Lean PCOS and Its Challenges
Published : Oct 08, 2021 10
mins read
Updated On : Mar 16, 2023
What is Lean PCOS?
Perhaps you've questioned if a person with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can be lean.
Yes, it is true. In actuality, up to 30% of PCOS-afflicted people are average weight.
Lean PCOS refers to PCOS that affects people who are not obese or overweight (those with a BMI less than 25).
However, they may also experience problems with their ability to conceive and a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. Their elevated androgen (male hormone) levels can result in signs and symptoms, including acne, uncontrollable hair growth, and hair loss.
This article discusses the difficulties faced by lean women with PCOS. It also highlights how adopting a healthier lifestyle and eating more healthily can benefit lean people with PCOS.
Lean PCOS Symptoms and Diagnosis:
Although there are significant changes, as we'll discuss later, the symptoms of lean PCOS typically resemble those of non-lean PCOS. People with PCOS commonly report the following symptoms:
- Menstrual disorders, such as irregular or excessive bleeding or no bleeding at all
- Acne
- Excessive development of dark hair on places including the chest, thighs, and face
- Not ovulating, which causes infertility
- Insulin resistance may result in diabetes and high blood sugar levels.
Here is How Lean PCOS is Diagnosed:
Different expert groups have different methods for diagnosing PCOS. Like other kinds of PCOS, lean PCOS is diagnosed. High levels of androgen in the blood and problems with the menstrual cycle are typically used to make the diagnosis. Although some specialists advise against it, a diagnosis of polycystic ovaries an ultrasound showing several ovarian cysts should occasionally be included.
Sometimes, PCOS-like symptoms can be caused by other hormone diseases, such as Cushing's disease or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Your healthcare professional will also look for a straightforward lab test.
Do Lean and Non-Lean PCOS Differ, or Are They Same?
Anybody, regardless of weight, can experience a variety of symptoms related to PCOS. For instance, one person might have irregular periods and excessive hair growth, while the other person might have diabetes and fertility problems. Two individuals with entirely different BMIs can experience the same symptoms simultaneously. For this reason, PCOS can frequently go undiagnosed, and this risk increases if you are lean.
But there is a bright side. Lean PCOS can still cause the same health issues as other varieties of PCOS, but the effects of diabetes and insulin resistance are typically less severe. Additionally, ovulation and fertility treatments typically yield better outcomes.
However, just because lean PCOS may not be as bad as non-lean PCOS does not imply you are safe. Everyone addresses PCOS seriously because you still have a higher chance of developing conditions like cardiovascular disease.
Since PCOS isn't a diagnosis that fits all, a good amount of study is required to understand how lean PCOS differs from non-lean PCOS.
How is Lean PCOS Managed?
Regardless of weight, the strategy for treating PCOS is decided by the symptoms a person encounters. So, it's best to consider changing your diet and lifestyle to manage those stubborn PCOS symptoms.
Diet and Lifestyle Considerations
Lean women with PCOS can also benefit from a certain lifestyle and the best PCOS diet for weight loss that will improve their general health.
1. Preserve a Healthy Weight
Having PCOS despite a healthy BMI might be upsetting. For all women with PCOS, maintaining a healthy weight is crucial.
According to research, people with PCOS are more prone to develop insulin resistance as they age. Lean women have a lower chance of this. In other words, preserving a healthy weight can lower your risk of developing diabetes.
2. Resistance Training
Your efforts to manage your weight can benefit from resistance training. Weight training with progressive resistance aims to boost muscle mass and strength.
To do this, gradually increase the weight being lifted or the number of repetitions being performed. (Some people worry that working out with weights may cause them to bulk up, although this is unlikely.)
A study of lean women with PCOS showed the following when resistance training was introduced:
- Reduce visceral fat intake (the abdominal fat that increases your risk of insulin resistance)
- Lower elevated androgen levels
- Improve irregular menstruation and ovulation
- Increase the percentage of lean muscle
Counselling
Another way to enhance your quality of life while dealing with PCOS is to seek professional counselling, particularly if you experience anxiety or depressive emotions. Anxiety problems are more common in people with PCOS, and lean women with PCOS may be more likely to experience these problems than obese people with PCOS.
Counselling can be very beneficial even though it may not be able to solve all emotional issues.
If You Have PCOS and Are of a Healthy Weight, What Are The Best Things You Can Do for Your Health?
- Begin lowering your resistance. Lowering your resistance will increase your body's lean muscle mass while reducing your bad fat, which is good for hormonal balance and the symptoms of PCOS. Although a consistent exercise routine is advantageous, you should also incorporate weight training into your schedule. You can even opt for fat-burning exercises.
- Have your insulin and blood sugar levels checked Your doctor might overlook checking your blood sugar levels if you are not overweight, although PCOS increases your risk of developing insulin resistance even if you are not overweight. Additionally, ask that your insulin levels be checked rather than just your blood glucose levels.
- Be aware of your weight. When you have PCOS, keeping a healthy weight can be more challenging, but you must make every effort to do so.
- The relationship between PCOS and weight loss is complicated. Once you've put on weight, it's difficult to lose it, and being overweight raises your risk of developing PCOS.
- Look for emotional support. Women with PCOS are more likely to experience hopelessness and anxiety. Ask your family, friends, and professionals for assistance.
- Eat a balanced diet and stay away from foods high in sugar. Eating correctly is crucial for maintaining good health. All people have this; however, PCOS patients especially have this.
