The Hemp Connection [Search results for PCOS] 

This press release comes from Sasha Ottey of PCOS Challenge. inCYST is always pleased to collaborate with and support her compassion and energy she devotes to women everywhere with PCOS! Best of luck with this project, Sasha!

New Reality Series Provides Renewed Hope and Needed Resources for Women with PCOS

As part of its continuing mission to provide information and support resources for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS Challenge, Inc. is producing a new 13-week reality series that focuses on improving the lives of women with PCOS with the help of health and medical experts. The goal of the PCOS Challenge™ television show is to educate, inspire and spread awareness about PCOS while helping women with the condition to live healthier and happier lives.

The women participating in the series will receive guidance from three main experts – a nutrition coach, fitness coach, and mental wellness coach. The women will also receive supplemental advice from other experts including a naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and Reproductive Endocrinologist. As the participants compete in various fitness and healthy lifestyle challenges, they will have an opportunity to win cash and prizes.

“We are very excited to be launching the television show. It is a tremendous opportunity to help a lot of people. In the last year, the PCOS Challenge online and offline community has quickly grown to over 4,000 members, and this has been something that many people have been asking about for some time,” says Sasha Ottey, CEO of PCOS Challenge, Inc. “The television show is a natural extension of our popular PCOS Challenge Radio Show where we feature prominent PCOS experts. Now, through the television show, the audience will have an opportunity to see how to practically apply the information that they have learned in the face of daily life challenges and how to make sustainable healthy lifestyle choices.”

“Since its inception, PCOS Challenge, Inc. has been innovative in its programming and multimedia approach to spreading awareness and providing support for women with PCOS, which is one of the reasons the organization continues to gain traction so quickly and is able to keep people engaged,” says William R. Patterson, CEO of The Baron Solution Group and Executive Producer of the PCOS Challenge television show. “It is our aim to bring greater attention and resources to the PCOS community. With a condition that affects millions of lives and families worldwide, we feel the program will be an important vehicle to get more people involved.”

The PCOS Challenge television show is scheduled to begin shooting in mid-march and is currently casting for 6-10 women with PCOS in the DC metropolitan area to participate in the 13-week series. Participants will meet with the experts 1-2 times per week for the duration of the series and commit to changing their lifestyles to promote healthier living with PCOS. The PCOS Challenge television show will air on various local cable stations across the United States as well as stream online.

To become a participant, sponsor, or for more information about the PCOS Challenge television show, visit http://www.pcoschallenge.com/events/pcos-challenge.

About PCOS Challenge, Inc.

Sasha Ottey is Founder and CEO of PCOS Challenge, Inc. She is a Clinical and Research Microbiologist with a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science from Howard University and a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix. Her company, PCOS Challenge, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that provides support for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) through the PCOS Challenge Support and Social Networking Website (PCOSChallenge.com); PCOS Challenge nonprofit website (PCOSChallenge.org); PCOS Challenge Expert Series Workshops (PCOSChallenge.net); PCOS Challenge Television Show; PCOS Challenge Radio Show; and local offline support groups.

Helping men with girlfriends/wives that have PCOS learn more about PCOS and support

A men's PCOS group? Maybe I didn't hear you right. Why would men need a PCOS group?
Men go through a lot with PCOS. They are expected to be there for support during every mood swing, symptom, and emotion. I'm sure this takes a toll on them. On top of all that, certain symptoms affect them more, for example, when a couple is dealing with infertility because of PCOS, it can be very hard on a man.
So, here it is! A Power Up for PCOS Man Cave. Only men are allowed into the special facebook group. I guess since I'm a woman, I'm not allowed either. Men need this private place to go to speak freely about what they are going through and how they are managing it. Don't worry ladies, this is not going to be a place where they go complain about us. This is a place to get support and information. They will get the InCYST and Power Up for PCOS blog fed into their group. The men pictured above will be running it and they will make sure to focus on positive solutions. Our men are amazingly supportive and we need to give them this space to relate with others just like we have.
Here are our group administrators, from left to right, Nick, Randy, and James!

Please share this link with your man and let him know it's a great place to go for support and information: http://www.facebook.com/groups/313451192084278/
Written by: Beth Wolf, founder of Power Up for PCOS which provides support to women with PCOS through educational Power Up Groups, building connections with other PCOS women, calendar of upcoming PCOS events, professional referrals and reviews, PCOS store, and other specialized events to raise money for PCOS research. She can be reached by visiting http://www.powerupforpcos.com, emailing Beth@powerupforpcos.com or by calling 810-545-PCOS (7267)
Power Up for PCOS — emPowering Women to Manage PCOS

Wow! Our Austin inCYSTer Christine Marquette has had her nose to the grindstone! She's just released 3 e-books, all about PCOS!

E-book #1 The Quick Start Guide to PCOS

This guide is intended to teach basics to women newly diagnosed with PCOS, people who are supporting a loved one with PCOS, and anyone who has an interest in PCOS and does not know much about it. In it you will learn the definition of PCOS, signs and symptoms of PCOS, how PCOS is diagnosed, what causes PCOS, treatment of PCOS (including the importance of identifying your treatment team, useful laboratory values, medications, complementary and alternative medicine), and nutrition and exercise basics.

E-book #2 The Nutrition Guide to PCOS

This book is the second in a three part series of guidebooks intended to help women with PCOS manage their syndrome. In this book we will review the nutrition basics covered in The Quick Start Guide to PCOS. Next, we will move on to identifying appropriate portion sizes of fats/proteins/carbohydrates, how to count carbohydrates, how to read food labels, and how to plan meals and snacks. We'll wrap up with some sample menus, snack ideas, and recipes. In the resources section you will also find some blank food logs and menu planning worksheets.

E-book 3 The Supplement Guide to PCOS

This is the final book in a three part series of guidebooks intended to help women with PCOS manage their syndrome. It covers supplements in each of the following categories: vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other supplements. Each nutrient is explained along with the potential benefit for PCOS.

Rumor has it there's a fourth one in the making, about vegetarian eating and PCOS. You can keep up with Chris' work on her Facebook page, entitled Marquette Nutrition and Fitness.

Way to go Chris!

For ordering information please click on this link.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complicated, often frustrating condition that affects many women who are experiencing infertility, or may even be a primary cause of infertility. Symptoms typically include recurrent ovarian cysts, excess hair growth (or hair loss similar to male pattern baldness), acne, skin darkening, difficulty losing weight, and, of course, trouble getting pregnant. Often, the condition is not accurately diagnosed until failure to get pregnant results in referral to a reproductive endocrinologist, who has specialized training in PCOS and other endocrine disorders.

