4 Types of PCOS – how to improve your health & fertility

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) as it is currently defined, is an umbrella term used to diagnose a variety of underlying physiological drivers.  PCOS is not simply one disease in which can be treated with a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for some women will not work for others.

In fact it can broken down into a few key “types” of PCOS, which, if you know which category type you fall into, can really help to manage your PCOS symptoms.

Type 1 – Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance means the body is struggling to process sugars which in turn creates imbalances with other hormones.

The most important thing you can do if you have this type is adopt a low sugar diet and do exercise that gets your heart rate up. These two foundational habits can make a huge difference to your energy, weight and fertility.

Magnesium is a very useful mineral that assists with balancing blood sugars and relieving stress. Look for magnesium in a biglycinate or citrate form.

Maternitea has two teas that a very helpful for insulin resistance PCOS. Fertilitea helps to balance hormones, and Puritea smoothes out blood sugar levels.

Our naturopaths and dietitians can help you create a diet and lifestyle and formulate specific herbal medicines to ensure your body has everything it needs to return to balance.

Type 2 – Post-Pill PCOS

Many women diagnosed with PCOS are prescribed the pill by their doctor. The pill is made up of synthetic hormones that suppress our natural hormones from ovulation. When women come off the pill, their PCOS symptoms typically return.

Synthetic hormones place a burden on our livers and digestive systems. The best way to help your body return to harmonious hormonal health is to support the liver and digestive system with a gentle cleanse. Avoiding processed foods, alcohol, household chemicals, plastics and unnecessary pharmaceuticals (non prescribed medicines) is a good place to begin.

You can help restore the bacteria in your bowels (these guys do a lot of hormone detoxing!) by eating fermented foods like natural yoghurt, kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut. You can also take a good quality multi-strain probiotic.

Maternitea has a tea that is very helpful for post-pill PCOS - FertiliTea helps to balance hormones.

A naturopath can help you create a diet and lifestyle and formulate specific herbal medicines to ensure your body has everything it needs to return to balance.

Type 3 – Inflammatory PCOS

Inflammation can be caused by stress, environmental toxins, food intolerances and inflammatory foods such as gluten and dairy. Inflammation can disrupt hormonal balance and prevent ovulation.

The most important place for you to begin is to reduce your stress.

Do a stocktake of all the plastics, medications and chemical based products you are using in your day to day and begin replacing them with greener, more natural alternatives.

Trial eliminating gluten and dairy and see how you feel (our naturopath and dietitians can assist you identifying potential food intolerances). Ensure that you are eating lots of different colours with your fruit and vegetables. Foods such as hemp seeds, turmeric and ginger are potent natural anti-inflammatories.

Maternitea has two teas that a very helpful for inflammatory PCOS. SereniTea contains calming, anti-inflammatory herbs that make a beautiful stress dissolving cup of tea. ActiviTea is packed full of anti-inflammatory compounds and is an excellent replacement to black tea.

Type 4 – Adrenal PCOS

Adrenal PCOS occurs when androgens released during the body’s stress response are converted into testosterone without any involvement with insulin and independent from the ovaries.

When we are stressed our body produces cortisol hormone. Its natural flight or fight mechanism. The issue is that when this evolutionary mechanism is activated because of fear or stress, our body goes into a variety of responses to increase our chance of survival. These include suppressing the immune system, bone formation, and reproductive function.

The body, will in a stressful situation pour all its efforts into survival and not prioritise the ability to conceive.

Try stress reduction activities as a major part of your PCOS treatment plan. Daily meditation, exercise (which is clinically shown to help boost mood and decrease stress), eliminating stressful or toxic relationships and workloads.

MaterniTeas SERENITEA tea blend is ideal for helping calm the nervous system and helping to reduce stress and anxiety. With a mild sedative effect from the natural herbs to help you relax.

*Disclaimer- This article is purely educational and not intended to be used to diagnose or treat. Always consult your healthcare provider.