Tag: <span>PCOS diet</span>

PCOS diet

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

January 18, 2022March 29, 2024
by Eva Hospital

Overview

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Pregnancy is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels during their childbearing years. Women’s ovaries, the reproductive organs that produce the menstrual cycle regulating oestrogen and progesterone are affected in PCOS.

A small amount of male hormones called androgens is also produced by ovaries. An egg is released by the ovaries every month to be fertilised by a man’s sperm. This process is called ovulation.

PCOS affects the ovaries and ovulation. Its three main features are:

Cysts in the ovaries
Higher levels of male hormones
Erratic or skipped periods

Many small, fluid-filled sacs or cysts grow inside the ovaries in PCOS. The word “polycystic” infers “many cysts.” The cysts though not harmful otherwise, can lead to an imbalance in hormone levels.

These sacs are actually follicles, each one containing an immature egg. The eggs never mature enough to trigger ovulation.

The levels of oestrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH are altered, making Progesterone levels lower than usual and androgen levels higher than usual. A disruption in the menstrual cycle is caused by higher male hormones, thus women with PCOS get lesser periods than usual.

Higher than normal amounts of male hormones in women cause them to skip menstrual periods and this imbalance makes it harder for them to get pregnant.

Hair growth on the face and body, baldness and long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease are also caused by PCOS.

Women with PCOS have a higher incidence of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and premature delivery if they conceive.

Causes

The exact cause of PCOS is not known by doctors. It is believed that elevated levels of male hormones prevent ovaries from a normal production of hormones and eggs.

Though the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, there is an indication that genetics play a major role.

Many other factors play a role in causing PCOS:

Higher levels of male hormones (androgens): Ovaries are prevented from releasing eggs (ovulation) due to higher levels of androgen, causing erratic menstrual cycles. High androgen might also cause acne and excess hair growth in women.

Insulin resistance: The hormone produced by the pancreas to help the body use sugar from energy foods is called insulin. Elevated insulin levels trigger the ovaries to make and release male hormones, which in turn, suppress ovulation and add to other symptoms of PCOS. Obesity can also cause insulin resistance and both are contributing factors to an increase in the risk for type 2 diabetes

Low-grade inflammation: A tendency of chronic low-grade inflammation has been noticed in women with PCOS. Blood tests that measure levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells, can reveal the level of inflammation in the body. Inflammation can also be caused because of being overweight. Excess inflammation is linked to higher androgen levels.

Common Symptoms of PCOS

Symptoms are noticed by some women around the time of their first period, whereas others discover they have PCOS after they have gained a lot of weight or there is trouble getting pregnant.

The most common PCOS symptoms are:

Irregular periods: Lack of ovulation inhibits the shedding of uterine lining every month, causing missed periods or lack of periods.
Heavy bleeding: The uterine lining builds up for a longer period of time, causing the periods (when they happen) to be heavier than normal.
Hair growth: Excessive hair growth on, the face, body, back, belly, and the chest is experienced by many women who suffer from PCOS.
Acne: The skin is oilier than usual due to male hormones, causing breakouts on areas like the face, chest, and upper back, which is usually difficult to treat.
Weight gain: Difficult to lose weight gain and obesity is experienced by 80% per cent of women with PCOS.
Male pattern baldness: Thinning of hair or falling out of the hair on the scalp
Darkening of the skin: Dark patches of skin especially in body creases like the neck, armpits in the groyne, and under the breasts is noticed in women with PCOS.
Headaches: Hormone changes cause triggering of excruciating headaches in some women
Skin tags: Little flaps of extra skin are often found in the armpits or on the neck in women with PCOS.
Infertility: PCOS is one of the major causes of female infertility. Decreased ovulation or lack of it can result in not being able to conceive as the woman is not able to produce enough eggs to be fertilised. PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women.