Any of these conditions taken singly are difficult to deal with – but the combination is often overwhelming for patients who have been diagnosed with PCOS. PCOS is particularly difficult because it’s under-diagnosed, so you may have years of vaguely troubling symptoms before the diagnosis is made and treatment begins. The physical side effects are unattractive and visible to the world — “I’m fat, pimply, and hairy,” as one of my clients stated tearfully. Friends and relatives may assume that you’re lazy or eat too much, and that’s why you aren’t losing weight. As a result, depression and low self-esteem are very common among women with PCOS.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in my early twenties, and, as both a patient and a professional, I have learned that there are many things you can do to improve the quality of your life and your health with PCOS. You can take control of your health and mood now by doing the following:

Get educated: Do some research on the web, ask your doctor a lot of questions, join a support group and use it, read the RESOLVE newsletter, and stay on top of developments in treatment.

Obtain skilled medical help: Although an internist or general practitioner may diagnose PCOS, it is more likely that a gynecologist, endocrinologist, or reproductive endocrinologist will do so. If you have PCOS, you will most likely want to have an endocrinologist who will prescribe appropriate medications, monitor you for the potential development Type II diabetes, and coordinate with your reproductive endocrinologist while you are trying to get pregnant. Because it is common to experience higher rates of thyroid disorder and heart disease when you have PCOS, it is a good idea to have frequent monitoring.

Your physician can also:

help you lose weight with the assistance of certain medications, and/or referral to a skilled dietician, who can teach you how to eat in a way that contributes to balancing your hormones and managing your symptoms;

refer you to a good dermatologist, who can help to control or eliminate skin conditions related to PCOS, such as skin darkening and acne, and even help with treatments for hair loss;

suggest a therapist or support group to help you cope with the stress of infertility, symptoms of depression, and frustration of dealing with a chronic disease;

Exercise: Yoga will resynchronize your brain, produce deep relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance your acceptance of your body, just as it is in the moment. The cross-lateral motion of walking is also highly effective in regulating PCOS-related insulin resistance, controlling weight – and, surprise! – resynchronizing your brain waves.

Look better so you feel better: In addition to seeking the help of a dermatologist for skin and hair conditions, you might want to actively manage excess hair growth cosmetically. There are many ways to do this, but electrolysis is the only method that has been proven permanent. A licensed electrologist will have a great deal of experience with PCOS patients. Your dermatologist can provide you with a reliable referral.

Although weight gain around the middle is frustrating and hard to overcome when you have PCOS, you can learn how to dress well, no matter your size or shape – and you deserve to do so! Seek out current fashions that are figure-friendly, and get help when you need it – if you’re just not good at putting outfits together, ask a friend who is good at it to go shopping with you, use the free services of a department store personal shopper, or spring for a stylist who will help you figure out what works on you.

Don’t forget your brain: Education is only one element of what your mind needs to effectively cope with the stress of PCOS. Sometimes friends, partners, and physicians aren’t quite enough to help you work through your anger, frustration, irritability, and sadness about having PCOS, not being able to get pregnant, or the difficulty you experience losing weight in spite eating well and exercising regularly. A licensed counselor or therapist can help you decrease stress, develop personalized coping methods, enhance your support group, and identify additional resources. Many therapists utilize mind/body methods that include meditation, guided visualization, mindfulness, and other ways of supplementing your good health practices.

By actively taking care of your physical and mental health and appearance, you can learn to feel better by knowing that you are doing the best you can with a challenging condition.

Dr. Gretchen Kubacky is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles. She specializes in counseling women and couples who are coping with infertility, PCOS, and related endocrine disorders. If you would like to learn more about Dr. HOUSE or her practice, please visit her website at www.drhousemd.com, or e-mail her at Gretchen@drhousemd.com.

Reprint permission granted by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, 2009. www.resolve.org.

If you follow our radio show, you know we recently interviewed Stacy Citron, participant in Bravo's television show, Thintervention.

In the process of working with Stacy, I had the opportunity to become acquainted with Craig Ramsay, one of the trainers she worked with on the show. We sat down recently in Los Angeles and chatted about Stacy's PCOS, and PCOS in general. I left our brief meeting realizing PCOS had a genuine and enthusiastic ally in Craig, and we've become friends in past months.

I'll be interviewing Craig on Monday, November 15, at noon Eastern time. Please join us live or download the recorded version later at www.blogtalkradio.com/incystforhormones

In the meantime, I asked Craig to answer a few questions to help our audience get acquainted with him.

I'm so looking forward to Monday!

1. What did you know about PCOS before you began your work with Stacy?

My only knowledge of PCOS prior to working with Stacy on Thintervention was from my Broadway co-worker/friend Haviland Stillwell. Her journey with it was private. (My note: Haviland has since spoken publicly about her PCOS; her interview is in our show's archives.) All I knew of the disease was that it affects a woman's hormone levels and fertility.

2. As a trainer, what was the most challenging aspect of working with someone with PCOS?

As a trainer working on a time crunch of a fitness show, and the added responsibilities of 7 other clients, I found working with someone with PCOS was very time consuming. Not because that person is difficult, but because I had to take a great deal of time to learn about the condition for myself. Stacy knew little of the disease, so tackling it together was the hardest part, as well as getting our questions answered.
3. You have expressed a strong interest in reaching out to women with PCOS. What is it about the syndrome that has inspired you?

My mother has Fibromyalgia. I have a sensitivity to her, and other women, who struggle with such health obstacles that get in their way of feeling and looking their best. Like Fibromyalgia, PCOS sufferers have a difficult time getting answers and respect from Doctors. It frustrates me that the medical field hasn't spent more time discovering answers to their vital questions.

I have experience working with many women that have gained control of their PCOS, and with great success!

I'm thrilled to share my experiences to help others.
4. Have you developed any different strategies for working with future PCOS clients?

I advise my PCOS women to start with their diet. Get control over their sugar levels, introduce a high protein diet, and make sure they are eating the proper foods and eating at the proper times. This will improve their energy levels, sleep and therefore their ability to properly workout to intensity.

This is the place I start with all my PSOC women.
5. Do you have any words of encouragement for frustrated women watching your series who can relate to Stacy's journey?

Frustrated women watching at home please know that you are not alone. What used to work for you"back in the day" will not work anymore. The answers are out there, don't compare yourself with others, make it your own journey.

