Getting Pregnant with PCOS
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common cause of female infertility and the number of women who need information on getting pregnant with PCOS is skyrocketing. Luckily there is excellent information on reversing underlying issues causing PCOS, and natural approaches to the problem are very effective.
Herb and Supplement Info to Help with Getting Pregnant with PCOS
What is PCOS?
PCOS, or polycycstic ovarian syndrome, is a problem with hormone levels. Women with PCOS have high levels of androgens, which are a class of hormones. Males typically have high levels. Women do have androgens – the levels are just not as high. When women do have higher levels it causes irregular periods and many cysts on the ovaries. The high hormone levels also make it hard for eggs to release during the monthly ovulation.
What Causes This to Happen
Research has showed that like so many modern plagues, insulin resistance has a strong link to PCOS. Insulin is a hormone that works to change sugar, starches, and other foods in the body into energy the body can use. Insulin resistance is a metabolic disorder where the body begins to produce too much insulin and becomes increasingly less able to use it. This results in high androgen levels. Other symptoms include:
- Acne
- Excessive Hair growth (especially on the face, chest, back, etc.)
- Weight Gain
- Problems with Ovulation
- Male-pattern baldness
- Thick, dark brown or black patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
- Skin tags
- Pelvic pain
- Sleep Apnea
Unchecked insulin resistance will eventually lead to diabetes and related health disorders.
(NOTE: Want the Top Easy Steps to Boosting Your Fertility? Use these 5 simple, evidence-based steps to get pregnant and carry your healthy baby to term. Get them here.)
Treating PCOS Naturally
Getting pregnant with PCOS naturally is not just a possibility – there's a good chance you can do it. But the first and most important step to get rid of PCOS is to realize it's going to take some major lifestyle changes and a lot of courage.
Modern nutritional advice is deceiving women and families. The foods that we're encouraged to eat are actually foods that cause problems for our bodies. Women with PCOS are encouraged to eat a lot of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Stop listening to most nutrition advice now. It's not only going to make your PCOS worse – it can and will also lead you down the terrible road of diabetes and disease.
Insulin resistance is caused by sugar. All carbohydrates are sugar – it doesn't matter if you're sitting at the table eating sugar from the sugar bowl or eating a piece of whole-grain bread. It's sugar. It's all sugar. The last thing your body needs is for you to increase whole grains and starchy vegetables.
You're rightly advised to cut out processed foods, white breads, and sugar. But you also need to limit all of your carbohydrates.
More on Your Nutrition
Getting pregnant with PCOS starts with healing your body, and your food is your most powerful medicine. It can also be a powerful poison. You need to discover ways to eat that can and will create a healthy body for your baby.
Be sure to read the preconception nutrition pages on this site so you'll understand the basics of good eating. Then I highly recommend you do some reading and research on your own. You'll spend a lot of time researching what's best for your child after your get pregnant and give birth – so start now by greatly increasing your own health.
The first book you should read is Mark Sisson's The Primal Blueprint. It's not about infertility or PCOS, but it is about insulin resistance, metabolic disorder, and how to eat for life. It's an easy read. If you need great cooking suggestions that will heal your body now and nourish your baby once you become pregnant, get the companion The Primal Blueprint Cookbook.
Herbs and Supplements
Changing your diet will make a lifelong impact on your health. It can and will reverse PCOS problems. But you can also use herbs and supplements to help gently begin to balance your hormone levels and increase your nutrient stores.
Vitex: Vitex (or Chaste Berry) has a long history of effective and powerful balancing of the female cycle. It's very gentle and works well to balance hormones so your cycles normalize and ovulation begins. It works to correct hormone problems at the source and when combined with nutrition it greatly increases your reproductive health.
Omega-3's and EFA's: You can get Omega 3's from fish oil and from grass-fed meats (cattle or buffalo grazing on pasture – not feedlot beef). Good levels of EFA's create hormone balance and nourish your brain and your future baby's brain.
DIM DIM also works to balance hormones and can reduce excess estrogen levels, which also tend to go unchecked with PCOS
A whole-foods multi-vitamin can also be a good choice for all women trying to conceive. It provides essential nutrients from a foods-based source and helps to build your nutrient reserves.
Also consider a fertility cleanse if you'll be postponing trying to conceive while you improve your health and heal your PCOS. I recommend you only do a cleanse if you'll be waiting at least 6 months to TTC – this way your body has time to rebuild nutrients and really heal after the cleanse removes toxins.
You can cure PCOS and go on to conceive a healthy baby. Get started with the recommended books and articles and look into healthy supplements. It will take some work to reverse your bad health – but it's worth it not only for your future babies, but also for you to enjoy a long life free from the modern plagues of PCOS, diabetes and disease.
Get More Info on PCOS Herbs and Supplements
(NOTE: Want the Top Easy Steps to Boosting Your Fertility? Use these 5 simple, evidence-based steps to get pregnant and carry your healthy baby to term. Get them here.)