Getting to the Root of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: What Really Causes PCOS?

 Beth Rush

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Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) plagues countless women, affecting their fertility and overall quality of life.

Chronic diseases like this can make you feel trapped in your own body, a prisoner of biology beyond your control. However, there are holistic and allopathic treatments available, and what will help you best requires getting to the root of your PCOS. 

“Finding relief requires mindfulness, time and, sometimes, the help of medical professionals.”

There is infinite variety in the human body and among lifestyle choices, yet similarities lend clues to what works. Finding relief requires mindfulness, time and, sometimes, the help of medical professionals. However, you might be able to manage mild cases with little intervention. Let’s get to the root of polycystic ovarian syndrome and examine what really causes the condition. 

PCOS: Signs and Symptoms 

PCOS affects between 7% and 10% of women of childbearing age, causing various symptoms. While some are mild and create little impairment, others can downright disable. Typical signs of PCOS include:

• Excessive male hormones: Elevated blood testosterone levels and signs of excess androgens, such as acne, hair on the face and other “male” areas of the body, and thinning hair on the scalp. 

• Irregular or absent menstrual periods: PCOS affects fertility and can cause you to stop menstruating or have longer cycles with unusually heavy periods. This condition affects ovulation and fertility.
• Large ovaries with many small, non-cancerous follicles: These look like cysts, hence the name PCOS. 

Many women with PCOS also have ovarian cysts. Although regular ovarian cysts and PCOS are two separate conditions, an unusually high number of cysts can indicate PCOS. Hormonal imbalance is the defining characteristic of PCOS, as some women can have multiple cysts without developing the condition.

However, the symptoms feel the same. If you experience the following signs, you should seek medical testing to determine the underlying cause: aching in your back, pelvic pain, bloating, pressure, heaviness or fullness in the abdomen, painful periods, or pain during intercourse.

You might also experience more unusual symptoms. Pay attention if any of the following signs coincide with the ones above: anxiety and depression, brain fog, sleep apnoea, skin discoloration, and unexplained weight gain. 

These symptoms can indicate several conditions. Only a medical evaluation can help you discover if it is PCOS that’s causing them, and how to treat it.

What Causes PCOS? 

As in many diseases, PCOS has multiple causes, resulting from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. You might not ever pinpoint the precise cause, given all the variables that enter the equation — like daily stress and diet. However, science has narrowed down risk factors that increase your chances of getting the disease. 

People with PCOS have higher rates of insulin resistance, suggesting that dietary changes may ease symptoms in some cases. The disorder can occur whether or not the patient is obese, although many insulin-resistant individuals struggle to lose weight, and excess pounds often worsen the condition. Insulin resistance can lead to Type 2 diabetes, which increases your risk of several other diseases, particularly of the kidney and heart. 

“the excess of male hormones creates PCOS”

PCOS often causes low-grade systemic inflammation. Your doctor can order a C-reactive protein and white blood cell count to determine the amount of inflammation in your body. Unfortunately, widespread inflammation is a hallmark of nearly every disorder. 

Finally, genetics play a role. You’re more likely to get PCOS if your mother, sister, or another female relative also has the disorder. In the end, the excess of male hormones creates PCOS. But the reasons they fall out of balance may vary. 

Traditional Treatments for PCOS

If your doctor determines that you have PCOS, your treatment options vary depending on whether or not you want to get pregnant. 

1. If You Want to Get Pregnant 

Your doctor may prescribe one of the following medications: 

• Clomiphene: An anti-estrogen medication you take during the first half of your cycle. 

• Letrozole: A cancer drug that stimulates your ovaries.

• Metformin: A Type 2 diabetes medication to assist with insulin resistance. 

• Gonadotropins: Human sex hormones given via injection. 

2. If You Want to Avoid Pregnancy

• Combination birth control pills: These regulate your hormonal cycle and reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. 
• Progestin mini-pill or IUD: A progestin mini-pill or IUD also reduces pregnancy risk. You can also seek progestin therapy that doesn’t impact pregnancy chances. The IUD might be your best bet if you don’t want to get pregnant and struggle to remember to take daily medication. 

