Polycytic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Living With PCOS Is Challenging
Get the help you need in Raleigh NC
Did you know that 1 in 8 women is living with Polycystic Cvary Syndrome? Despite that high percentage, many women are uncomfortable talking about what they are dealing with or even to get diagnosed with PCOS because of the confusing and often embarrassing symptoms.
And many women wrongly blame themselves.
Signs that you might suffer from PCOS include adult acne, stubborn weight gain especially around your middle, unwanted hair growth, period irregularity, and fertility issues. If these sound familiar, you will want to meet with a gynecologist, endocrinologist, or your primary care physician for a medical evaluation.
And you will also want to meet with a dietitian-nutritionist who is an expert in PCOS. Something that I see quite often is women being given a diagnosis of PCOS when it actually may not be true PCOS. Underlying health problems including nutrient shortfalls, gut dysbiosis, systemic inflammation, thyroid and other hormonal disorders can contribute to the pattern of symptoms that lead to this diagnosis being made. However, women are helped by correcting these problems and diagnosing and resolving nutritional and lifestyle imbalances.
I thoroughly investigate all potential factors and help women remove and resolve them.
My goal is to set you free.
If you do have PCOS (or symptoms of PCOS) you are far from alone. Women and Family Nutrition has helped hundreds of women gain control of PCOS and lead their best lives ever.
Contact our office Raleigh, NC today to learn how we can help you.
You will get to speak with an expert dietitian who knows what you are going through and knows how to help you.
But then again, maybe you don't actually have PCOS?
Since 2009, I have been working with women diagnosed with PCOS. What is really interesting is that the diagnosis seems to be much more common than it used to be when I started as a dietitian/nutritionist. It may be that doctors are more frequently making this diagnosis due to their increased awareness of the syndrome and its presenting symptoms.
My experience with women who see me to address a PCOS diagnosis is that almost half of them don't actually have true PCOS. I know this because when they make the dietary and lifestyle changes I recommend, they get results. These "misdiagnosed" women start having regular periods and see strong indicators that they are ovulating. If they desire pregnancy, this will also happen, usually without medical intervention.
My confident advice to you if you have been diagnosed with PCOS, recently or even several years ago, is to not assume you are automatically at risk for metabolic and fertility problems. We can work on fixing those together and preventing future problems. Optimal nutrition can work to normalize your hormones as it heals your body.
And if you do have true PCOS (which is almost always accompanied by signs of elevated male hormones) I can help you too. I have the clinical experience and evidence-based interventions you need to get the results you want.
And on a personal note, I thought that my irregular periods and lack of energy were due to PCOS too until I corrected my own dietary problems. That is why I became an registered dietitian nutritionist with the goal of sharing this life-changing information!
I am not alone in my thinking...
Clinicians’ perspectives on diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome in Australia: a qualitative study
These findings underscore the vital need to first consider PCOS a diagnosis of exclusion and use caution before giving a diagnosis in order to reduce misdiagnosis, as suggested by clinicians in our study. Until there is greater standardization of diagnostic criteria, more transparent conversations with women may help them understand the uncertainties surrounding the criteria and limitations in the evidence. Additionally, clinicians emphasized the importance of education and reassurance to minimize the potential harmful impact of the diagnosis and improve patient-centered outcomes.
References:
https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/35/3/660/5754094?login=false