I am excited to announce that The Cozy Tea Cart will be contributing sample tea's, coupons and tea information to our goody bags for the first 25 registered participants for our Power Up for PCOS 5K fundraiser to benefit Power Up for PCOS and InCYST Institute for Hormone Health.
I have personal experience with The Cozy Tea Cart as I am a daily drinker of their signature blend of TCTC Spice. It is a flavored black tea. Here is the description form their website:"A rich, full-bodied Sri-Lankan black tea blended with orange peel, spices, clove oil, and all natural flavoring that is sweetly spicy. This is the perfect tea on a frigid day-- the fragrant, delightful spices will warm you quickly." I used this last fall to quit drinking soda. It is sweet enough that you do not need to add sugar or milk. It tastes great as is, steeped in hot water. Now, let me tell you, I was NOT a tea drinker before I came across their tea. I am now. I take some me time every afternoon to sit down with my favorite cup and my favorite tea.

So, enough about the tea. OK, one more thing, The Cozy Tea Cart has more than just this kind of tea. I honestly have no idea how many. Too many to count.
The reason for this post is to let you know about our wonderful new sponsor AND to tell you all that if our sponsors don't receive a return on their investments to us PCOS women then they won't be sponsors the following year. The Cozy Tea Cart has an online store and they are VERY affordable. So put down that soda and click on over to The Cozy Tea Cart for some amazing tea and some special"me moment". Don't forget, stress only makes our PCOS symptoms worse so you would actually be helping your symptoms as well as Power Up for PCOS if you take just a moment to go get some yummy tea.
Written by: Beth Wolf, founder of Power Up for PCOS which provides support to women with PCOS through educational Power Up Groups, building connections with other PCOS women, calendar of upcoming PCOS events, professional referrals and reviews, PCOS store, and other specialized events to raise money for PCOS research. She can be reached by visiting http://www.powerupforpcos.com, emailing Beth@powerupforpcos.com or by calling 810-545-PCOS (7267)
Power Up for PCOS — emPowering Women to Manage PCOS

I am excited to announce that Everett Laboratories Inc, the maker of Pregnitude is now officially a sponsor of our Power Up for PCOS 5K fundraiser to benefit Power Up for PCOS and InCYST Institute for Hormone Health.

I have some wonderful, personal experiences with Pregnitude as I have been taking Pregnitude for almost 2 months. So, needless to say, I was ecstatic when they decided to support our fundraiser. I have never felt better in my life.

Information on Pregnitude from the Pregnitude website:

"Pregnitude is a reproductive dietary supplement that helps support ovulatory function, menstrual cyclicity and quality of eggs for women.

Pregnitude is a natural dietary supplement that contains 2 grams of myo-inositol, as well as 200 mcg of folic acid.

- Myo-inositol is a naturally occurring substance produced by the human body from glucose. It belongs to the viamin B complex group.

- Folic acid is a B vitamin that promotes cell growth."

Monika from InCYST Institute for Hormone Health also posted some great information:

http://www.examiner.com/article/clinically-proven-nutritional-supplement-for-infertility-now-available-the-us
http://www.incyst.com/2012/09/a-pregnitude-baby.html

And finally, I wanted to let you all know that Power Up for PCOS has a Pregnitude Cysters facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/136846929790756/

The reason for this post is to let you know about our wonderful new sponsor AND to tell you all that if our sponsors don't receive a return on their investments to us PCOS women then they won't be sponsors the following year. Everett Laboratories Inc has an online store where you can purchase Pregnitude for a VERY reasonable price.
Written by: Beth Wolf, founder of Power Up for PCOS which provides support to women with PCOS through educational Power Up Groups, building connections with other PCOS women, calendar of upcoming PCOS events, professional referrals and reviews, PCOS store, and other specialized events to raise money for PCOS research. She can be reached by visiting http://www.powerupforpcos.com, emailing Beth@powerupforpcos.com or by calling 810-545-PCOS (7267)
Power Up for PCOS — emPowering Women to Manage PCOS
*Please note that I am not a medical professional. I am not qualified to give out any medical advice. I am a woman with PCOS who is sharing my personal experiences in this blog and I advise you to consult a professional.*

We can be so caught up in the symptoms and issues related to our PCOS that we forget about the other people in our lives, especially the men. We don’t really think of men as being impacted by PCOS – after all, they can’t actually have the condition, and they certainly don’t have ovaries. But think about all the men in your life, including your partner/spouse, siblings, fathers, other relatives, coaches and teachers, colleagues and bosses, and you’ll realize that there are quite a few of them who may be impacted by your PCOS.

Some of the myriad ways in which men may be impacted:

• Going through the emotionally challenging path of infertility diagnosis and treatment;

• Worrying about the short-term and long-term impacts of PCOS on your health;

• Being the victims of some particularly strong mood swings;

• Having to cope with our unpredictable and intense food cravings;

• Non-existent libido or excessively high libido (how’s a man to know which way is up?!);

• Experiencing powerlessness to “fix” the problem;

• Being frustrated because there’s so little they can actually do to help with PCOS; and

• Feeling financial stress because of costly or alternative treatments that aren’t covered by insurance, but go so far to improve quality of life.

You may want to consider including the men in your life in your PCOS care in more proactive ways. They can get involved in fund-raising for PCOS research (this is something they can DO, and men like concrete action). They can go to doctor’s appointments with you. They can study PCOS nutrition and learn how to cook with you in healthier ways. They can read this blog to get further education.

Just like you, when a man knows something about what he’s dealing with, he feels empowered and more motivated to help. He may also develop a better understanding of how there are many things that aren’t his fault, or anyone else’s fault really, and that you just have more challenging days than some other women, because of your PCOS. He may also develop a better understanding of your fears and worries, which may lead to improved communication and a deepening intimacy between you. He may even learn enough to help diagnose another woman who doesn’t know she has PCOS yet. There are many benefits to including the men in your life in your PCOS, and most of them will improve your own quality of life with PCOS.

Gretchen Kubacky, Psy.D. is a Health Psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles, California. She has completed the inCYST training. She specializes in counseling women and couples who are coping with infertility, PCOS, and related endocrine disorders and chronic illnesses.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. HOUSE or her practice, or obtain referrals in the Los Angeles area, please visit her website at www.drhousemd.com, or e-mail her at AskDrHouseMD@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @askdrhousemd.

