HEALTH FILE

ARE WE SEEING A HORMONAL IMBALANCE EPIDEMIC?

Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS affects about 1.4 million women in Canada. Image credit: MUKH DEEP on Unsplash.

By AAMINAH NAJMUS SAHAR

Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is a condition when the ovaries produce too much androgen leading to hormonal imbalance in women.

As a result, women with PCOS experience irregular menstrual cycles, missed periods, no ovulation, or unpredictable ovulation. The ovaries develop small fluid-filled sacs called cysts which contain the undeveloped follicles. These follicles mature and release eggs. Thus there is no ovulation or unpredictable ovulation with PCOS. In addition to this, PCOS also causes acne, weight gain, increased facial and body hair, fatigue, hair fall, mood swings, pigmentation of skin, etc.

Insulin resistance is also seen in PCOS, and it can increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.

On the other hand obesity, poor diet, and insulin resistance can also contribute to PCOS. PCOS can occur in young girls as well, any time after puberty. 

PCOS affects about 1.4 million women in Canada and about 13 million to 79 million women in India and 4 per cent to 20 per cent, or 80 million to 400 million women worldwide. These are huge numbers.

There is an ongoing epidemic of PCOS worldwide.

It is crucial to raise awareness about PCOS as timely diagnosis and early management does wonders.

So what causes PCOS and why is there an epidemic of PCOS today whereas it was something unheard of in the previous generations?

PCOS today is caused mainly by a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, high stress, junk and processed food. The solution to reversing PCOS lies in reverting to the traditional ways, to the methods of our previous generations:

• Eating fresh, nutritious, home-cooked food, and avoiding junk and processed food as much as possible. Diet needs to be balanced, incorporating protein in diet is crucial.

A balanced diet for PCOS includes sources of protein like chicken, fish, lentils, chickpeas, along with fresh fruits, vegetables and a little bit of carbohydrates like chapati, rice and sources of good fat like avocado, olive oil, ghee, etc. Including nuts and seeds like walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, etc., in one’s diet is very beneficial. In addition to this, using yogurt, and fermented food like dosa, idli, etc., increases the good bacteria in the gut and promotes digestion and hormonal balance.

• Incorporate physical activity, such as walking, aerobics, strength and weight training in your daily routine, and maintain a healthy weight.

• Stress has increased significantly today with women managing homes and jobs, and due to many different factors like social media, lack of women’s safety, etc. However, it is important to manage stress as increased cortisol levels worsen the symptoms of PCOS.

• Environmental factors like the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in plastic, pesticides, scented candles, cosmetics, non-stick cookware, etc., also contribute to PCOS due to hormonal imbalance. It is best to buy organic fruits and vegetables and wash them thoroughly with water to remove any residual pesticide.

Avoid the use of scented candles and poor-quality cosmetic products. Replace plastic utensils and containers with steel or glass. Avoid using plastic cutting boards and tea bags as they release a lot of microplastic into the food. Non-stick cookware releases toxic chemicals as it gets scratched and old, replace them with stainless steel / cast iron cookware.

PCOS is very under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed, due to which the management becomes more complicated. Many women don’t consider their symptoms serious enough to consult a doctor and even when they do they are diagnosed with PCOS only after a couple of visits.

This maybe due to the wide array of symptoms of PCOS that presents differently in women, and the need for diagnostic tests like ultrasonography to detect PCOS. Many women don’t follow up with their doctors and this leads to incomplete management.

Timely diagnosis and management of PCOS is crucial to avoid complications.

The good news is that PCOS can be managed to a great extent with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and managing stress levels. In addition to this, other treatment options include hormonal birth control to regulate the menstrual cycle, metformin to help with insulin resistance, and drugs like clomiphene, letrozole, and gonadotropins to induce ovulation. 

PCOS is not a disease, but it is caused by lifestyle and food habits and can be managed with the right care and control.

Please consult your family physician before following any of the suggested remedies above.

Aaminah Najmus Sahar is a medical writer and reviewer with a Pharm.D. In her blog Medscertera, she posts about healthcare topics. She is passionate about helping people make informed health choices.