PCOS Awareness Month Wrap Up

DAY 2 In honor of PCOS Awareness Month, let’s all create 1 new healthy habit. “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” John C. Maxwell

Day 3 Please watch Katy’s short testimonial. She is a Diva! Thank you Katy for inspiring other women with PCOS.

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Day 4 Thank you to the researchers who have dedicated their careers to further the understanding of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. You can meet several of them on my podcast. Including –
Dr. Richard Legro http://pcosdiva.com/2013/09/an-interview-with-pcos-expert-dr-richard-legro/
Dr. Ricardo Azziz – http://pcosdiva.com/…/pcos-expert-dr-ricardo-azziz-answers…/

Day 5 You can Thrive with PCOS! http://pcosdiva.com/thrive

DAY 6 A hysterectomy will not cure PCOS. PCOS is fundamentally a problem of intra-body hormonal communication, not of structural or anatomic issues. The development of multiple tiny cysts on the ovaries, giving the condition its name, is a consequence of the hormonal dysfunction, not the cause. http://pcosdiva.com/hysterectomy

DAY 7 Women with PCOS are at higher risk of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) http://pcosdiva.com/nafld

DAY 8  PCOS is the leading cause of female infertility. But women with PCOS have a very good prognosis for conception with the right lifestyle modifications to enhance fertility naturally, and possibly medical therapy.Listen to my podcast with Dr. Victoria Maizes, respected educator, doctor of integrated medicine and author of Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child. She sat down with me to discuss lifestyle modifications, especially stress reduction and its impact on women with PCOS, particularly those trying to conceive. During our 45 minute interview, she made clear the link between fertility and stress as well as provided some excellent, easy to use advice and coping strategies. http://pcosdiva.com/2015/05/top-tips-to-help-you-beat-stress-and-conceive-interview/

 

DAY 9 With PCOS, your cycles may be longer than 30 days and irregular. Knowing when ovulation occurs may be difficult to determine. However, the OvuSense fertility monitor can detect ovulation with 99% accuracy even in women with PCOS. http://pcosdiva.com/ovulation

DAY 10 Women with PCOS are at greater risk of Hashimotos and hypothyroidism. Knowledge is power and this interview with thyroid expert Thyroid Pharmacist, Dr. Izabella Wentz will explain (transcript provided)
* Hypothyroidism vs. Hashimoto’s Disease
* Tests you need to ask your doctor about to be properly diagnosed
* Common and often overlooked or misdiagnosed symptoms
* Actions to take when you are diagnosed
* Possible benefits of pharmaceuticals
* Causes and results of not properly treating thyroid issues

DAY 11 Yoga can reduce anxiety symptoms, reduce mFG score for hirsutism, improve menstrual frequency, insulin values and more according to a 2012 study. www.pcosdiva.com/yoga

DAY 12 The herbal supplement berberine is an exciting new treatment for PCOS. It has recently undergone two clinical trials, with great results. www.pcosdiva.com/berberine

DAY 13  Women with PCOS almost always have how progesterone. Here are 7 common symptoms associated with low progesterone:Anxiety
Waking at night
Fibrocystic breasts
PMS
Bone loss
Low libido
Infertility or irregular periods.
Read the article below by Dr. Tami and learn two natural ways to increase progesterone. www.pcosdiva.com/progesterone

DAY 14 A 2010 study found that women with PCOS had an increased likelihood of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Read Dr Fiona McCulloch ND guest post about Intestinal Health and Leaky Gut and what this means for women with PCOS. Then learn how to Remove, Replace, Re-inoculate and Repair and heal your gut.”If you have PCOS, it’s important to remember that your intestine is the first entry point for the nutrients that your body needs to function, and that a healthy gut is the foundation through which your immune system develops. Without a healthy gut, the response to other treatments for PCOS may not be as optimal. A healthy intestine sets the stage for good nutrient absorption, a healthy immune system, reduced inflammation, and better metabolic health, so do your best to focus in on this key area of your body and show your gut some love!” www.pcosdiva.com/ibs

 

DAY 15  Oral contraceptives and Metformin deplete B-12. Some common symptoms of B-12 deficiency are:Disturbed carbohydrate metabolism
Fatigue
Insomnia
Infertility
Irrational or chronic anger

DAY 16 While it is important to be aware of the potential for PCOS to interfere with breastfeeding, it is equally important to know that many women with PCOS are able to reach their breastfeeding goals without trouble. www.pcosdiva.com/breastfeeding

DAY 17  Women with PCOS are at 2x the risk of blood clots when taking oral contraceptives. It the study you’ll find in the article below, it is true that blood clots were uncommon – in a year timeframe, 24 out of every 10,000 Pill-using PCOS patients, versus 11 out of every 10,000 Pill users who did not have PCOS experienced blood clots. But blood clots are deadly and this increased risk should be something that a woman with PCOS should be made aware of before she decides whether the pill is right for her. www.pcosdiva.com/thepill

DAY 18  Women with PCOS are at risk of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a hormonally related chronic, painful, condition that is often misdiagnosed as a problem of poor hygiene. The incidence of HS is increased in PCOS. Hidradenitis Suppurativa and PCOS can go hand in hand. HS has been linked to a hyperandrogen state.  www.pcosdiva.com/HS

DAY 19 Research has shown inositol supplements may reduce insulin resistance, improve hormone levels, and regulate menstrual cycles in women with PCOS. They also may support normal blood fat levels and promote egg quality in women trying to become pregnant.There has been lots of positive research on the use of myo-inositol and d-chiro inositol as a natural therapy for PCOS. In fact a very recent 2015 case–control study published in Evidence Based Women’s Health Journal evaluated the clinical & biochemical efficiency of inositol versus metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome. 128 patients who completed the study were divided into 2 groups. Group A, 62 patients, received myo-inositol + D-chiro-inositol & Group B, 66 patients, received metformin. The myo-inositol + D-chiro-inositol group showed significantly better results in terms of weight reduction, resumption of spontaneous ovulation, and spontaneous pregnancy than Metformin in polycystic ovary.