Beth Wolf is heading up the PCOS Walk-a-Thon in Nashua, NH, and the PCOS Virtual Walk-a-Thon which is anywhere (on planet Earth, at least for now) where you happen to be with a desire to walk for PCOS. Here is her story.

Blessed to have PCOS

By Beth Wolf

One day, after being un-diagnosed for years, I was told I had PCOS. I spent the next few years sitting on my behind feeling sorry for myself. I felt like I was the only one out there and I had no hope of a better life. Then all of a sudden, I figured out what could motivate me to get off the couch. I would start a walk-a-thon to raise money for PCOS research and awareness. I didn't care if I was the only one out there walking. I told all my friends and family as well as posted it everywhere before I could change my mind. Then I went in search of somewhere to give my money to. I could find nothing. I was turned down by several places including a hospital. I gave up. A few months later, I received an e-mail asking me if I was still doing the walk and if I could give them a pledge form because they wanted to walk with me. I felt re-newed knowing there is someone else out there that wanted this. During my crazy moment of trying to figure out how to tell them I couldn't do it, my dear husband went in search of places to donate for PCOS. He found an article about a research foundation that was started because of my contacting all these places when I had originally decided to walk. I was amazed, overwhelmed and a wreck (in a good way). I couldn't believe that just little old me could spark something like that to happen. The article was by Monika Woosley and she started the InCyst Institute for Hormone Health. She created it to helps fund research about hormone disorders with a focus on alternative/nutritional/complementary treatments that are difficult to find funding for. I contacted her right away and she put me in touch with other people in my area that could be of help for my walk. Before long, we even had a hospital telling us they would sponsor us. I was amazed at all this happening so quickly.
Now we have a website http://www.PowerUpforPCOS.com and we use it for information about our upcoming walk-a-thon and virtual walk-a-thon as well as sponsor information. Our site also has a calendar to view upcoming PCOS events in your area and useful links about PCOS. We are currently working on a place where women can submit reviews on professionals who have treated them for PCOS. Professionals will be able to submit their listings as well. And finally, we are gathering a network of women in each state so they may understand they are not alone in this and get together for support and different PCOS eventsOn to our walk-a-thon events:

Join us for the Power Up for PCOS Walk-a-thon to raise funds for the inCYST Institute of Hormone Health. The InCyst Institute for Hormone Health helps fund research about hormone disorders with a focus on alternative/nutritional/complementary treatments that are difficult to find funding for.
We have 2 different walks going on. First we have the Walk-a-thon in Nashua, NH on September 17th. Then we have the Virtual Walk-a-thon on September 18th which you can choose your own location for. To become a walker, simply visit http://www.powerupforpcos.com/ and choose which walk you would like to attend. Download the pledge forms and start raising some money for a great cause.

Do you live near Nashua, New Hampshire? Three dietitians specializing in PCOS will be coming together in support of a new PCOS program starting up at Nashua Medical Group. Stay tuned for the date! Or leave your email address for us to send you the official announcement.

Patricia Hunter, MA, RD, LDN, outpatient dietitian at Nashua Medical Group, has been completing the inCYST PCOS training and simultaneously working to develop a recognized outpatient treatment program for women with PCOS. Don't you love her logo? She's recognized a need for qualified, passionate care for a very long time and is excited to have the support of her clinic to be the expert in her area with regard to nutrition treatment for PCOS.

Pat's vision is to provide a solid support group and network for women in her area who are motivated to make lifestyle changes that can help control PCOS symptoms.

You'll be able to meet Pat personally and learn more about what plans she has for her PCOS programs.

You've seen Hillary Wright, MA, RD's name on our blog before, as she recently released a great book about PCOS, the PCOS Diet Plan.

Hillary will be coming up to Nashua from the Boston area, where she works with the Boston IVF group. She is a foremost authority on PCOS, and her book is getting great reviews from professionals as well as the women she writes for…YOU! If you register at least 2 weeks before the event, you'll have an opportunity to order a book, and Hillary will be doing a book signing while she's there.

I'll be there too, to support both Pat and Hillary and share a little bit about the inCYST Network.

It's always been my vision to create a network of highly qualified professionals that women with PCOS can feel confident about reaching out to for answers, idea, and support that really works. So to have the opportunity to work with two of the finest, for a whole day, on behalf of our readers and fans, is something I am very much looking forward to.

We are still working on finalizing the exact location details, and I will post them as soon as they are available.

This is your opportunity to get your PCOS questions answered, meet professionals who are excited to be at your service, and gain a foundation that sets you up for success. Please join us, the day won't be complete without you!

Dear Potential Sponsor,

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that is thought to affect nearly 20% of all females in the world (1 in 5 women). It is a cluster of complicated symptoms that are not the same for every woman. Women can also have symptoms but may not necessarily have cysts on their ovaries. It is believed to be fundamentally caused by insensitivity to the hormone insulin.

We would like to give you an opportunity to show your support again or maybe for the first time to Power Up for PCOS and InCYST Institute for Hormone Health. Your generous contribution will help Power Up for PCOS to continue to support to women with PCOS through educational Power Up Groups and building connections with other PCOS women and to the InCYST Institute for Hormone Health to help fund research about these hormone disorders, especially PCOS and will focus on alternative/nutritional/complementary treatments that are difficult to find funding for.

Please note that Power Up for PCOS is NOT a non-profit organization and any contribution is NOT tax-deductible because of the amount of money that would be required to become a non-profit. We keep only what we need to run and the rest collected is given to inCYST Institute for Hormone Health. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please make your payments to InCYST Institute for Hormone Health through http://www.incyst.com.

We have 3 levels of sponsorship so that you may choose which level best suits your needs. To see the details of each level and to become a sponsor, please visit http://www.powerupforpcos.com/sponsor.

We also welcome sponsors on the local level. If you are interested in providing supplies for one of our local events, like water, healthy snacks, signage and such, please contact us at Info@powerupforpcos.com. We will determine a value and give you the sponsorship level that matches.

Do you have a great product that can help with some of the PCOS symptoms? We are always in search of good items to add to our goody bags to pass along to our fellow PCOS women. Coupons, samples, products and such are welcome. We are providing goody bags to the first 25 women this year plus our volunteers so we are planning on 30 of each item. Please contact us at info@powerupforpcos.com for more information.

Thanks for your generous support!

