PCOS

About

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a whole-body hormonal imbalance that affects a woman’s ability to ovulate. It’s surprisingly common, affecting up to 26% of adult women.

Women with PCOS typically have irregular periods. Their hormonal imbalance means they show signs of excess androgen hormones too, such as acne, excess facial/body hair and thinning of hair of the head. Some women with PCOS also experience weight gain and infertility.

If left unchecked, PCOS can contribute to the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

How is it diagnosed?

A woman needs to meet two of the following three criteria to get a diagnosis of PCOS:

• Irregular periods or no periods at all
• Excess androgens, identified either via symptoms or through a blood test
• Small ‘cysts’ on the ovaries, as shown in an ultrasound

How to test?

PCOS is a clinical diagnosis, which means it’s identified by its symptoms. However, there are a few tests that can help to provide more information:

Blood tests to look at levels of hormones such as testosterone, DHEA, DHEA-S and LH

A glucose tolerance test to assess insulin sensitivity

An ultrasound to look at cysts on ovaries

Remember: these tests alone cannot diagnose PCOS. For that, you have to meet two of the three criteria listed above.

Conventional treatment for PCOS

Conventional treatment for PCOS focuses on managing symptoms. This may include:

The oral contraceptive pill. Confusingly, although the oral contraceptive pill can induce PCOS, it’s also given to mask its symptoms. Some forms of the pill can suppress androgen hormones—but they’ll surge again when you stop taking the pill.

Spironolactone. This is another drug that can suppress androgens, reducing symptoms such as acne and excess hair. It does nothing to restore ovulation.

Metformin. This common drug corrects insulin resistance, one of the key drivers of PCOS. It may improve ovulation in some women.

Although all these drugs can help to reduce symptoms, they don’t address why PCOS has developed in the first place. That’s where the Functional Medicine approach can be transformative.

Our approach to managing PCOS

Here at the London Clinic of Nutrition, our nutritionists and Functional Medicine Practitioners take a multi-faceted approach to tackling PCOS. This may include:

• Optimising diet to improve insulin sensitivity
• Supporting gut health to reduce inflammation
• Reducing toxicity to encourage hormonal balance
• Minimising stress through lifestyle tweaks
• Using targeted supplements and herbs to support hormones further

Our practitioners take a thorough case history (and recommend tests where appropriate) to determine the underlying causes of your PCOS, and tailor the approach to your needs and circumstances.

Rather than merely masking your symptoms, our goal is to restore your hormonal balance—enabling you to get over PCOS for good.

Supporting fertility with PCOS

The central issue in PCOS is that a woman isn’t ovulating as she should, which can make falling pregnant very difficult.

Through tackling the root cause of hormonal imbalance, the Functional Medicine approach to PCOS works to restore ovulation. This, combined with other natural methods of boosting fertility, can help you conceive when you want to.

Get in touch

We're here to help you find the best way to address your concerns if you have been diagnosed with PCOS.

We offer a range of appointments in-person or online. Of course, with our virtual, online clinic, you’ll receive the same exceptional service from your expert Functional Medicine practitioner as you would seeing us at our London clinic.

To discuss how we can assist you, call 0203 332 0030 to speak to one of our advisors. 

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