What Is Your PCOS Type?
PCOS is one of the most common disorders I help women with in my practice and was actually one of the main reasons I became so interested in helping women with hormone balance to begin with. In 2017, I started a small local women’s circle where I would talk to women about the different ways to prepare the body for pregnancy naturally. Many women in these groups would share their struggle with PCOS and the many symptoms that come along with it. I had no idea that PCOS was so prevalent and I knew that they needed some other solutions that did not involve medication or the birth control pill.
PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is basically a collections of symptoms and not all women who are diagnosed with PCOS have cystic ovaries.
PCOS is characterized by the 3 following symptoms…
Irregular periods or missing periods (delayed ovulation or lack of ovulation)
Hyperandrogenism (high androgen levels)
Polycystic ovaries on an ultrasound
Other common symptoms of PCOS can include:
weight gain
cravings for sugars and starches
abnormal hair growth (face or body)
thinning hair on the head
acne
fatigue/low energy levels
infertility
Insulin resistance is the root issue for over 70% of PCOS cases but that’s not always the case and there can also be multiple root cause issues since our hormones are so interconnected.
The main drivers of PCOS include
Insulin resistance
Inflammation
Adrenal androgens
Post pill androgen surge
If you have been diagnosed with PCOS it’s important to ask yourself a few key questions that can help you get to the root of the issue.
The first step is to have blood work done to determine if your insulin is high. If insulin levels are high then you know that insulin resistance is contributing to the symptoms. Doctors will often use the diabetes medication Metformin for this but there are natural options as well including Myo-inositol powder, Magnesium glycinate , adequate intake of filtered water throughout the day, a low sugar diet and daily movement.
The second question to ask yourself if you’re on the pill or were on the pill is if your periods were regular (every 28-35 days) before going on the pill or were you taking the pill to “regulate” your period or manage symptoms. If your periods were regular and you had no symptoms of PCOS before the pill then you can assume that this might just be a surge in androgen levels post pill causing the symptoms and this will regulate itself out in the next couple of months. Taking a natural anti androgenic nutrient like Zinc can be helpful. The pill can mess with our gut health and our cells ability to respond to insulin both of which can cause symptoms of PCOS including acne, thinning hair on the head and irregular or missing periods.
Next we need to look at inflammation. Inflammation disrupts our hormones, suppresses ovulation and stimulates the adrenal glands and ovaries to make more androgens. Symptoms of inflammation include digestive issues like IBS or loose stools, chronic gas/bloating, daytime fatigue, headaches, pain, and skin conditions. Digestive issues and poor gut health can play a huge role in making symptoms worse and often go hand in hand with insulin resistance. A good quality probiotic and digestive bitters can be very helpful for supporting gut health and reducing inflammation along with an anti inflammatory diet high in unprocessed whole foods and omega 3’s.
Finally, if you do not have insulin resistance, symptoms of inflammation or you have not been on hormonal contraceptives but your blood work shows that you do have elevated androgen levels (DHEAS, Testosterone, androstenedione) adrenal PCOS might be the issue. The main driver for this type of PCOS is stress of any kind. Stress isn’t always mental or emotional, it can be physical or chemical as well. The go go go attitude that so many of us struggle with in the modern world, constant use of technology, and our increasing exposure to environmental chemicals are all major stressors on the body. High stress levels can also make the other issues like insulin resistance, post pill PCOS or inflammation worse. My favorite solutions for reducing stress on the body is to prioritize good quality sleep each night, set tech boundaries especially in the evening and first thing in the morning, magnesium, B-vitamins, Vitamin C and adaptogenic herbs like Ashwagandha and Rhodiola.
For any questions on the different PCOS types and putting together a individualized protocol tailored specifically to your needs, please do not hesitate to reach out by email at jvictoriahealth@gmail.com or on instagram @jvictoriahealth. You can also find a PCOS category in my online supplement dispensary where you can find my favourite PCOS supportive supplements (linked below).
