PCOS stems from a hormone imbalance and a new PCOS study is underway to uncover more answers about this disease. Many women who are 25-50 pounds overweight are at high risk for developing PCOS and may suffer from fatigue, ovarian cysts, and abnormal hair growth. Many women do not even know they have it until many of these symptoms arise. There have been many doctors and researchers that are doing PCOS studies to determine just how damaging this imbalance is and if there is a cure or a way to reverse it. Many of the symptoms of PCOS start in adolescents and PCOS usually develop in a woman’s mid-twenties. Many PCOS sufferers have too many male hormones, which cause a lot of menstrual problems.

There is a study that Northwestern University is doing to find out more about PCOS and the causes and solutions. One PCOS study is for overweight women 18-40 with regular or irregular periods and that are not taking birth control pills. These women need to be in pretty good health overall. This test will require blood tests, an MRI, and a DEXA scan. Some of the results will be taken to see of they can determine the root causes of PCOS and how they can make it better for more women. Some women may be asked to take a second part of the research, which will require them to test non-FDA medications to see what the results are.

Another PCOS study is for men who are brothers or fathers of women with PCOS and men whose sisters and daughters do not have PCOS. These men need to be between 18-65 years of age and in generally good health. This PCOS study will take 2 weeks and will require 2 blood tests and a MRI scan. Most studies that other researchers are doing is not asking for men but there have been some links to PCOS in men and this study will show that. Research for PCOS study is widespread and many doctors and scientists are finding new results and symptoms linked to PCOS.

A PCOS study can range from just finding causes to actually finding ways to reverse the issues that are arising with PCOS.  Some have even been testing diet programs similar to the one I have used to manage my PCOS. These studies are being done with compensation for the women and men participating, which will help people feel more confident in being a part of a PCOS study.  Do some searches online and see if there is a PCOS study going on at a research hospital near you.

Here are some websites featuring current PCOS studies:
VCU PCOS ResearchNorthwestern University - Get a free PCOS screening when you participate! Massachusetts General Hospital

While millions of women suffer from poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, the degree of severity can range from woman to woman. It can manifest as mildly as hair loss or growth, or heavy periods, but often the most severe link is between poly-cystic ovarian syndrome and infertility.  This is often a devastating side effect, but one that is not always a lost cause.

First, it is important to understand what happens to the body of someone with PCOS and why there is a connection between poly-cystic ovarian syndrome and infertility. PCOS causes many hormonal changes in the body, and other side effects like too much insulin, and weight gain – all of them having negative effects on the woman's body. The excess male hormones produced in someone with PCOS will affect the body's production of enough of the female hormones needed for ovulation. A woman who has PCOS will produce egg follicles, and while they might grow, and even fill up with fluid, they won't be big enough for ovulation. In some cases, these follicles will actually turn into cysts inside the ovaries.

The reason there is a direct connection with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome and infertility is that in order for a successful pregnancy to occur, a healthy, mature egg follicle needs to be produced, as well as the lining of the uterus needs to be thickened in order for the egg to attach properly and the fertilized egg to begin to grow. These conditions are difficult to achieve and maintain in a person with PCOS.

However, there is hope for those who suffer from poly-cystic ovarian syndrome and infertility that wish to conceive. Reproductive specialists can work closely with the patient and her partner in the following areas to try to improve chances of conception:

* Weight loss- sometimes losing extra weight (even for those without PCOS) can improve your ability to conceive – because it can stabilize hormone levels and help maintain regular cycles.

* Prescription drugs: Clomid and Metformin. Clomid aids in ovulation of mature, healthy eggs – something that women with PCOS can often have trouble with. However, while it can bring about ovulation, often fewer than 40% of women who are treated with Clomid will actually get pregnant.  Often it can be prescribed in conjunction with Metformin, which helps to stabilize insulin levels in the body. While some think that Metformin is strictly a drug for diabetics – it can be used on non-diabetics as well, since it affects the insulin in the body without lowering the body's blood sugar.  When the insulin levels are reduced, so are the male hormones, which is why this can often be a help to women who have struggled with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome and infertility

PCOS risks are something that you need to discuss with your doctor.  Truthfully, most of us only view polycystic ovarian syndrome in light of today’s issues.  We think of PCOS and we only think of the cramps, the weight issues, the infertility, or that annoying facial hair.  However, it’s really important to look at PCOS through a long-term lens if we want to really understand the effects that it can have on our bodies.

