September is
PCOS Awareness Month
(Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
We are excited to offer our new Houston Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Program, The Pinnacle PCOS Program, to our lineup. Before we introduce the new packages, let’s define what PCOS is and answer a few Frequently Asked Questions.
What is PCOS Awareness Month?
PCOS Awareness Month aims to help improve the lives of women affected by PCOS and to help them overcome their symptoms. In addition, to help prevent and reduce their risks for life-threatening related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer.
The goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness Month include the following:
- To increase awareness of, and education about, PCOS among the general public, women, girls, and healthcare professionals;
- To help improve diagnosis and treatment of the disorder;
- To disseminate information on diagnosis and treatment options;
- To help improve quality of life and outcomes for women and girls with PCOS;
- To help promote the need for further research, improved treatment, and care options, and for a cure for PCOS;
- Continue to acknowledge the struggles affecting all women and girls afflicted with PCOS;
- Help urge medical researchers and healthcare professionals to advance their understanding of PCOS in order to research, diagnose, and provide assistance to women and girls with PCOS;
- To encourage countries, states, territories, and localities to make PCOS a public health priority.
What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
In women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, also known as PCOS, the ovaries over-produce testosterone, yielding many smaller follicles. The immature follicles can accumulate in the ovaries and do not mature to release eggs. The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome isn’t well understood but may involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
The ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, male sex hormones, that are usually present in women in small amounts. Some women with this disorder do not have cysts, while some women without PCOS do develop cysts. In some cases, a woman doesn’t make enough of the hormones needed to ovulate. When ovulation doesn’t happen, the ovaries can develop many small cysts. These cysts make hormones called androgens. Women with PCOS often have high levels of androgens.
What are the signs of PCOS?
Listed below are common signs of PCOS:
- Missed periods, irregular periods, or very light periods
- Ovaries that are large or have many cysts
- Excess body hair, including the chest, stomach, and back (hirsutism)
- Weight gain, especially around the belly (abdomen)
- Acne or oily skin
- Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
- Infertility
- Small pieces of excess skin on the neck or armpits (skin tags)
- Dark or thick skin patches on the back of the neck, in the armpits, and under the breasts
Weight gain or the inability to lose weight in women with PCOS usually is caused by insulin resistance, resulting in high levels of insulin in the body. In addition, being obese causes an increase in the levels of insulin in the body, which eventually results in an increase in the amount of testosterone.
What causes PCOS?
There is not an exact definitive answer as to what actually causes PCOS. Medical professionals are unsure of the exact cause but believe it may be hereditary. If your mother, grandmother, or sister has a history of PCOS, then most likely you will too.
PCOS Testing
- Blood tests can be used to test PCOS. The use of blood tests check your androgen hormone levels, sometimes called “male hormones.” We will also check for other hormones related to other common health problems that can be mistaken for PCOS, such as thyroid disease. We may also test your cholesterol levels and test you for diabetes. Our practice has an in-house lab where we can test your hormone level without the need to go to your physician. While we can’t diagnose PCOS, we can provide dietary treatment based on your lab results.
- Another way you can be diagnosed with PCOS is by a physical exam and a pelvic exam from your doctor.
- You may be diagnosed with PCOS if you have at least two of the following symptoms:5
- Irregular periods, including periods that come too often, not often enough, or not at all
- Signs that you have high levels of androgens: Extra hair growth on your face, chin, and body (hirsutism)
- Acne
- Thinning of scalp hair
- Higher than normal blood levels of androgens
- Multiple cysts on one or both ovaries
PCOS & Pregnancy
Yes, you can get pregnant with PCOS. A diagnosis of PCOS does not mean you cannot get pregnant. PCOS is very treatable with both, diet and exercise.
In women with PCOS, the hormonal imbalance interferes with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation). If you do not ovulate, you cannot get pregnant. However, here at Pinnacle Nutrition Consultants, we will develop an individualized plan to treat your PCOS and symptoms with diet. As a result, helps increase your chances of getting pregnant.
PCOS & Weight Loss
Weight loss with PCOS is a bit complicated for most. With The Pinnacle PCOS Program, our very first step is getting an understanding of your PCOS and symptoms. With there being various types of PCOS, we will use what we have learned and will narrow it down to determine which version you may have.
As mentioned before, PCOS is best controlled with diet and exercise. Yes, PCOS can be controlled, however, nutrition and lifestyle changes are the best ways to do just that. No, we are not talking about dieting or other restrictive and restraining eating practices. With our PCOS program, you’ll learn what good nutrition and healthy eating actually look like and you will be given the tools to successfully manage your PCOS symptoms.
PCOS differs from other health problems. Therefore, it requires a Nutrition plan specific not only to the individual with the diagnosis but also for PCOS specifically. That’s because it is often characterized by both stress hormones and insulin resistance.
Have you noticed that you feel more stressed than you’ve ever felt before? Well, this is because PCOS often goes hand-in-hand with elevated stress hormones. In order to fully manage PCOS, it is important to also manage stress. That’s exactly why our individualized Nutrition plans and programs are meant to make life easier instead of harder. We will help you with the development of easy, actionable steps that you can implement in your life that will help you optimize your nutrition for PCOS.
Most importantly, we will not prescribe a “diet” that you won’t be able to start or finish.
How Can Pinnacle Nutrition Consultants
Help with improving my PCOS symptoms?
You have asked the best question of all! In order to help you, we must first help you stop yo-yo dieting because you are trying to “drop the weight” under the instructions of your doctor. In fact, it’s the opposite – because when people try to “lose weight” – it causes more stress on the body and sometimes worsens PCOS. Instead, what we do is gently nourish the body by working on habits, behaviors, and mindsets.
This can be accomplished with a comprehensive, 3-month, or 6-month PCOS Nutrition Program, whereas you work on sustainable behavioral changes in your nutrition and health habits over time. In conclusion, achieving the results that improved nutrition often provides.
THE PINNACLE PCOS PROGRAM
In recognition of PCOS Awareness Month, we are excited to offer this new PCOS program and guarantee you will get so much out of it!
Step 1: Nutritional Assessment
You will have an initial 90-minute in-depth nutritional assessment with our head Nutritionist. This assessment can be completed virtually via telehealth or in our office.
During this assessment, we will gather your medical history information, past success and failures with treating PCOS, current medications you may be taking, and much more. Also, we will review your previous lab work or schedule you for new labs. We will also set nutrition-related behavioral goals.
Step 2: Follow-up Visits
This is exciting! You will have five 30-minute follow-up visits with our head Nutritionist. Here at Pinnacle Nutrition Consultas, we strive to ensure we are meeting your goals and showing improvement. What better way than frequent follow-ups?
Added Bonuses:
In addition to the dietitian visits, you will also receive the following added bonuses:
- 3-month access to our, Eat Love Nutrition Program. We love this program because it includes over 5,000 recipes, a grocery store list, food and activity tracking, your nutrition prescription, and a care plan.
- You will receive a copy of the Pinnacle PCOS Program Workbook.
- Supplement recommendations and access to our professional-grade supplement store.
- Access to dietitian-approved snacks.
- A detailed 3-day sample menu to use as a guide.
Are you as excited as we are?
If Yes, please click the button below to schedule your informational call
and allow us to help you beat PCOS for good!
