PCOS: Beyond Hormones and Hot Flashes
One of the reasons I founded the PCOS Nutrition Center was to provide evidence-based nutrition information to dietitians, healthcare professionals and women with PCOS themselves. While PCOS in general is highly overlooked and under recognized, the condition has been largely ignored in women who are past the childbearing years. This is why I am so pleased to share an article I wrote in the February edition of Today’s Dietitian titled ‘PCOS in Aging Women: Beyond Hormones and Hot Flashes.’
In this article, I address how body composition and hormones change in women as they get older and how women with PCOS differ from non-PCOS women (you can read a previous blog What Happens To Women With PCOS As they Age). Most importantly, I call attention for the need for aggressive lifestyle intervention among women with this syndrome. While PCOS has largely been associated with infertility, constant high androgen and insulin exposure have lifelong consequences, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Healthcare professionals need to be proactive with early diagnosis and treatment of PCOS. With proper lifestyle management, these chronic diseases can be prevented. Women with PCOS require education and support around managing insulin through diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if insurance providers would cover all women with PCOS to have consultations with a registered dietitian nutritionist?
If you are interested in learning more about PCOS in older women, my book PCOS: The Dietitian’s Guide has a whole chapter devoted to it.
You might also be interested in these related posts:
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Comments (5)
casey d cays
October 31, 2017 at 1:24 pm
I am a woman 30 years old with PCOS and found your article very helpful. I have always wondered what would happen in the golden years of my life with my PCOS. The pain and symptoms related to it have changed my life so much I am only able to work part-time. Thank you for this article.
Jacqueline
August 10, 2018 at 12:02 am
I am 57 years old was diagnosed with pcos in my mid twenties. I have bones broken in a car accident which makes it hard to walk as much as I did prior. I also have hypothyroidism and a seizure disorder. Does my age mean I will become totally bald and that there is no hope for me losing weight. I read that drinking apple cider vinegar in water will help lower cholesterol and glucose as well as help with weight. Is there some truth to that. PLEASE HELP ME !
Angela Grassi
August 20, 2018 at 11:57 am
No, getting older with PCOS does not mean you will be totally bald! Not great research to support the use of apple cider vinegar. for lowering cholesterol and glucose try berberine and NAC. We have both in our Supplement Store https://www.pcosnutrition.com/store/
Dawn
December 27, 2020 at 9:05 pm
Hi. I have had PCOS all my life apparently. When I started my period at the age of 15- late in comparison to all my friends- it was never on a normal schedule from day one. Unfortunately not much was done or spoken about at that time, I am now 50. Married at 25 and at 30 was off of birth control for 8 years and never got pregnant, went on clomid and metformin at 35 for at least a year with no help- but there were other circumstances too (husband not being honest) and then At 38 was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer after having horrible clotting and other problems . I had quite a few ruptured cysts during those years. But I had a total hysterectomy at 38 and am cancer free. Life changed in many ways – but now for the last few years testing is showing insulin resistance . Can I take the Ovisitol for help with this even tho I have had a total hysterectomy???? I hope all women now are able to find and get better health care for PCOS diagnosis at earliest times. I share your site and other information to those I know constantly! But again- please let me know if Ovisitol is recommended for those of us whom have had total hysterectomies. Thank you !
Angela Grassi
December 31, 2020 at 10:20 am
Thank you for sharing your story! Yes, absolutely, Ovasitol can still help if you have had a hysterectomy. Here are some articles to check out:
https://www.pcosnutrition.com/pcos-and-hysterectomy-is-it-a-cure/
https://www.pcosnutrition.com/ovasitol-benefits/