North Side Nutrition And Dietetics
Nutritionist in Willoughby

It is characterized by poly cystic ovaries (seen on ultrasound), hyperandrogenism (high levels of the male hormones' testosterone and androstenedione) and an ovulation (irregular or absent menstrual periods). The underlying cause of cos appears to be insulin resistance, a condition that also leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. In women with cos, tall insulin levels act on the ovaries and adrenal glands to cause them to bear more male hormones. Higher levels of male hormones agitate the hormonal balance, preventing ovulation. Acanthosis Nigricans (dark velvety skin pigmentation) commonly seen on the back of the neck, under the arms, below the breasts and in the groin area it is strongly linked with insulin resistance and being overweight. An ultrasound to look for cysts and enlargement of the ovaries (but this isn’t necessary to make the diagnosis and isn’t recommended in teenage girls). Many women go for a long time without being diagnosed with cos as they don’t consider their symptoms to be related, and seek treatment for them one at a time. While testing for insulin resistance is not portion of these guidelines, many doctors will also do an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) to test for tall insulin levels, which are commonly seen in women with cos. The management of cos will depend on your symptoms and what is maximum urgent to you, which could include: Intensive treatment with diet, exercise and weight reduction has been shown to be effective in improving symptoms and restoring ovulation in women with cos. In fact, losing impartial 510 of your weight has been shown to lessen insulin levels, improve menstrual function, diminish testosterone (male hormone) levels, improve symptoms of hirsutism (excess hair growth) and acne, restore ovulation and amplify fertility. Even if you are not overweight, a well eating plan, routine exercise and the prevention of weight earnings are important. However there is some evidence that they may increase insulin resistance in some women with cos. Lifestyle modification, including diet and exercise, can assist to improve the insulin resistance underlying cos and can decrease the risk of long term health problems linked with cos including worn glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Even losing relatively small amounts of weight (around 510 of body weight) has been shown to diminish insulin levels, improve menstrual function, lessen testosterone (male hormone) levels, improve symptoms of hirsutism (excess hair) and acne, revitalize ovulation and amplify fertility. While eating well, exercising regularly and losing weight are particularly important, other lifestyle factors also play a part. Extra alcohol and other adverse chemicals in the environment may also convince your risk. Women with cos are at an increased risk of developing health problems including: However women with cos who have routine menstrual cycles do not appear to be at increased risk. Insulin resistance is an insensitivity of the body to insulin. Insulin is a hormone, produced in the body by the pancreas, which helps to handle blood glucose levels. When you have insulin resistance, your insulin does not work effectively, so the body needs to produce increasing amounts of insulin to retain the blood glucose levels under control. Lofty levels of insulin act on the ovaries to cause increased production of male hormones, which disrupts the conventional ovulation cycle and causes many of the symptoms of cos. The good news is that lifestyle changes including diet, exercise, weight loss, getting adequate sleep and managing stress can all help to improve the way insulin works in your body and thereby improve the symptoms of cos and decrease lengthy term health risks.