PCOS
PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disorder that occurs during the reproductive age in females. It’s on the rise. It was hardly happening in younger women in my earlier practice years.
Presently, an amazing 1 out of every 10 women around the world is being diagnosed with PCOS.
Of great concern is that PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility. Fertility is how humanity moves forward.
PCOS manifests in the form of a “wide range” of symptoms including (but not limited to) hirsutism, amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, obesity, acne, infertility, alopecia, and insulin resistance.
PCOS and Hormones
PCOS is a problem with hormones. Periods may occur more or less often and may be lighter or last many days.
Due to hormonal issues, these women often suffer from osteoporosis.
There may be too much of a male hormone called testosterone, or its metabolites, in the body. Or not.
With PCOS, multiple small sacs of fluid often develop along the outer edge of the ovary. These are called cysts. The small fluid-filled cysts contain immature eggs. These are called follicles. The follicles fail to regularly release eggs. This leads to a higher incidence of infertility.
The Exact Cause of PCOS is Unknown.
Causes are thought to be insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation, excess androgen, and genetics.
One possible driving factor is our “dirty planet” and exposure to “endocrine disrupting chemicals” (EDCs), especially while in the womb. Or even exposure before pregnancy, to the egg and the sperm.
Much research into the origins of PCOS has focused on the “prenatal induction” of this disorder, particularly in-utero androgenization (or masculinizing of the feminine).
It may be that as our planet gets dirtier, the genetic deal of the hormone cards starts to get more stacked against many young girls. Masculinizing them in the womb, making them more prone to PCOS as they grow up.
Studies and Theories
A group of endocrinology scientists from the Institute of Endocrinology, in Prague, Czech Republic compared levels of endocrine disruptors, steroid hormones, cytokines, and metabolic parameters in twenty healthy, nine normal-weight PCOS women, and ten obese PCOS women.
Higher Bisphenol A (BPA) levels were found in PCOS women compared to women without PCOS. A statistically significant association has also been found between BPA exposure and levels of male hormones inside younger females.
BPA is a common endocrine disrupting plastic.
This highlights the need for foreword thinking OBGYN docs to promote what I have been calling “Green Pregnancies”. (Link for my “Call for Green Pregnancies”)
If one in 10 women worldwide is facing infertility, and part of the issue is exposure to toxic chemicals before pregnancy or during it, why are we not discussing this “out loud”?
Why are our “birthing” physicians not paying attention?
Cultural drive for thinness may be a contributing factor, too. There is another growing theory that PCOS is induced by psychological distress and episodes of overeating and/or dieting during puberty and adolescence. This is a time when body dissatisfaction due to cultural demands to be very thin bump heads with a time of hormones rising and and growing emotional distress. This may lead to up-regulated activation of the central HPG axis (brain-hormone cross-talk), which can lead to PCOS.
As the incidence of depression in the PCOS population is increasing, compared to the general population, this has pointed a finger at excessive inflammation.
Literature suggests an overlap of clinical symptoms between depression and PCOS. The common thread is thought to be excessive inflammation.
Studies demonstrate that depression is an inflammatory disorder marked with increased levels of inflammatory markers.
PCOS is also regarded as a pro-inflammatory state that is characterized by increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers.
Thus, there is a possibility of an inflammatory relationship existing between depression and PCOS.
Treatment options for PCOS include metformin (to improve insulin sensitivity though many nutrients and lifestyle choices improve insulin sensitivity, too), consuming a low-inflammatory insulin-protective diet, and hormone therapies such as progesterone.
Progesterone is often prescribed as birth control pills, but bio-identical progesterone should be a consideration. Birth control pills are endocrine disruptors that may create more issues downstream.
Since PCOS ladies are more prone to bone loss, sometimes bioidentical replacement with progesterone and/or estrogen, if she is low in these molecules (and sometimes even oxytocin which is the actual middle-hormone for bone protection between estrogen and bone), helps protect bone integrity. Even in some younger women, if they are found to be insufficient in healthy hormone levels.
How many women do you know that suffer from PCOS?
Help to spread the word about the need for Green Pregnancies.
Links of Interest:
Call for Green Pregnancies - Found in Dr. Berkson’s online store, her professional PowerPoint (pdf) is packed with critical information for protecting the two most important ‘B’s - Babies and Boobs!
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Researching, connecting the dots in meaningful ways & sharing with you makes me Happy! I love connecting live over Zoom with many of you in my monthly membership webinars. Not a part of the Live or Pro Level membership? Learn more here: Berkson Health Membership Groups
References:
The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Brief Systematic Review. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2020 Oct-Dec;13(4):261-271. doi: 10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18. Epub 2020 Dec 28. PMID: 33627974; PMCID: PMC7879843.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2018 Sep;182:27-36. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.04.008. Epub 2018 Apr 17. PMID: 29678491.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Brain Disorder Characterized by Eating Problems Originating during Puberty and Adolescence. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 3;21(21):8211. doi: 10.3390/ijms21218211. PMID: 33153014; PMCID: PMC7663730.
Endocrine disruptors and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): elevated serum levels of bisphenol A in women with PCOS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Mar;96(3):E480-4. doi: 10.1210/jc.2010-1658. Epub 2010 Dec 30. PMID: 21193545.
PCOS SOS Gersh F. https://www.abebooks.com/PCOS-SOS-Gynecologists-Lifeline-Naturally-Restore/30335747342/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade_10to20-_-product_id=COM9781950634002NEW-_-keyword=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkt6aBhDKARIsAAyeLJ3SByJMh1nYq1kt3pEY01GsaEe3Mu4PP2GDoCFijXktj00bFnbakXoaAivcEALw_wcB