September : PCOS Awareness Month

PCOS is a significant genetic, hormone, metabolic, and reproductive condition affecting both women and girls. It is the greatest cause of female infertility and a risk factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer, among other serious illnesses.

Women often panic when they get diagnosed with PCOS. To reduce their tension and increase awareness, September is federally recognized as the PCOS Awareness Month aimed towards raising public awareness and educating women, girls, and healthcare professionals about PCOS.

The goal of PCOS Awareness Month is to enhance the lives of persons who are affected by PCOS by assisting them in overcoming their symptoms and reducing their chance of developing life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer.

PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is a highly common disorder that affects 8% to 13% of women. Obesity exacerbates all of the clinical symptoms of PCOS.

Reproductive difficulties such as decreased ovulation frequency and irregular menstrual cycles, reduced fertility, polycystic ovaries on ultrasound, and excessive levels of male hormones such as testosterone, which can cause undesired face or body hair growth and acne, are among these clinical symptoms.

PCOS is also linked to metabolic characteristics, such as excessive insulin or insulin resistance, and abnormal cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

PCOS has a negative impact on quality of life and can exacerbate anxiety and depression, either as a result of its symptoms or as a result of a chronic disease diagnosis.

The month of September is dedicated to raising awareness about PCOS. PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is one of the most common ovulatory disorders, accounting for 85 percent of all diagnosis.

While the specific causes of PCOS are unknown, the implications of the condition on a woman's body and fertility are well-known. Women with PCOS produce more androgens than the average woman.

Androgens are found in both men and women, however, they are commonly referred to as "male hormones". Increased androgen levels in women will interfere with egg formation and ovulation. As a result, women with PCOS may not ovulate on a regular basis, if at all.

What Changes To Make To Your Diet

# Consume a well-balanced diet.

To manage PCOS, you must eat a well-balanced diet. Not only that, but it's also crucial to eat a protein-rich diet to keep your body's insulin resistance under control.

Tofu, beans, lentils, seeds, nuts, and other low-cholesterol protein sources include tofu, beans, lentils, seeds, and nuts. It's also vital to avoid simple carbohydrates in favor of complex carbohydrates.

Whole wheat, whole oats, brown rice, and even quinoa are examples of low glycemic foods. They're high in fibre, which aids in the management of insulin resistance, which is a primary cause of PCOS. Don’t forget to consume fruits daily.

# Remove dairy from your diet.

If you have PCOS, avoid milk and milk products since they raise insulin and testosterone levels in the body, which can lead to severe acne. Not only that, but coffee is also a no-no for PCOS sufferers. It's thought to aggravate PCOS by accelerating estrogen production during menstruation, resulting in hormonal imbalance.

# It is vital to exercise.

This is self-explanatory. Make it a point to exercise for at least half an hour each day. It not only improves your mood but also aids in the management of insulin resistance.

Any type of cardio, such as skipping, brisk walking, or even running, can be done. When you lose weight, your metabolism speeds up, keeping your body in good shape.

So, don’t worry and don’t panic about PCOS. Although there is no cure for PCOS, a woman can control her symptoms with diet and/or medication, and fertility therapy is generally useful if conception does not occur on its own. 

It’s easy to deal with a positive mindset and a healthy approach.