesity, reduced fertility and increased risk of diabetes.