Thank You,

The Power Up for PCOS Team
810 — 545 — PCOS (7267)
http://www.powerupforpcos.com/

It's not uncommon to read blog posts, tweets, and chat room conversations in which women with PCOS describe their depression, and attribute it to the weight gain and appearance that their PCOS has promoted. It can be easy to blame the discomfort, fatigue, restless, and anxiety that depression provokes, on tangible and unwanted physical changes

A recent study helps to verify what I've believed all along…that depression, like hirsutism, weight gain, and infertility, is another condition that PCOS has potential to create. It is not the result of other symptoms associated with PCOS.

Here's the study.

Thirty women with PCOS and thirty women without PCOS participated in this study. All subjects had similar BMI's/weights. Only women who were not on any psychotropic medication were included. Women with PCOS scored higher on an anxiety scale than women without PCOS. They also slept less, worried more, and experienced more phobias than women without PCOS. Weight was not associated with any of the symptoms, except for sleep.

In other words, regardless of your weight, you can be depressed if you have PCOS.

If you attach or blame your depression on your weight, your appearance, or your infertility:

--you can set yourself up for an eating disorder…if you actually lose weight and discover it didn't change how you feel.
--you can feel even worse if you spend time and money on cosmetic surgery, only to realize you don't feel as good as you hoped you would.
--you can put yourself through the tremendous stress of infertility treatment, and get the baby, only to discover that you still feel depressed, and now you've got a baby who isn't sleeping through the night who is dependent on you.

That's the bad news. The good news is that the inCYST program is very helpful at reducing anxiety and depression. So in addition to helping you normalize your weight, reducing the progression of testosterone-related programs, and increasing your fertility, it helps you to feel better. It literally rebuilds your nervous system so it can reduce the influence depression can have. And in rebuilding the nervous system, it helps to balance hormones so that symptoms can lessen.

We like to focus on feeling better, since we know that in women who do, the other problems tend to fall into place. That's not to say that being anxious about your PCOS doesn't worsen when you focus on your symptoms, and that when you learn better coping skills you won't feel even better. Gretchen Kubacky has done a great job of discussing that here, on her blog, and on PCOS Challenge.

It's just that you want to be sure you're tackling the core cause of the problem, and not simply putting band-aids on the symptoms. Nothing can be more frustrating than investing all your time, resources, and money into diets and medical procedures, only to feel the same or even worse once you've done so.

Anxiety and depression symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared with controls matched for body mass index

REFERENCE
E. Jedel1, M. Waern2, D. Gustafson2,3, M. Landén4, E. Eriksson5, G. Holm6, L. Nilsson7, A.-K. Lind7, P.O. Janson7 and E. Stener-Victorin8,9 Anxiety and depression symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared with controls matched for body mass index

1 Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden 2 Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden 3 Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA 4 Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden 5 Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden 6 Department of Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden 7 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Science, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden 8 Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 434, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden

Yesterday I had the honor and pleasure of speaking to a group of eating disorder professionals in Santa Monica, California, about what happens when an eating disorder and PCOS collide in the same person.

Here are some of the statistics I shared with them:

**Women with PCOS have a higher lifetime incidence of depressive episodes, social phobia, and eating disorders than controls.

**Suicide attempts are seven times more common in women with PCOS than in other women.

**In a sample of women with facial hirsutism, the prevalence of eating disorders is 36.3% (Compared to about 10% in the general female population).

**Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and poor social adjustment are more common in participants suffering from an eating disorder, and the presence of PCOS was universal in eating disordered cases.

Those are some pretty heavy statistics…and the points I was making to the audience were that medical doctors who treat PCOS need to understand its emotional and behavioral components, and professionals who treat eating disorders cannot be effective if they don't understand the hormonal implications of PCOS. You need to know how to treat both.

The good news is, the professionals in the room were interested in helping. And inCYST dietitians happen to be very interested in disordered eating as well as PCOS. So we're ready and very eager to help you negotiate your way to solutions for both. inCYST providers Ellen Reiss Goldfarb, Diane Whelan, and Mary Donkersloot were with me in Santa Monica, putting a friendly face onto PCOS and eating disorder help and networking with capable and sympathetic doctors and psychologists. With the teambuilding that happened, I have to say, anyone in SoCal who needs help, is going to be in very capable hands!

Please check out our referral list and reach out to someone who can help.

If the topic of eating disorders and PCOS interests you, be sure to catch Ellen Reiss Goldfarb, RD, (West Los Angeles) in her interview on the topic on PCOS Challenge, Wednesday, June 24, 6 pm EDT.

REFERENCES

Mansson M, Holte J, Landin-Wilhelmsen K, Dahlgren E, Johansson A, Landen M. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are often depressed or anxious--a case control study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2008 Sep;33(8):1132-8. Epub 2008.

Morgan J, Scholtz S, Lacey H, Conway G. The prevalence of eating disorders in women with facial hirsutism: an epidemiological cohort study. Int J Eat Disord. 2008 Jul;41(5):427-31.

I got my start in this specialty in a nontraditional fashion. Even though I did a lot of work in endocrinology initially, I gravitated into sports nutrition, and from there, eating disorders. I initially started my business thinking that it would be a resource center for eating disorders. But PCOS followed me. I kept getting phone calls from women looking for help with their eating disorder who mentioned they'd recently been diagnosed with PCOS. Thinking there must be some relationship, I started mentioning the symptoms of the syndrome at local mental health networking meetings. I started getting counseling referrals from eating disorder specialists--and they tended to be women who had initially been diagnosed with bulimia, put into traditional eating disorder treatment, and then a few years later,"relapsed". It was with this"relapse" that the PCOS was diagnosed.

I put that word into quotes, because you can only relapse from a disease you've been treated for…if the treatment you received is for the problem you have. The word blames the person for the diagnosis with the problem.

I have come to believe the problem may lie, in large part, with the caregivers. Eating disorder symptoms are primarily behavioral. There isn't a blood test you can administer, or an x-ray you can examine. And therefore, if you fit a certain criteria, you must have the disorder.

Just as diabetes won't respond to psychotherapy, PCOS, which in many cases is PREdiabetes, won't either.

The problem with PCOS is, the hormonal imbalances it renders can induce the very same behaviors that we use to diagnose eating disorders. Carbohydrate cravings are extreme. Hormones are so out of whack that the only thing that manages them, it seems, is extremes in diet and in activity. And God forbid, if no doctor caught on to your hormone problem and you decided to take things in your own hands…then you have control issues and you have an eating disorder.