Metabolic Syndrome

Most of the women with PCOS are overweight or obese. Both of these can increase the risk for:

Elevated blood sugar
Raised blood pressure
Low level of HDL “good” cholesterol
High level of LDL “bad” cholesterol

All these factors together are called metabolic syndrome, and can pose to be a high-risk factor for:

Heart disease
Diabetes
Stroke

Endometrial Cancer

The uterine lining sheds during ovulation. However, if the woman is not ovulating every month, it can cause the lining to build up.

This thickened uterine lining can cause an increase in the risk for endometrial cancer.

Depression

Hormonal changes and symptoms like unwanted hair growth negatively affect emotions, eventually causing depression and anxiety in many patients with PCOS

Pregnancy and PCOS

As the normal menstrual cycle is interrupted by PCOS, getting pregnant gets harder. Fertility problem is experienced by almost 70 and 80 per cent of women with PCOS.

The risk for pregnancy complications, premature delivery, miscarriage, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure also increases with PCOS.

Management and Treatment

The treatment is based on the symptoms of the patient, medical history and other health conditions, and if the patient wishes to get pregnant.

Dr Shivani Bhutani at Eva Hospital says that the Management of PCOS includes medications, lifestyle changes or a combination of both.

Weight loss

Lifestyle changes like weight loss, diet, and exercise are the first step to treating PCOS

Losing bodyweight can help regulate the menstrual cycle and improve PCOS symptoms besides improving cholesterol levels, lowering insulin and reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Cosmetic Treatments

Excessive hair growth or acne can sometimes lower confidence and self-esteem. Cosmetic treatments or consultations with a dermatologist might prove helpful in this respect.

For ones trying to get pregnant

Dr Shivani further adds that for the ones trying to conceive after having been diagnosed with PCOS, the first thing to keep in mind is to Eat healthily and lower the stress levels. These can go a long way in helping one manage PCOS.

The treatment options for patients wanting to conceive are-

Patches, shots, a vaginal ring or an intrauterine device (IUD) can help regulate the menstrual cycle, improve acne help with excess hair growth and protect against endometrial cancer

Surgery

As an option to improve fertility, surgery is usually recommended when other treatments don’t work.

Surgical options include:

Ovarian drilling: A procedure in which tiny holes are made in the ovaries to reduce the levels of androgens being produced.
Oophorectomy: Surgery for removal of one or both ovaries.
Hysterectomy: Removal of whole or part of the uterus.
Cyst aspiration: A procedure to remove fluid from the cyst.

Drugs to induce ovulation

Ovulation is a prerequisite for a successful pregnancy. Certain drugs can help to induce ovulation in women with PCOS. Clomiphene (Clomid), a combination of clomiphene and metformin, or injectable gonadotropins, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) medications are generally recommended by Gynaecologist in Ludhiana In some cases, letrozole (Femara) may also be recommended.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

The woman’s egg is fertilised with the partner’s sperm in a lab and then transferred to the uterus. IVF is a highly recommended and viable option with a substantial success rate for women with PCOS who wish to get pregnant and medication doesn’t help with ovulation.

Conclusion

PCOS can play havoc with a woman’s menstrual cycles making it harder to get pregnant. Elevated levels of male hormones cause unwanted symptoms like hair growth on the face and body.

Lifestyle modifications are the first steps recommended to manage PCOS by the doctors, and they are highly effective too.

Weight loss helps to treat PCOS symptoms, improving the odds of getting pregnant.

However, if lifestyle changes do not work, medications are a viable option. Pills and metformin restore normal menstrual cycles to help relieve PCOS symptoms.

Early diagnosis can help alleviate symptoms, reducing the risk of complications. A timely consultation with a doctor helps to manage the symptoms of PCOS and treatments like Ovulation medicines and IVF Process Start to Finish can help the patients with PCOS to get pregnant and start a family.

Eva Hospital

PCOS – Understanding and Demystifying the Phenomenon

April 13, 2021March 30, 2024
by Eva Hospital

Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is a common hormone disorder in women of reproductive age. However, it remains a mystery owing to its diverse diagnosis and deceptive name.