 DAY 20 PCOS women are 30 times more likely to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) And women with PCOS and OSA are at least three times more likely to have prediabetes, compared to women without PCOS.Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is now the first-line therapy for OSA . CPAP is delivered by a machine with a tight-fitting face mask. The good news is that a study showed that when using a CPAP women with PCOS can see an improvement in blood pressure, metabolic function and insulin resistance.

I have heard from many Divas who have made tremendous progress once diagnosed with OSA and treated with a CPAP.  www.pcosdiva.com/sleep

 

DAY 21 Women with PCOS may become more fertile with age. Older women with PCOS may have a better chance of pregnancy than their age matching non-PCOS counterparts. As women with PCOS age (and women without PCOS become infertile because they are running out of eggs and losing follicles they need to ovulate), women with PCOS still have eggs remaining and have a more optimal number of follicles than in their youth. www.pcosdiva.com/fertile

DAY 22  Fish Oil may be effective in treating many PCOS symptoms. Omega 3 fish oil can be an effective tool for:* Lowering testosterone.
* Reducing fatty liver, cholesterol, triglycerides and lowering blood pressure
* Managing mood, improving depression and heightening brain function
* Improving insulin levels, hair and skin quality, and ovulation
* Inhibiting inflammation

DAY 23 Hair loss, or androgenic alopecia is a symptom of PCOS. I have been very candid about my hair loss struggles over the years on http://pcosdiva.com/category/blog/hairloss/   I am thrilled to say that I have found a solution. Morrocco Method hair care has been amazing for me. In the last year, since I began MM, my hair loss has subsided dramatically and my hair is thicker than in years past. And Morrocco Method is all natural – there are no endocrine disrupting chemicals! www.pcosdiva.com/hairloss

 

DAY 24  Almost three of every four women with PCOS may have vitamin D deficiencies. A study done at the Medical University of Graz in Austria showed that almost three of every four women with PCOS may have vitamin D deficiencies. Another study from the Royan Institute in Iran theorized that women with PCOS may have a genetic variation that affects how effectively vitamin D functions in the body. Studies have shown that women with PCOS have mostly insufficient vitamin D levels, and vitamin D replacement therapy may have a beneficial effect on IR in obese women with PCOS. People with higher levels of this vitamin are 40% less likely to develop diabetes. The vitamin helps the pancreas secrete insulin. It also reduces systemic inflammation, which influences insulin resistance.
I take PCOS Diva Super D. It is a carefully researched and sourced supplement that provides vitamin D together with vitamin K1 and K2 to optimize absorption. http://pcosdiva.com/products/pcos-diva-super-d www.pcosdiva.com/vitamind

DAY 25  Women with PCOS have higher depression scores and a higher risk of depression.
With any form of depression it is important to seek help if you experience dark thoughts or other serious symptoms. Because of studies like I mentioned in the article below, more doctors are screening their PCOS patients for mood disorders. www.pcosdiva.com/depression

DAY 26  Dairy can cause inflammation in many women with PCOS. Dr. Lara Briden explains in the article below, “The problem with dairy is not the lactose, or the fat. The problem is a protein called A1 casein. When A1 casein hits your digestion, a part of it breaks off to become casomorphin or BCM7. Casomorphin is an opiate, just like morphine is an opiate, or codeine. Casomorphin is a drug, which is why it causes brain-fog in some people, and why so many people crave dairy.

DAY 27  Women with PCOS actually make more cortisol, a stress hormone, than women without PCOS. A study found that women with lean PCOS made more cortisol than the lean control group. They chose lean women in this study because it is known that being overweight itself can increase cortisol. Because women with PCOS produce more cortisol, stress is actually more aggravating to us as we are just adding to levels that are already elevated. www.pcosdiva.com/cortisol

DAY 28  Women with PCOS need support from family and friends. Living and thriving with PCOS can requires significant lifestyle change. Changing the way we eat, move, sleep, and take care of ourselves can dramatically improve our health and quality of life. But this kind of lifestyle change can be very difficult without support. Below you’ll find a repost of an article my husband wrote this past spring about how he has supported my PCOS journey. I am blessed. www.pcosdiva.com/support

DAY 29 Women with PCOS have a 19x greater risk of magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is the co-factor in more that 300 body processes including muscle building, maintaining nerve function, keeping a healthy heartbeat and sustaining optimal immune system function. The other day I posted about women with PCOS having higher levels of cortisol. Magnesium regulates the cortisol produced by our adrenal glands which calms our nervous system when under stress. When we are under loads of stress, it means we are taxing our adrenal glands and also losing magnesium. I supplement with a chelated magnesium bisglycinate, (more info below) it is one of the most easily absorbed forms of magnesium, and allows the body to absorb and retain magnesium with improved bowel tolerance. www.pcosdiva.com/magnesium

 

 Day 30:…