Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects women of childbearing age. It causes an imbalance in female hormones that may result in hair loss, infertility and several health problems. The risks for many of these health problems can be reduced by making dietary changes.
What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Polycystic ovary syndrome causes the ovaries to produce multiple cysts. The production of these cysts come from an irregularity in the reproductive hormones. This irregularity creates more androgens -- male hormones -- than female hormones, hair thinning, increased insulin, weight gain, hirsutism, anovulation and irregular periods. Women with PCOS are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and becoming obese.
Hair Loss and PCOS
Some women with PCOS suffer with hair loss due to excess male hormones in the body. An overabundance of the male hormone testosterone causes both male pattern hair growth and androgenic alopecia. Testosterone in the blood becomes a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT that triggers hair follicles to grow and produce hair. When an excess of testosterone is present, it causes hair on the body to grow, but hair on the head to fall out.
How Does Nutrition Help?
Since women with PCOS have a risk for high cholesterol, have a higher insulin level and are more prone to gain weight, diet is an important part of maintenance. Since insulin levels are increased, you must watch the amount of carbohydrates you consume. Choose complex carbohydrates over refined carbohydrates, which cause the insulin levels to rise rapidly after eating. Refined carbohydrates are starchy carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice and potatoes. Complex carbohydrates such as oats, whole grains, whole wheat and brown rice are packed with heart healthy fiber that lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
PCOS Treatments
Losing weight reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women with PCOS. According to MedlinePlus, a weight loss of even 5 percent helps. To balance hormones women are often given birth control pills or progesterone pills. The hair loss associated with polycystic ovary syndrome may be helped by using a combination of minoxidil and a change in diet.
Considerations
If you are losing a considerable amount of hair, see your physician. Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome are at an increased risk for developing endometrial cancer, infertility, heart problems, diabetes and high blood pressure, so getting regular health checkups is a vital part of reducing these risks.
