Anxiety
Waking at night
Fibrocystic breasts
PMS
Bone loss
Low libido
Infertility or irregular periods
If you have a progesterone deficiency and your doctor suggests hormone replacement, you may be prescribed a bioidentical progesterone. Bioidentical, or natural, progesterone is a combination of elements derived from natural plant sources that identically matches the progesterone we naturally make in our bodies. Prometrium is a micronized (reduced to tiny particles and mixed with peanut oil) natural progesterone in the form of a pill. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a natural hormone-replacement therapy medication. Because natural progesterone is molecularly identical to the hormone produced by the body, it causes few side effects.
Alternatively, your doctor may suggest a synthetic progestin such as Provera, since it was the standard before good natural alternatives were developed. Provera is also a constructed compound, but its chemical structure is not identical to natural progesterone. As a result, it can cause changes in vaginal bleeding, blood sugar issues, blood clots, and depression. Unfortunately, many women are told that synthetic progestin is the same as natural progesterone. Be a PCOS Diva at the doctor’s office and discuss the differences between these two hormone-replacement options to find one that is best for you.
Estrogen: Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat tissues. Many women with PCOS experience estrogen dominance, that is, too much estrogen and not enough progesterone to balance its effects. Symptoms such as heavy or painful periods, infertility/miscarriage, and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) may result.
Signs of Estrogen Dominance
PMS
Headaches and/or migraines
Fluid retention
Heavy or painful periods
Endometriosis
Moodiness, anxiety, or depression
Hypothyroidism
Infertility or miscarriage
Breast pain or tenderness
Thyroid hormones: Many women with PCOS have a dysfunctional thyroid. It may be overactive (hyperthyroidism) or, more commonly, underactive (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease and the most common cause of hypothyroidism, is prevalent in women with PCOS.
If the thyroid is not functioning properly, the balance of thyroid hormones and every other hormone in the body will be disrupted, causing abnormal sexual development, menstrual irregularities, and possibly infertility. I encourage all women with PCOS symptoms to have a complete set of thyroid labs to rule out thyroid dysfunction.
“Think of PCOS as being in an extended state of puberty, where androgens, luteinizing hormone (LH), and insulin resistance dominate and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen, and progesterone haven’t established their rhythm.”
—DR. FIONA MCCULLOCH
Signs of Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)
Unexplained weight gain or trouble losing weight
Fatigue
Depression
Hair loss and dry hair
Muscle cramps
Dry skin
Swelling of the thyroid gland
Brittle nails
Slow heart rate
Irregular period
Sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Signs of Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)
Unexplained weight loss
Palpitations
Feeling wired or anxious
Shakiness
Sweating spells
Feeling hot frequently
Tremors
Shortness of breath
Itchy red skin
More frequent bowel movements than usual
Fine hair and hair loss
CHRONIC INFLAMMATION
I should be a dentist’s dream patient. My brushing and flossing habits are impeccable. I have my teeth cleaned every six months. I don’t poke around in my mouth with pointy objects. Then why did my gums bleed every time I went to the dentist? For years, no matter what I tried, from my dentist I would get that face and “the talk.” You know the one I mean, about brushing and flossing regularly? As it turns out, it wasn’t my oral hygiene that was the problem. It was my systemic inflammation.
Inflammation isn’t necessarily bad. Our bodies use inflammation to fight off microbial, autoimmune, metabolic, or physical attacks. For example, it’s what causes our knees to puff up and bleed when we fall and scrape them. It’s a sign the body is deploying white blood cells, which help heal injuries, fend off disease, and replace aging cells. The problem is chronic inflammation, inflammation lasting from a few months to several years. That type of inflammation takes a tremendous toll on every system of the body.
Symptoms of Inflammation
Weight gain
Allergies
Brain fog
Joint pain
Irritable bowel syndrome
GI issues (bloating, gas, diarrhea)
Acne
Asthma
Gum disease
Chronic sinusitis
High blood sugar
Depression
Belly fat
Fatigue
Eczema
Psoriasis
According to integrative physician Felice Gersh, chronic inflammation is the root cause of many of the conditions women with PCOS experience, such as obesity and weight-loss