PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal disorder that exists as not one disease but a set of symptoms occurring together or in different ways in different women. PCOS is more common than you can think of, about 15% of women of reproductive age may have PCOS and yet it remains highly underdiagnosed. Most women do not feel the need to consult a doctor even though they might have been suffering through either one or many other symptoms of PCOS including:

• Excessive growth of facial hair
• Unnecessary weight gain
• Irregular or no ovulation
• Irregular periods
• Abnormal bleeding patterns
• Polycystic ovary
• Skin problems– acne, dark patches in skin folds
• Hair loss

The symptoms could be mild to severe but they could be reversed with a functional medicine approach for PCOS, that goes to the roots of the underlying issues.

Possible causes of PCOS

Genetic causes

PCOS could be caused due to genetic reasons, that is, if your mother or sister is suffering from PCOS it is likely that you might also be diagnosed with it sooner or later.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Lack of nutrients and mineral deficiency like Zinc, Omega 6, Vitamin D and C can also cause PCOS. Hence, an in-depth diagnosis of PCOS with the help of full-body tests and screening could help in identifying the excess and deficit components in the body and help in customizing nutrition plans that might help in reducing specific symptoms.

Insulin Resistance

The causes of PCOS have also been related to high doses of sugar consumption and a processed food diet that causes insulin resistance in the body. This can trigger the ovaries to create a hormonal imbalance by releasing excessive testosterone. This excessive testosterone causes women to have excessive facial hair, acne and even male pattern hair loss. Stress could also be an important contributing factor.

Polycystic Ovaries

Sometimes, in certain types of PCOS, women might have multiple cysts in their ovaries. This can affect their ovulation and menstrual cycles and create fertility issues.

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Constant exposure to a toxic environment for a long duration might also trigger PCOS. Researches prove that prolonged exposure to plasticizers in consumer products and pesticides found in agricultural products can trigger hormonal imbalance in the body. Apart from this, toxic environmental components also affect the gut microbiome and disrupt the metabolic homeostasis which may contribute to the condition. Getting a metal toxicity blood panel test can be used to identify any metal toxicity in your body.

Metabolic Dysfunctions

Metabolic dysfunctions could be another contributing factor in PCOS. Most women diagnosed with PCOS are overweight or are obese.

Chronic Inflammation

It is important to take care of your gut health as chronic inflammation in the gut and irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can also contribute to the causes of PCOS. Chronic inflammation in the body can also pose the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Diet and exercise can help in reducing inflammation in the body.

The functional medication approach for PCOS

While it is sometimes difficult to identify the symptoms of PCOS causing it to be highly underdiagnosed, many people who identify it on time and approach conventional medicine have to deal with strong hormonal medicines such as anti-estrogens and birth control pills. This might reduce some of the physical symptoms by eliminating the male hormones and regularizing the ovulation and period cycle; it might not be a very good option in the long run due to its acute side effects. The conventional medicine approach treats all PCOS patients with the same protocols but that might not be the case for every woman. So, if you are not very sure about opting for conventional medication, a functional medicine approach to treatment could be the best option for you.

Every woman with PCOS might have different underlying causes and that needs a proper diagnosis to provide exact diet, supplements and other personalized lifestyle changes which is only possible through a functional medicine approach to PCOS.

At Awaana Health, we understand that to correct any problem first we need to understand why it’s happening in the first place.  When a client comes to us with a PCOS condition, the first step is to do a lot of advanced blood panel tests to know what’s causing the PCOS. We do comprehensive lab tests like thyroid and nutrient levels such as vitamin D, B. We  also do hormonal tests including progesterone, testosterone etc, Homocysteine, Vitamin Panel, Gut test, insulin resistance, urine tests, stool tests and body screening so that the symptoms of a condition could be easily found and the causes of the same could also be identified. In the case of PCOS, the main problem in question could be hormonal dysfunction or poor gut health.

Address the underlying causes

1) Reduce inflammation

Fixing your gut health by reducing inflammation in the body could be the very first step under your control in improving your conditions in PCOS. According to the functional medicine treatment for PCOS, improving your gut flora with the help of a proper diet that reduces inflammation in your gut could help you to reduce the risks of diabetes, obesity and other complications.

2) Changing food habits

One of the most crucial changes in your routine that could make amends for your health is changing the way you eat. One of the major reasons why PCOS occurs could be related to the lack of essential nutrients in the body and excessive amounts of sugars and chemicals found in processed, packaged, artificial food products.Add more nutrients to your food like vitamins (D, K, E) and minerals such as zinc, chromium, selenium etc. Remove excess salt and sugar from your diet and include fresh fruits, vegetables. Freshwater fish is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are good for the gut due to their anti-inflammatory nature. Add saturated fats that help in controlling blood sugar levels. Avoid red meat, gluten, dairy and alcohol consumption.

3) Exercise and Yoga

Exercise is a very important part of dealing with PCOS because it really improves insulin sensitivity, which is thought to be one of the driving factors in at least some cases of PCOS. Certain exercise routines like high-intensity workouts or cardio workouts can help control PCOS up to a large extent. It can help to improve metabolic functions in the body and also accelerate weight loss. Apart from high intensity exercises, yoga can also help in managing weight related issues and improve body posture.

4) Stress Management

Yoga helps in managing other related symptoms such as anxiety and depression that might be caused due to PCOS. Yoga asanas (postures) and pranayamas (controlled breathing practices) can bring tranquility to the mind and increase mindfulness. Dhyana (meditation) can also be an effective solution to managing stress levels.

5) Fix your sleep schedule

Your sleep schedule can affect your health in many ways and one of them could be PCOS. A good nights sleep is an essential factor in managing good health and wellbeing. For our body to function smoothly and timely repair of our tissues, and muscles and synthesizing of hormones are important and it is only possible when you have peaceful and long hours of uninterrupted sleep.

6) Adding supplements

Inositol is an important supplement for improving fertility in women with PCOS by making ovulation regular. Other than that, magnesium, Vitamin B, Zinc, Carnitine, fish oils etc could help improve the health condition by providing the essential nutrients. Vitamin intake could help in reducing inflammation in the body. Berberine helps in reducing the levels of testosterone and regulates glucose levels. In terms of priority, magnesium, in particular magnesium glycinate, is highly recommended for women with menstrual irregularities. Its difficult to obtain adequate magnesium through diet alone and it plays such an important role in improving the functions of insulin, leptin, and thyroid hormones. Its essential in the production of estrogens and progesterone. It can also be calming on the nervous system.

Remember, PCOS is a lifestyle disorder and your everyday habits greatly contribute to the development of the disease. Lifestyle interventions are the most effective way of dealing with PCOS and need a multidisciplinary approach to reverse it.