Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hindrances in getting pregnant. Many women may not notice that they have PCOS till conceiving a baby becomes a primary problem. With medical advancement and awareness about PCOS, the treatment of the disease and conception and delivery of a child become possible. Before knowing symptoms and causes, let’s first understand what PCOS is.

What is PCOS?

As the name, polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal condition in which multiple fluid field sacs (follicles) develop in the ovaries. A higher male hormone or androgen level is responsible for the disease. PCOS generally occurs at reproductive age in women. PCOS is a syndrome or group of symptoms.

Hormonal imbalance may cause ovaries to become enlarged and the development of cysts.

Due to these follicles or sacs, ovaries fail to release the mature egg, stalling pregnancy.

Irregular or no periods

Symptoms of PCOS

Symptoms of PCOS vary from woman to woman. Some may not experience any symptoms, resulting in it being undiagnosed for a very long time. Some women may feel a few of the following symptoms:

No periods or irregular periods
Severe pain during periods associated with heavy bleeding
Excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), severe acne due to excess secretion of androgen
Male-pattern baldness or thinning of hairs
Unintentional weight gain
Cysts or follicles covering eggs in ovaries result in difficulty in ovulation.
Pain or soreness in the pelvic area
Headaches and anxiety or depression

Causes of PCOS

The actual cause of PCOS is not known, but some factors may predispose it:

Hereditary plays a crucial role in PCOS condition
Insulin resistance in our body may increase extra androgen production, leading to difficulty with ovulation
Obesity
Both obesity and insulin resistance can multiply the chances of PCOS.

PCOS and obesity

The connection between PCOS and obesity is surprising. Women with PCOS produce too much insulin and develop insulin resistance that results in weight gain. Many women show signs and symptoms of PCOS soon after they start having periods. For others, PCOS develop in the later stage of their reproductive years, following substantial weight gain.

So, obese women have a higher chance of developing PCOS, and women suffering from PCOS have a greater risk for obesity.

How can weight loss amend PCOS?

Due to insulin resistance, women with PCOS face difficulty in weight loss. Insulin resistance causes a slow response against consumed sugar and increases insulin production to metabolize this sugar. So, increasing insulin resistance in our bodies promotes fat storage and weight gain.

Plenty of treatment regimens is available nowadays to manage and treat PCOS.

If you are overweight, then losing some pounds can improve PCOS symptoms. Weight loss can affect PCOS by:

Regulate and restore the normal menstrual cycle
Increase response to insulin
Starts ovulation
Help in reducing stress and depression

Keeping track of weight and maintaining it through child-bearing age can boost reproductive health and improves symptoms of PCOS.

How to lose weight with PCOS?

PCOS is an endocrine disorder that affects hormone levels in our bodies. Hormones control a lot of functions in our body, including weight management. Losing weight with PCOS is a little tricky. The following steps can help to achieve our health goals:

Patience: Losing a few pounds weight around our waist is a challenging job with PCOS. Hormonal imbalance can increases the time of the weight loss journey. So, don’t lose hope even as slow progress can boost your reproductive and overall health.
Regular physical activity: Daily exercise (about 30 minutes) improves overall health and weight management. While weight loss is a tough job in PCOS, it has a powerful impact on many symptoms of PCOS. You should follow some basic rules:

Include those exercises in your routine that you can enjoy more, such as cycling, cardio, walking, jogging, dancing, yoga, swimming, or aerobics.

Make these exercises an essential part of your routine, and don’t avoid exercising.

Never skip your physical activity.

Don’t over-exert yourself as they cause only harm.

Diet management: Exercising alone is not beneficial if you have bad eating habits. Many women with PCOS have higher blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. So combining exercise with a balanced diet improves PCOS condition effectively. Some of the following tips can be beneficial:

Include vegetables, fruits, and protein in your diet, as these dietary foods lower blood sugar levels more than a carb-rich diet.

You should add low-carb dishes to your meal.

Women with PCOS have cravings for sweets. So, try to control these food cravings or substitute sweets with fruits or healthy snacks.

Do not skip the medicines recommended by your doctor.

PCOS is a common hormonal condition during child-bearing age. Proper diagnosis and treatment can improve symptoms of PCOS. Early diagnosis and treatment also reduce long-term complications and enhance the quality of life.