Although hysterectomy can alleviate some PCOS symptoms, it doesn’t correct the problem and may be contraindicated in some cases. This extreme measure prevents pregnancy permanently, but the hormonal imbalance often lingers. 

Still, it remains a treatment option if you have comorbid fibroids or endometriosis that cause unusually heavy menstrual bleeding. Your health care provider will carefully weigh the risks, as removing your ovaries may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Natural and Holistic Remedies for PCOS

What if you can’t afford health care? It’s a reality for many. Fortunately, the following holistic treatments for PCOS cost little, and many are free. Experiment to see what works best for you. 

1. Modify Your Diet

Since there is a correlation between PCOS and insulin resistance, dietary changes should be your first order of business. Your simplest fix: ban or dramatically reduce your added sugar and bleached flour intake. Why flour? While the whole grain stuff has filling fiber, manufacturers strip the nutrient-rich bran and chaff from the bleached variety, leaving behind a gooey mess that your body treats like table sugar. 

“stress-mitigation techniques can maintain proper cortisol levels”

It gets worse. New techniques have revealed the presence of alloxan in all-purpose flour. While scientists need to conduct further research, alloxan is a commonly used substance for inducing diabetes in lab rats by damaging their pancreas. By eating bleached flour, you ingest the equivalent of pure sugar with a side of toxin that may affect your body’s insulin use. Yikes. 

2. Reduce Stress 

This tip is admittedly easier to say than to follow. However, engaging in stress-mitigation techniques can maintain proper cortisol levels. Excess cortisol can fuel insulin resistance, which you already know has an association with PCOS. 

Write self-care in your planner, and spend at least 30 minutes daily on a stress-busting activity like the following:

• Lose yourself in a hobby: Find something that you enjoy so much that it induces a flow state where you lose track of time and have to set a timer to remind you to stop. 

• Try yoga or meditation: These ancient practices have scientific evidence backing their stress-relieving effects. 15 minutes in the morning and again before bed can transform you. 

• Laugh: Laughter lowers stress hormone levels, so tune into a funny podcast or a show that always makes you smile. 

• Get outside: Getting outside lowers cortisol levels, boosts immunity, and improves overall health. It’s even better if you combine it with a mindful hobby like gardening, but there’s nothing wrong with sitting and watching the birds. 

3. Take Probiotics

Scientists have only begun scraping the surface of how your gut microbiome — the beneficial bacterial colony in your intestines that helps you digest – influences health. However, what they’ve found so far is promising. 

You can deplete your gut microbiome over time by antibiotic and alcohol use and poor diet. However, you can rebuild it by eating probiotic foods, such as: sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, kefir, miso, and Kombucha.

There are also new probiotic sodas on the market. Try one, but use caution. Too much of this good thing can make you gassy. 

4. Consult a Herbalist

Once upon a time, herbalists were considered witches and didn’t receive the kindest treatment. They still receive the side-eye from the traditional medical establishment today. However, every remedy currently available originated in nature, and multiple plants influence human hormonal health. 

That said, you should use caution. Currently, these individuals are unlicensed in the United States. Read testimonials and recommendations and follow up with a call to your doctor if you take any prescription medications. Some herbal remedies can interfere with the drugs you already use. They could also render your birth control less effective. 

What Really Causes PCOS?

The precise cause of PCOS often remains unknown. However, science has identified risk factors and associations that lend valuable clues to treating the condition. 

The good news is that relief is possible. You can find a treatment that helps regardless of the underlying cause of your PCOS. Feeling your best might require a combination of medication and lifestyle changes, but it’s worth it to improve your health and quality of life. 

Read Next:

• ENDOMETRIOSIS AND ITS DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
• ARE PROBIOTICS THE SECRET TO IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH?
• EXPLAINING THE HISTORY OF FEMALE HYSTERIA

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Featured image courtesy of Jasmin Chew on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license can be found here.