- Give dietary supplements some thought. Since our diets alone cannot provide us with all the nutrients we need, supplements like metabolism booster supplements should always be taken into account.
Although PCOS cannot be cured, it can be managed to stop it from getting worse over time. When you exercise and eat correctly, you can achieve this. Supplementation is always advised because a diet alone won't give you the nutrients you need to treat PCOS.
Chicnutrix Cysterhood NAC and Cysterhood Inositol are supplements that help in managing PCOS. Cysterhood NAC is manufactured using Swiss Effervescent Technology and prepared with clinically proven 600 mg of N-acetylcysteine and Vitamin C, resulting in a well-balanced mix that supports hormone and ovarian health from the inside out. Balances the hormones via a means of decreasing androgens and testosterone. It additionally regulates the menstrual cycle, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, helps ovulation, and improves reproductive health and insulin resistance. It is excellent in taste in an exquisite strawberry flavour.
Cysterhood Inositol is made up of a proprietary blend of the scientifically proven ratio of 3.6:1 of Myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol (Caronositol), Vegan Vitamin D3, Vitamin B9 (Folate) and Chromium. It aids in reducing high insulin levels and insulin resistance and modulates ovulatory cycles, which helps with fertility, inflammation reduction, and hormone balancing. It aids in the prevention of Vitamin D3 deficiency as well as the weight management associated with PCOS. The 3.6:1 MI: DCI ratio has been demonstrated to increase pregnancy rates by 65.5 per cent. It has a delicious raspberry flavour to it.
Both are made with clinically proven ingredients, are vegan and gluten-free, and have received doctor's approval. They are mild, delicious in taste, and gentle on the stomach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everyone should be aware of the severe disorder known as PCOS. Everyone, not just Cysters, has questions about it and wants to know the answers. So, in this part, we have answered a few of the frequently asked questions concerning PCOS that we've gathered:
Q. What does PCOS stand for?
A. PCOS stands for Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Q. What causes PCOS, then?
A. The precise cause of PCOS is yet uncertain. Given that people who have it are more likely to have a member of the family who also has it, some specialists lean toward the hypothesis that it may be a hereditary, inherited condition. The consensus is that women with PCOS have an insulin or insulin secretion abnormality, which causes the condition and increases their risk of developing diabetes.
Q. Who can get PCOS?
A. PCOS commonly affects women or people with uteruses once they begin menstruating or reach puberty (typically around age 11).
Q. Can PCOS impact your ability to become pregnant?
A. It could. It can prevent regular ovulation and lead to infertility as well as sub-fertility because it is a hormonal imbalance.
Q. Is there a cure for PCOS?
A. The answer is no. Depending on the symptoms, it can be managed with the proper treatment, but it cannot be cured. Many people with PCOS may find relief from their symptoms by losing weight and using the right supplements.
Q. How is PCOS diagnosed?
A. There is no actual test to identify PCOS. Your doctor will study your medical history, evaluate your physical symptoms, weight, and BMI, and make a diagnosis (body mass index). Your doctor will probably begin by asking you about your medical history, including any weight fluctuations and menstrual cycles. During a physical, the doctor will look for indications of acne, insulin resistance, and excessive hair growth.
Your Doctor Might Then Suggest:
Pelvic examination: Your reproductive organs are visibly and manually examined by the doctor for any lumps, growths, or other abnormalities.
Blood Test: Hormone levels in your blood may be assessed. This testing can rule out potential reasons for irregular menstruation or androgen excess that resembles PCOS. Blood tests may also evaluate fasting cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and glucose tolerance.
An Ultrasound: Your doctor examines the condition of your ovaries and the thickness of the uterine lining. Depending on your preference of method of sonography, your vagina will either receive a transducer, which resembles a wand (transvaginal ultrasound) or you will receive a lower abdominal scan. Sound waves released by the transducer are converted into visuals on a computer screen. This indicates that for PCOS to be diagnosed, irregular periods and hyperandrogenism are required.
Before PCOS can be correctly diagnosed, your doctor must rule out a variety of other illnesses that could cause similar symptoms of irregular periods or no periods.
If you have PCOS, your doctor may suggest additional testing to search for any problems. These tests may consist of:
- Blood pressure, glucose tolerance, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels should all be checked on a regular basis.
- Depression and anxiety test
- The obstructive sleep apnea test
Keeping all this in mind, this is how PCOS is diagnosed. So, if you think you have any of the above symptoms, get yourself checked for PCOS.
Q. What medical issues are you at risk for if you have PCOS?
A. PCOS sufferers have several long-term health hazards, including:
- Diabetes and Hypertension
- Impaired tolerance to glucose
- MI/CAD
- Cancer of the uterus
- High cholesterol and low HDL levels
- Sleep apnea
- Depression
To check for these concerns, people with PCOS should consult their doctor every year.
Q. Will reducing the extra weight help a person become pregnant if they are overweight?
A. There is no assurance that it will, but it might. Losing weight will likely aid in lowering insulin resistance, which may promote or result in ovulation. Conception would benefit from this. It can be sufficient to lose 10% of your body weight to improve symptoms.
Q. Is it true that PCOS can be cured via pregnancy?
A. Sadly, no. However, it is common for a PCOS patient to experience a halt in symptoms while expecting, and many people have reported improvement and more regular menstrual cycles after giving birth.
So, join the Cysterhood tribe and be an unstoppable warrior in the fight against PCOS because you Cysters are #StrongerThanPCOS .
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