can a low carb diet curb the side effects of polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos)?
404399
I used low carb & metaformin to concieve with my daughter. Who knows which really worked, but I know it has. I have 3 lovely kids,and the last was concieved w/o meds, just the old fashioned normal way, lol.\n I got alot of good information at this site. Hope it helps....
967033
Reducing them will be OK. You will be able to maintain your hard work, just watch your carbohydrate intake.
1008783
I also have PCOS, and, unfortunately, it cannot be cured.  However, it can be managed!  Here are some common treatments for PCOS (I have managed mine by losing weight and being on birth control pills, and I have regular periods now for the first time in 6 years):\n\nBirth control pills. For women who don’t want to become pregnant, birth control pills can regulate menstrual cycles, reduce male hormone levels, and help to clear acne. However, the birth control pill does not cure PCOS. The menstrual cycle will become abnormal again if the pill is stopped. Women may also think about taking a pill that only has progesterone, like Provera, to regulate the menstrual cycle and prevent endometrial problems. But progesterone alone does not help reduce acne and hair growth.\n\nDiabetes Medications. The medicine, Metformin, also called Glucophage, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes, also helps with PCOS symptoms. Metformin affects the way insulin regulates glucose and decreases the testosterone production. Abnormal hair growth will slow down and ovulation may return after a few months of use. These medications will not cause a person to become diabetic.\n\nFertility Medications. The main fertility problem for women with PCOS is the lack of ovulation. Even so, her husband’s sperm count should be checked and her tubes checked to make sure they are open before fertility medications are used. Clomiphene (pills) and Gonadotropins (shots) can be used to stimulate the ovary to ovulate. PCOS patients are at increased risk for multiple births when using these medications. In vitro Fertilization (IVF) is sometimes recommended to control the chance of having triplets or more. Metformin can be taken with fertility medications and helps to make PCOS women ovulate on lower doses of medication.\n\nMedicine for increased hair growth or extra male hormones. If a woman is not trying to get pregnant there are some other medicines that may reduce hair growth. Spironolactone is a blood pressure medicine that has been shown to decrease the male hormone’s effect on hair. Propecia, a medicine taken by men for hair loss, is another medication that blocks this effect. Both of these medicines can affect the development of a male fetus and should not be taken if pregnancy is possible. Other non-medical treatments such as electrolysis or laser hair removal are effective at getting rid of hair. A woman with PCOS can also take hormonal treatment to keep new hair from growing.\n\nSurgery. Although it is not recommended as the first course of treatment, surgery called ovarian drilling is available to induce ovulation. The doctor makes a very small incision above or below the navel, and inserts a small instrument that acts like a telescope into the abdomen. This is called laparoscopy. The doctor then punctures the ovary with a small needle carrying an electric current to destroy a small portion of the ovary. This procedure carries a risk of developing scar tissue on the ovary. This surgery can lower male hormone levels and help with ovulation. But these effects may only last a few months. This treatment doesn't help with increased hair growth and loss of scalp hair.\n\nA healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is another way women can help manage PCOS. Since obesity is common with PCOS, a healthy diet and physical activity help maintain a healthy weight, which will help the body lower glucose levels, use insulin more efficiently, and may help restore a normal period. Even loss of 10% of her body weight can help make a woman's cycle more regular.
437688
Low carb diets are not healthy. You need carbs to give you energy. The best way to lose weight is exercise. Eat healthier. Once a person starts to exercise they tend to like it. I like running. Running helps reduce stress, gets you in shape, and makes you feel better. Try running with friends. Oh yeah and remember, patience is a virtue.
338824
yes, I have taking metformin several times to treat \npcos. I had taken it only 2 months when I found out I was \npreganat with my little girl. I took it for 3mths after I found out i was preganat. After I had her I was fine for a few months the developed pcos again and took it for a while and got pregant with my little boy who came at 27 weeks gestation but is ok now. I will sugest this method for anyone who has pcos and wants to get preganat cause it helped my loose weight and brought me 3 little miracles I thought would never happen to me cause of the severity of my pcos. \n       I hope this helps you with your question. \nHere was the name of my doctor who treated me with all 4 of my pregnacies.
