You may be surprised to know that more than one in ten women of reproductive age suffers from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS. Next time you are at a function, on the bus, or walking around the supermarket, look around. You are not alone in your struggle. Nor are you alone in wondering… What causes PCOS?
Most people affected by this condition are unaware of its cause. They are probably as frustrated as you are. And if you don’t know the cause, you cannot possibly know the answer.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome does not simply affect your ovaries, as the name might imply. PCOS affects your hormones, growth, mood, energy, and overall well-being. If not addressed, it also predisposes you to a plethora of chronic diseases like type II diabetes, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and more.
What Is PCOS?
PCOS is diagnosed when at least two of these findings are present, and there are no other reasons for these PCOS symptoms.
– infrequent or absent periods
– excessive ‘male’ hormones, which can cause symptoms like acne, excessive hair growth (hirsutism), and loss of scalp hair (alopecia)
– polycystic ovaries on ultrasound
What Causes PCOS?
While we have no definitive answer yet, there are three main drivers that have stood out to me for years in the development and exacerbation of PCOS:
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance is a condition in which our cells may not correctly recognise or use the hormone insulin secreted by the pancreas. It is a hormone that manages the metabolism of sugars or carbohydrates in our body, amongst other duties.
Studies show that insulin resistance is due to faulty diet, lifestyle, excessive stress and toxic overload. Insulin resistance is a key component of having PCOS. 44 to 70% women with PCOS suffer from insulin resistance irrespective of whether they are overweight, at their ideal weight or thin.
However, women who are obese have an increased risk of developing insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Inflammation
Inflammation is an underlying cause of disease that is rarely identified, let alone appropriately addressed. This is no different in women with PCOS, regardless of age.
Young women with PCOS were found to have elevated markers of inflammation.
Even before you begin to develop the tell-tale signs of this syndrome, you may be suffering from chronic low-grade inflammation affecting your body.
Poor eating habits contribute to both insulin resistance and inflammation. This may often lead to type 2 diabetes. Food allergies and intolerances – such as gluten, artificial colours, flavours, preservatives and chemicals – trigger immune responses. This is why an appropriate PCOS diet is needed.
Our immune system is not trying to harm us. In fact, it is trying to protect us. When our first (acute) reactions become long-term (chronic), however, we have a health challenge on our hands. Sometimes, our body will not only destroy the allergens but also some of our own precious body cells. This condition, known as ‘autoimmunity’ is one reason for inflammation. It may also be a reason why autoimmune diseases like autoimmune thyroid disease and PCOS exist together.
At other times, our body responds to a toxic internal or external environmental insult.
Obesity, which shares a ‘who came first – the chicken or egg?’ kind of a relationship with PCOS, also contributes to body-wide inflammation. Fat cells are notorious for triggering inflammatory changes in our body tissues.
Digestive issues
While the evidence isn’t yet strong, simply because it hasn’t been completed, I am sure that digestive factors are a third potent driver of PCOS. It’s the one challenge all women with PCOS I have seen in the clinic share.
With gut research led by Professor Patrice Cani, we know that the diversity and health of our microbiota are key. Poor digestive health can lead to both insulin resistance and inflammation, and the nutrients we know are often deficient in PCOS.
I dedicated a chapter in my Amazon bestselling book, Conquer Your PCOS Naturally, to the gut because I feel strongly that this is one of the missing PCOS links. Hopefully, the research over the following years will soon be more definitive.
From PCOS to perfect health, with love,
Dr. Rebecca Harwin
The PCOS Expert
Chiropractor & Bestselling Author of
Conquer Your PCOS Naturally
www.ConquerYourPCOSNaturally.com
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