Several of you, my readers, have
confided in me that you also have PCOS: Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. Some of you have asked me for advice on how I
manage it. Let me begin by saying I am
not a doctor and do not pretend to understand all of the medical side of
things. Please do not take this as
advice for what I am suggesting you to do; I am simply using my limited
understanding to try and explain what I have tried to manage PCOS. The best piece of advice I can give you is to
find a doctor you trust and then trust their advice.
While there have been various
fertility treatments and medicines we have tried over the last few years, there
are two major ways I have been consistently managing the PCOS. The first is by
taking a prescription called Metformin.
It is a diabetes medicine and has something to do with helping your body
manage insulin, which seems to be part of the problem with PCOS. To be honest, I can’t quite explain the link,
but when the doctor explained it, it made sense and I’ve had other women with
PCOS tell me they are on it as well.
This is when I say to find a doctor you trust who you could ask if you
want more information about the link between Metformin and PCOS.
The second way is by (trying) to follow the advice from a book called The
Fertility Diet. If you are
interested in reading it, here is the link to order it on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/The-Fertility-Diet-Groundbreaking-Ovulation/dp/0071627103
It is published by doctors and is researched based. The whole book is telling 10 life style
changes to make to manage ovulation related infertility, which obviously
includes PCOS. Most of the advice they
give is actually just healthy living advice that we all know and just resist
following, like drink lots of water and less Coke.
1.
Avoid trans fats
2.
Use more saturated vegetable oils, like olive
oil
3.
Eat more vegetable proteins
4.
Choose whole grains and other carbs that are
slower to digest
5.
Have a serving of whole fat dairy
6.
Take a multivitamin with Folic acid and B
vitamins
7.
Get iron from fruits, vegetables, beans, and
supplements, but not red meat
8.
Drink a ton of water; drink some coffee, tea, or
alcohol; but don’t drink sugary sodas
9.
Aim for a healthy weight
10.
Exercise daily
Alright, I am announcing my New
Year’s Resolution online: Make a more purposeful attempt to follow the
Fertility Diet. You will notice that
even though it’s called a “diet” it’s not all about food. Number 10 is about working out and this is
probably the number one place I have room for growth. I know I said I wasn’t giving advice, but the teacher in me says it’s never bad advice to read a book, so I will
recant my previous statement and recommend this book! It is a pretty easy read and it truly breaks
down each step so you understand what specifically you should do, why it is
important, and what impact it makes on your health. If all else fails, most of them are just good
tips for living a healthier lifestyle.
Except number 5. That one says
whole dairy products are better for ovulation, so go make yourself a bowl of
ice cream and enjoy reading this book!