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, then you need to understand the health risks that are associated with this disease. The common PCOS risks will impact almost all PCOS sufferers and they can affect them for the rest of their life. It is important for women with PCOS to have their health checked and monitored regularly by a doctor who specializes in PCOS (find a reproductive endocrinologist pronto!). Even after a woman goes through menopause and symptoms of PCOS lessen, she still needs to see a doctor periodically.

PCOS Risk #1: Infertility

One of the PCOS risks is infertility. This is usually because women have irregular menstrual cycles and sometimes never ovulate at all. Many women have no idea they have PCOS until they go to the doctor to be checked to see why they are not getting pregnant.

PCOS Risk #2: Pregnancy Complications

Many women with PCOS deal with ovarian cysts that can also cause complications with and in pregnancy. Women with PCOS not only have trouble becoming pregnant, but they often have higher rates of miscarriages or preterm labor.  If you have read my personal PCOS story, you know that I had two miscarriages and my son was born two months premature. 

PCOS Risk #3: Endometrial Cancer

Another PCOS risk is Endometrial Cancer. Most women from their teen years until menopause have build up of their endometrial lining in their uterus and each menstrual cycle sheds that lining. Women with PCOS have infrequent or non-existent menstrual cycles, which cause them to not shed their endometrial lining effectively, and some doctors believe this can increase the risk for cancer over time.  Hormone imbalances could also be a contributing PCOS risk factor for endometrial and uterine cancer.

PCOS Risk #4: Cardiovascular Disease

One of the most common PCOS risks is cardiovascular disease. Women with PCOS are at a higher rick of developing heart disease. Because women with PCOS have a higher tendency to be overweight, this will also make cardiovascular problems arise.  Many women with PCOS have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which both contribute to heart disease over time.

PCOS Risk #5: Diabetes

Many women with PCOS also are at a high risk of Diabetes. Insulin resistance is very common with PCOS and this can lead to women with it to become diabetic much younger and faster than a healthy woman would. By age 40, up to 40% of women with PCOS begin to have high insulin levels, which lead to Diabetes.

PCOS risks need to be known and understood by women with PCOS. This can help these women to know what is to come and what they need to do to be healthier and have more control over their symptoms. PCOS risks can be alleviated with a healthy diet and exercise. They can also be helped with medication and procedures to give women with PCOS a more normal life.

One of the most devastating effects of PCOS on a woman's body is infertility. When a woman wants desperately to have a child only to be told her body is working against her to make that happen, it can be life altering. Fortunately, there is hope for people with PCOS who want to become pregnant. New research is being done all the time to help make getting (and staying) pregnant easier for women with PCOS.

It's important to understand how infertility happens in people with PCOS. Hormonal and insulin imbalances in the body can cause cycles to become irregular, or even non-existent. This can also allow cysts to build up inside the ovaries, making healthy ovulation a challenge. While a woman with PCOS may still ovulate,  she probably isn't releasing healthy egg follicles. If she does release a healthy egg follicle, often the lining of the uterus in won't be thick or healthy enough to sustain the fertilized egg, and maintain the pregnancy.

There are a couple of different things doctors can do to help people with PCOSto successfully conceive and make it to full term. One of the first things will be to get the patient on a healthy eating and exercise regimen. Most likely, this will be a diet low in carbs, high in fiber and protein, much like a diet for diabetics. Since the body of a woman with PCOS often has trouble with regulating insulin, this will probably make a huge difference in the way that she feels overall. Ideally, hormone and insulin levels should stabilize with a good diet, and that alone may allow some women with PCOS to have an easier time getting pregnant.

For others, diet and lifestyle management alone are not enough. They may need a little extra help in the form of medication prescribed by a doctor. This can be done in a couple of ways. One of the most common approaches is to use the drug Clomid, which helps the body to ovulate regularly, and to produce healthy egg follicles that may have a better chance of resulting in a pregnancy. Another option would be to use the drug Metformin in conjunction with the Clomid. Metformin helps to regulate the insulin levels in the body, but doesn't alter the body's blood sugar levels. Combined with the Clomid, this can often be the perfect combination for people with PCOS who are trying to become pregnant.

