“I just got back from my gynecologist appointment and I have no idea what to do now that I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS. He told me to stop eating ‘so much’ so I could lose some weight and handed me a birth control prescription.”
I was put into this situation, like many Cysters, (women with PCOS) out there. I look back on the past 10 years, and the first 5 were such a struggle just trying to figure out what to do to manage my uncontrollable weight gain, acne, mood, irregular periods—the list goes on!
It wasn’t until I finally found the right doctor, Dr. Felice Gersh, that I felt heard and understood. I was so lucky to have her! But not every doctor is like her. She is a gynecologist, and she also studied functional integrative medicine. That’s why she was able to give me advice beyond taking birth control, like changing my diet to eat gluten- and dairy- free!
She recently wrote a book, PCOS SOS, in which she talks about her approach in a very comprehensive way. Give it a read!
Why can’t all gynecologists be like her?
Why Didn’t My Doctor Tell Me How To Reverse PCOS?
Oftentimes, we think that our doctor should carry all the answers to our ailments. However, doctors are trained to save lives, not treat chronic ailments like PCOS. If you want to take on a more holistic approach to treating your PCOS, it’s important to do a bit of investigation to find the right gynecologist or naturopathic doctor that will treat you with the approach you’re looking for. Perhaps you’ll want to see multiple healthcare practitioners like: gynecologist, acupuncturist, naturopath, endocrinologist, and registered dietitian.
So, next time you go to the doctor and you’re told to “eat less and workout more,” this is because that’s all they have learned. The field of medicine is so large and the amount of work and study for doctors is very intense. Like many chronic illnesses, PCOS is not studied in depth. There are thousands of chronic illnesses, and it takes years to master and understand each one. A better understanding of a specific chronic illness requires specialization.
What Doctor To See For PCOS?
If you’re looking for a doctor who specializes in PCOS and has a functional approach, here are 3 things to look for:
1 – They should know the benefits of inositol for PCOS.
Studies show that inositol works just as effectively as metformin. That is why you see me jumping up and down about Ovasitol, a combination of inositols, which has worked so effectively for Cysters in healing insulin resistance.
2 – They should be open to doing an ultrasound to check for ovarian cysts.
I personally like to go to the gynecologist once a year to make sure my ovaries are clear of ovarian cysts. Since being consistent with my gluten- and dairy-free lifestyle, my “string of pearls” ovarian cysts have disappeared.
3 – They should understand why it is so hard to lose weight with PCOS.
Nothing is worse than being told to “just lose weight” when you’re already trying, and then being blamed for not being able to. PCOS is associated with metabolic dysfunction, which means that the steps you take to lose weight should align with healing your metabolism – not cutting calories and carbs in an extreme way while working out 2 times a day.
All that being said, here’s who you may need by your side to reach your health goals:
Gynecologist
PCOS impacts a woman’s reproductive system in a big way, so you definitely need a gynecologist. A gynecologist will do a lot of diagnosis and monitoring by performing physical exams, ultrasounds, and blood tests. They can also provide fertility support and keep an eye on long-term complications like endometrial cancer, metabolic disorders, and more.
Acupuncturist
Acupuncture can be a beneficial complementary therapy for managing PCOS! It can help regulate hormones, improve blood flow, reduce dress, increase insulin sensitivity, and provide pain relief. Here’s more on how acupuncture can help with PCOS!
Naturopath
Naturopaths focus on treating the root cause of the disease and use natural remedies as much as possible! That means you won’t be prescribed side-effect heavy prescriptions and sent on your way. Instead, a naturopath will help make a personalized treatment plan that uses strategies like nutritional guidance, herbal medicine, detoxification, lifestyle counseling, and other natural remedies.
Functional Medicine Practitioners
Functional medicine practitioners will also help get to the root cause, rather than treating your symptoms. To ensure they’re getting to the core of the problem, a functional medicine practitioner will often use advanced lab testing to keep track of hormone levels and other biochemical markers.
Integrative Medicine Doctors
An integrative medicine doctor combines natural medicine and conventional medicine to treat a patient’s mind, body, and soul in the most effective and thoughtful way possible. These doctors can prescribe medications and perform certain medical procedures needed for your treatment!
Endocrinologist
PCOS is a hormone condition, so a hormone specialist (an endocrinologist) is essential. They use their expertise to diagnose hormonal imbalances and metabolic issues that are causing your symptoms. Then, endocrinologists treat those imbalances using strategic lifestyle changes and necessary medications.
Registered Dietitian
Dietitians aren’t all about weight loss. RDs are specialized for lots of different health goals! I’m a Registered Dietitian who specializes in PCOS, and there are lots of us out there. We help you Cysters use nutrition strategically to manage symptoms and get to the root cause of your symptoms. And, don’t worry, the approach to food isn’t all about restriction!
Here’s more on my recommended PCOS-friendly balanced diet!
Managing PCOS takes a holistic approach and the right team of doctors!
Not every doctor can be expected to know how to treat every ailment. However, there are plenty of medical professionals that have the training to help you reach your PCOS healing goals—like my gynecologist Dr. Felice Gersh!
For more from her, listen to these episodes of A Cyster and Her Mister:
pcosweightloss.org (Article Sourced Website)
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