It affects the menstrual cycle and ovulation of the affected female. Due to hormonal defects, eggs do not grow adequately and are not released into the fallopian tubes for fertilization.

These conditions can be fairly controlled with an early diagnosis and reduce the risk of complications.

Understanding PCOS

PCOS has very mild symptoms due to which the patient tends to ignore them and goes without a definitive diagnosis for years. That’s why patient awareness is very important in this disease. For its early detection, we will try to understand its common symptoms, known causes, the risks involved and the complications it may cause.

Symptoms

The onset of symptoms of PCOS usually occurs around the start of puberty when girls have their first period.

Irregular menstrual cycle

Occasional, irregular or extended menstrual cycles are the commonest symptoms. Periods tend to be heavier, fewer and far apart.

Surplus male hormone

The presence of an excess level of the male hormone androgen causes mannish symptoms such as facial hair, body hair, and male pattern baldness.

Polycystic ovaries

With residual oocytes attached to the ovarian walls, they become enlarged and do not perform normal functions.

Obesity

Weight gain can be both a symptom as well as a cause of PCOS. Additionally, if you are overweight, other symptoms become more severe.

Emotional problems

Depression and mind swings are also attributed to this ovarian disorder.

Causes

Although the precise reason for PCOS is unknown, there are quite a few known factors that contribute to abnormal endocrine behaviour.

Insulin resistance- Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas. It enables cells to utilise sugar. If the cells become resistant to the insulin, then the blood sugar levels rise, inducing the pancreas to produce more insulin. It further stimulates androgen production, influencing ovulation.
Low-grade inflammation. Studies have shown that a type of inflammation prevents the ovaries from producing adequate sexual hormones for normal egg release.
Genetics. Certain genes are associated with PCs, indicating that the condition can be inherited too.

Complications

If not diagnosed and treated early, PCOD can cause other problems in females which can be serious.

Topping the list is infertility & type 2 diabetes, followed by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol level increasing the risk of heart problems, endometrial cancer, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

During pregnancy, there might be a risk of miscarriage or premature delivery. Metabolic syndrome and liver inflammation are also found to be linked to PCOS.

PCOS & Fertility

Polycystic ovarian disorder or PCOD causes hormonal imbalance, increasing the level of male hormones and decreasing that of female hormones.

It causes problems in conception and pregnancy. But do not worry. Dr Shivani Bhutani, a senior infertility specialist in Ludhiana,

Says that Polycystic women can also become pregnant with a combination of hormonal therapy and assisted reproductive techniques or ART.” They can have a normal pregnancy and healthy children.

Dietary Tips for PCOS

Foods to include

Studies indicate a strong impact of food intake on polycystic women. The following goods are beneficial and help in the management of PCOD.

Foods with a low glycemic index- digest slowly and keep the insulin level under control. These include lentils, whole grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, and unprocessed carbs.
Anti-inflammatory foods- fish, berries, leafy vegetables, and virgin oil reduce inflammation which is one of the causes of the condition.
DASH diet- this includes nutrients that lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Add eggs, low-fat milk, grains, fruits & vegetables in abundance
Dark coloured foods- red grapes, blueberries, cherries, broccoli, kidney beans, spinach, watermelon, beetroot etc.

Foods to Avoid

Firstly, avoid fats to stop weight gain. It is most important. To manage your PCOD condition, limit your intake of:-

Refined carbs- maida, pasta, pizza, pastries and white bread.
Fast food- colas, sweet beverages, soda or energy drinks
Processed meats- red meat, steak, burgers, sausages, mass-produced frozen snacks

Taking Action

When it comes to the management of PCOS, it is important to be physically active and exercise regularly to maintain weight. Seek valid knowledge from trusted health professionals.

Discuss mood swings and depression with your doctor. Maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

And most importantly, get the best gynaecological consultation you can. Discuss your options.

Outlook

Proper management of PCOS can remarkably curtail its symptoms and adverse effects on your fertility & overall health.

