Living with PCOS

What is PCOS?

Living with PCOS can be a minefield and many people living with it can struggle to know where to start. The first thing to understand is that PCOS which stands for polycystic ovary syndrome, is a hormonal condition. It typically means your reproductive hormones specifically are out of kilter - and yes, women do have natural testosterone too. There are different types of PCOS (i.e. with different key symptoms which can range from amenorrhea (absent periods / no menstruation), hirsutism (hair growth where there shouldn’t be hair growth as well as coarse, dark hair), acne, androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness / hair loss) - not to mention issues with fatigue, insomnia, night sweats, anxiety and a whole host of other effects from PCOS which you may not have connected the dots to.

My PCOS

I have the most common type of PCOS which is insulin resistant PCOS. What this means is that my body doesn’t regulate insulate properly (if I’m not careful), and could lead to pre-diabetes. The knock on effect is that I have higher levels of testosterone (twice as high as the ‘normal’ range for the average woman) - this in turn, means that my symptoms have generally centred around amenorrhea, hirsutism and androgenic alopecia. The good news however, is that over time, and with some trial and error, I have worked out how to manage my symptoms (for the most part), and this has helped to bring my testosterone levels into the normal range, regulated my insulin levels, and reversed the signs of hirsutism. However, if there is one piece of advice I can give you, it is that PCOS is a lifelong condition and not something that can be fixed immediately - once you have figured out how to manage your PCOS, you will need to do so for the rest of your life.

Blood tests / deficiencies

A good starting point is a full panel of blood tests. You need to know what exactly your hormones are doing - my blood tests revealed that my testosterone levels were twice as high as they should be as well as a chronic Vitamin D3 deficiency. Thankfully my thyroid tests came back normal (symptoms of thyroid dysfunction can cross over with PCOS symptoms - you may have one condition but it is mistaken for the other, or you may have both conditions). Your test results will give you a baseline to start from - some deficiencies can be helpfully supported through diet and lifestyle changes, others may require supplementation. Between this and your symptoms, you should be able to identify the type of PCOS you have.

Types of PCOS

It is possible for your PCOS type to change - don’t be surprised if it seems as though you are moving between the different types listed below - these are an approximate guide and most people with PCOS will typically recognise themselves as having different symptoms at different times. There is no hard-and-fast rule with ‘types’ of PCOS.

• Insulin-resistant PCOS: The most common type of PCOS, characterized by insulin resistance

• Inflammatory PCOS: A type of PCOS characterized by low-grade inflammation

• Hidden-cause PCOS: A type of PCOS where the underlying cause is not immediately apparent

• Pill-induced PCOS: A type of PCOS that develops after stopping birth control pills

• Non-hyperandrogenic PCOS: Also known as type D, this type of PCOS is characterized by ovulation problems and ovarian cysts, but normal androgen levels

• Ovulatory PCOS: Also known as type C, this type of PCOS is characterized by increased androgen levels and ovarian cysts

• Non-PCO PCOS: Also known as type B, this type of PCOS is characterized by high androgen levels and ovulation problems

• Full-blown PCOS: Also known as type A, this type of PCOS is characterized by high androgen levels, ovulation problems, and ovarian cysts

• Lean PCOS: A type of PCOS that primarily affects women who are underweight or of normal weight

Part 2 will cover how to manage PCOS with diet and exercise

Part 3 will cover supplements and lifestyle changes which may be helpful

Disclaimer: I am not a health professional of any description. The content of this article is based purely on my personal experience and research. Whilst this may be helpful as an overall guide, it is not intended to replace any medical advice. Please speak to your doctor before making any changes.