What can make it especially challenging to diagnose PCOS, if it has progressed this far, is that the extremes in exercise and diet may, at least temporarily, suppress abnormal labs. It takes a skilled clinician to even see what's going on. I think back to my 3 1/2 years in an inpatient treatment center, and how many young women came to me complaining that as they started to refeed, they were craving carbohydrates. And because it was the treatment center's philosophy, I smiled back and told them all foods could fit.

A lot of eating disorder treatment is about the battle between the clinician, who wants his/her clients to believe that they can get back to eating everything in moderation, and the client wanting to tell the clinician that just isn't so, but playing the game as long as she needs to in order to graduate to the next level move toward discharge.

Last year I wrote to several hundred mental health practitioners who specialized in PCOS, introducing my company and the work I do with PCOS. I described the symptoms and explained to them what I just explained above. I received who knows how many polite responses, thanking me for my interest, but they worked with eating disorders, not PCOS, and there wasn't really a need for my information. I wondered how many thousands of women were sitting in therapy, being told if they just addressed their"issues"…they could beat the problem.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are plenty of issues in PCOS that psychotherapy can benefit. But there's a difference between anxiety over the prom and anxiety driven by excess cortisol levels resulting from a poorly balanced nervous system.

Sometimes I wonder if it's not the same diagnosis, being given a different name depending on the office in which it first shows up?

I sure hope at least some of those women have found my website on the Internet and have benefitted from the information I've learned and posted there since that tenure.

Dear Doctor:

I have, or think I have, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). In any case, I have a lot of symptoms that make my uncomfortable physically and mentally, and I really need your support on this one. Please know:

• I’ve been through a lot. Most doctors haven’t diagnosed me correctly, and I’ve had to deal with a lot of challenges getting to a place where I can try a new doctor, and have some trust that it might actually go well this time.

• I may have one or more female relatives who were undiagnosed and/or untreated for PCOS, and/or who died as a result of PCOS-related complications, such as heart disease, diabetes, or endometrial cancer. I may appear to be fearful and over-anxious as a result.

• I’m frustrated with how long it’s taken to get a diagnosis, not having complete information, and being treated as if my PCOS isn’t an important medical condition.

• I need to be treated with respect, especially when I describe symptoms that don’t make sense to you, or don’t fit the pattern. I need you to stretch your imagination, and ask even more probing questions.

• I may have medical trauma, especially if I’ve had lots of surgeries, one or more miscarriages, failed IVF attempts, a long bout with assisted reproductive technology, or if I received several diagnoses simultaneously. I’m trying not to be scared of you, but I’ve been poked, prodded, questioned, and inspected about as much as I can handle. I’m tired of having blood drawn, trying new prescriptions that don’t work or have horrible side effects, and having to show up at the gynecologist’s office a whole lot more than once a year. I’m tired of devoting huge chunks of my time, income, and emotional resources to chasing after a remedy or a cure. That doesn’t mean I’m not willing to do more, but it does mean that it may take me a bit to adjust to the idea of MORE.

• I need you to be patient while we’re figuring this out, and not give up on me. I understand from talking to other women with PCOS that it can take a while, a number of blood and fasting glucose tests, and some consultation before you can determine for sure that I have PCOS. I also know that sometimes you can’t be 100% sure, but maybe I need the same medical treatment anyway. I’m prepared for that, and I need to know you’re not going to get bored with my case before we’ve figured it out.

• I do my research. I’ve read books and articles about PCOS, and I follow a few blogs and chat boards about PCOS, so I know what other women with PCOS are going through. I know I’m not a doctor, but I may bring you information or questions gleaned from these sources. I hope you’ll take it seriously.

• I have valid opinions about what’s best for me, and sometimes that doesn’t mean traditional western medical care, or prescription medications. Right now, I’m open-minded, and I promise to keep you informed about anything else I’m trying. I hope you’ll support me as I try natural alternatives, dietary management, etc. And if you think something I want to try is actually dangerous to my health, please don’t pull any punches.

• I respect your input, and I still may need time to consider whether your recommendations are what’s best for me. It can be really overwhelming to be in your office, considering a lot of new information, and having to make what feels like very important decisions. Sometimes, I may bring a friend or my significant other with me, to help me stay focused. I still may need additional time to consider the options, and do my own research before I make a decision.

• I need you to be my healthcare partner, and my advocate. I view this as teamwork. You’re the one with the most knowledge about bodies in general, but it’s my body, and I’m definitely the expert on my body. Some other doctors don’t get that, and I need you to advocate on my behalf with them, especially on very important matters, like surgical decisions.

• I need you to be upfront about what this means for my health in the long run. I am willing to do the work to get well and stay well, but I need the big picture. I can’t make appropriate decisions without it. Don’t be afraid of scaring me. I can handle it (even if I do get a little upset in the moment).

• I need you to be aware that it’s very common for women with PCOS to have depression or other mood disorders, and to screen me appropriately, and sometimes with frequency. I need you to be fearless about making referrals when appropriate – and that includes mental health care. If I need a health psychologist, a support group, or some other form of therapy, please tell me so. Thank you!

Gretchen Kubacky, Psy.D. is a Health Psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles, California. She specializes in counseling women and couples who are coping with infertility, PCOS, and related endocrine disorders and chronic illnesses.

If you would like to learn more about Dr. HOUSE or her practice, or obtain referrals in the Los Angeles area, please visit her website at www.drhousemd.com, or e-mail her at Gretchen@drhousemd.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @askdrhousemd.

I actually came into working with PCOS through the back door, as someone who had specialized in eating disorders treatment first. I'd left my work at a treatment center, launched an eating disorder website, and women started calling me saying,"I used to have an eating disorder, now I have something called PCOS…do you know anything about it?"

It happened enough times that I started researching the syndrome, realized there was not a lot of good, standardized information about PCOS, saw the niche that needed filling…and there you have it, the Cliff's Notes version behind the inception of inCYST.

The correlation between the two conditions is so strong that I often wonder if it isn't the exact same problem being given a different name and treatment, depending on whether or not a physician or a mental health professional makes the initial diagnosis.

Because diagnosis and treatment can start in two completely different environments, there can be problems with outcome.

--Physicians accustomed to other diagnoses that respond to a simple medication or surgical procedure, may not have the interest in considering the emotional aspects of PCOS. A dermatologist actually said to me once,"I just want to take care of skin cancer. I really don't want to deal with all of those emotions."

--Even dietitians who work with diabetes and can assume they have expertise with PCOS, may not have the patience to delve through the layers of hormones and emotions and reactions to imbalances between the two, to help a client understand how all of these pieces fit together.