Eva Hospital

How Pcos/pcod Affects Your Fertility and How to Manage…

January 13, 2021March 30, 2024
by Eva Hospital

PCOS/PCOD is a common disease affecting 10% to 20% of women (in India), affecting their fertility. It is marked by irregularity in periods.

Females with PCOS get only 7-8 periods in a year. There is no single exact reason that causes PCOD. there can be myriad causes, including genetic ones.

What is PCOS/PCOD?

It is short for PCOD vs PCOS. A polycystic female does not complete the menstrual cycle that stimulates ovulation.

The eggs contained in the ovaries do not become mature enough to be released into the uterus. Consequently, ovulation does not occur and the immature eggs stick to the ovarian walls and form cysts. Hence the name.

What causes PCOS

PCOD can be induced due to several reasons. The exact cause is not distinct. However, it causes a hormonal imbalance that hampers ovulation. women with PCOS have inadequate production of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone(FSH & LH).

Consequently, they undergo limited follicular development. Hormonal imbalance is also found to be linked to insulin resistance.

Does PCOS affect fertility?

PCOS causes an imbalance of female hormones which leads to fertility issues. Also, levels of male hormones such as androgens and testosterone increase. Abnormal hormones formulate a range of symptoms and some of them affect conception.

Generally, affected women need medical assistance to get pregnant. It is because then they do not ovulate every month. Moreover, weight gain decreases fertility and can delay conception.

However, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is treatable and women can get pregnant and have healthy children.

Such patients have higher chances of infertility than other women, even so, they require contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancy.

How can I Manage My PCOS Condition?

With help from your doctor, you can remarkably reduce PCOD symptoms, be fertile, get pregnant, and lead a healthy life generally.

According to Dr. Shivani Bhutani, you can very well manage the impact of polycystic ovaries by adopting a combined therapeutic approach.

You can manage PCOS on three levels

Medical treatment
Lifestyle
Natural ways

Managing PCOS with Medical Treatment

As your doctor would advise, various medical therapies are available to overcome fertility problems, as well as manage PCOS symptoms.

The main objective of medicines is to control symptoms like irregular periods, infertility, abnormal hair growth, acne, and weight gain.

Various drugs given to the patient maintain the appropriate hormone levels, decrease insulin resistance, control weight, and reduce stress. These may

include:

Metformin- for insulin resistance
Contraceptive pill- for regular menstruation
Gonadotrophins- to stimulate FSH & LH
Drugs to induce ovulation
Anti-anxiety pills- to relax nerves

Managing PCOS with Lifestyle Changes

Dr. Shivani from Eva IVF & Infertility Hospital, Ludhiana advises lifestyle changes to manage the symptoms of PCOD and prevent future complications.

Reduce Carbohydrate & Sugar intake

Most polycystic women suffer from insulin resistance. As a result, the body doesn’t utilize the insulin hormone to metabolize sugar and carbohydrate intake.

This causes abnormal blood sugar and calory release. Focus on foods that are low in fat and sugar, but high on fiber.

Put a cap on carbs, especially refined ones. Avoid soda, canned juices, and load up on vegetables, fruits, poultry, and grains.

Optimize body weight

Not all, but most women with PCOS are overweight and become obese. Losing excess weight substantially brings down the severity of symptoms.

Exercise Regular

Regular workouts correct the body mass index decreases insulin resistance and reduce stress. Exercising also balances the production of important hormones such as testosterone.

Managing PCOS in natural ways

Adopting healthy habits and letting go of harmful things like smoking, or excessive drinking is great.

So are some natural and alternative ways, whichever may suit. You can take your doctor’s advice on them.

There are yoga asanas, supplements such as vitamins, fish oil, and herbal naturopathy in the form of tablets or concoctions. It entirely depends on the individual case and the problem you want to address.

Wrapping up

PCOS or PCOD does affect your fertility but it can be entirely handled. Apart from pregnancy, one can manage its symptoms very effectively with advice from your specialist doctor and cover all the risk factors and complications that may occur in the future.

