Power to the ‘cysters’: Natural management and treatments for polycystic ovaries

By Stephanie Taylor, Intimate Health Expert, Kegel8

In recent years, many vaginal disorders have taken the media spotlight. Finally, we are breaking the taboo of intimate health issues, and women are finally free to discuss their bodily woes.

A new openness of conversation is helping people feel less alone, encouraging others to come forward and share their experiences. Whether it has been endometriosis, vaginismus or even thrush, the progress is remarkable.

September is PCOS awareness month, so it’s finally time to talk polycystic ovaries. Luckily, this disorder is fairly manageable with the right knowledge, as Stephanie Taylor, Intimate Health Expert of Kegel8 explains…

Identifying PCOS

Did you know 1 in 10 women in the UK suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome? With figures this high, it’s sad to see the topic so scarcely covered in the media or discussed openly.

Unfortunately, it can be quite tricky to know whether you have PCOS or not, as many women will have no symptoms before they begin trying to conceive. For others it can materialise in a manner of ways: weight gain, acne, irregular periods and changes in bodily hair.

Once you have your diagnosis, it can get a little more complex still. There are a few types of polycystic ovaries that all require different approaches to treatment.

Insulin resistance: Diet changes

Insulin resistance is extremely prevalent among sufferers, with most finding this attribute existing within their experience with PCOS.

This explains the scenario where the body becomes numb to the effect of insulin, triggering this type of PCOS to occur. This is likely to be where you’ll find the most obvious side effects occurring – weight gain the tummy, sugary cravings and fatigue.

Diet and lifestyle changes will make a dramatic difference to those where insulin resistance affects their symptoms. Fighting those cravings and having a low sugar diet can have a knock-on effect, helping other side effects to subside. Where you can, stay away from solid fats and fried foods, too.

Positive dietary changes that will help insulin resistant PCOS include eating unprocessed foods, having a high-fibre diet and a whole lot of fruit and veg. Think nuts, lentils, avocados and dark chocolate.

Adrenal PCOS: Light exercise and mindfulness

Adrenal PCOS flairs up during intensely stressful periods of life, so can usually calm when you’re out of the other side.

Of course, we know that stress cannot be avoided, only managed – much like PCOS! Stress can affect the body in many physical ways, causing issues such as insomnia, low sex drive and even dandruff flair ups.

Conduct yourself how you would in any stressful situation to restore some normality. Practice yoga and meditation to reconnect your mind and body, using deep breathing exercises to unwind. Implementing light, regular exercise into your routine is really helpful too,for maintaining a low stress level and can calm adrenal PCOS.

Inflammatory PCOS: Prioritising gut health

Inflammatory PCOS can occur as a response to our lifestyle. Having a poor diet or adopting other unhealthy habits can increase testosterone levels, one of the factors that can trigger PCOS.

Inflammatory PCOS will often manifest itself in some obvious, physical symptoms: fatigue, skin issues and headaches are just a few you may spot in yourself.

An easy way to calm inflammation issues is watching the types of foods you ingest. Focusing on gut-friendly foods will immediately help – yoghurt, kefir, olive oil and garlic are all delicious foods and ingredients that are easy to weave into your regular diet.

For an extra boost, anti-inflammatories can treat your side effects even further. Turmeric and Omega-3 tablets are affordable and accessible – the perfect remedy.

Post-pill PCOS: Health supplements

Post-pill PCOS is, luckily, often temporary. It is actually a sort of withdrawal reaction that women can experience from coming off the contraceptive pill, as a response to the temporary rise in antigens that often occurs post-pill.

In this case, letting nature take its course can often be enough to re-regulate your body, but if you want to speed the process along, consider investing in supplements. Zinc, liquorice, Vitamin B6 are just a few that may help.