PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) affects 10% of reproductive aged people. Despite its prevalence, PCOS remains widely misunderstood, leading to misconceptions and misinformation.

Many individuals struggle to find accurate and reliable information about this condition, which can impact their physical and mental well-being. Given the complex nature of PCOS and its diverse symptoms, it is crucial to raise awareness and provide comprehensive education to support those affected as well inform the general public about the syndrome.

In this post, I will be discussing some myths about PCOS that get passed around and debunk them.

About PCOS

It is always good to start off with a bit of information about PCOS for readers that don’t know much about it but are interested in reading the whole post.

So here goes…

PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects people of reproductive age. It is characterized by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, which can lead to a variety of symptoms which include the following:

• Irregular or absent periods
• Hirsutism
• Acne and oily skin
• Weight problems (overweight or obese)
• Difficulty getting pregnant

Additionally, women with PCOS are also at a higher risk of developing long-term health problems, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. This means that the condition is something to take seriously.

Managing PCOS often involves a combination of lifestyle changes, such as healthy diet and regular exercise, along with medical interventions to help regulate hormone levels and alleviate symptoms. The following are more specifics of how one can manage it:

• Following a low carb and low sugar diet
• Exercising regularly
• Having good sleep hygiene
• Staying a healthy weight
• Taking birth control (can help regulate hormones in some)
• Taking Metformin (for insulin resistance)
• Taking or applying Minoxidil for hair loss
• Taking fertility medication if struggling to get pregnant
• Taking Spironolactone to help combat acne, oily skin and excess hair
• Various hair removal techniques
• Taking statins for abnormal cholesterol levels

It’s important for individuals with PCOS to address the specific challenges posed by this condition and to minimize its impact on their overall well-being. This is easier said than done, however. Medical professionals still don’t know much about the condition and also sometimes hold onto outdated thoughts about it. Because of this one must do all they can to research it and advocate for themselves.

Dispelling 12 Prevalent Myths

There are 12 myths about PCOS that need some debunking. Here they are along with an explanation as to why they are not true:

1. You must have polycystic ovaries to have PCOS– While the name of the conditions describes that it is actually not true and can be misleading. Not all people with PCOS have ovarian cysts and it is not uncommon for them to go away and then not appear on an ultrasound.
2. Every person with PCOS has excess hair growth (hirsutism)- While it is common, not every person has this symptom.
3. You can’t get pregnant if you have PCOS- PCOS can affect one’s fertility (some more than others ) but that doesn’t mean you absolutely can’t conceive. There are fertility treatments that can help as well as making lifestyle changes.
4. Every person with PCOS has irregular menstruation and every person with irregular menstruation has PCOS- Some people with PCOS have normal menstrual cycles that come on time every month. While it is very common for someone with PCOS to have irregular periods- it is not needed to get a diagnosis. Also, just because one has irregular periods doesn’t mean they have PCOS. There are other conditions that can cause periods that don’t come regularly.
5. Every person with PCOS has high testosterone levels- While some people with PCOS do have high testosterone levels, many women actually show normal or maybe even low levels of it. Medical professionals might look at ratios of the other hormone levels as part of the diagnosis as well as the symptoms one has to give a diagnosis.
6. Every person with PCOS has acne and/or oily skin- These are common symptoms as they indicate androgen excess- but not everyone gets it. One does not have to have these symptoms to get a PCOS diagnosis.
7. Every person with PCOS is overweight of obese- While it is common for people with PCOS to have issues with their weight, it is said that around 20% have lean PCOS. This means that they are of low to normal weight.
8. It is just CICO for overweight/obese people with PCOS to lose weight- While this is true to a point, some people with PCOS have such severe insulin resistance that it might take counting calories, medication plus a ketogenic diet to see any scale movement.
9. People with PCOS shouldn’t do HIIT- This is something that is said by influencers and on the PCOS subreddit. This is not entirely true as research has actually shown that this kind of training helps with insulin resistance that most people with PCOS have. That being said some do find that HIIT gives them ill effects. Do the exercise that works for you.
10. Menopause will cure it- This is untrue. PCOS is a lifelong disease that has no cure.
11. People with PCOS have bad immune systems and get sick more often than others- This has been talked about on the subreddit quite a bit but it is simply not true. If someone with PCOS catches every bug going around it is most likely due to just how they are or they have some autoimmune condition.
12. PCOS only matters when you want to get pregnant- PCOS affects more than just one’s fertility- it affects overall health. People with the diagnosis are at risk for diabetes, heart disease and mental health issues. Because of this, it is important for prevention and treatment.

In conclusion

There is a lot of not-so-good information circulating about PCOS. It may be hard to sift through it to find the good but it is important to do so. This is because understanding PCOS empowers better symptom management and support.

Lets keep debunking these myths and promote accurate information!

Leave a comment below if you have PCOS and have heard these myths before!

#pcos #hormones #insulinresistance #acne #hirsutism #overweight #obesity #fertility #reddit