In a woman with PCOS, the body makes too much insulin, and that has many negative effects on the body, including hair loss, weight gain, erratic or non-existent menstrual cycles, and infertility. Fortunately for sufferers of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, new research is being done all the time to help relieve some of the symptoms and side effects of this disease. Researchers are seeing that there is a connection between PCOS and carbs, specifically too many carbs.  Here is what they have learned.

For those with PCOS, insulin regulation is key. This can be brought about by medication, but often the best defense is a good offense, and that can mean eliminating carbs from the diet. Not only will this regulate insulin, but it can aid in weight loss, and help to balance hormones, two of the other common side effects of PCOS.

Too many carbs are not a good thing for anyone – for a number of reasons, most importantly because a high carb diet is full of unnecessary sugars, something that can wreak havoc on the body. Living with PCOS is difficult enough without the added negative effects of a poor diet.
 
Managing PCOS and carbs can be a bit of a challenge at first, but if you get it under control, it can make a world of difference. Unfortunately, many women with PCOS will crave carbs, which can make limiting them very difficult, and eliminating most of them very challenging. 

Most experts recommend a PCOS diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, with minimal fatty, processed foods. This type of diet will be full of essential vitamins and minerals, and of all the good things that your body needs to function at its best. For those with PCOS, studies have shown that diet can play a role in fertility; so eating the best diet possible is encouraged, especially if a successful pregnancy is the goal.

Bottom line, what's the link between PCOS and carbs? There are several actually. The tendency to crave carbs is natural during the hormonal fluctuations of a woman's cycle, but for those with PCOS, they may be a little more intense. Too many carbs is awful on the body's regulation of insulin, and a body with PCOS already makes too much insulin anyway. If you have PCOS, know that eating the healthiest diet possible, and getting regular exercise can make the relationship between PCOS and carbsa positive one.

Do you suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome, commonly known as PCOS? If you do, then you know that the foods you eat can affect the severity of your PCOS symptoms a good bit of the time.  Most doctors will tell you that there are several things you can do to eat as healthy as possible – so here are some PCOS diet tips for you to help improve your overall quality of life.

One of the most important PCOS diet tips is to watch your carbohydrate intake. Since PCOS is a disorder that affects the insulin production in the body, specifically by causing the body to make too much insulin, women with PCOS will probably need to think like a diabetic when it comes to how and what they eat. By regulating the intake of carbs, the body is going to better manage overall insulin levels, and help to stabilize them in the process.  This doesn't mean you need to cut out all carbs, but you do need to significantly alter the type and amount of them you eat. Most doctors and dieticians recommend slowly decreasing your carb intake instead of trying to eliminate them all at once.

Another of the important PCOS diet tips is to eat small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals. Not only will it help to keep you from feeling hungry all the time, it will also help to keep your blood sugar levels steady and ward off your blood sugar level “bottoming out,” which can make you feel awful.

If you have PCOS, you will also want to drink plenty of water. Staying well hydrated has so many wonderful benefits on the body, as well as overall health. It also helps to flush toxins from our system, and is good for the bladder and kidneys. Additionally, you'll want to make sure you are eating a high fiber diet, too – fiber helps to keep your digestive tract working properly to rid our bodies of waste.

Finally, probably the most important of all the PCOS diet tips – you are your own best advocate! Talk to your doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing, and see what lifestyle or diet changes you can make that might lessen them. By monitoring your weight, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels, you and your doctor can come up with a comprehensive diet plan that will work for you.

The bottom line is that it’s possible to lose weight with PCOS.  I did it and you can too!  If you haven’t already read my PCOS story, you can find it on the website by clicking on "My PCOS Story" at the top.  I’ve included all the details of my personal diet (including meal plans and a shopping list) and the changes I made to help me shed 85 pounds.  I hope that you can find a little inspiration and start using these PCOS diet tips to help reverse your PCOS symptoms.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormonal condition that affects nearly 1 out of every 15 women, often starting in the teen years. It can cause many problems and side effects, and can bring on infertility. It can also lead to other problems like heart disease and diabetes. Unfortunately, there are no specified causes of polycystic ovarian syndrome, but researchers do have some theories about what can bring it on in women. 

