What is the best diet for PCOS?

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. In fact, it is estimated to affect up to 13% of this population group worldwide.(1)

PCOS is a complex condition including reproductive, endocrine and metabolic abnormalities. These can include irregular ovulation, reduced fertility, insulin resistance, fatty liver and imbalanced blood lipids. Such abnormalities can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Between 30 and 75% of women with PCOS carry excess weight, in fact obesity can compound symptoms of PCOS whilst weight loss can alleviate symptom severity.(1)

In 2018, the Centre for Research Excellence in PCOS published international evidence-based guidelines for the assessment and management of PCOS. The Guidelines recommend that all women with PCOS can benefit from lifestyle intervention including diet, exercise and behavioural strategies. Nonetheless, the optimal diet for PCOS management and improvement of symptoms is not yet well-established. Instead, there are general dietary principles which can help women to manage symptoms.(2)

Unfortunately, there are significant gaps in knowledge around the diagnosis and management of PCOS. This is true across multiple areas of medicine, from obstetrics and gynaecology to dermatology. Furthermore, women with PCOS often have to go through multiple inconclusive healthcare visits and delays before they obtain an accurate diagnosis. 

Female patients with PCOS report dissatisfaction with the treatment and recommendations received as well as a lack of satisfactory treatment options. Overall, it is clear that there is still much to be done around PCOS to ensure that women receive adequate diagnosis and support in an efficient and timely manner.(3)

What are the symptoms?

Women who experience symptoms of PCOS usually tend to notice them in their late teenage years and early 20s. 

Symptoms can vary widely between women and (thankfully) not all women experience all symptoms. In addition, each symptom can vary in severity from mild to more severe. Certain women may only report menstrual problems, be unable to conceive, or both. 

Some of the most common symptoms of PCOS include: irregular/missed periods or amenorrhea, difficulty conceiving due to irregular or lack of ovulation, excessive hair growth typically on the face, weight gain, thinning hair or hair loss, oily skin and acne. If you have any of these symptoms and suspect that you may have PCOS, contact your GP who can help you.(4)

How does PCOS impact fertility?

When it comes to female infertility, PCOS is one of the most common causes. Others include endometriosis, fibroids, obesity, severe stress, and very low body weight. In fact, many women first find out that they have PCOS when they are trying to conceive and after a few unsuccessful attempts. 

During the menstrual cycle, the ovaries release an egg into the uterus, this is ovulation. It generally occurs once every 28 days in a regular cycle. However, women with PCOS typically have irregular cycles, thus they either don’t ovulate or do so infrequently. Therefore, irregular or absent periods make it challenging for women with PCOS to fall pregnant. 

Related reading

• How to increase progesterone
• How to balance hormones