Myths about PCO syndrome and what’s behind them

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS for short PCO Syndrome or PCOS, is a hormonal disorder that can occur in women of childbearing age. It is one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting approximately 1 million women in Germany. Many of those affected are women who are unable to conceive.

A disease with many faces

PCOS is a complex condition and can manifest through a wide range of symptoms. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are often surrounded by many small cysts strung together like a string of pearls; on the other hand, women may also have cysts in their ovaries without having PCOS. Other symptoms include menstrual irregularities, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, obesity, excessive hair growth on the body and face, acne, or hair loss. However, not every woman who experiences one of these symptoms has PCOS.

Diagnostic Criteria

Therefore, for a reliable and consistent diagnosis of PCOS, only the so-called Rotterdam Criteria within the “ESHRE Guideline” for the diagnosis of PCOS are applicable. According to these criteria, after ruling out other conditions, at least two of the following criteria should be met:

1.) Hyperandrogenemia and/or clinical signs of hyperandrogenism: This condition is characterized by elevated levels of male hormones (androgens) in the blood. These can lead to acne, hair loss, and unusually heavy body hair in the patient. 2.) Oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea: The patient either has intervals between periods of >35 days or no periods at all. 3.) Ultrasound criterion: An ultrasound examination must reveal ovaries containing more than 20 follicles and/or an increased ovarian volume (≥10 ml).

Because PCOS is so complex and misjudgments and misdiagnoses are common, a number of myths about PCOS persist in the minds of both women and doctors. We’ve compiled a few of these myths here and will explain what’s behind them:

Myth: Women with PCOS must always take the birth control pill as part of their treatment

In conventional medicine, PCOS is usually treated exclusively with hormonal medications, such as the birth control pill or the diabetes medication metformin. The birth control pill inhibits the production of male hormones in the body and is thus intended to help combat virilization symptoms and skin problems such as oily skin and acne. However, these treatment methods do not address the underlying cause—essentially the root of PCOS—namely the hormonal imbalance; as a result, once the pill is discontinued, PCOS will return with all its symptoms and discomforts.

To treat the underlying causes of PCOS, holistic and natural approaches are recommended, as they can help you effectively “manage” many of the symptoms. Julia Schultz @juliaschultz_coaching is a hormone coach and PCOS expert who helps you get your hormones back on track naturally—without the birth control pill—through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes. On her website, you can learn more about holistic and natural approaches to managing PCOS. It’s best to get a detailed consultation from Julia! You can find more information here.

Myth: Women with PCOS do not ovulate and cannot get pregnant

Diagnostic Criteria for Long Cycles >A cycle length of 35 days (oligomenorrhea) and/or the absence of a period (amenorrhea) may, in some cases, indicate reduced fertility. OvulaRing can therefore be used to initially determine the true nature of an individual’s cycle biology and health. The good news is: Studies have shown that more than a third of women diagnosed with PCOS are nevertheless able to Ovulation had and were able to conceive naturally. It was also confirmed that 15% of these women even regularly experience late ovulation after the 36th day. According to the latest scientific findings, the number anovulatory cycles …so it’s not as high as previously thought in women with PCOS! However, late ovulation often goes undetected. As a result, affected patients are often prematurely referred by their treating physician to a fertility clinic, even though they conceive spontaneously get pregnant could. With OvulaRing, women with PCOS can easily figure out how their individual cycle works and whether and when they ovulate—no matter how late it may be. Especially with PCOS, it’s crucial to continuously monitor the cycle in order to “detect” late, often undetected, ovulations. This is particularly important information for women with PCOS, especially before hormone treatments or surgical procedures.

Myth: Women with PCOS always have irregular cycles

One irregular cycle This is the case when cycle lengths vary by ±8 days. This often leads to dangerous self-diagnosis, as women with irregular cycles are quick to assume they have PCOS. Yet about 70% of all women have irregular cycles! Even irregular cycles can be perfectly healthy and still involve ovulation. Often, they alternate between short and long cycles with early and late ovulation. With recurring bleeding intervals of > A 35-day cycle does not necessarily indicate PCOS, because in this case as well, another diagnostic criterion must be met and, most importantly, confirmed by a gynecologist. Also Thyroid Disorders can, for example, affect the length of your cycle. In addition, stress, emotional strain, jet lag from travel, and hormonal fluctuations during puberty or menopause can all affect your cycle. By the way, with OvulaRing, you can gain a precise understanding of your individual cycle and fertility patterns—even with irregular or very long cycles—and determine whether your cycles are healthy and when you’re ovulating.

Myth: Women with PCOS always have excessive body hair

High levels of androgens in the blood lead to typical androgenization—that is, masculinization—in affected patients. This includes what is known as hirsutism, an increase in androgen-dependent hair growth with a male-pattern distribution in women. The severity varies widely, ranging from slightly thicker hair on the legs and in the pubic area to heavy hair growth on the arms, back, abdomen, and neck, as well as actual beard growth. However, not all women with PCOS experience male-pattern hair growth. Conversely, not every woman with increased hair growth has PCOS. For example, women from different countries may have varying degrees of body hair, which can easily lead to misinterpretations.

Myth: A gluten-free diet is only suitable for people with celiac disease

Nutrition is medicine! Probably the most important step you can take to stay healthy and fit despite PCOS is to proper nutrition. This allows for fairly effective control of hormone release—such as insulin—and can help reduce excess weight and PCOS symptoms. However, calorie restriction alone will not yield results. What really helps? A gluten- and dairy-free diet! PCOS is an inflammatory condition of the body that is often associated with a Insulin resistance goes hand in hand with. Removing gluten-containing foods from your diet helps combat areas of inflammation in the body, which in turn makes it easier to lose weight. A dairy-free diet also contributes to a healthy lifestyle for those with PCOS. Scientists have shown that high dairy intake increases insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Therefore, a combination of a gluten- and dairy-free diet—along with avoiding white sugar and highly processed foods—and a high-protein diet is best suited for PCOS. Not sure how to incorporate this new meal plan into your daily routine? In her new book, “Living with PCOS,” Julia Schultz has created many delicious gluten- and dairy-free recipes for every PCOS type and shows you how you can easily manage your PCOS with the right diet. You can find more information here here.

Myth: To lose weight, you have to work out hard

Weight loss in women with a high BMI has been shown to have a positive effect on fertility. When overweight women with type 2 diabetes and PCOS reach a healthy weight, both their metabolism and their menstrual cycle often return to normal. Unfortunately, with PCOS, losing weight isn’t that simple, because intense exercise won’t yield results. To lose weight with PCOS, the underlying cause—namely, the hormonal imbalance—must be addressed. So how can exercise help restore hormonal balance? High-intensity interval training only promotes the release of stress hormones in the body, which in turn leads to weight gain. Slow-paced exercises are more suitable, as they prevent the release of stress hormones. Therefore, low-intensity workouts with light weights are ideal for PCOS, as they help maintain hormonal balance while you lose weight.

Do you also have PCOS, and have you faced other kinds of prejudice? We’d love it if you left us a comment on Instagram @ovularing_ or on Facebook!