Remedies

My Real-Life PCOS Experiment: Comparing Low-Carb Eating vs. Medication

My experience with both a low carb diet and birth control medication for PCOS.

There's no cure for PCOS and most times it feels like patchwork tryinng to find a treatment that successfully manages your symptoms. I've used a combination of birth control, a low diet, and natural supplements to improve my symptoms. Most of it was trial and error, but I've learned what works and what doesn't for me.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that comes with symptoms that can significantly impact overall health and quality of life. Women with PCOS often experience irregular menstrual cycles, elevated levels of androgens (male hormones), and polycystic ovaries visible on ultrasound.

Apart from those symptoms, PCOS is associated with serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. These risks remain elevated even after menopause, and underscore the importance of effective management strategies tailored to individual needs. 

My diagnosis of PCOS came after years of irregular periods and persistent acne. Back then, I didn't even connect those symptoms to PCOS. The gynaecologist picked up on my polycystic ovaries during an ultrasound and told me I had a hormonal disorder that affected fertility. But it would take me years to fully understand the condition and how to control my symptoms.

Everyone has different treatment goals. You might want lose weight. Maybe, you're trying to concieve. Or perhaps you're trying to regular your menstrual cycle. Your desired outcome will influence the treatment approach you need to take. I sought to understand how different interventions could influence insulin resistance and blood sugar levels, which are often central to PCOS management. This journey involved trial and error, research, and consultation with healthcare professionals, ultimately leading me to test both dietary and medical strategies.

There's a a large volume of research into low carb diet for PCOS, as well as birth control for PCOS. I'd encourage you to head over to Google Scholar and search those terms to do your own primary research. This article, while informed by those findings, takes a narrative approach focusing on my experience exclusively.

Understanding Low-Carb Diets for PCOS Management

A low-carb diet emphasises reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with protein and healthy fats. This dietary approach is based on principles that aim to stabilise blood sugar levels and improve metabolic health. For women with PCOS, lowcarb diets can be particularly beneficial in addressing insulin resistance, the root cause of a whole myriad of symptoms. 

Research indicates that lowcarb diets, including low calorie ketogenic diets, can significantly improve insulin sensitivity, hormonal balance, and weight management. By limiting high-glycemic foods and focusing on low carb foods such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins, we're able to better regulate blood sugar and reduce androgen levels.

Practical tips for adopting a lowcarb lifestyle include meal planning around low carb diet foods, avoiding processed sugars, and incorporating a variety of vegetables and healthy fats. Transitioning gradually and monitoring blood sugar responses can help you stick with low carb eating in the longer term. Over time you'll see it less as a diet, which implies restriction, and more of your eating specific pattern.

The Role of Birth Control Pills in PCOS Treatment

Hormonal birth control pills are a common medical intervention for managing PCOS symptoms. They work by regulating hormonal imbalances, particularly by suppressing excess androgen production and stabilising menstrual cycles. This can lead to reduced acne, hirsutism, and more predictable periods.

Benefits of using birth control pills include improved menstrual regularity and decreased androgen symptoms. However, they may also have side effects such as weight changes, mood swings, and increased risk of blood clots in some women.

Long-term use of hormonal medication requires careful consideration and regular monitoring. It is essential to weigh the benefits against potential risks and discuss alternative or complementary options with healthcare providers.

My Approach

At first, I used the birth control pill to manage my symptoms. This worked in that my skin cleared up and my menstrual cycle came on a pretty regular schedule. Prior to this, it was not uncommon for me skip periods for a month or have lengthy cycles, up to 60 days. 

At the same time, I made no lifestyle changes. My diet was filled with added sugars and highly processed food. I wasn't sleeping well and was frequently stressed and anxious. As soon as I stopped taking the pills, my acne returned, leaving me with huge, painful bouts of acne whenever I got my period. The fallout was scarring I'm still trying to address years later.

That's when I visited an aesthetic doctor to finally fix to my skin issues. That consultation ended up changing my life. She explained, in detail, how my skin issues were directly connected to my hormone imbalance and PCOS. To fix my skin, I needed to fix my hormones. 

From there on out, my strategy changed. I started using a mix of supplements, a low carb diet, and exercise to manage my PCOS symptoms. I understood, finally, that combining dietary changes aimed at improving insulin resistance with hormonal regulation could produce the benefits I was after: clear skin, weight loss, and regular cycles.

Throughout this process, I monitored my menstrual cycle, blood sugar levels, body weight, and overall well-being. Regular tracking helped me assess the effectiveness of each approach and identify necessary adjustments. For example, I experimented with different low carb diet foods, including variations of a ketogenic diet and Mediterranean diet principles, to find what suited my body best.

Comparing the Effects of a low carb diet vs birth control

These are the effects as I experienced them. I have no products to sell in this article. My sole motivation with this piece is to share my journey in the hope that doing so may help others. 

Menstrual Regularity and Ovulation:
While birth control pills provided immediate cycle regulation, a low carb diet contributed to more natural hormonal balance over time, promoting spontaneous ovulation in some cases. I fell pregnant just over a year later at 38.

Hormonal Levels and Androgen Symptoms:
Medication effectively reduced androgen symptoms temporarily, but a low carb diet helped decrease testosterone levels and improve skin health naturally. My skin cleared up almost immediately, and since then I've only breakouts when I let my diet slip. 

Side Effects:
Birth control side effects were hard to endure.  Frequent mood swings and fatigue were among the worst. At times, I felt so pained and completely unlike myself. Dietary changes sometimes led to initial fatigue or cravings but were generally sustainable. If anything my mood is better when I'm eating mostly low carb.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Maintaining a low carb diet required discipline and planning, especially in social settings. But I got used to it sooner that I thought. These days I never crave bread or refined carbs. Don't get me wrong, I'll allow myself a burger or bolognaise now and then but it's not my defealt. Over time, I've found substitutes that ensure meal times are still enjoyable. For instance, I'll swap out french fries for sweet potatoe fries. I've also cycled in and out of how strict I am, but for the most part it's become the foundation of how I eat.

This experiment taught me the importance of patience, consistency, and personalised care. I learned that what works for one woman may not be suitable for another, again underscoring the need for individualised treatment plans.

My comparison of low carb eating and medication for PCOS management highlights that both approaches have their merits and limitations. While medication offers immediate symptom relief, dietary strategies like a low calorie ketogenic diet or Mediterranean diet can promote long-term hormonal balance and metabolic health.

Explore different strategies, consult professionals, and find a management plan that best suits your unique circumstances.

Resources and Further Reading

This article reflects my personal experience and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment plan.

Featured image credit: Photo by Oleg Ivanov on Unsplash

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