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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: 5 Myths About The Condition – GLAMOUR UK

Apr 12th, 2022

In her first article for GLAMOUR, Dr Hazel Wallace breaks down the top five myths about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), based on the most common misconceptions she hears from her patients.

Dr Hazel Wallace is an NHS medical doctor, registered dietitian, and founder of The Food Medic an educational platform that aims to bridge the gap between traditional medical advice and the latest developments in nutrition.

From understanding irregular periods to navigating pregnancy with PCOS, here are the top five things that Dr Hazel wants you to know:

PCOS is actually one of the most common reproductive hormone disorders and affects one in 10 women in the UK. Symptoms include irregular or absent periods, excess body or facial hair, acne or oily skin, hair loss from the scalp (alopecia), difficulty becoming pregnant, and mood changes. Some people have no symptoms at all. If youre worried you may have PCOS, speak to your GP.

If you have irregular periods, it doesn't necessarily mean you have PCOS so make sure to get checked out first before making any self-diagnoses.

There are many other causes for irregular periods including; certain forms of contraception, medical conditions, puberty and perimenopause, extreme weight loss or weight gain, restrictive diets and/or excessive exercise.

Its also very common for women to experience a missed period at some point in their reproductive life, especially during periods of stress. Thats okay and usually, nothing to worry about, however, if it continues to happen consecutively over a few months thats when you should go see your doctor.

The myth stems from the fact that many women with PCOS also have insulin resistance, which means the body is unable to take up and use carbohydrates (in the form of glucose) from the bloodstream as well as it should. This does not mean you need to cut carbohydrates out completely they should still remain an important part of a healthy balanced diet (PCOS or not).

However, it seems focusing on the quality of carbohydrates (as opposed to the quantity) may be more important when it comes to managing PCOS and supporting overall health (see this study).

Opting for carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index (GI) which are typicallycomplex carbohydrates such as oats, brown rice, wholemeal bread, and pulses as opposed to high GI foods which are generally simple and refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, sweets and dried fruit, has been shown to be helpful for those with PCOS (see this study). Also pairing carbohydrates withlean protein, healthy fats and fibre can help to stabilise glucose levels.

Some meal ideas might be:

* Wholemeal toast with peanut butter and sliced strawberries

* Baked sweet potato with tuna, mayonnaise and sweetcorn.

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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: 5 Myths About The Condition - GLAMOUR UK

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