The most common medication used in women with PCOS is the insulin-sensitizer metformin. Research is strongly showing that long-term use of metformin and at high doses (1.5 mg or higher daily) can deplete levels of vitamin B12. A deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause permanent neurological and nerve damage as well as mood changes and decreased energy. Here’s what you need to know to avoid a vitamin B12 deficiency if you take metformin.
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N-Acetyl Cysteine, also known as NAC may offer help to women with PCOS. In this article, we examine the research between NAC and women with PCOS and what influence it may or may not have on fertility, inflammation, and improving metabolic markers like insulin.
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Inositol is a member of the B-vitamins and a component of the cell membrane. Inositol is found in fruits, beans, grains, and nuts and is also made by the body. While there are nine forms of inositol, myo (MYO) and d-chiro-inositol (DCI) types have been well studied in women with PCOS, both showing good results. Here’s what you need to know.
Looks like women with PCOS can add yet another symptom to an already long list of complications associated with PCOS: Dry Eye Syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a common condition, affecting an estimated 9 million Americans. Those with dry eyes know that the condition can affect the quality of life as dry eyes can impact your work and every aspect of your life. If not treated and managed, people with dry eyes can develop repeated eye infections that can eventually lead to scarring of your cornea and vision problems. Contact lenses can make dry eye worse as they suck more moisture out of an already dry eye. If you suffer from dry eye syndrome, here’s how to treat it naturally.
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Fish oil offers numerous benefits to women with PCOS, including boosting mood. There’s no question that women with PCOS suffer from more mood disorders such as depression and anxiety than those without the syndrome. For some women, mood issues can be a result of dealing with all the problems PCOS brings: dramatic body image issues, fluctuations in blood sugar, loss of control over weight, difficulty managing the syndrome, infertility, and lack of support. Mood disorders can also be brought on by hormone imbalances. There is some good news for the millions of women who struggle with mood problems: omega-3 fatty acids, particularly the kind that come from fish, may help manage mood.
As readers of this website undoubtedly know, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is defined as irregular or even absent ovulation resulting in long stretches of time between menstrual cycles. Often, women with irregular ovulation are given a diagnosis of PCOS, even if they are not insulin resistant. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sees PCOS in a few different ways, depending on how it presents in your body. Western medicine tends to treat all PCOS patients in the same way, where TCM looks at each patient’s pattern of symptoms before making a diagnosis.