Last but not the least, the earlier you treat your condition, the better it is in the long run.

Eva Hospital

Have PCOS? Yes, you can still get Pregnant!

December 30, 2020March 30, 2024
by Eva Hospital

If you have PCOS, you can still get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy with various treatment options available.
PCOS is a condition where the female fails to ovulate regularly.

Ovulation is the process of release of eggs by the ovarian cells – once in every menstrual cycle. When the eggs do no release, they remain in the ovarian cells as cysts. This is called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Infertility is the first consequence of PCOS because fertilization can not occur when the eggs are not available.
Most women can conceive with a combination of :

● Fertility drugs,
● IVF, and
● Lifestyle changes

Fertility Medications

Clomiphene Citrate- Most women with PCOS can get pregnant with Clomid. Clomiphene or Clomid stimulates the ovaries to regularise ovulation. Nevertheless, it’s not effective for everybody.

Females with Clomid resistance do not respond to the drug and ovulation does not occur. A combination of metformin with Clomid is found to benefit such women and enable the release of eggs.

Metformin- One of the reasons for PCOS is the imbalance of insulin level in the blood. This interferes with conception. The imbalance may be caused by insulin resistance.

Metformin can cure insulin resistance, help in weight loss, and in conceiving. Although it is a medicine for diabetics, it’s used is safe for treating infertility.

It regulates ovulation, regularises the menstrual cycle, and considerably reduces the chances of miscarriage.

Letrozole – This medication is an ovulation stimulator for women with PCOS. According to Dr. Shivani Bhutani, Infertility& IVF specialist at Eva Hospital, some women respond better to Femara( letrozole brand name) than to Clomid.

Global research has substantiated its effectiveness for the treatment of polycystic ovary and ovulation disorder.

Fertility Injections – When the above drugs and their combination does not facilitate a woman with PCOS to get pregnant, hormone therapy is the next step.

It might be the first line of treatment if the infertility specialist thinks that hormonal imbalance is the underlying factor. Injectable drugs are called Gonadotropins. These consist of hormones such as FSH and LH or a combination of the two.

The doctor may even suggest gonadotropin along with oral medications( such as Clomid), or intrauterine insemination( IUI).

IVF or In Vitro Fertilization

IVF is a standard procedure for making pregnancy a reality for women with PCOS. When the medicinal treatments do not work, infertility specialists suggest in-vitro fertilization.

It involves using injectable fertility drugs to stimulate multiple ovulation, retrieving the eggs, and fertilizing them with sperm, in a petri dish. The sperm may be from your partner or a donor.

Agreeably, the sperm fertilizes some of these eggs. After allowing these embryos to grow for a while, one or more are implanted in the uterus. A pregnancy test confirms the success of the procedure.

Lifestyle Changes

To increase your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS, diet and lifestyle changes must be followed, with or without ongoing treatment.

Weight Loss

PCOS can be a consequence of obesity or vice versa. The occurrence of polycystic ovaries may also cause obesity. It is a condition where either there is no ovulation or irregular ovulation.

Weight loss can help with both. Regularizing your body weight can start ovulation as well as make it normal.

Diet and Exercise

Exercise and diet play an important role in pregnancy for women suffering from PCOS. Insulin production and weight management are the factors responsible for controlling the impact of the condition.

All dietary changes should be aimed at controlling insulin levels and weight. Take a low carb diet, push up the protein,s and stay away from alcohol and caffeine when you are trying to get pregnant.

A regular, (but not too heavy)workout regime helps in controlling body mass index, weight management,t and reducing stress levels.

Here Are a Few Dietary Tips to Try:

Boost Vitamin D: Studies have shown that good levels of vitamin D help women with PCOS to conceive and have a successful pregnancy. Low levels of vitamins may lower the odds of conception.

Include cinnamon: According to a study, taking 1.5 grams of cinnamon every day helps regulate insulin levels and stimulate ovulation.

You can sprinkle cinnamon powder on salads or vegetables and add it to your drinks. It is known to regulate periods