--Psychiatrists may be prescribing medications that exacerbate hormone imbalances and PCOS, and not consider that the weight gain and other side effects are a huge reason for medication noncompliance.

--Psychologists may not understand that anger, even rage, and depression, is very strongly affected by hormone imbalances, not entirely based on what's going on in a person's world. They also need to understand that a client can be absolutely, completely, 100% compliant with every single assignment they're given…and STILL have cravings and not lose weight. They need to not project that disappointment on the client, but take it as a cue that they may be missing an important part of what's going on.

--Eating disorder specialists I've worked with seem to be much more comfortable working with"thin" women with eating disorders. I remember when I worked in the treatment center, the women with binge eating disorder never seemed to get the same sort of attention. There seemed to be a size discrimination even coming from professionals who were supposed to be advocating for the opposite.

--Body image specialists may not completely understand that with PCOS, there are genuine and valid body image issues that are not distorted thoughts. There is facial hair. Acne scarring. Hair loss. And the cysts on the ovaries can create a feeling of bloating that is valid, not imagined.

My personal feeling is that you cannot effectively and successfully treat PCOS unless you are helping both mind and body.

If you're a physician, you need to be sure that your client has adequate emotional support rather and not just increase a medication dosage because you're not seeing progress on lab reports that you'd like to see.

If you're a dietitian, you need to have access to a size-neutral psychologist who understands the syndrome and not be afraid to refer and work together as a team.

If you're a mental health professional, you need to understand that just because your client has a disease with a physiological basis, your place in their treatment is not threatened…in fact, it is more important.

You just need to enhance the number and type of issues you can help them with.

All of us need to stop attaching symptoms and needs to a certain weight. To assume that if we get down to a certain weight the syndrome magically goes away. It's there no matter what. I just had an enlightening conversation with a dietitian who has gone through my training, is embarking on her PhD, is normal weight, and teaching at the university level. Even though she's doing all the right things, she says she STILL has times when her appetite is out of control and it completely frustrates her.

The link between eating disorders and PCOS is very, very strong. We need to embrace it and study it so we can help women tackle both and accomplish great things in their course of managing the syndrome. All of us are going to have to step outside of our personal comfort zones as professionals to be effective, and to stop thinking we can help women with PCOS all on our own outside of the structure of a team. inCYST would like to make that a rewarding risk for anyone who chooses to take it.

So 2011 has been designated inCYST's year of eating disorder outreach. We've got two learning opportunities for you who are interested in learning more.

This coming Monday, at 12:30 pm Eastern time, inCYST dietitian Janenie Wade and her business partner Ellen Shuman will be on our radio show sharing more about their collaboration with A Weigh Out, an online and phone coaching program specifically designed to help women with binge eating disorder and able to account for the presence of PCOS. Come tune in and get your toes wet, and see what they're doing! Maybe it will inspire you to want to do more as well.

This spring, in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Binge Eating Disorder Association is holding its annual conference. It's a great place to start learning more (in a beautiful climate, I have to add!).

Of course, we're always looking for mental health professionals to join us at inCYST as well. Our training is open to anyone who would like to take this on. Just let me know if you're interested.

If you look to the right, you'll see an ad for Green Mountain at Fox Run, our sponsor on this blog. I wanted you all to get to know them, since they're not your typical weight spa and they're not your typical program. So I sent them a few questions. Here's what they shared. And if you want to learn more, just click their ad to get to their website.

The photo I chose is of Ludlow, Vermont, where Green Mountain at Fox Run is located. No matter what time of year you choose to go, it is breathtaking, a perfect place to step out of life for a bit and recharge your PCOS battery.

1. How did GMFR develop its interest in PCOS?

It's a pretty common problem for the women for come to Green Mountain. Although many of them aren't diagnosed with the problem before they come to us, we recognize the signs/symptoms and are able to help them explore whether they do indeed have PCOS. Our awareness of PCOS has allowed us to help our participants much more effectively as a result. We also feel it is very important to educate women on this subject so they can be proactive in discussing signs/symptoms with their healthcare providers.

2. Do you have a specific program for PCOS? If not…how do the programs you have help with PCOS?

We do offer a workshop on the topic and also offer individual consultations for any of our participants who either have been diagnosed with PCOS or are questioning whether they have it. Our whole program, however, is designed to combat insulin resistance, from the physical activity classes to what we serve in the dining room. This, of course, while also presenting a livable approach to healthy living that feels great, makes a real difference in our health and helps us feel better about ourselves and our bodies.

3. Can you share a success story of someone with PCOS who visited GMFR?

Before going to Green Mountain, I had a lot health concerns associated with having PCOS. I felt like there was nothing in my power to change my situation. I’d had no success losing weight and felt tired and drained all the time. I hadn’t had a regular cycle in over 6 months and had serious concerns about fertility in the future. While at Green Mountain, I learned how to not hate my body for “failing” me. I learned how to motivate myself and how to make my body work for me, not against me. With Green Mountain’s help, I have taken control of my PCOS and become proactive in my quest for healthy living. M.L., Texas

4. What's for dinner tonight?: )

Panko-Encrusted Fillet of Cod with Basil Aioli
Red Onion & Herb Quinoa
Gingered Carrots
Strawberry-Maple Parfait

Oxidative stress, in the body, is much like rust on a car. It chips away at the integrity of body tissues, rendering them unavailable to function as they should. I don't have to tell you that…if you have PCOS and you have brain fog, it's a pretty huge red flag that you've got a degradative process going on. A recent study out of China has shown that oxidative stress is present in all women with PCOS, regardless of weight. Being lean does not protect you. This is extremely important to understand because the vast majority of advice I see given to women with PCOS, is simply to lose weight. Even though, if you are overweight, and you do lose weight, you may only be taking care of part of the picture. This Chinese study is important because it took the time to take out the weight issue, which can distract a lot of researchers from what may be the core issue. Forty-three obese women with PCOS and forty-two lean women with PCOS were evaluated for levels of several markers of inflammation and oxidation, including superoxide dismutase, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha, and visfatin. For each of these compounds, regardless of weight, women with PCOS had higher levels of oxidative stress indicators than infertile women without PCOS. In the lean women, these metabolic disruptions were not as obvious, but they were still there. It looks like this is an additional layer of pathology that women with PCOS have, over and above infertility. And if all your physician or dietitian has done is suggest"lose weight"--it potentially could be part of the problem. I don't have to tell you that this can be an ominous task with PCOS, and women can often overexercise and over-restrict their diet in an effort to do so. Both of those choices can fuel the fire of oxidative stress and push your body in the wrong direction. See that Patriot missile in the photo? Oxidative stress works like that. It's like a million metabolic missiles floating all over your body, searching and destroying DNA, tissue, hormone function, pretty much everything. Losing weight the wrong way won't get you where you want to go. On the contrary, it only unleashes a whole new battalion of them. My message to you is this. Instead of beating yourself up in the gym with too much exercise and then punishing yourself when you get home with too little food, focus on ways to reduce that metabolic stress. You know we have four areas we like to see you focus on: (1) eating in a balanced fashion with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, (2) moving your body in a moderately active way, (3) getting enough sleep, and (4) managing your stress. It's not news on this blog. We just have some new friends in China who gave us some great research to reinforce that message. Liu J, Zhang D. [The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome]. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2012 Mar;43(2):187-90.

