After hitting puberty, you would have felt low or down at certain times of the month. Sometimes for no reason, you feel good, and sometimes you feel low. That is because of the play of hormones in the body. When the hormones are in the optimal quantity, you feel normal, but problems arise when there is an imbalance. One possible reaction of an imbalance hormone in women is polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS. Also read Ayurvedic Difference Between PCOS and PCOD

What is PCOS?

PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that occurs in some women during the childbearing years. It is a condition where there is a hormonal imbalance that can impact the ability to bear children, and it can also cause various issues like:

• Making it hard to predict their periods or completely stopping periods for a long duration.
• Weight gain despite being physically active
• Acne
• Body and facial hair
• Increased risk of health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. 

If diagnosed, PCOS treatment and cure are possible. It is called polycystic as some women have cysts, but many have PCOS without cysts, and hence the name can be pretty misleading. After undergoing PCOS treatment and taking medications, women can have better fertility and get pregnant. 

The Role of Hormones in PCOS

You know what is PCOS, but do you know what role hormones play in this condition? If you have PCOS symptoms, you have a problem with the reproductive hormones. There are various hormones produced in the body, and lack of them can lead to problems in the menstrual cycle which leads to incapability in having a baby. The hormones that play a hand in PCOS are:

• Progesterone: When you do not have enough of this hormone, you will not get your periods properly or have trouble with when you are going to get it. 
• Androgen: These are present in small quantities in women but in large amounts in males. In some women, it is in large quantities which can result in excessive facial hair. 
• Insulin: This hormone helps to manage the blood sugar level. When you have PCOS, the body does react to insulin the way it normally does which causes health issues. 

Now that you know what is PCOS, it is essential to know the cause of this hormonal condition so that PCOS cure can be had effectively. The exact reasons for PCOS symptoms are not known. However, you are more likely to have this if your mother or sister has it. It could also be due to the body producing too much insulin, which can affect the ability to ovulate as it causes problems with the ovaries. 

PCOS Symptoms

The most common PCOS symptoms are irregular, prolonged, or infrequent periods. Some women might also experience hair loss or excessive hair in unwanted places. Acne is also one of the PCOS symptoms among the others which are: 

• Mood changes
• Pelvic pain
• Skin tags in the armpits or on the neck.
• Darkened skin
• Weight gain around the waist

Complications due to PCOS

The complications for PCOS vary, and if you have PCOS, it can lead to many complications like: 

• Cysts in the ovaries cause fertility issues, due to which getting pregnant becomes difficult. 
• Insulin resistance causes the body to release too much androgen, due to which the blood sugar is not absorbed. This can lead to diabetes. 
• It can lead to metabolic syndrome, which raises the chances of having cardiovascular diseases. The symptoms include high triglycerides and LDL and low HDL, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. 
• Inflammation of the liver
• Increased chances of uterine cancer leading to bleeding. 
• Anxiety and depression
• Sleep problems

Pcos Treatment- How To Cure PCOS Permanently

PCOS symptoms can be managed by undergoing a PCOS cure. By taking treatment, you can reduce the chances of long-term complications, and if you want to have a child, PCOS treatment can help you conceive. There are various ways to treat this hormonal condition; going the natural way is the best as there will be no complications. Here is how to cure PCOS permanently.

Weight loss

If you are looking at ways to cure PCOS permanently, consider weight loss. Having a healthy weight is a crucial part of managing PCOS symptoms. People who have this hormonal condition carry extra weight, which puts them at risk of many diseases like cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. To achieve this weight loss and reduce the PCOS symptoms, certain lifestyle changes need to be undertaken to achieve it and reduce complications. 

Diet changes

If you are following the wrong diet, changing it is an ideal way to cure PCOS naturally. This is because people with PCOS usually have higher insulin levels, and if the body consistently produces high insulin, it results in insulin resistance, so having a healthy weight becomes difficult. In addition, carbohydrates and sugar are major reasons for increased blood sugar levels and hence eliminating these can reduce PCOS symptoms. 

