Polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS, is a metabolic disorder that causes an imbalance in women's hormones. It can make it difficult to get pregnant but also lead to a range of serious health problem if it's not treated. Diet can play an important role in treating and possibly preventing PCOS.
Identification
PCOS is not a specific disease but rather a syndrome, a group of symptoms associated with each other. The three primary PCOS symptom clusters include hyperandrogenism, or excessive male type hormones that can cause excess facial hair and acne; chronic anovulation, meaning infrequent or absent ovulation or periods; and polycystic ovaries, where your ovaries are enlarged and contain an excess amount of cysts. Other signs of this disorder include acne, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, depression, pelvic pain and sleep apnea.
Significance
PCOS affects up to 5 million women in the U.S., according to the Boston IVF medical center, and can occur in girls as young as 11. It's the primary cause of female infertility, and if left untreated, it can lead to an increased risk for endometrial cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
Causes
It's not precisely known why PCOS develops, but several studies have linked the disorder to insulin resistance, where your pancreas has problems transporting sugar from your blood to your cells. PCOS appears to run in families, which may also indicate a genetic link that has yet to be identified.
Considerations
Because half of women with PCOS are obese and obesity has been linked to insulin resistance, losing weight is an important part of treatment. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's McKinley Health Center recommends that if you're overweight or obese, you aim for a target weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your body weight within three months.
Expert Insight
Hillary Wright, M.Ed, RD, LDN, the Director of Nutritional Counseling at Boston IVF and author of "The PCOS Diet Plan: A Natural Approach to Health for Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome," recommends that you eat smaller meals and snacks spread out over the day, which helps blunt the insulin response. Wright also says to eat fewer carbohydrates, only 25 to 30 percent of your plate, changing their type--whole fruits instead of juice and whole grains over white flour---and to pair them with lean protein like poultry, fish and beans that helps you feel full and keeps blood sugars steady. Increasing your fiber content to 25 to 30 grams per day will also help you feel full and lose weight faster. The McKinley Health Center says to limit your salt intake to less than 2400 milligrams of salt daily, choose unsaturated oils such as olive, corn and or canola oils instead of saturated fats found in meats and dairy, and avoid processed foods.
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