PCOS Hormonal Disorder Support

Below are some of the most common signs or symptoms of common hormonal conditions:

• weight gain
• a hump of fat between the shoulders
• unexplained, and sometimes sudden, weight loss
• fatigue
• muscle weakness
• muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
• pain, stiffness, or swelling in your joints
• increased or decreased heart rate
• sweating
• increased sensitivity to cold or heat
• constipation or more frequent bowel movements
• frequent urination
• increased thirst
• increased hunger
• decreased sex drive
• depression
• nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
• blurred vision
• infertility
• thinning hair or fine, brittle hair
• dry skin
• puffy face
• rounded face
• purple or pink stretch marks

Note that these symptoms are nonspecific, and just because you experience one or more of them doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a hormonal imbalance.

Hormonal imbalances can affect both men and women. Symptoms of a hormonal imbalance specific to females include:

• heavy or irregular periods, including missed periods, a stopped period, or a frequent period
• hirsutism, or excessive hair on the face, chin, or other parts of the body
• acne on the face, chest, or upper back
• hair loss
• darkening of the skin, especially along neck creases, in the groin, and underneath the breasts
• skin tags
• vaginal dryness
• vaginal atrophy
• pain during sex
• night sweats
• headaches

Living With PCOS 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal imbalance condition among U.S. women of reproductive age. Its symptoms include:

• ovarian cysts
• irregular periods
• acne
• thinning hair
• weight gain
  

Researchers say the causes of PCOS are complicated, but insulin resistance and hormone regulation are key factors.

If you are living with PCOS, you know that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every day may feel different for you, and your own PCOS experience may be vastly different from that of another woman with PCOS. The general approach recommended for improving your quality of life with PCOS includes the following:

• Eat a balanced diet that’s rich in lean protein, healthy fats, and fiber but contains limited amounts of processed sugar. A “PCOS diet” may help balance the hormones that regulate your appetite, metabolism, and mood 
• Get enough sleep. Getting too little sleep or being exposed to artificial light during nighttime hours may lead to disruptions in melatonin and cortisol. It may also influence insulin resistance 
• Drink green tea. Green tea may help balance insulin in some people by improving the body’s response to the hormone, although the potential effects of green tea extract on insulin resistance warrant further investigation
• Engage in regular exercise. Physical activity is said to influence appetite hormones and improve the body’s use of the insulin
• Manage your stress. Too much stress can drastically change your cortisol and adrenaline level. 
• Avoid endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are compounds in the environment, such as tobacco smoke, pesticides, herbicides, plastics, flame retardants, and fragrances in lotions and cleaning supplies, that may cause hormonal imbalances.

NOTE: always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before starting a new diet or exercise routine. The information is not page is not to be taken as medical advice.