When you have a health condition like PCOS (i.e., polycystic ovarian syndrome), it makes sense to wonder what caused it. From a medical perspective, knowing the causes of PCOS allows us to treat it in a more effective and targeted manner.
Mentally, it also makes a difference. As a woman living with PCOS, I used to often find myself wondering – why is this happening to me, and is there anything I could have done differently?
In this post, I’ll explore potential PCOS causes and the complicating cofactors. Each one of you has a different story, and your PCOS can have different underlying causes, so read on to learn what could be involved.
What is PCOS?
PCOS stands for polycystic ovarian syndrome, and it’s one of the primary conditions I treat in my practice. It’s a hormonal disorder that affects at least 1 in 10 women.
The main PCOS signs for diagnosis are the following:
- Elevated androgen (i.e., male hormone) levels
- Cysts on the ovaries
- An irregular menstrual cycle or non-existent periods
If you experience two of these three PCOS signs and other health conditions have been ruled out, then you qualify for the diagnosis.
Is PCOS Genetic?
In most cases, PCOS does appear to be genetic, although we don’t have a clear understanding of the precise underlying genetic factors. What’s certain is that if you have PCOS, it’s highly likely that other women in your family have it as well, and vice versa. It’s better to think of it as being a genetic predisposition since other factors can trigger your symptoms.
Potential PCOS Causes
PCOS causes can be elusive. It’s a complex condition that’s influenced by a broad range of factors both internal and external. While predisposition is largely genetic, all of these are potential triggers.
Insulin
One of the most concerning aspects of PCOS is elevated insulin, which is often related to poor nutrition. It’s linked to some of the most frustrating and dangerous health outcomes of PCOS, like weight gain, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and an elevated risk of heart disease.
What’s unclear is whether insulin resistance is just a symptom or also a trigger for PCOS. Elevated insulin levels can increase androgen production, but the reverse is also true. That’s part of the reason why we place such a major focus on your PCOS diet as part of naturopathic treatment.
Adrenal Fatigue
Your adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system, responsible for producing cortisol when your body is stressed (as well as a few different androgens). Adrenal fatigue is when elevated stress over-taxes your adrenal glands, leading to overall hormonal disruption and in that way, triggering PCOS. To address this factor in PCOS, we often need to focus on restoring calm in your life.
Hormonal Changes
In my own practice, I’ve noticed that major hormonal changes can trigger PCOS. Most frequently, PCOS signs rear their ugly head after a patient has stopped taking her birth control, but other major hormonal changes, like pregnancy, can also play a role.
Inflammation
Chronic inflammation can also be a PCOS cause or trigger. Research shows a very powerful connection between inflammation and PCOS, and that it often contributes to both insulin resistance and an increase in androgens. Inflammation may also be the culprit behind hyperandrogenism in cases when there aren’t issues with insulin.
Estrogen Dominance
I occasionally have patients that present with estrogen-dominant PCOS. Instead of having elevated levels of male sex hormones, what’s actually happening is an imbalance where estrogen levels are high but progesterone is low. This is why comprehensive labs and testing are so important when treating PCOS – we can’t always assume that elevated androgen levels are the only imbalance!
Treating PCOS Naturally
In functional medicine, we prioritize identifying the root causes of health concerns so we can create a specific and precise treatment plan.
For me, understanding the underlying factors behind my PCOS provided me with a certain peace of mind. More importantly, though, having a complete understanding of what’s behind the condition allowed for a more targeted and effective treatment.
That’s why I approach every one of my PCOS patients as a unique case.
As naturopathic doctors, we follow an evidence-based approach that includes a series of tests, so we can gain a deeper understanding of all of the co-factors involved in your PCOS. Our goal isn’t simply to treat PCOS or its symptoms but to treat the entire person holistically.
If you’d like to start this journey for yourself, go ahead and schedule a consult with me.