healthy meals for women with pcos (polycystic ovaries)

jellyhead

spironalactone - it's a diuretic, used for men's prostate problems I think. My GP gave me a printout about PCOS and it was mentioned.

Js_Other_Half

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Diagnosis for PCOS is usually done via an untrasound scan which clearly shows cysts on the ovary.

In my case ultrasound and HyCosy failed to spot PCOS. It was only when I had a laparascopy that it was diagnosed.

ames100

i was diagnosed via ultrasound accidentally when checking for gall stones at 16- straight on metfromin lost over a stone just from that but gradually over the years has crept back on. just started atkins a month ago and have currently lost a stone, its the only thing i have found to make a significant difference and i have a massive problem with carbs and sugar cravings.

myaccount08

OP there's good suggestions there regards the 'right' foods to eat. Check your local library and see if they have a copy of that book or similar, ours is quite good here. I wouldn't recommend any fad diets, just a simple wholegrain low GI diet with plenty of exercise. On the BBC food website you can use the search tool and find recipe ideas for each low GI ingredient for some more inspiration If you are eating the right foods your body shouldn't crave other things, although it can take a short while to adjust!

You say the meds gave you depression the last week of your cycle - it sounds like a reaction to progesterone which is common. Natural progesterone creams and Vitamin B6 work well to help your body balance hormones naturally. I'd have to agree with the GP that avoiding oral contraceptives (or any type of artificial hormonal treatment) is a good idea with the reactions you had. PCOS can actually be triggered by these in the first place and is in many cases a direct result of high oestrogen levels which lead to the hormonal imbalance and thus the cysts themselves. Going many months without a bleed increases the risk of cancer which is why GPs like to treat PCOS with "the pill" and provera. It just masks the symptoms though and doesn't actually treat anything. If you are having a regular cycle then it's of no use, and when TTC the last thing you want to hear is "go on the pill for 6 months to regular your cycle" !!!

PCOS should always be picked up on a simple internal ultrasound and/or through blood tests. Generally those with PCOS have multiple cysts and these are immediately obvious through u/s as it sees through the ovaries. Hormonal imbalances are detected through blood tests and should be treated by a reproductive endocrinologist.

There seem to be 2 main causes behind PCOS - those with insulin resistence (who conceive after losing weight, using metformin or forced ovulation with clomid etc) and those with unexplained hormonal imbalance.

I've got PCOS too and struggled for years with loss and infertility as a result. I had a bad experience with Agnus Cactus and would definitely advise against that if you have trouble with the other meds as it's a powerful herb.

After another lengthy period of anovulatory cycles i started taking daily aspirin (75mg) to increase blood flow to the ovaries, and fertility reflexology. I was very skeptical with the reflexology - several areas on my feet were very painful with it. After the session i googled them and was astounded to see that all the painful areas were those affected in PCOS and the reproductive system! With each further treatment the pain got less and then totally went away. I found it incredibly relaxing too - which you definitely need when TTC! I had 6 sessions - with which i ovulated 2 months in a row and conceived on that second fertile cycle. Not bad after 5 years of pcos problems!

Metformin is great if you have insulin resistence, but if you don't then it can just leave you with digestive issues and feeling even more disheartened. It shouldn't be given as a blanket treatment for PCOS as it's not suitable for those without IR. If you do have insulin resistence then your GP should refer you on to a dietician and also a R.E for proper management. Most PCOS sufferers with IR that manage to lose 10% of their body weight conceive within 6 cycles because it has such a stabilising affect on your hormones and the build up of excess oestrogen (which inhibits ovulation). Fat cells increase the storage of oestrogen in humans and animals which is why it helps so much to lose weight, those on vegetarian diets have significantly less problems. (Lentils are a great food for eliminating excess and balancing hormones).

Also, instead of your GP just assuming you are ovulating because you have a bleed they should be doing P4 tests to actually verify this. I would have a fairly regular cycle, but they were anovulatory (no ovulation) and had i not been having blood tests and charting my fertility signs i would've also assumed i was ovulating.

Have a look at www.soulcysters.com for support and diet tips, there's a lot of info on there. I know how tough it is TTC with PCOS and wish you all the best.

mumhug

I have been and brought a copy of the book the pcos protection plan today i borrowed it fro the lbrary last year and have been looking for a copy ever since. Heres hoping it wil help me control the effects of the pcos. if i find any really good advice (re diet) in there i will share

Baileys_Babe

I have PCOS with insulin resistance and I take Metformin which has helped with many of my sysmptoms, especially giving me a regular menstral cycle (28 days!!) instead of the random cycle I had previously, anything from 6 weeks to 8 months. My diagnosis took nearly 10 years, even though I have many signs & syptoms. I have conceived twice since treatment began even though both times it was still a struggle. I have found a low GI diet benefical in improving my symptoms.

ames100

quick ques for those of you on chromium do you take chromium picollate or GTF chromium - whats the difference?

continualdiamond

I have PCOS and im 27, i got dignaosed when i was 20 after going through my teens with load of symptoms.

I was put on the pill (diane 35) and this did wonders as i also suffered from terrible acne, this was treated on its own firstly. This pill cleared up the acne really well and i was also put on metformin.

I came off the metformin and diane 35 after a while and just went on the ordinary pill.

I did the atkins diet and lot loads of weight, but the side affects to how i felt were awlful and i stopped.

I've dieted on and off over the years, including daft diets, to then jenny craig which is where your meals are provided for you, its an american thing, but i should point out im from Australia and was still living in my home country at this point.

Then this year i joined weight watchers and its really been working, in 9 weeks i've lost 9lbs and im really happy with that. Im not bothered about a fast result, im bascially looking forward to xmas already to see how much i've lost in a year.

I sometimes forget i have PCOS because i no longer present the symptoms i used too. My acne cleared up and because im on the pill for contraceptive reasons my cycle obviously stays regular.

I have no children, but have not yet decided to try for any, so thats my next step of discovery, finding out how the PCOS will affect my chances.

kit

Hey there! Nice to be able to chat to others with PCOS.
I have known I've had it since I was about 18. I have taken metformin but i didnt react well to it, same for the pill Diane whatever its called.
I have always been lucky with the weight side of it, was 8 stone for many years, rose to 9 stone and was happy there....... UNTIL my GP advised me to have the Depot injection to help with my random periods. I asked if it would make me put on weight and he said no, def not. So I had the injection in last Aug last year. My period started a week later.... and I am STILL having that same period!! almost six months now, its driving me mad!! I have also put on 2 stone since having it.... and i cant seem to stop the weight gain.
I'm so annoyed, i had the injection to help ease my problems and they have just made them 10 times worse. :eek:
Will hunt out the PCOS diet book mentioned... i have no idea how to diet, I have never needed to before

jellyhead

ames100 wrote: »

quick ques for those of you on chromium do you take chromium picollate or GTF chromium - whats the difference?

Holland and barrett told me they are the same, but one is natural and one is made in a lab. I bought the natural one but I don't actually know how it's made etc. or anything about it.