One possible thing that is believed to be one of the causes of polycystic ovarian syndromeis genetics. In many cases, PCOS is hereditary – in fact, studies show that if a woman has PCOS, her sisters and daughters are about 50 percent more likely to have it as well. Additionally- if your mom or sister suffered with PCOS – then you should know the signs and symptoms and discuss it with your doctor.  Additionally, if you have a family history of diabetes, this may also increase your risk of developing PCOS, too, as there seems to be a link between the two. Research has also shown that there seems to be a correlation between the use of seizure medications like Depakote and  developing PCOS.

While hormones are not one of the causes of polycystic ovarian syndrome, they do seem to be the culprit  when it comes to the symptoms that manifest from it. Hormonal imbalance can cause so many different medical problems and conditions, most of which can be treated or controlled with medication, although some cannot. Most women start to have some symptoms in the teenage years, once puberty has Some of the most common side effects and symptoms that women experience can range from mild to severe in intensity, and for most women, the symptoms can mimic other disorders, too. This is one of the reasons it can sometimes be hard to diagnose correctly. 

According to Web MD – some of the early signs and symptoms of PCOS are heavy vaginal bleeding (found in about 30% of women with PCOS), few or non-existent menstrual periods, oily skin, and hair loss at the scalp, combined with hair growth on other parts of the body. Some of the more severe symptoms will develop gradually. These can range from upper body weight gain (around the abdomen) to multiple miscarriages or the inability to get pregnant at all. The inability to conceive, weight gain, hair growth, and menstrual cycle problems are often the signs that will cause a woman to make an appointment with her doctor. 

No matter what the causes of polycystic ovarian syndrome may be, it can often be a debilitating condition that affects many areas of a woman's life. With proper diagnosis, the symptoms can be managed to improve quality of life, and in some cases, women can go on to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. There is hope for those with PCOS!

Insulin resistance in PCOS is common and many doctors are concerned about the growing number of women with PCOS developing diabetes and heart disease.  Some gynecologists believe than insulin resistance is one of the main contributing factors to a lack of ovulation. This is mostly why women with PCOS have a hard time getting pregnant.

Insulin resistance in PCOS is not untreatable.  In fact, most of the time, it can be reversed with a combination of natural treatments and medication. When you get to the root of insulin resistance and start treating it, both metabolic and physical changes start to happen.  Most women will begin to lose weight, as the insulin resistance is resolved.  Ovulation may automatically start again and many women even become pregnant despite years of PCOS related infertility.

Most women have no idea that they are insulin resistant until the symptoms like fatigue, infertility or sudden weight gain get out of control. These are all symptoms that come with PCOS, but when insulin resistance begins, they often get worse.

Insulin resistance in PCOS can be very dangerous but can usually be reversed or brought under control by a careful diet. Many doctors feel that certain foods and weight loss can alleviate these symptoms and create a healthier life. Because insulin resistance contributes to infertility, it’s crucial to find out if this is a problem before trying to conceive.

Many doctors also feel that women that are 25-50 pounds overweight are at a higher risk of developing Insulin resistance in PCOS. This is why there is concern for Pre-Diabetic and Diabetic issues happening quickly. Many women do not know they are at risk and simply assume that they are just experiencing a hormonal problem.

If you notice a sudden surge in your PCOS symptoms, particularly with weight gain, you might want to talk to your doctor about insulin resistance.  Many women crave carbohydrates constantly because their body is unable to metabolize sugar, leading to continuous cravings no matter how often you satisfy that sweet tooth. You might have headaches, extra fatigue, or even less frequent periods.  One of the classic signs of insulin resistance is weight gain that is concentrated around your belly.

Talk to your doctor about how you can treat insulin resistance in PCOS.  With medications like Glucophage and a careful diet like the one recommended in the “Overcome PCOS” book, you can reverse insulin resistance and reclaim your health once and for all.