Hello everyone!
Today, I am here to talk about my love-hate relationship with one of the most common and frustrating hormonal disruptions that menstruating women face…polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Many of us have a similar story. We went to our primary care provider or gynecologist in our teens for heavy, painful, or irregular periods. We were struggling with horrific cramps or stubborn acne that wouldn’t budge. As college students or in our early twenties, we had rapid onset weight gain in our midsection. With all of this, what was the solution given to us?….“Let’s get you started on oral birth control and Metformin, and you should also try to lose some weight.”
To noone’s surprise, that did not work.
The moral of the story here is this: birth control and Metformin are not the only answers to our PCOS prayers. In fact, birth control can often cause more damage to our hormones than good. I have seen firsthand in my own health the miracle that is a holistic and functional approach to the treatment of PCOS and other hormonal disruptions, and it has become my passion to help my patients experience the same relief that Dr. Kimbi helped me find so many years ago. The periods returned, the weight fell off, and I began living life again in a much more balanced and regulated state. I now get to find immense joy in watching my patients do the same.
There are actually four types of PCOS – inflammatory, insulin resistance, androgen-specific, and post-pill. Women can also present with a combination of any of the above types, and the thing is that none of these are a “one size fits all” approach. Some women may have high testosterone in their androgen-specific presentation while others may have estrogen dominance with progesterone deficiency. This factor alone is why it is so important to get a hormonal baseline for my PCOS patients prior to starting patient-centered and individualized care. Getting to the root cause of the symptoms is key for supporting hormonal balance, fertility, and overall well-being.
One of my absolute favorite supplements for PCOS is inositol. This tiny but mighty supplement can be found in a variety of hormone-balancing products, but it is so powerful in combating so many symptoms of hormonal disruption with PCOS. Inositol can balance blood sugar in insulin resistance, decrease excess androgens that lead to hormonal acne and excess hair growth, reduce inflammation, and even assist in triggering ovulation in PCOS patients with absence of menstrual cycles over time. An inositol complex is my go-to for all of my patients regardless of the type of PCOS they present with.
My biggest goal for my patients is for them to feel heard and supported when it comes to their hormonal health. Birth control will never be the only option, and I am ready and waiting to show you all the incredible options we have at our fingertips to get you feeling well!
Think you have PCOS or are you wanting to optimize your hormonal health? Book with us today!
I can hardly wait to see you thrive!
– Dr. Lyndsey DeStefano Chapman, DNP, FNP-C
All medical content on this blog has been reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Kimbi Marenakos, DNP, FNP-C, LPC. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding any questions or concerns about your health.
