September is PCOS Awareness Month

September is PCOS Awareness Month,

a time to bring greater awareness to the syndrome most commonly known for causing infertility in women of childbearing age, but is far more complex than the general public realizes.

To help spread the word about the complexities of PCOS, I’m sharing 10 surprising facts that may….well, surprise you!

1. As many as five million women in the United States suffer have PCOS, and the disorder can occur in girls as young as 11.
2. PCOS is known as the ‘silent killer’ because less than 50% of women are properly diagnosed with PCOS. This means that the millions and millions of women who go undiagnosed every year have increased risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and more.
3. There are two main types of PCOS: insulin-resistant PCOS and non-insulin resistant PCOS. You can learn more about your PCOS type here.
4. Women with PCOS have higher rates of depression and anxiety than women without the syndrome. Among other benefits, fish oil may help promote better moods in women with with PCOS.
5. All PCOS symptoms—yes all!—can be controlled through a healthy diet, thus eliminating the need for prescription drugs to manage painful or embarrassing PCOS symptoms. (I’m giving away a complementary diet analysis to one of the first 250 people who LIKE my Facebook page. During our chat, we’ll discuss your current diet, and I’ll provide you with some personalized nutrition info that you can start implementing right away in order to help you start living free of your PCOS symptoms.)
6. Not every woman with PCOS has cysts on their ovaries, but it’s a very common misconception that they do.
7. Symptoms of PCOS are numerous and vary among women, but most commonly include irregular or missed periods, mood swings, excess facial hair, and weight gain, among others.
8. Women with PCOS can get pregnant naturally, without infertility treatments. Read my story here.
9. There is no conclusive, evidence-based research that women with PCOS should avoid gluten, but there are studies that show cinnamon can help reduce insulin resistance.
10. Women with PCOS are not doomed, and they can find freedom from their embarrassing and painful symptoms through improved diet, lifestyle and stress-management

Do you have a surprising fact about PCOS to share? Comment below!

I hope this post has inspired you to start seeking freedom from your PCOS symptoms.  If you would like more of my tips, sign up below.  And, if you know someone with PCOS who could benefit from this post, please share it with them.