PCOS is a set of symptoms in females brought on by elevated androgens, which are male hormones. Signs and symptoms of PCOS include irregular or no menstrual periods, heavy periods, excessive body and facial hair, acne, pelvic pain, difficulty getting pregnant, and patches of thick, darker, velvety skin. Associated conditions include type 2 diabetes, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disease, mood disorders, and endometrial cancer.
Anovulatory cycles are menstrual cycles where no ovulation occurs. 70% of anovulatory infertility is related to PCOS. During a process called follicular arrest, no dominant follicle grows large enough to ovulate. Without a mature egg, conception cannot occur, leading to the devastating realization of infertility, and that one cannot have a baby.
Rates of all pregnancy related complications increase in women with PCOS. Gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and pre-eclampsia risks triple. Risk of pre-term birth is increased by an estimated 75% when compared to normal women or those who have overcome PCOS. Women with PCOS are more likely to deliver by Caesarian section, which itself comes with complications.
During normal menstruation, progesterone is produced after ovulation by the remnant of the dominant follicle. Without ovulation, this does not occur and too little progesterone leads to heavy periods and irregularity. This leads clinically to the irregular cycles found in PCOS.
Interestingly, the underlying cause of the anovulation (no ovulation) relates to excessive insulin and testosterone production. Testosterone is mostly overproduced due to high insulin. I will state that again. The singular, most responsible culprit for anovulatory cycles is high insulin.
The three defining features of PCOS include polycystic ovaries, anovulatory cycles, and masculine features. All three symptoms reflect the same pathophysiology — too much testosterone, which is ultimately caused by too much insulin.
PCOS is really just another manifestation of metabolic disease, caused by too much insulin. This is crucial knowledge, because if the root cause of PCOS (and obesity and type 2 diabetes) is too much insulin, then the solution becomes quite obvious- decrease circulating insulin.
I can teach you how to do that in my book! The solution is certainly not drilling holes into the ovary. The solution is largely nutritional... decrease processed foods and overall sugary carbohydrates. Then, incorporate long periods of fasting to balance breakdown and storage hormones.
We can achieve this solution by following the steps laid out in my book, Fast To Heal, a 5-Step Guide to Nutritional PEACE.
Get your book HERE
and start healing today! It's only $12.95.
If you are overweight and suffer from PCOS, weight loss can usually help. The steps for naturally and sustainably losing weight are laid out in my book, but you can start with this FREE PDF, 5 Habits That Derail Weight Loss and Healing to get an idea about what I teach.
Here is to your health journey,
Shana
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