PCOS Myth Series
Is hormonal imbalance in PCOS caused by the ovaries?

PCOS MYTH SERIES

Welcome to the Myth Series about PCOS. Today we will discover whether the ovaries are the cause of hormonal imbalance.

Lately I have read some article about PCOS and this is what I found:

“Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance caused by the ovaries (the organ that produces and releases eggs) creating excess male hormones.”

I felt something was wrong here.

Hormonal imbalance in PCOS is NOT caused by ovaries themselves!

So we have our first MYTH here.

Let’s dive into it!

Hormonal Imbalance in PCOS

The cause of PCOS is not really known, but your ovaries itself are not the cause of hormonal imbalance.

“The ovaries start to create excess male hormones”, because of something.

But what can be that something?

Well, what about:

Chronic stress
Trauma
Competitive environment
Prolonged diet rich in processed food
Not enough food (prolonged starvation)
Endocrine disruptors
Stopping the hormonal pill after long use
Certain medications
Brain tumour
Ovarian tumour
Insulin resistance

Can you relate to any of this?

*I didn’t mention genetics here, because the role of genes in PCOS is still unclear. It is estimated that 20-40% of women with PCOS have a mother or sister who also struggle with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, but this doesn’t explain the hereditary and genes involved in PCOS ( genetics explains less than 10 percent of the condition’s heritability).

Hormonal Imbalance holistically

Reproductive system doesn’t work on its own. Our ovaries do not work on their own.

It is a delicate structure closely connected to any other system of our bodies. Especially the brain – specifically hypothalamus and pituitary gland. But also our adrenal system and metabolic system.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is not always only about “excess male hormones” (adrenal type PCOS). What about inflammation type PCOS, insulin resistance type PCOS, post-pill type PCOS….?

To have a better understanding of PCOS we need to look at our health holistically.

I know from experience that many people connect holistically with spirituality or alternative medicine. But what it really means is that to manage Polycystic Ovary Syndrome you look at every aspect of your life and try to connect different circumstances to your current situation.