PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormonal-metabolic condition in women of reproductive age that causes fertility issues. As September is PCOS Awareness Month and this condition affects 100 million women worldwide, I wanted to draw your attention to this condition as it can co-exist with Endometriosis.
One of the key underlying aspects of PCOS for 70% of women is insulin resistance, which is something that many women with Endometriosis also have. Chronic inflammation, the key driver for Endo, causes blood sugar dysregulation and insulin resistance, as well as increasing androgens, which defines PCOS. So you can see there are close links between the two conditions, though there are other links relating to hormonal, gut, pancreatic and liver health.
Do you have any of the following symptoms?
Do PCOS and Endometriosis co-exist? How does PCOS affects fertility?
This week’s podcast episode is the first in a two-part series to raise awareness of this condition, and the fact it can occur alongside Endometriosis. In this episode I discuss the following:
- What PCOS is
- How PCOS affects fertility
- Why and how PCOS happens
- How insulin resistance occurs
- The role of insulin
- PCOS symptoms
- How to get a diagnosis
- The PCOS & Endometriosis Link
- Myths about PCOS
- How to reduce PCOS symptoms
PLUS, four tips to help you get started with a balanced PCOS friendly diet.
Part 2 of this topic in two weeks time will cover the following topics:
- Nutrition, digestive function and gut health
- Supplements, herbs and adaptogens
- Minimizing stress
- Wise exercising
- Loving your liver
- Balanced mindset
PCOS Quiz
If you want to know if you might have PCOS, then try doing Dr Fiona McCulloch, ND’s PCOS Quiz.
Resources:
References:
- Bremer A. A. (2010). Polycystic ovary syndrome in the pediatric population. Metabolic syndrome and related disorders, 8(5), 375–394. https://doi.org/10.1089/met.2010.0039
- Sirmans, S. M., & Pate, K. A. (2013). Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Clinical epidemiology, 6, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S37559
- Mills, D.S, & Vernon, M. (2002). Endometriosis. A Key to Healing and Fertility Through Nutrition. Published by Thorsons.
- Family-based quantitative trait meta-analysis implicates rare noncoding variants in DENND1A in pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome
Matthew Dapas, Ryan Sisk, Richard S. Legro, Margrit Urbanek, Andrea Dunaif, M. Geoffrey Hayes bioRxiv 460972; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/460972 Now published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism doi: 10.1210/jc.2018-02496
Marshall, J. C., & Dunaif, A. (2012). Should all women with PCOS be treated for insulin resistance?. Fertility and sterility, 97(1), 18–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.11.036
Duleba, A. J., & Dokras, A. (2012). Is PCOS an inflammatory process?. Fertility and sterility, 97(1), 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.11.023
Yildiz, B. O., & Azziz, R. (2007). The adrenal and polycystic ovary syndrome. Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders, 8(4), 331–342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-007-9054-0
Tamega, A., Aranha, A. M., Guiotoku, M. M., Miot, L. D., & Miot, H. A. (2010). Associação entre acrocórdons e resistência à insulina [Association between skin tags and insulin resistance]. Anais brasileiros de dermatologia, 85(1), 25–31. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0365-05962010000100003
Relevant blogs / podcast episodes:
Further Endo Fertility resources:
- Join my Endo Fertility community! Find us in the Thrive and Conceive with Endometriosis Facebook Group.
- Follow me on Instagram and Facebook
- Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Optimistic Future
This episode is sponsored by the Endo Fertility Resource Library where you can get your 3 amazing freebies: E-Book:
- 5 Things I Learnt to Drop My Pain & Optimise My Fertility,
- Your Guide to Super Sperm
- 88 Ways I Dropped My Pain and Got Pregnant.
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any future episodes – which will be out weekly on Wednesdays – ready to download for your commute! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a rating and a review? Thanks!
If you want to be on the podcast or have feedback please email: info@endofertilityspecialist.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein.
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