Improve PCOS & Optimize Conception With a Registered Dietitian
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Reproductive, and Women’s Health
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How to Improve PCOS & Reproductive Health
A PCOS diagnosis doesn’t mean that you’re forever stuck with syndromes like irregular periods, conception issues, male pattern hair growth, acne, and excess weight gain. The key to addressing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is to identify the type (yes, there are types!) and root cause, which can then be treated with an individualized diet plan developed with your personal certified nutritionist. This should include a nutrition and exercise plan that helps re-balance hormones. Herbs or nutrients can also be helpful with re-balancing hormones and addressing PCOS.
The Four PCOS Types
In conventional medicine, there are 4 primary PCOS types. These are:
- A – High androgens & irregular periods (or no period) & polycystic ovaries
- B – High androgens & irregular periods (or no period)
- C – High androgens & polycystic ovaries
- D – Irregular periods (or no period) & polycystic ovaries
Reproductive and Metabolic PCOS
Also, a new study revealed that genetics can drive PCOS to present as either ‘reproductive type’ or ‘metabolic type’. As with all categories of PCOS types, some people didn’t fit neatly into either category.
- Reproductive group – higher LH & SHBG, lower BMI & insulin
- Metabolic group – higher BMI, glucose & insulin, lower LH & SHBG
- Indeterminate – did not neatly fit into either group
Both of these groups of POCS types characterize PCOS by what signs and symptoms exist. However, functional medicine approaches PCOS from a root cause lens. Thus, there are the functional medicine types of POCS:
Types of PCOS in Functional Medicine:
- Insulin Resistant PCOS – dominated by symptoms like high blood sugar, darkened skin around the neck and armpits, carb & sugar cravings, and weight gain.
- Inflammatory PCOS – dominated by symptoms of chronic inflammation like acne and skin rashes, fatigue, joint pain, gut issues, and weight gain.
- Adrenal PCOS – where the primary androgen that is high is DHEA, which is made primarily by the adrenal glands (in contrast to testosterone, which is made primarily by the ovaries)
- Post-Pill PCOS – seen in women who had normal periods before being on the pill, but experience PCOS symptoms after coming off birth control.
These types are helpful because addressing the root cause of PCOS is what will guide our expert nutritionists to come up with a diet and nutrition plan that will ultimately help you experience significant improvement of PCOS. Addressing the root cause is what allows true improvement rather than just a masking of symptoms. In order to discern what type of PCOS you have, we use testing such as:
- Markers of insulin resistance: fasted insulin, fasted blood glucose, HbA1c
- Markers of inflammation: hs-CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate / ESR sed rate
- Adrenal testing: cortisol, cortisone, DHEA, and DHEA-s
- Advanced sex hormone testing: we use DUTCH testing to assess levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and all the metabolites that come before and after those hormones. This allows us to see where the true imbalances lie.
We Are Registered Dietitians Who Specialize in PCOS & Reproductive Health
Our clinicians know how to help you identify your PCOS type, then how to create an individualized diet plan to address it. Based on evidence and test results, your personal certified nutritionist will create a specific and realistic nutrition plan that lowers inflammation, optimizes the ability to concieve, decreases uncomfortable symptoms, and eliminates food triggers. As Integrative and Functional Certified Nutrition Practitioners, we look at the whole picture and will address other lifestyle elements that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Also, we don’t just give you a plan and send you out the door. We’ll make sure you’re supported throughout your journey.
Finally, our goal is to get you to where you don’t need us! We teach you how to follow our process on your own, so that you can have ongoing, independent success with improving PCOS and fertility
Here’s an Overview of Our Results-Driven Process
With our process, you’ll begin to address the root causes of hormone imbalances, so that you can experienced improved period regularity, reproductive health, acne, hair patterns, and metabolic health. Our goal is to help you live a full and vibrant life without the overshadow of PCOS challenges.
PCOS symptoms and fertility challenges are not your destiny. Contact us for a free call to discuss how we can help you with a plan to optimize your hormones.
Schedule a Free Chemistry Call
Wondering if we’re a good fit? Let’s jump on a short, no-obligation call. We’ll discuss your health challenges and goals and how we can support you in achieving those goals.
Nutrition Professionals You Can Trust
Many claim to be a nutritionist, but only a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) meets rigorous academic requirements to include extensive clinical training, a nutrition degree from an accredited university, passing a rigorous board exam, and meeting continuing education requirements. Further, we are Licensed Registered Dietitians (LDNs) in the state of North Carolina. We are further credentialed in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. We stay informed of guidelines set by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in order to provide our patients with expert nutrition counseling.
