The most common hormone imbalance that I see in women—but one that is frequently underdiagnosed—is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Considering that it is underdiagnosed, is it possible you have PCOS?

Below, I’ll show you what PCOS can look like symptomatically, and then we will outline what can be done to address it.

What are some signs of PCOS?

· Irregular or heavy/painful periods

· Hair growth in places it shouldn’t grow like the face

· Hair loss in places where hair should be (the head)

· Some women get cysts on their ovaries (while some women don’t)

· Insulin resistance (PCOS is also known as diabetes of the ovaries)

· Androgen imbalance

· Weight gain

· Mood issues (anxiety, depression or both)

· Acne

· Anovulatory cycles

· Infertility

What is the traditional approach to PCOS?

If you go to your traditional doctor, here is how the treatment plan may unfold. They will likely run some tests, including a reading on your androgen level. Then, they will likely prescribe one or more medications, which may include:

1. Birth control to “manage” your periods

2. An anti-diabetic medication to “regulate” your blood sugar

3. Possibly a statin for your cholesterol levels

4. SSRI (mood stabilizer) for emotional swings.

And then they will send you on your way. So, is the issue solved? I would argue that being put on longstanding medication without addressing the root causes of those health issues is not the most ideal course of action. If a girl put on birth control for 10-15 years wants to have a baby later in life, or get off of those medications, the symptoms will not only come back, they will also potentially cause longstanding infertility issues.

What’s the alternative approach to PCOS?

Functional medicine is the alternative. Why and how do we approach things differently?

1. Testing: Women often come to my practice with blood work that doesn’t include pertinent information. For example, with PCOS it’s very likely that the way your body regulates blood sugar is suboptimal. Yet, with a garden variety CBC panel to check for glucose, your glucose might appear totally normal, when your insulin isn’t. So, how do functional doctors approach this problem? We order fasting insulin. We also order more specific hormone panels. This may include blood, salivary, urinary, etc. Not all hormones are best tested in the blood (your blood shows which hormones you have circulating, but not hormones which are actively being used by the body). I will typically order a series of extensive blood work and an adrenal test, depending on presentation. Other types of testing can be performed as needed (including imaging).

2. We address the blood sugar dysregulation: Most women with PCOS have insulin management issues. Meaning? You get to the root cause of the blood sugar mess. Yes, women are often eating the wrongs foods at the wrong time for decades. Sometimes they inadvertently believe they are being healthy by following the latest trends (soy milk, oatmeal, low fat, vegan). You get my drift. However, other factors impact your blood sugar, too. This may include long standing trauma, especially from childhood.

3. We address autoimmune components: This is something we also see a lot with PCOS. Autoimmune issues drive the inflammatory cascade, causing your body to attack healthy tissues (like your thyroid). So, I often see PCOS and thyroid problems go hand in hand.

4. Toxicity: One of the major issues with PCOS is that the liver and other detoxification organs, like your gut, don’t clear toxins/hormones that your body is producing internally or being exposed to externally. If we don’t clear this burden, we will continue to have certain levels of elevated hormones, leading to constantly driving the disease deeper into the system.

5. Infections: There are always infections present here. Here’s what I see: a combination of mold, bacteria, parasites, viruses and other infections—or a combination of all of these—which drive the autoimmune and neuroendocrine system out of balance. Your regular blood work doesn’t always show this. I use a variety of various functional tests here. Again, if you don’t know to test for, you won’t see it.

6. Other therapies:

a. Adjusting-because I’m a chiropractor, I adjust my patients. If you don’t address how the brain is communicating and regulating all the body systems, you won’t go anywhere fast. Adjusting clears the blocks in the nervous system enabling your body’s biocomputer to talk to various organ systems.

b. Herbs/supplements/homeopathy-Everyone is super different here. I use a variety of herbals/supplements to help support and address the underlying root issues (see above). Herbs/supplements/homeopathy restore the natural balance of the body and help to heal the body from the inside. There is no “one-size-fits- all” approach here; you should address every person individually in order to get the results you are seeking. Just because your friend/sister-in- law/mother/neighbor is taking a specific set of supplements doesn’t mean they are the right ones for you. In fact, most of the time they aren’t. Working with a trained professional will get you to the correct answer faster. Some of my favorite products I’ve utilized with my patients who struggle with PCOS are Ashwaganda for adrenal support, Neuroplex, a multivitamin geared at supporting HPA axis and hormone balance, Chase tree to help support healthy ovulation and progesterone levels, Cataplex D (vitamin D), Cod liver oil, and Inositol to help support blood sugar levels. All can be found in my online store here. However, always talk to your health care provider to make sure these are the right supplements for you.

With this functional integrative approach we see lots of outstanding results. PCOS often goes into remission, women lose the weight, lose the hair on their chin, their periods stabilize, their energy returns, their emotions stabilize, they start to ovulate and they get pregnant.

So, instead of putting a bandage on the problem, address it and fix it from the inside out. Your body was designed to heal, so stop “managing” symptoms and start addressing them at the root cause.

There is hope. Just because one doctor told you this is the best you’ll ever get, doesn’t mean that it’s true. If you have PCOS, be encouraged. There is another way.

If you are interested in further addressing this topic, please feel free to reach out and schedule an appointment. Dr. V is a Chiropractor and Functional Medicine Doctor in Elmhurst, Illinois who evaluates patients from the inside out, focusing on areas including hormone imbalance, digestive health, anxiety/depression, autoimmune disease, and many others.

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