by Chira
Myth 1: You must have polycystic ovaries
Fact: Many women have polycystic ovaries but not PCOS.And some PCOS patients have no cysts on their ovaries at all. 25% of the female population has polycystic ovaries, yet only half of them are diagnosed with PCOS symptoms. And some PCOS patients dont have any cysts at all. Most doctors will check if you have polycystic ovaries as part of their investigation into PCOS. But even if they aren't present you may still have the syndrome.
Myth 2: You will never have children
This is wrong, wrong, wrong. Dont believe the doctor who tells you this. Many women are incorrectly told theyll never have children because PCOS causes infertility. Some patients use the information as their only form of contraception, and have found out it is wrong! Some PCOS women do fall pregnant naturally. Others will need medical assistance in getting pregnant. If you aren't planning on having children just yet, still use some form of contraception as there is a chance that you may fall pregnant.
Myth 3: That all women with PCOS are fat/obese
Many women with PCOS do have an excess weight problem but there are also quite a few who don't. Even countries with traditionally slim people, like the Asian countries, experience PCOS. Most studies have been done with women who are obese and therefore the focus has been on that group of women with PCOS. This misconception can even be held by your doctor who won't consider a diagnosis of PCOS if you don't have a weight problem. If this is the case you may wish to educate your doctor, or simply find a doctor who is more knowledgeable about PCOS.
Myth 4: Lose weight and everything will be better
Obesity can cause fertility problems but telling a woman with PCOS to lose weight and all will be better is wrong. Underlying issues of PCOS cause the weight gain; the weight gain does not cause PCOS. For women with PCOS losing some weight, as little as 5%, may help restore or boost their fertility. But theyll still have PCOS and could be at risk for developing other health problems due to PCOS. Losing weight with PCOS is not a simple thing and many women with PCOS find it extremely hard to lose weight on traditional diets (see Myth 4).
Myth 5: Low fat/high carbohydrate is the way to go
In the past when PCOS patients were told to lose weight they were given a low fat/high carb diet. All this did was made the PCOS patient gain more weight. Research over the past decade has shown the most likely underlying cause of PCOS is an impairment of the woman's body to process insulin. Therefore a diet like those prescribed to a diabetic patient that focuses on foods with low glycemic indexes, can be more helpful than the traditional low fat/high carb diet. In 2004, Professor Jennie Brand-Miller and Sydney dietitian Kate Marsh together with Professor Nadir R Farid published a book called The New Glucose Revolution: Managing PCOS. This book, published by Hodder has become a bible for many PCOS women.
Myth 6: PCOS is a great syndrome to have...
This is absolute rubbish. An endocrinologist told one POSAA member that: if she (the patient) had to pick a disorder to have, PCOS was actually a pretty good one to have". Trivialising the disorder is not in the patients best interests. Some women might envy the fact that PCOS women sometimes have very few periods. But this is due to their lack of ovulation and this is a very important process for every woman. There are many associated health risks due to PCOS. No woman who has PCOS would choose to have a syndrome which increases their chances of heart disease, increases their chances of developing diabetes, impairs their fertility and increases their chances of developing uterine cancer.
Myth 7: My aunt had a cyst on her ovary and had 8 children
There are many different types of cysts that ovaries can have and because someone may have a relative that had a certain type of cyst and went on to have many children doesn't mean that the aunt had anything like PCOS. If a PCOS sufferer has cysts (and they aren't compulsory) then they are follicular cysts from unreleased eggs. Other women (and even those with PCOS) can experience other types of cysts which may not affect their fertility. | Womans Health Links
PCOS Introduction
My PCOS Nightmare
Depression
Self Esteem
PCOS Myths
Skinny Friends
Glycemic Index
Real Symptoms
Things To Ask Your Doctor
Too Tired To Exercise
You Are Not Alone
Press Releases And Important Links
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