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PCOS: Latest Insights

  • Writer: Pooja
    Pooja
  • Jan 11, 2022
  • 2 min read

Is PCOS a disease or disorder?

Polycystic ovary syndrome is not a disease but a hormonal disorder. This is an endocrine hormonal disorder in which there is an imbalance between the hormones in the brain and the ovary. It is not a new condition. It's symptoms were described first in 1721 by Italian physician Antonio Vallisneri.


What actually happens in PCOS?

The pituitary gland produces two hormones luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which regulates ovulation. The FSH stimulates the ovary to produce a follicle which is a sac that contains an egg and then the LH triggers the ovary to release a mature egg. Owing to the “polycysts” or many cysts that are present in the PCOS cases, there are many follicles which contain eggs, however the eggs in them do not mature fully. This leads to an imbalance in the production of estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH hormones. For more info click here. There are 3 main symptoms that persons with PCOS have:

  • Cysts in the ovaries

  • High levels of male hormones

  • Irregular or skipped periods


Symptoms:




Latest Insights on Effectiveness of Lifestyle Changes in Managing PCOS:

  • In the article - “Effect of Lifestyle Changes on Symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Obese Girls” published in ReserachGate April 2016, with a sample size of 543 females with PCOS, the outcome was that the lifestyle changes positively affect in reducing symptoms of PCOS .

  • According to the study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & metabolism “Effect of Lifestyle Intervention on Features of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Metabolic Syndrome, and Intima-Media Thickness in Obese Adolescent Girls findings clearly state that weight loss due to lifestyle intervention is effective to treat menses irregularities, normalize androgens, and improve CRF and IMT in obese adolescent girls with PCOS.

  • In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers from UNSW Sydney, the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre and ANZAC Research Institute say it is the first time that dysfunctional reproductive function in mice with induced PCOS has been shown to be restored with diet alone.

  • The UNSW Adjunct Associate Professor Kirsty Walters, who led this research, also found that a ratio of low protein, medium carbohydrate and medium fat appeared to reverse the effect of PCOS on the reproductive health of a subset of female mice with PCOS features. Encouragingly, this dietary ratio falls within the range known as a Mediterranean diet. Although further research is required, this discovery is a stepping stone on which diets should be explored further.


Conclusion:


It might seem daunting to start with a lifestyle modification program seeking remediation for PCOS symptoms. However, as seen through research it would be a worthwhile endeavour in the long run. At times, you may even wonder if there is any point in taking up these lifestyle modifications and whether they are sustainable.


The good news is that depending on the type of the program you choose, you can make these changes seamlessly with proper counseling and guidance. Choose a program that would be customised to enable you to “incorporate” the changes based on your existing likes, patterns and lifestyle.


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