Hormonal imbalances in PCOS: how to prepare for pregnancy on a nutritional basis

Have you been diagnosed with PCOS and received news that your prospects of becoming pregnant are slim? Or that your only chance of regulating your menstrual cycle or conceiving is to take a pill or go through IVF? While PCOS is complex, it should not be considered irremediable – in fact, specific eating patterns, lifestyle changes, and supplements have been shown to help.    

PCOS is characterized by a wide range of features, including the inability to ovulate, infertility, weight gain, insulin resistance, and progression to type 2 diabetes. PCOS manifests as an imbalance in the female hormones – elevated levels of estrogen and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and low levels of progesterone – and oftentimes as very high levels of androgen. 

What does this all mean to me?

The imbalance in female hormones that is typically seen in PCOS results in immature follicles and the formation of multiple cysts, or water-filled sacs, in the ovarian follicles. Normally, follicles release an egg during ovulation. But in PCOS, this conversion of the egg into a cyst prevents ovulation. In other words, there is no egg to be released and fertilized by sperm – ultimately conception cannot occur.

How does PCOS affect my menstrual cycle?

Lack of ovulation also disrupts the menstrual cycle, causing amenorrhea, or the absence of menstruation. Amenorrhea can be primary or secondary: primary is the inability to reach menarche (menstruation), and secondary amenorrhea is absence of menstrual cycle for 3 or more consecutive months. This can occur from high levels of the hormone prolactin. Excess prolactin disrupts the levels of FSH and LH, which are two hormones essential for the distinct phases of the menstrual cycle. In PCOS, as these hormones become limited, the egg is either not formed, or cannot be liberated from the follicle, in turn disrupting the cycle. Elevated levels of AMH are also involved in inhibiting follicle maturation, in turn preventing ovulation.  

Can nutrition help?

• While a specific diet to improve chances of fertility has not yet been determined, research has shown that engaging in regular physical activity and adopting healthy eating habits help to manage PCOS. 
• Consider following an anti-inflammatory diets, which focuses on high amounts of fiber and anti-inflammatory foods like fatty fish, green tea, legumes.
• Focus on a diet rich in whole foods to  help to normalize hormone levels. One of the best ways to do this is following our Key3 method. Reach out to us for more info! 

Nutritional supplements

• For women with PCOS who are trying to get pregnant, the following nutritional supplements have been well studied: 

1) Vitamin D: Some studies show that vitamin D supplementation (100,000 IU/month) improves fertility in women with PCOS by increasing the number of mature follicles and improving menstrual regularity.

2) N-Acetylcysteine: a powerful antioxidant and amino acid, has also been shown to produce significant improvements in pregnancy and ovulation rates among women with PCOS compared with placebo. 

3) Inositols: pseudovitamins found in foods such as fruits, beans, cereals, and buckwheat. The inositols myo-inositol (MYO) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) are showing promising results as first-line treatments. These pseudovitamins regulate follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and insulin. MYO has been shown to improve egg quality and ovulation. More recent research is suggesting that a combination of MYO and DCI in a 40:1 ratio that mimics the body’s tissue levels works better than inositol alone for restoring hormone balance. The therapeutic dosage is 2 to 4 g MYO daily with 50 to 100 mg DCI daily. 

4) Fish oils: rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil supplements have been found to regulate menstrual cycles in both overweight and lean women with PCOS.

Most people may think that pills and medications are their only lifeline when dealing with a certain condition but that shouldn’t be the case. Nutrients fuel our bodies and work to keep us healthy – so it’s time we focus on wholesome foods and healthier eating patterns.

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