I’ve done a great deal of volunteer work for an organization that helps the families of those who have died by suicide. In their newsletter, there’s a column called “The Gift.” At first, I thought, “how crazy, how obscene, how downright blasphemous – there’s nothing connected to suicide to be grateful for!” But as I read the column for a while, I began to see that even in the darkest acts, there are many unexpected things to be grateful for.

And so it is with PCOS. When I suggest to my clients that there might be something about PCOS that they can be grateful about, I usually get a similar response to the one I described above – or at least a look of disbelief and wonder. Then I explain that there’s always something to appreciate in a medical condition, a job loss, a car accident, or anything else you find unpleasant or undesirable. Sometimes, though, you have to look hard – but if you try hard enough, you can start to name the gratitude items. And when you’re feeling grateful, you’re feeling more positive, and less mired in the depressive, negative thoughts.

I’m going to start the list for you, with some of my personal gratitude items, and then you can continue from there with your own list:

*Some men like curvier women more than skinny women – score one for the plus-size women of the world!
*PCOS isn’t exactly a hot topic yet for the rest of the world, but there’s vastly more research interest in 2011 than there ever was, and that means HOPE.
*There are so many delicious, healthy, PCOS-friendly foods to eat, shop for, explore, and experiment with – today, I made an awesome salad plate out of Italian olive-oil packed tuna, heirloom tomatoes, farmers’ market fruits, and half an avocado with a lemon vinaigrette. That’s not suffering, by any measure. Quite the contrary.
*We have this amazing support system called the internet (and I’m old enough to be able to compare that to a time when I was stuck going to the local library and searching the card file and the dusty biology books to try to figure out what was wrong with me).
*There ARE some people out there who really do get it – especially inCYST’s very own Monika Woolsey, and her team of supportive, interested, and educated psychologists, dieticians, dermatologists, and exercise physiologists who comprise the balance of the inCYST crew.
*We have allies in the most surprising, unexpected, and, dare I say FUN places – how about that hottie Hollywood trainer Craig Ramsay who’s doing the fundraiser for us in August?
*PCOS has made me assert my health as a priority. If I didn’t have PCOS, it’s unlikely that I would be practicing this level of self-care – and I know that what I do is only going to benefit my PCOS in the long run.

I hope my list has given you a couple of laughs, a little inspiration, and a shift of perspective. I encourage you to start your own PCOS gratitude list or journal, and see how it shifts you into a more positive mindset.

Gretchen Kubacky, Psy.D. is a Health Psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles, California. She specializes in counseling women and couples who are coping with infertility, PCOS, and related endocrine disorders and chronic illnesses.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. HOUSE or her practice, or obtain referrals in the Los Angeles area, please visit her website at www.drhousemd.com, or e-mail her at Gretchen@drhousemd.com

I just received a review copy of Living With PCOS by Angela Boss and Evelina Sterling. I actually sold the original edition of this book in my bookstore for a time, so I was interested to see the new version.

Before I review, I want to qualify, I went into reviewing this book a little differently than many readers would. I am a dietitian who believes in the power of nutrition to help women with PCOS. In the process of building the inCYST network, I've also had the honor and pleasure of meeting and working with colleagues who use many different (and evidence-based) approaches to PCOS management that expand past what a medical doctor might offer. So I am most likely to connect with experts on the topic with a similar perspective.

What this book is very good at:
--putting the readers in the frustrated and invalidated shoes of a woman with this diagnosis, and advocating for better identification and syndrome management.
--providing a laundry list of qualities to look for in a primary care physician.
--summarizing lab values typically used to develop a woman's treatment plan.
--explaining medications typically prescribed for PCOS management.
--including an entire chapter on depression, an aspect of PCOS that medical professionals seem to not want to acknowledge, but which is very, very prevalent.

What this book could have been better at:
--advocating for as much discretion when choosing a nutrition professional as choosing a physician. Many dietitians say they treat PCOS when they haven't even pursued specialized training for the diagnosis.
--advocating for as much discretion when choosing an alternative care provider as choosing a physician. Again, there are many people who view women with this diagnosis as a revenue stream, not women who deserve evidence-based, ethical treatment.
--explaining why breastfeeding can be problematic in PCOS.
--describing and evaluating alternative therapies, supplements, and herbs. A very high percentage of women with PCOS are so desperate for help they are doing a lot of self-treating and self-medicating, which can be helpful…or very dangerous.
--broaching the topic of emotional eating, binge eating, and eating disorders. It's rampant in this population, it needs to be validated, explained, and destigmatized, as much as the rest of the symptoms do.

I was not entirely comfortable with the section on low carbohydrate diets. Even though it acknowledged that these diets are restrictive and difficult to maintain, it went on to make some general recommendations about how to pursue one. One of the most common problems we encounter at inCYST in our individual counseling, is a blanket carbohydrate restriction that eventually ends up with a binge. It's a noble goal, to reduce carbohydrates, but there are ways to do it that do not promote disordered eating. Perhaps including a dietitian in a future version of this book could help promote healthier eating patterns that are evidence-based.

Because I've been working with Dr. Van Dyke to better understand laser treatment for hirsutism, I was interested on the section regarding laser hair removal. There were some important facts about this treatment that were not included.

In general, for someone who is new to the diagnosis, it's a helpful rundown of what to expect when working with a medical doctor, but the slant is toward that relationship. If you have chosen, in your own personal situation, to prioritize medical treatment without using nutrition, naturopathy, acupuncture, or other complementary treatments, it is a good resource. However, if your treatment team includes other approachess, you will not find information in this book to enlighten you or guide you with regard to those issues.

Click here for more information on the book.