Some medical complications can have a powerful impact on your life and PCOS is one among them. Once diagnosed with it, people do have a tendency to learn more about it to gain a better understanding. However, in the process of gaining thoughtful insights, you may end up with some false claims. Here we are breaking down the common myths found to be associated with PCOS treatment.

Myth 1 – PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) is caused by cysts

The formation of cysts in the ovaries is one of the symptoms of PCOS and not the reason for it. As discussed in our previous article “Common Signs and Symptoms of PCOS”, you can understand that PCOS is a result of multiple factors. Your brain provides multiple signals which result in the secretion of hormones. As PCOS is a condition of hormonal disorder, the brain signals the ovaries to produce male-like hormones excessively. This, in turn, affects the secretion of female hormones important for ovulation. In addition to this, your fat cell further enhances the PCOS condition by developing insulin resistance. This in turn triggers your body to produce insulin in excess in response to consumed carbs. Conditions like this not only promotes male-like hormones but also weight gain. As a result, ovaries fail to perform a normal reproductive cycle leading to PCOS symptoms. So, it’s your hormones and not cysts.

Myth 2 – All women with PCOS are infertile

It is completely a false claim that all women with PCOS are infertile. There can be few cases of infertility but there are treatments available to overcome it. Women with PCOS condition should try for lifestyle changes that can help in bringing back the hormonal balance. In cases where women have weight issues, they can opt for weight loss regimes which can have a significant impact on their ovulation cycle. Studies show that in certain cases medications can be of great help. You can also opt for nutrigenomics based treatments for PCOS which govern your diet and exercise by combining a detailed understanding of your genes involved in PCOS.

Myth 3 – Women with PCOS are overweight

You may often encounter that PCOS is related to obesity, but this is not the case always. There are different types of PCOS and each one has different symptoms. There are cases of PCOS in women where they have no weight gain issues. You might be wondering why so? Well, we all are different and respond differently to biological conditions. The best answer to this question lies in your genes. We all have different tendencies towards a certain condition due to the type of gene we carry. It either provides strength to stand through the condition or increases the tendency towards it. Taking a basic gene test for PCOS can help you know yourself better and manage the condition more comprehensively.

Myth 4- Medications are important to regulate periods

Normally, women experiencing irregular menstrual cycles due to PCOS were prescribed contraceptive medications. These medicines can help regulate the menstrual cycle but sometimes do not have a long-lasting impact. Some women find that when they stop taking the medicine the problem of irregular periods reverts. However, the advancement in the field of science such as nutrigenomics is paving a new way of managing PCOS. It promotes healthy eating habits, exercise, and other lifestyle changes depending upon a comprehensive analysis of your genes.

Myth 5 –PCOS condition is irreversible

PCOS is irreversible – this is the most common misconception among people. You can read our blog – “PCOS- Story of Bane to Boon”, which highlights the condition of a PCOS patient. She undertook a gene-based diet and exercise initiative and transformed her life completely. Long back in 400 BC, Hippocrates cited “Let food be the medicine” which emphasizes using a healthy diet as medicine. This notion is becoming very evident nowadays and shown to be highly significant on realistic terms.

Way Ahead

 We are living in a digital era where information can transfer in seconds. This increases the chances of communicating even false information without proper backing. Here, in this article, we make an effort to break down some common myths associated with PCOS. I hope it clears the misconceptions and brings a sigh of relief to you.