Take Control of Your PCOS: Naturally Balance Your Hormones, Restore Intestinal Flora, and Boost Fertility

“I have PCOS, but I don’t really know what it is. Nobody can clearly explain to me what this syndrome is or what its consequences are.”

“My physician told me I had to lose weight to relieve my symptoms. But despite all my efforts, I was not able to do so.”

“I have read that there is a revolutionary food supplement for treating PCOS. What do you think of it?”

These remarks are what I hear most often during my office visits from the women I see because of my work dedicated to PCOS. PCOS, what’s that? PCOS is an acronym for polycystic ovary syndrome. This somewhat inelegant name tells us very little and yet, just like endometriosis, another frequently overlooked women’s health disorder, this syndrome affects 10 percent of women. According to Professor Michel Pugeat, endocrinologist and expert on PCOS, this figure is most likely highly underestimated. He estimates that the actual figure is closer to 15 to 20 percent of the female population (see Favier, “Le syndrome des ovaires polykystiques”). Despite this significant proportion, this syndrome is still poorly understood, poorly diagnosed, and poorly explained to the women living with it.

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PCOS affects 1 out of every 10 women.

As a hormone health coach specializing in hormonal balance and female well-being, I have noticed that the requests for appointments on this subject have been increasing. The reason why I ended up working with so many women living with PCOS is that they have often confessed to me their distress coping with living with this condition, that they barely understand it and they haven’t been told a whole lot. All they know is that there is nothing that can be done to cure it and the only “treatment” is the contraceptive pill.

These women often feel lost because of the variety of symptoms they have to deal with. There are many symptoms; close to fifty. The symptoms vary from woman to woman, which explains why diagnosing it can sometimes take several years. Some of them experience physical problems such as overweight, acne, excessive hairiness, or hair loss, and they can also suffer from an irregular menstrual cycle and an absence of libido. This not only affects the image they have of their bodies but also their confidence in themselves and in their relationships. Many express frustration at the lack of guidance from their physician or gynecologist, many of whom may not even view PCOS as a true disease. In fact, as indicated by its name, PCOS is classified as a syndrome, which differs from a disease or condition: A disease refers to a disorder with a specific, identifiable cause, a syndrome describes a collection of symptoms that tend to occur together without a single known origin, and a condition is a broader term encompassing any state of health that affects the body but may not meet the criteria of a disease. Because these women’s lives aren’t at risk, they are most often advised to lose weight (if only it was that easy—we’ll revisit this) or to make an appointment when they want to find out whether the time is right to conceive.

Many of these women find themselves with a diagnosis confirming that they are indeed suffering from PCOS. Faced with this void, they may spend hours online looking for information and a “miracle” cure. It is tempting to think that a diet supplement or herbal tea could help overcome this syndrome, but beware of false promises.

I do not have PCOS myself but hearing these women’s stories has touched me deeply. Over the course of my many consultations, I have seen that many refuse to accept the condition as inevitable—and they are absolutely right.

Naturopathy and many other natural approaches can provide valuable support to the women living with this syndrome.

In their “Benchmarks for Training,” the World Health Organization (WHO) defines naturopathy as “an amalgamation of the philosophy, techniques, science and principles that typified the alternative healing systems of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, particularly those related to vitalism. These alternative approaches tended to focus both on health promotion and on health-care regimes that supported the patient’s innate healing processes.”

Put simply, naturopathy is the art of maintaining good health and achieving one’s full potential of vitality and well-being. To do this, naturopathy relies on a variety of tools:

• diet and micronutrition

• use of plants, whether in the form of teas, dietary supplements, essential oils (aromatherapy), or buds (gemmotherapy)

• stress management and complementary techniques like cardiac coherence, sophrology, and meditation

• emotional management using floral essences

• movement and physical exercise

The goal of the naturopathic practitioner is to educate patients about overall health and well- being, and to develop methods that allow each individual to live well. This is where naturopathy can be especially helpful to those with PCOS—as a complement to a conventional medicine approach. While medical treatments may relieve certain symptoms, working on the “terrain,” establishing long-term healthy habits, and optimizing all factors that support hormonal balance, should be the first step.

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Naturopathy and many other natural techniques can give valuable support to women living with this condition.

The purpose of this book is not to replace any form of medical treatment. I intend to speak to all women living with this syndrome who are looking for answers and want to take control of their own health. This book is also designed to support health practitioners who care about their patients’ well-being and wish to learn more about PCOS and want to help guide their patients toward a holistic approach.

To be effective in treating PCOS, it is first necessary to understand this hormonal imbalance and how it works. In the first part of the book, I will review fundamentals of female hormonal balance and the menstrual cycle—an essential prerequisite for understanding PCOS. We will then examine the syndrome itself: its causes, effects, diagnostic process, and clinical examinations, as well as its consequences at different stages of a woman’s life.

The second part of the book will present natural solutions, including diet and micronutrition, support for menstrual cycle disorders, stress and emotion management, physical activity, and overall healthy lifestyle habits.

I hope that this guide will allow you to get a better understanding of PCOS and bring you new perspectives for managing it.