Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(PCOS) is a complex and common hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts. In Australia, PCOS currently affects 1 in 7 girls and women, altering Androgen and Insulin hormones causing irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth, acne, obesity,
increasing risk of developing diabetes, anxiety and depression, just to name a few. PCOS is also the leading cause of infertility in women.
Evidence shows that lifestylechanges, including a healthy diet and regular physical activity is the most effective way of reducing the severity of PCOS and can improve the symptoms and comorbidities of PCOS.
All too often the symptomsare treated through the prescription of contraceptive pills to regulate menstrual cycles, metformin to prevent diabetes, statins to control high cholesterol and hormone replacements to increase fertility.
Lifestyle modifications, especially exercise should be the first line of therapy for women with PCOS due to the vast benefits of exercise for hormone regulation as well as its comorbidities including metabolic and cardiac improvements.Some tips to help youmanage your PCOS through exercise include:
Find physical activity or exercise that is enjoyable as this can be sustainable for a longer period of timeTry to include aerobic exercise to improve heart health, metabolic health and mental healthInclude resistance training to help improve muscular strength as well as heart, metabolic and mental healthIncrease your incidental exercise throughout your day, try walking up stairs, parking further away, get outdoors etcInvite friends and family to participate with you, it’s always more enjoyable and helps to keep you motivatedBook in to see an Accredited Exercise Physiologist to educate you more on your condition and how to manage with lifestyle modifications as well as prescribing you an individualised program with considerations to your comorbidities and goals.