141230
DO NOT ORDER CLOMID on line.  I have pcos as well, and I have done alot of studying on the subject, birthcontrol is very effective in controling pcos, exercise, and following a diabetic diet can be very helpful.  I would assume you are wanting to have children, {clomid} however; many women have had very successful pregnancies and had pcos the whole time.  with pcos generally you tend to have simple cyst on your ovaries which over time can cause them to harden if you aren't having regular period, the birth control helps your ovaries regulate your system to help prevent this, also with pcos you tend to be insulin resistant which means your at a greater risk of developing not just diabeties but gestational diabeties when your pregnant. if your over weight you need to consider, trying to loss a few pounds, and ask your doctor about taking gloucaphage while trying to get pregnant it has a great success rate in helping women get preg with pcos.  Its a diabetic medicine, that help stimulate your progesterone levels, and can help maintain your Quant levels durning preg. I not only have PCOS but, I am a nurse as well please talk to your physician before taking anything like clomid off the internet.  I know it seems like you have been diagnosised with this and there is that fear of not having children, I have the same fears, but don't loose hope explore all your options and absorb all the information you can find on pcos. I think you'll find thousands of women have pcos and are now great moms.
442967
Essentially a restricted carbohydrate diet. See the link below.\nAlso have a look at what a normal, healthy balanced diet is - second link.
394498
There are several causes of PCOS and you have to see your gynie to find out what yours is. She may put you on Provera to regulate your menses and keep cysts away but if you have hormone imbalance problem then you may need to be prescribed with something else.\n\nA traditional way to regulate menses and reduce PCOS symptoms is to take oak gall tablets. I don't know where you're from but oak gall (or manjakani) is common in Asia. You can find oak gall drinks in cans too. They taste yummy. Try your local herb shop or pharmacy to see if they have oak gall tablets. Good luck!
826236
I also have PCOS. I don't have the high insulin levels either. I only started having trouble with weight when I got into my mid twenties. That was one of the things that led me and my doctor to start doing some tests to find out what was wrong. I did have to undergo fertility treatments, but they were successful and we have a wonderful little boy. The fertility specialist I had explained that just as every person is different, so are the symptoms of PCOS. They range from dark patches on the knees, skin tags, horrible cramping, out of control periods or no periods at all, dry brittle hair, and weight gain around the middle. Since it has a lot to do with hormone imbalances, it can vary from person to person. Some women suffer tremendous pain and debilitating symptoms while others are so mild they may not know anything is even wrong unless it interferes in their ability to conceive.
70537
I have PCOS.  I have thinning hair, hair in other places (facial), overweight, no period in about a year, heart murmur, boarderline high blood pressure, infertility, acanthosis nigricans and undiagnosed insulin resistance.  There are probably more that are conected to PCOS.  From what I have read PCOS and insulin resistance go hand in hand with most women - which causes the hormonal imbalance.  I'm trying to find a more natural way of controling the PCOS and IR through vitamins, herbs, low carb diet, exercise and support from other women with PCOS.
963819
I would highly recommend treatment. It is nearly impossible for women with PCOS to lose weight without treating the PCOS.\n\n The underlying cause of PCOS is insulin resistance (IR). If you treat the IR, then your chances of getting pregnant are about the same as anyone else (assuming there are no other problems not related to the PCOS). The best treatment for PCOS is going on an insulin sensitizing drug such as metformin (1500-2550mg per day) combined with a low carb diet and exercise. If this doesn't work by itself (which in most cases I've seen..it does), then you can add fertility treatments to this. There are a few important things to know:\n\n1. Many women "pass" the test for IR, but still respond positively from the metformin. No one knows exactlly why..my thought is that the test is not a sure fire way of detecting the IR.\n\n2. You must be on a high enough dose of metformin. I've heard women complain that their bodies dont start working even though they've been on metformin for awhile. Some doctors are hesitant to up the dose past 1500mg...but for some of us it takes more. I don't respond until my dose is around 2000mg a day. \n\n3. It can take a few months on the correct dose, before your body ovulates on it's own. \n\n4. It is important to treat your PCOS even when you are not trying to get pregnant. There are higher risks for many things (high blood pressure, blood clots, diabetes, and many other things) when you have PCOS, but if it is treated properly, then those risks go back to a normal rate. \n\n5. The side effects of metformin are not the greatest, however...I lost almost 30lbs in 3 months without really doing anything differently. It seemed like the weight just melted off for me. \n\n6. PCOS symptoms and how a body responds to the treatment vary incredibly. No one can predict exactlly what will happen and how your body will respond. That being said: most women I know how treat PCOS properly, report very positive things. \n\nI recommend seeing a reproductive endocrinologist. They are the most knowledgeable about PCOS and any fertility treatments that you may want to do in the future. I also highly recommend visiting http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhp... It is a great message board, where you can ask all your PCOS questions. The women there are great. Good luck.
