PCOS is a common reproductive issue, but fortunately, PCOS treatment is possible. PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is one of the common conditions that cause hormonal imbalance in women, disrupting the ovaries’ normal functioning. Women with PCOS are 70-80% more prone to infertility than an average healthy woman. But if not properly treated, it can also lead to life-threatening conditions like heart disease, and the chances even accelerate if you are unfortunately already suffering from Type II Diabetes.
While infertility, excessive hair growth (mostly hirsutism), frequent acne, irregular periods, and sleep apnea are the most common effects of PCOS. In some cases, endometrial cancer has also been reported in women with PCOS, but the initial symptoms can vary from person to person. For instance, obesity is one of the contributing factors to PCOS in some women, while irregular periods and genetic conditions are responsible for the other.
But fortunately, unlike many other reproductive diseases, PCOS treatment is possible. Adopting several adequate PCOS treatment methods can prevent PCOS from turning into life-long infertility or heart disease.
We have compiled a list of 10 possible factors that can be an excellent option for PCOS treatment. They include all the aspects related to medications and suitable lifestyle changes that can help you fight PCOS better.
1 Lose or Maintain the Ideal Weight
One of the most common reasons for PCOS among women is the high BMI rate, which ultimately categorizes them as overweight or obese. Obesity is not just a body type; it is a root problem and can lead to many other ailments, including PCOS.
Research shows that 40-80% of women have PCOS, thanks to obesity, and losing weight and maintaining the ideal BMI is the best PCOS treatment you can choose.
When your body has excess fat, weight, and high sugar levels (all thanks to obesity), a change in the hormonal levels is expected, and if this condition is prolonged, it can lead to PCOS in women. Besides PCOS, obesity can also invite Type II Diabetes (another cause of PCOS), hypertension, and cholesterol-related problems.
You can see visible results by losing 5-10% of your weight, and your body will start to attain an ideal hormonal balance.
2 Low-Carb Diet
PCOS is undoubtedly a complex hormonal problem partnered with several other conditions. Besides obesity, the other contributing factor is high sugar levels, especially if you have Type II diabetes. Surplus sugar levels or inefficiency of insulin can also lead to PCOS. Therefore, if you are looking forward to infertility or PCOS treatment, change your eating habits and opt for a low-carb diet that excludes the primary sources of starches. It will help the body receive low glucose levels and ultimately stabilize the hormonal levels within the body.
3 Anti-Inflammatory Foods and Diets
PCOS is a low leveled chronic inflammatory disease, and inflammation within the body is expected when you have it.
Still, you can opt for PCOS treatment by watching over everything you put in your mouth. Consuming anti-inflammatory food will help the body fight against the inflammation due to PCOS, ultimately lowering its effects all over the body. Below we have constituted a list of anti-inflammatory foods you can consider in your diet for an effective PCOS treatment.
- Olive oil and nuts.
- Tomatoes.
- Green vegetables like kale, lettuce, and spinach.
- Fatty fish with low mercury levels like salmon.
- Berries and cherries.
- Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, tangerines, grapefruits, etc.
Besides going for anti-inflammatory foods, it is also crucial that you should avoid foods that can cause inflammation, such as sodas and other highly processed foods. Removing inflammation will help you tackle not only PCOS but it will also help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent or treat arthritis.
You can also opt for anti-inflammatory diets like the Mediterranean or Paleo diet that promotes consuming healthy and whole foods. They can become a part of your lifestyle and will help your PCOS treatment effectively by efficiently resisting inflammation and high sugar levels.
4 Exercise Regularly
Keeping your body fit and functional is one of the best PCOS treatment methods. Regular exercise can help reduce the inflammatory marks, make your immune system more substantial, and efficiently regulate the secretion of hormones like LH, estrogen, and androstenedione. It can also reduce the testosterone secretions that are one of the contributing factors to PCOS.
5 Tackle Stress and Depression
Accept it or not, our mental and physical conditions are interconnected, and whenever we go through a challenging mental phase, it affects the body physically as well. Anxiety, depression, and stress can upset the hormonal secretions within the body, primarily through the ovaries, and sometimes it can result in an imbalance that can cause PCOS.
If you have depression and anxiety issues that lead to PCOS, then it is recommended that you should overcome the reason that has put you in such a state or consult a psychologist for serious help. Remember that PCOS treatment will not be advantageous if you are not mentally stable.
6 Raise the Estrogen Levels
There are some estrogen-rich foods that you can include in your diet to regulate the hormone levels within the body. Let’s have a look at them.
- Flax seeds.
- Soybeans and tofu
- Hummus.
- Garlic.
- Alfalfa sprouts.
- Sesame.
- Dry apricots and dates.
Consuming such foods can be a practical step for PCOS treatment, but make sure not to rely on them all the time as they can cause severe complications with the immune system and even lead to breast cancer.
Occasionally you can consider them for regulation, but you should always ask your doctor before incorporating them into your diet for PCOS treatment.
7 Combination Birth Control Pills
A combination of birth control pills containing both estrogen and progestin in their composition can be vital in PCOS treatment. It can help to regulate the levels of concerned hormones within the body.
Taking them will help your periods regulate and reduce the excess production of hair and acne formation. Ultimately it will protect you from endometrial cancer too.
You can also use patches or vaginal rings containing a combination of estrogen and progestin that can provide a similar function with the ease of not taking pills every time.
8 Clomiphene Citrate
If you are trying out for pregnancy, but PCOS stops you, then go for a clomiphene citrate drug (over-prescription from your doctor). It can help regulate your periods and track your ovulation; if PCOS has given you infertility, it can cope. The drug is usually taken during the initial stages of the menstrual cycle, and in most cases, it proves beneficial for infertility and PCOS treatment.
9 Metformin
Metformin is a drug usually prescribed to a person with Type II diabetes. But despite its observed effects against diabetes, Metformin can also stimulate fertility among women with PCOS. This drug is often prescribed by the doctor when clomiphene does not work. It can reduce the symptoms of PCOS and can help lose weight too.
But never forget to consult your doctor before taking medicine. He/She can tell you the best requirements for your body.
10 Treatment for Hirsutism
Hirsutism is undoubtedly one of the most irritating problems that PCOS usually brings with it. But it can be treated as well. Although oral contraceptives tend to lower the levels of hirsutism, if you want a different medication for it or a contraceptive does not control it, you can look out for the following drugs and treatment.
- Spironolactone.
- Vaniqa or Eflornithine.
- Hair laser treatment.
But still, we recommend you ask your doctor before taking any medications for PCOS treatment yourself.
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