Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder in women and is unfortunately becoming more common. Experts believe that currently 10% to 20% of all women have PCOS symptoms *1,2,3. Largely, lifestyle factors come into play. PCOS can strain your fertility and general health, but fortunately it is easily treatable.
Not every woman has a regular cycle. Did you know that a cycle of up to 35 days is a regular cycle? That your cycle does not have to be the same length every month?
Many women don't know this and mistakenly think something is wrong. Report to their gynaecologist and then, possibly on the basis of an internal ultrasound showing cysts in the ovaries, are told to come back when they want to get pregnant. "I speak to many women who have been weighed down by this statement for years and still have a chance of getting pregnant naturally." Says Patricia Dijkema who has been counselling women with cycle complaints for more than 21 years.
More and more women need help with PCOS
Is your menstrual cycle a challenge? Do you have an irregular cycle?
An irregular menstrual cycle can happen:
After stopping contraception
The first 3 years of your period
During or after a stressful period
In case of malnutrition: lack of essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals)
Do you suspect you have PCOS?
It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. Women go to their GP or gynaecologist because of some, or even all, of these symptoms:
Irregular or very long cycles (longer than 35 days)
Unfulfilled desire for children due to missing or irregular ovulations
Dark skin discolouration, e.g. on the neck or under the arms, acne
Masculine aspects in terms of physique, a heavier voice
Hirsutism: increase in facial and body hair (on the chin, abdomen or back)
Hair loss, receding hairline
Psychological complaints, depression
Are you already familiar with the Hormones for Health Podcast (NL)?
Patricia Dijkema explains in even more detail how to optimise your hormone balance in this 1-hour-plus episode.
4 types of PCOS
As the name suggests, it is not about 1 complaint but more problems together. This requires a different approach because there are several underlying factors causing symptoms.
Main causes are too many male (androgenic) hormones and anovular cycles (no ovulations) that automatically prolong the menstrual cycle. In 60% of these women, ovulation fails.
When you know which type is disturbed in you, you also know how to address symptoms.
PCOS due to insulin resistance
PCOS after using contraception (usually a temporary one)
PCOS due to inflammatory processes in your body (inflammation)
PCOS due to overloaded adrenal function (stress)
Excess male hormones or cysts?
PCOS is caused by an excess of male hormones, provided other causes of androgen excess are ruled out. Despite its name, polycystic ovarian syndrome has nothing to do with cysts on the ovaries. The so-called "cysts" or "vesicles" visible during an internal ultrasound are not cysts of the ovaries, but actually follicles or eggs, which normally occur in the ovary. A teenager has 25 follicles in each ovary. If your doctor thinks this is an abnormal picture then you risk going home with an incorrect diagnosis. You get so much supply of eggs at birth that you will certainly have enough until menopause!
There is no evidence that the presence of polycystic ovaries affects the endocrine or metabolic features of PCOS. In other words, you can have polycystic ovaries and perfectly normal hormones. Conversely, you can have normal-looking ovaries but still have the hormonal condition of androgen excess (aka PCOS).
So how can you determine whether you have ovulation or not?
Ladies who measure with a fertility tracker like the Daysy see how their BBT (basal body temperature) is progressing. The hormones that alternate in your natural cycle determine what your BBT is, which is why measuring under the tongue gives very accurate insight into whether you are ovulating.
It frequently happens that ovulations do occur while being diagnosed with PCOS by a doctor.
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Sources
kup.at/kup/pdf/12148.pdf
rosenfluh.ch/media/gynaekologie/2019/02/Das-polyzystische-Ovarsyndrom-PCOS.pdf
monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1412644/PCOS_Evidence-Based-Guidelines_20181009.pdf
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