773851
There is no known cause for PCOS. The only link between that and diabetes is insulin resistance.
174536
I would think so, depending on what vegetables you're eating. Most vegetables are fairly low in carbs, provided they're not just the starchy ones.  Add veggies which are higher in protein.
1178666
Go on a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. Eat fish, eggs, chicken, occasional lean beef or pork, low fat cottage cheese. Stay away from regular cheese, no bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, peas, beans (except green beans). No fruit and no fruit juice (it's sugar water, my dr says). Cut down on carrots and tomatoes (included ketchup). Use mustard instead of mayonnaise in recipes. Eat lots of salads, green vegetables. Salads only have one tablespoon of dressing for the whole salad. No ice cream, or other desserts. 8 glasses of water a day. No caffeine
1111710
The most common conventional treatment would be metformin.  Metformin is an insulin regulating drug often given to women with PCOS.  It helps to control the high levels of insulin that go along with IR (insulin resistance).  It's thought that in PCOS patients with IR, high levels of insulin also cause the ovaries to produce too many male hormones, so metformin can also help with other PCOS symptoms as well.  I take metformin for PCOS and for high lipids caused by IR.\n\nTwo natural remedies come to mind: vanadyl sulfate and cinnamon.  Vanadyl sulfate, or vanadium, has shown mixed results in scientific studies but is thought to increase the body's sensitivity to insulin.  Cinnamon has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels.  I take a combined vanadyl sulfate/cinnamon supplement.\n\nDiet and exercise, of course, are very important.  PCOS patients are often advised to follow a diet low in processed carbohydrates and sugar due to the connection between PCOS and insulin problems.  I eat a low fat, very low cholesterol, high fiber, vegetarian diet and I try to exercise every day.\n\nUnfortunately there is no cure for PCOS.  We can only treat the symptoms and the underlying problem of insulin resistance.
340068
PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) does not cause Bulimia.\n\nIf your hormones don't work in the normal way, your ovaries might make too many eggs. Those eggs turn into many cysts. The cysts (say: "sists") are like little balloons filled with liquid. \n\nPolycystic ovary syndrome is called PCOS for short. Women in their childbearing years can get it. It often begins in the teenage years. It doesn't go away. \n\nDoctors don't know what causes PCOS. If you have PCOS, you may have a problem with the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Because of this problem, the hormones that control your ovaries and menstrual periods can become abnormal.\n\nIf you have PCOS, you are more likely to get high blood pressure or diabetes. This means you have a greater risk for strokes and heart attacks. \n\nBecause of irregular menstrual periods, women with PCOS are more likely to be infertile (unable to get pregnant). They may also have a higher risk for cancer of the uterus or breast.\n\nYour doctor will look for the signs of PCOS. Blood tests that measure your hormone levels can help. An ultrasound exam can show if you have cysts on your ovaries. \n\nIf you have PCOS, you might need to lose weight. Medicine can help with your menstrual cycle, abnormal hair growth and acne. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, they have to be treated. If you want to have a baby, there are medicines that may help you get pregnant.
1130636
it depends on your metabolism, but wouldn't recommend it as a long term solution to losing weight since it'll probably lead you to an eating disorder of some kind.  just try reducing your food intake and go on a low carb diet with lots of veggies and some fruits.