New "Gold Standard" for Managing PCOS?

A courageous group of Italian doctors at the University of Naples have called for a more comprehensive approach to dealing with PCOS.

We feel it's long overdue for the medical community to recommend a comprehensive strategy rather than a piecemeal therapy of this or that particular pharmaceutical.

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It's exciting that this group of medical professionals is echoing our call. Rather than talk about what they said, we'll just quote directly from the abstract of their report. Please read this carefully and completely!

"The treatment of PCOS and its complications should not be based solely on pharmacological therapies trying to improve hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance."

"Although mounting evidence recognizes the beneficial effects of lifestyle modifications, the clinical management of PCOS is not sufficiently focused on long-term maintenance of both exercise and dietary interventions and on further aspects of this syndrome (i.e., psychological status)."

"Taking into consideration the patients' young age and the devastating effects of PCOS on hormonal and metabolic pattern, this complex and multifaceted disease requires a comprehensive approach in order to achieve concrete beneficial effects for these patients."

"Multidisciplinary programs, including dietary and educational counseling, exercise training, stress management and psychosocial support, might represent the gold standard for adequate reduction of cardiovascular risk in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome."

This e-book and all of the information on this site exemplifies this approach.

Please don't think that just because you are taking a pharmaceutical, you are doing all that can be done for your condition.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is so much more than a little problem with your ovaries. Your entire body is involved. What you do or don't do about your diet and lifestyle will affect every aspect of your health and well-being, and will influence your risk of developing future chronic diseases.

Source: Giallauria F et al, Cardiovascular risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2008 Oct;9(10):987-992

Control Male Hormones with Diet and Exercise

A big problem in polycystic ovary syndrome is "hyperandrogenism".

Androgens are male hormones. Hyperandrogenism means that you have levels of male hormones that are abnormally high.

Hyperandrogenism is also closely linked with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition where the hormone insulin cannot perform efficiently.

You can think of hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance as the "evil twins" that lead to infertility, acne, male-pattern hair growth, hair loss, weight gain, multiple hormone imbalances, and long-term degenerative health problems. These evil twins reinforce each other to create havoc in your body.

Numerous medical studies have shown that you can to a considerable extent control hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance by changing your lifestyle, primarily by improving your diet and increasing your exercise.

We were reminded of this basic truth by a recent study from the University of Naples, Italy. The researchers said: "Whether in conjunction with pharmacotherapy or as a stand-alone treatment, diet and exercise training represent a fundamental strategy in the treatment of PCOS women."

Whether or not you're taking medications such as birth control pills or metformin, you'll make much better progress toward controlling polycystic ovary syndrome if you eat right and exercise.

Source: Giallauria F et al, Androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome: the role of exercise and diet, Semin Reprod Med. 2009 Jul;27(4):306-15