HOW TO TREAT PCOS: YOUR GUIDE

Have you ever described your periods as a “river of blood?”
Does life for you come to a halt during those few days of your periods?
Do you think something is wrong with your periods but don’t exactly know what?

Or maybe you are a regular at our blogs, who knows their stuff. You have discovered that you might be suffering from PCOS and want to know where to go from here.

All of you have come to the right place. Knowledge is power, and we are giving you all the knowledge you need about PCOS and how to treat PCOS, so you can make choices that are right for you.

Let’s start with the basics, shall we?

WHAT IS PCOS?

PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a disorder of the female reproductive system. It is a hormonal disorder in which a woman’s body starts producing excess androgens or male hormones. It can cause the size of the ovaries to increase and small cysts may appear on its outer edges. It mainly affects women who are in their prime, meaning in their reproductive years between the ages 14 – 44.

Some symptoms of PCOS include:

• Heavy bleeding during periods
• Facial hair and acne
• Difficulty in getting pregnant
• Unpredictable and irregular menstrual cycles
• Obesity or difficulty in losing excess weight

Experts still don’t know what exactly causes PCOS; some factors that might increase your chances of having it are your genetic predisposition, environmental factors, increase in your levels of insulin, and your body weight.

PCOS is not curable, but it can be managed, and the most effective way of managing PCOS is by making good choices.  RIO Heavy Duty Pads help you manage a heavy flow like a pro. It soaks up all the blood clots along with the blood to ensure the top layer remains dry. No rashes, no irritation. All RIO Pads are sulphur, paraben, and chemical fragrance-free.

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HOW TO TREAT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME?

You’ve probably tired of searching ‘PCOS treatment medication’ and ‘how do you treat PCOS’ and coming up with empty results every time or with things that look like words from an ancient Greek mythology book. Don’t worry; we have got you covered.

Medications coupled with healthy lifestyle choices are your best bet for a PCOS treatment that is effective. PCOS cure is not possible because it lasts for a lifetime; therefore, it is important for you to make choices that are good for you in the long- run.

How to treat PCOS with diet or how to treat PCOS at home? Whichever is your question, here lies the answer.

Curating a healthy diet for polycystic ovary syndrome treatment is no rocket science! After all, a healthy diet looks the same for everyone. A thing you should note is that it might be harder for you to curb cravings since PCOS makes your metabolism slow down significantly. Some foods that you should ideally steer clear of are:

• Sweet, sugary foods and drinks
• Junk and fried foods
• Refined carbohydrates
• Processed meats
• Excess salt- intake
• Artificial sweeteners

Some foods that should help manage PCOS are:

• Foods with high fibre content like beans and lentils
• Green vegetables like spinach, fenugreek leaves and kale
• Nuts and seeds
• Fishes like tuna, salmon and mackerel
• Spices like turmeric and cinnamon
• Unprocessed, natural foods

This also might be the answer you were looking for if you wanted to know “how to treat PCOS weight gain?”

PCOS can cause a number of issues, which might bother you. The most visible and one which creates a lot of insecurity in women is having acne.

PCOS acne treatment can include over-the-counter products that are easily available in the market, such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and sulphur. Hormonal acne from PCOS may sometimes need a little more than your regular products. Consult a doctor for this; you might be advised to use one of the following:

• Retinoids
• Oral contraceptives
• Anti-androgen drugs

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR PCOS

You might want to consider some ayurvedic treatments for PCOS. None of these treatments have any scientific backing or research to prove they are effective or safe, so you must proceed at your own risk and before considering alternate treatment for polycystic ovaries, consult a doctor. Here are some of them:

• Ashwagandha – Ashwagandha is an Indian herb, also known as Indian ginseng, which can help balance your levels of cortisol and improve your levels of stress and other PCOS symptoms.

• Cinnamon – In a small study conducted with over 45 women in 2007, it was found that cinnamon can help control insulin levels to help with PCOS. You can simply top your healthy oats with a dash of cinnamon powder and you’re good to go.

• Turmeric – In another small study conducted in 2017 on PCOS- induced rats, curcumin which is an active ingredient in turmeric, showed significant results as an anti- inflammatory agent and also as a way to keep your insulin levels in check.

Women might experience a lot of stress and anxiety with PCOS. Yoga has been shown to help with anxiety in adolescent girls. Some yogasanas you can try out are:

• Supta Baddha Konasana or the reclining butterfly pose
• Bharadvajasana or bharadvaja’s twist
• Chakki Chalanasana
• Shavasana or the corpse pose

You can also try out pranayamas or meditation and breathing exercises to help with managing stress.

You might be having a hard time getting pregnant if you have PCOS. Ayurveda even has PCOS fertility treatment that might help you. You can try out this 6- month program which had shown to help 40 people experiencing infertility or trouble getting pregnant:

• Shodhana – these include detoxifying and purifying procedures
• Shaman to reduce pain and discomfort and also reduce other symptoms
• Tarpana is the offering made to different gods and goddesses

Besides doing all of these, it is also important that you take care of your mental health and stay away from things that might cause you emotional distress. Have a support system, seek out a community with people who might be suffering from similar issues, and lastly, surround yourself with people you love and be happy.