Understanding PCOS/PMOS - Causes, Symptoms, and Management
- ambieagnes
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
PCOS/PMOS is unfortunately a common condition that can cause infertility, hormone changes, and issues with metabolism. Using the right approach, with a few lifestyle adjustments and specific treatments, it can be managed successfully!
Why did the name change from PCOS to PMOS?
The name PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) has recently been changed to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) for a few reasons, even though they are very similar. The name PMOS shows that it is a disorder that occurs through the whole body by way of hormones and metabolism. PCOS, on the other hand, has a high focus primarily on cysts alone, which not every woman experiencing the symptoms has. This has led to problems with delays in diagnosis and not the right form of care. The changed name now allows for a woman experiencing all of these symptoms to receive the proper care for her condition.
What is PCOS/PMOS?
PCOS/PMOS is a disorder throughout the whole body from the hormones and metabolism, that affects the ovaries. Some issues of PCOS/PMOS include: Increased levels of androgens, irregular or absent ovulation and menstrual cycles, and follicles on the ovaries that can sometimes be mistaken for cysts. Care for this disorder goes beyond cysts on the ovaries and mainly focuses on the symptoms, especially because these two disorders are practically the same thing.
What are the symptoms?
irregular periods: heavy, absent, infrequent, or too frequent
high androgens: leads to hirsutism (facial hair, chest hair, male pattern hair loss, like loss near the temples and a receding hairline, and acne)
weight gain: particularly around the abdomen
skin issues: dark, leathery skin patches (acanthosis nigricans) and skin tags anywhere there are skin folds, due to insulin resistance
mental health issues: commonly anxiety or depression
reproductive issues
low energy
cravings
How metabolism affects hormones?
High levels of fasting insulin can indeed cause cysts on the ovaries, as well as many other issues with the hormones and metabolism. The cysts found on the ovaries are actually eggs that cannot mature and release from the ovaries, because they are prevented by high insulin. This can lead to a woman having irregular periods.
High insulin can also trigger the release of testosterone in women, instead of estrogen and progesterone. High insulin causes visceral fat, which further skews the hormones, resulting in men producing more estrogen and women producing more testosterone.
One other issue with high insulin is that it can cause puffiness, which is a symptom of water retention. This leads us to our next topic:
How can naturopathic medicine help?
Naturopathic doctors address the underlying causes of the condition by ordering extensive lab work that focuses on hormones and other functional testing (this might be covered through extended health benefits).
Naturopathic doctors especially help the situation through fixing dietary issues and can prescribe individualized supplements. I also do meal plans and recipe booklets for insulin resistance!
If you're in Mississauga or Milton and need support with PCOS/PMOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome), I'd love to help. As a Naturopathic Doctor and birth doula, I support women through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause with strategies that are sustainable and realistic.
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