5 Myths About PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common health problem caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. PCOS usually is first noticed when someone first goes through puberty or is when trying to have children since it can make it harder to get pregnant. Those with PCOS often have very painful periods as well as experiencing insulin resistance which can often lead to weight gain. There is no definite cause for PCOS.

Here we will break down some myths of PCOS

1. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IS THE NUMBER ONE TREATMENT FOR PCOS
   Recommending weight loss to treat PCOS can actually be super dangerous. Although it can be really difficult to control, maintain, and lose weight with this diagnosis due to insulin resistance, it can create a jaded relationship with food and body.
   Instead, take a health at every size approach. Health at every size means it’s possible to be you can be healthy even if your body is larger than it once was or larger than you would like. Instead of looking at weight loss as a goal, start looking at it like a side effect. Don’t try to lose weight but instead talk to an experienced dietitian about how to effectively control blood sugars with the food you eat.
   

2. IF YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE IS IRREGULAR, YOU HAVE PCOS
   There are so many reasons your menstrual cycle may be irregular, PCOS is just one of them. Stress, diet, excessive exercise, thyroid disorders are just a few examples that could cause an irregular period. Talk to you OBGYN or primary care physician if you are experiencing irregular periods. Doctors can run different test to find the root of your irregularity.
   

3. YOU HAVE TO HAVE CYSTS TO HAVE PCOS
   When PCOS was first being diagnosed, it was believed that a sign of this was cysts on the ovaries. As more research has been conducted and more individuals have been diagnosed with PCOS, it was found that cysts DO NOT have to be present. Each person with PCOS has symptoms that manifest in different ways.
   To be diagnosed, one needs to fulfill only two of the three conditions; an excess of androgen hormones, irregular mensuration, or multiple follicles/cystic ovaries. You’ll need a doctor to make an actual diagnosis.
   

4. YOU CAN’T GET PREGNANT WITH PCOS
   This is often the first concern when diagnosed with PCOS. While a side effect of PCOS is often infertility, it is still possible to get pregnant. Talk to your doctor or a fertility specialist about your options. A number of medications can stimulate ovulation, which is the main issue that women with PCOS face.
   

5. YOU HAVE TO STICK TO A RESTRICTIVE DIET TO HELP MANAGE YOUR SYMPTOMS
   Often, you’ll hear people say to cut out lactose/milk products, carbs, gluten, and sugar. Everyone has a different presentation of PCOS, what that also means, everyone will have different treatment options. Just because it helped one person, it may not work for everyone else.
   Ask what is your personal need. Start finding your tolerance level. You may have a sensitivity to lactose or gluten. That doesn’t mean you have to get rid of it entirely. It just means you have a lower tolerance than others.
   Try for more variety instead of less. You probably don’t need to take any food groups away unless you have a legit allergy.

Get additional guidance with your PCOS and book with one of our dietitians here.