PCOS: Diagnosis, Causes, and Ways to Combat it Naturally

Mar 23

What is PCOS?

Affecting 5-10% of women, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the result of a collection of hormonal imbalances that cause the ovaries to overproduce androgens. Androgens are a group of hormones, like testosterone, that lead to male-like characteristics such as dark facial hair growth.

Other symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, acne, and weight changes, to name a few; however, PCOS can manifest differently in everyone.

Diagnosis

Because PCOS is a syndrome rather than a single disease, it doesn’t have one definitive diagnostic test. Instead, healthcare providers use the Rotterdam criteria, which means a diagnosis is made when two out of three key features are present.

Here are some of the features healthcare providers look for:

Elevated androgens (male hormones):

This can be identified through lab testing or physical symptoms. Blood work may show elevated total or free testosterone, and sometimes higher DHEA/DHEA-S levels. Clinically, excess androgens may show up as acne, unwanted facial or body hair (hirsutism), or scalp hair thinning.

Menstrual irregularity or ovulatory dysfunction:

Many women with PCOS have irregular, infrequent, or absent menstrual cycles, which often indicates that ovulation is not occurring regularly.

Polycystic ovarian appearance on an ultrasound:

On pelvic ultrasound, the ovaries may show 20 or more small follicles per ovary (sometimes described as a “string of pearls” pattern) and/or increased ovarian volume.

Underlying Drivers

Although the potential underlying drivers below are not official medical subtypes, they reflect common root patterns in research and in patients.

Insulin-resistant PCOS

Insulin resistance is the most common driver of PCOS because insulin is absolutely vital for overall health–particularly for our blood sugar and hormones. Our blood sugar is affected by foods and drinks we consume, exercise, and stress levels. Without insulin’s help, we would not be able to maintain a balanced blood sugar throughout the day and cause hormonal imbalances.

Higher insulin sensitivity means your body requires less insulin to maintain stable blood sugar, indicating good metabolic health. In contrast, insulin resistance occurs when cells do not respond effectively to insulin, requiring the body to produce more insulin to keep blood sugar in balance.

Insulin resistance can affect anyone and it can be temporary or chronic. Some causes of insulin resistance include:

Excess body fat

Excess fat in the belly and around the organs (visceral fat) especially raises the risk.

Not enough physical activity

Movement and exercise help make the body more sensitive to insulin and since muscles help absorb glucose, building muscle is especially important.

Diet

Diets high in processed foods, carbohydrates, and saturated fats have been linked to insulin resistance.

To read more about blood sugar and insulin resistance, read my previous blog, “The Importance of Balanced Blood Sugar.”

Inflammatory PCOS

Chronic inflammation is an immune response where the body stays on high alert, triggering our body’s natural “fight or flight” response, and over time can lead to damaging healthy tissues, organs, and DNA. For hormones, inflammation can stimulate the ovaries and adrenal glands to produce more androgens and can interfere with normal follicle development and ovulation.
Causes of chronic inflammation include:

Poor gut health
Food sensitivities
Environmental toxins
Chronic stress
Diet filled with highly processed foods

Adrenal PCOS

Our adrenal glands are the main producers of androgens and overproduction occurs because of chronic stress, over-exercising, under-fueling, poor sleep, and high environmental toxin exposure. In lab work, adrenal androgen production is represented by DHEA-S and in the case of adrenal PCOS, it may show elevated levels while testosterone may be normal or only mildly elevated.

Post-pill PCOS

After being on hormonal birth control pills, especially for numerous years, there may be PCOS-like symptoms that occur. This happens because the birth control pills suppress ovulation and androgen production, so when you no longer take it, the body may experience a rebound in androgen levels.

Ways to Combat PCOS Naturally

As a functional nutritionist that sees clients suffering with PCOS, I always recommend lab work in order to know what’s going on in your unique body. This way we will be able to work together to see the “type” of PCOS you may have and create a corresponding treatment and wellness plan.
Support blood sugar through focusing on a balanced plate, an anti-inflammatory diet, and exercise

Try my Mediterranean Meatball Bowl recipe!

Prioritize wellness rituals and self-care habits like making sure you’re recovering enough after exercise or high-stress days, lowering stress through walking or meditation, prioritizing sleep, and practicing mindfulness to maintain a calm nervous system.

Hormone Health Intensive

I focus on a whole-body approach to health. Listening to your body’s warning signs, such as an irregular period, PMS, and other symptoms surrounding women’s health, invites you to take a closer look at a possible hormonal imbalance.

My program, Root Cause Hormone Package, does a deep dive into your hormones to pinpoint symptoms and imbalances using the comprehensive DUTCH test. After receiving your results, I will create a personalized plan focusing on holistic healing. My plans help optimize nutrition and digestion, improve immune health, balance hormones, and detoxify your body so you can function at your best.

Since hormones are intricately woven into many systems and functions in the body, testing your hormones to identify your unique levels is a significant first step to getting to the root cause of your symptoms.