One of the most searched for topics related to PCOS is whether there is a cure for Polycystic Ovaries.
I’ve always been cautious about promising cures to PCOS because the general medical opinion is that it can be managed but not cured – it’s always with you. I don’t like the idea of giving false hope.
However, my belief in the power of natural, holistic treatments and the experiences of some of my own friends and contacts over the years absolutely convince me that PCOS CAN be cured.
The difference between conventional medicine and alternative therapies is that conventional medicine – for all its wonderful breakthroughs and benefits – tends to treat one thing at a time based on symptoms. Holistic medicine treats the body as a whole. So, in my own case, when I discovered I had an underactive thryroid my doctor said there was no relation to the PCOS even though they are both endocrine disorders. In conventional medicine each is treated separately with separate drugs, but in natural medicine the body is treated as a whole and everything is related.
If you’re not prepared to accept a non-medical point of view then at least accept that PCOS can be reversed to the point that you can live a very normal life without dealing with the symptoms of Polycystic Ovaries. It isn’t easy – even with the use of the popular PCOS drugs – and requires a commitment to a low-GI diet (preferably eating natural and organic foods and avoiding processed foods), balancing good nutrition, vitamins and minerals (cutting out sugar and stimulants like caffeine), and exercising regularly.
I truly believe you can eliminate your PCOS (whether you see it as a cure or a reversal) and hope this blog can offer you some of the support and guidance you need to do so.
Those of you who remember the various incarnations of the PCOS Matters website will remember that a few years ago I interviewed Christine DeZarn the founder of the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association and PCOSupport.org. The interview was made available on the website for readers to download and listen to.
I recently found the interview on my computer and realised the PCOS information and advice offered by Christine in the interview is as relevant today as it was back then.
So, I’ve uploaded it again and would love you to download the interview to take a listen to.
In the interview we discussed topics like:
the basics of PCOS
how to live a “normal” life with PCOS
can you still get pregnant with PCOS?
what research is being done to help women with PCOS
Part one of the interview can be listened to here just by clicking on the play button:
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To download and listen to the rest of the interview please add your name and email below. You will receive an email with all the download details in. It will also mean I can keep you updated on any other PCOS Matters I think you might be interested in:
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In my last video, I shared a little about my journey with PCOS. In this video I talk about my experiences with the traditional medical route for PCOS treatment.
I was disappointed with my initial doctor’s response to discovering I had Polycystic Ovaries i.e. he offered no help whatsoever, so I went and found a new doctor who was more interested in PCOS. I recommend you do the same, and if you can you should ask for the referral to an Endocrinologist.
More doctors are accepting PCOS as a condition that should be taken seriously, but not all of them. And some of those that recognise the problems of PCOS are not educated well enough in it to offer any further solutions.
I urge you to find the best PCOS doctor/specialist possible and make sure you are satisfied with the treatments they offer.
I wouldn’t usually admit to the debauchery of my last few days but I promised full disclosure, so here it is…
I fell off the wagon.
Actually, I didn’t just fall off, I leapt off…with both feet…willingly!
It all sounds so dramatic, but essentially what happened is that my sister came for a visit and I spent several days happily eating anything that came my way. Instead of following a mainly Vegan diet with a few non-vegan options, I went completely off program and ate all sorts of things I hadn’t planned – 4 days worth of… well, not exactly junk…but definitely not foods that allow for a balanced and healthful diet.
And now I feel pretty rubbish as a result. My body is telling me I need to stop and sort things out.
So, today I’m leaping back on that wagon, taking the reins and riding off into the sunset
On a much more positive note – take a look at this video my friend showed me today – it really made me cry, but in a good way:
And, if you want to know the story behind this video – this one is almost as moving:
I thought it was about time I officially welcomed you to the PCOS Matters blog and told you a little bit of my story.
I was diagnosed with PCOS in my early ’20s, but knew that things weren’t right from my teens. I was on the BCP (Birth Control Pill) from the age of around 17 until I was 34/35 continuously, except for 9 months to a year when I was exploring homeopathy.
I was fed up with pumping my body full of drugs and have a great interest in alternative therapies.
In the next video, I’ll tell you more about those alternative therapies and my experience with traditional medicine in regards to my PCOS.
Treatments for Polycystic Ovaries vary depending on the doctor or specialist you are seeing. However, there are 3 main categories of treatment you may be offered.
1. Contraceptive Pill
This is still one of the most popular treatments for PCOS, although it doesn’t treat the underlying cause of the problem, it simply masks the symptoms. There are any number of birth control pills you may be offered and it is important that you read the information contained with the pills, especially if you experience any side effects. Some contraceptives put you at a greater risk of Thrombosis so it is important to try and maintain a healthy weight and avoid smoking.
The advantage of taking the contraceptive pill is that it gives you a regular menstrual cycle meaning you are less likely to be at risk of endometrial cancer or problems resulting from a build-up of the womb wall.
2. Fertility Drugs
Clomid (or Clomiphene) is the most popular treatment given to women with PCOS who are trying to conceive. It encourages the body to create certain hormones that then tell your body to ovulate. It has a good success rate, with 70-90% of women ovulating within their first 3 cycles after starting on the drug. Clomiphene is a short term treatment and is usually only taken for around 6 months. There are other fertility drugs that your doctor may also consider prescribing, but Clomid is the most popular.
3. Diabetes Medications
A number of diabetes drugs are now available to women with Polycystic Ovaries, and the most popular of these is Metformin (Glucopage). These drugs have been proven to improve the symptoms of PCOS, by controlling blood sugars and reducing androgen production. Many women with PCOS have reported good results and it is the treatment most likely to be offered to you if you consult with an endocrinologist.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of treatments but they are the main drugs given to PCOS sufferers, which you may be offered by your own medical practitioner.
PCOS – or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – is a disorder that affects an estimated 5 to 10% of women of child bearing age, and yet many women still do not understand what it is.
Most women receive treatment from a doctor and/or a gynecologist when they believe they might have PCOS or have already been diagnosed, as these specialists can treat the individual symptoms, such as:
problems conceiving
adult acne
facial and body hair
thinning head hair
irregular, painful and/or heavy periods
dark, velvet-like patches around the base of the neck and in other body creases
unexplained weight-gain
.
However, it is important to be aware of the underlying cause of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and seek the help of an endocrinologist.
There is still some debate as to how PCOS starts, but it is clear that it is an endocrine disorder. The endocrine system is a group of glands that make hormones. These hormones control the way your body works, such as reproduction, metabolism and growth. When the hormones don’t work normally – as with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – it creates a knock-on effect throughout the body.
In the case of most PCOS sufferers, too much insulin is created, which in turn affects the hormones controlling the reproductive cycle. There is excess production of male hormones (androgens) resulting in symptoms such as excess facial and body hair, weight-gain around the abdomen and alopecia. Women with PCOS also find they have low energy levels because the insulin is not releasing the energy from food properly.
An endocrinologist is trained to diagnose and treat hormone problems by helping to restore the normal balance of hormones in your system.
While there is no current cure for PCOS, the right treatments can reduce symptoms and enable you to conceive naturally.
One of the most searched for topics related to PCOS is whether there is a cure for Polycystic Ovaries.
