Living with PCOS: How lifestyle changes for PCOS can improve your wellbeing

An estimated 5 to 6 million U.S. women in their childbearing years live with PCOS, a hormone disorder that can cause irregular periods, abnormal hair growth, excessive acne, weight gain and female infertility. Our Tulsa fertility clinic doctors encourage our patients living with PCOS to consider lifestyle changes for PCOS to minimize symptoms and support overall wellness.

How does PCOS affect your health and female infertility?

With PCOS, your body overproduces androgens, which are male sex hormones. This imbalance disrupts normal menstruation and ovulation, often resulting in female infertility issues. Women with PCOS are also at an increased risk for health problems, such diabetes, sleep apnea, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Exploring lifestyle changes for PCOS

While there is no cure for PCOS, our doctors believe that making lifestyle changes for PCOS can help our patients alleviate their symptoms and improve their health. These practical steps can make a difference in your quality of life. Start small and work on incorporating these changes into your daily routine.

• Re-evaluate your diet. Women with PCOS often develop insulin resistance, which can raise blood sugar because your body doesn’t process insulin efficiently. Reducing your intake of sugar and other simple carbohydrates is key, so focus on eating nutrient-dense foods, such as lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables and whole grains.
• Add exercise to your day. Not only can regular physical activity reduce weight gain, but it can also boost your mood and increase your energy, which combats the fatigue and depression that can accompany PCOS.
• Manage your stress. When we feel stressed out, our cortisol levels rise and disrupt hormone balance. Because PCOS is caused by hormone dysregulation, controlling stress can assist with curbing PCOS symptoms, too. Look into the benefits of yoga, meditation or deep breathing.
• Talk to your doctor. Depending on your situation and your family-planning goals, your physician may recommend medications, such as metformin or birth control pills, to address your symptoms.

If you need help managing PCOS, our Tulsa fertility clinic team is committed to providing the care and support our patients need to treat PCOS and address female infertility concerns. Contact our office to learn more about lifestyle changes for PCOS and to schedule a consultation appointment with one of our doctors.