Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Support Group

What you eat and how much you eat affects a lot more than your weight.(1) What you eat can either stimulate inflammation, or inhibit inflammation. An unhealthy diet consisting of lots of fat, refined carbohydrates and highly processed foods is not a good idea.

Obesity or persistent weight gain is a common feature of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Many women find it almost impossible to lose weight, even when on a strict diet. It seems that every calorie that is eaten is stored as fat.

There are many possible reasons why you are overweight. A few of them are:

Most women have some combination of the above factors that are causing them to gain weight, or have difficulty losing weight.

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac usually found on the surface of an ovary. There are many types of ovarian cysts, each with a different underlying cause. Many women will have them at some point during their childbearing years. Most are completely without symptoms. However, some types can cause serious health problems.

You have two walnut-sized ovaries. These are located on either side of the uterus, nestled under the fringed ends of the fallopian or uterine tubes. These tubes create a pathway for a released egg to reach the center of the uterus. During the menstrual cycle, one ovary will develop and mature an egg. The egg is encased in a sac called a follicle. About day 14 of the menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs and the egg is released from the ovary.

Miscarriage is the spontaneous ending of pregnancy by loss of the baby before the 24th week of pregnancy. It is more likely to occur in women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) than in women who do not have this disorder.

Although estimates vary, about 30%-80% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance.

Hyperinsulinemia (high blood insulin levels) produces hyperandrogenism (excessive levels of male hormones such as testosterone) by stimulating ovarian androgen production and by reducing serum sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG). This can heighten PCOS symptoms.

The hormone insulin is primarily known for its role in glucose regulation. Under normal circumstances, insulin assures the efficient transfer of glucose from the bloodstream to the body. Insulin also serves as a signal to the liver to begin or discontinue glucose production.

If the level of glucose in the cells is sufficient, insulin levels drop, signaling the liver to slow down glucose production. In contrast, if the cells of the body are not receiving enough glucose, the level of insulin will rise, signaling the liver to produce greater amounts of glucose.

Insulin resistance (also known as Syndrome X) is the inability of insulin to perform its job effectively in the body. In early stages of Syndrome X, the body simply compensates by causing the beta cells of the pancreas to produce more insulin. Ultimately in some women, however, the beta cells may wear out and the body ceases to produce insulin in the amounts needed. The resultant condition is Type II diabetes mellitus.

Contrary to what you may think, body fat is not simply an inert storehouse of unused calories encasing your body and organs.

Actually, your fat cells are metabolically very active. For example, they produce hormones (such as estrogen) and other signaling molecules that have far-reaching effects throughout your body.

The signals that are sent and received by your fat cells will influence how much fat you retain and how easy or difficult it will be for you to lose weight. Some of these signals are created as the result of inflammation.