Changing the diet is an essential part of PCOS treatment. People with PCOS tend to have higher insulin levels, a hormone that the body uses to lower high blood sugar. This means you have to avoid foods like cereals, white rice, pasta, bread, cookies, juice, soda, and granola bars. Instead of these simple carbs, include the following in your diet for PCOS cure.

• Whole foods: Those free from artificial preservatives, hormones, and sugars should be consumed. So foods that are unprocessed and natural should be consumed. It can be whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. The endocrine system can regulate blood sugar when the food is free from hormones and preservatives. 
• Protein intake: Protein is an important building block in the food chain. It is important to have enough of it so that the body can produce enough insulin. Instead of only having a low-carb diet, you can concentrate on getting enough protein. Include enough whole grains, legumes, and nuts for completing the protein requirement in your PCOS diet. 
• Look for anti-inflammatory food: Adding anti-inflammatory foods can help ease PCOS symptoms. Mediterranean diet is an ideal food option for PCOS cure. Foods like tuna, mackerel, olive oil, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, and nuts are anti-inflammatory and are a great PCOS diet. 
• Increase iron and magnesium intake: Women with PCOS symptoms have heavy bleeding during their periods. That can result in anaemia or iron deficiency. If you are wondering how to cure PCOS permanently, you should increase your iron intake. For that, add spinach, broccoli, and eggs to your PCOS cure diet. It is also essential to increase magnesium intake to ease PCOS symptoms. Foods like bananas, spinach, cashews, and almonds should be part of your PCOS food list.
• Fibre for better digestion: Include sprouts, avocados, lentils, beans, and pears in your PCOS food list as that is rich in fibre and thus improves digestion. 
• Include soy products: To ease PCOS symptoms and also get an answer to how to cure PCOS permanently you should include soy products. It can add estrogen to the body and improve hormonal balance. However, people with a history of estrogen-related cancer like breast cancers should remove soy from their PCOS food list. If there are no such problems, you can add tempeh, tofu, soy milk, and miso to your PCOS diet. 
• Reduce coffee and increase water intake: This is another PCOS treatment, reducing caffeine. Coffee consumption can lead to an increase in hormonal imbalance and should be avoided. You can include decaf alternatives like green tea, which also helps manage weight. Instead, consume lots of fluids, consisting of pure sugar-free natural juices, probiotic drinks, and more. 

Avoid endocrine disruptors

Endocrine disruptors are ingredients or chemicals that interfere with or block the natural hormonal reactions of the body. These disruptors can be similar to sex hormones and lead to confusion in the reproductive system. To prevent this, avoid canned foods in your PCOS food list, makeup, and soaps. Other endocrine disruptors include BPA, pesticides, dioxins, phthalates, etc. 

Exercise

This is another way how to cure PCOS permanently. Regular exercise and following the PCOS food list helps to reduce insulin levels and optimise blood sugar levels. It aids in weight loss and is also good for the heart. Getting a good workout does not mean a lengthy workout at the gym; it can be an enjoyable but effective activity like swimming or a calming exercise like yoga. You can also indulge in a fun sport and engage yourself to get the benefits and get PCOS treatment.

Follow good sleep hygiene

Good sleep can help regulate the hormones and reduce the level of cortisol. High cortisol levels increase the PCOS symptoms and also lead to sleep disturbances. To improve your sleep hygiene, one should have a fixed sleep routine, follow a proper PCOS diet by avoiding fatty and rich foods before bedtime, and also aim to get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep every night. 

Reduce stress

One of the major risks for PCOS is stress and hence reducing stress is a form of PCOS treatment. The body releases an excess amount of unwanted hormones called testosterone when the body is under stress. That leads to an increase in insulin resistance which increases the risk of diabetes. High testosterone can lead to an increase in stress. Hence managing stress is an important aspect of PCOS treatment. 

PCOS is a syndrome that is a complicated hormonal condition. Now that you know that there is no PCOS cure, you can manage the complications and PCOS symptoms in a better way by using alternative and conventional PCOS treatment. Also read A 24-Year Old’s Guide to Ayurvedic Treatment for PCOS

Authored By: Divya Shankar

About Author: Divya Shankar is a multifaceted content writer with 7+ years of experience. She has exclusive writing expertise in ayurveda.