Debunking the 5 Most Common Myths About PCOS

You may have heard about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) from your friend who struggles with it, or maybe it’s come up in your search to understand what’s going on in your own body. As we learn more about this hormone disorder, and the sheer amount of women it affects—which is about 10 percent of women in childbearing years—there is a lot of (mis)information to weed through. Let’s dig in together to debunk some of these myths about PCOS!

Myth 1: You can’t get pregnant if you have PCOS

Let’s start with the biggie. Although PCOS is arguably the most common reason for infertility, it does not mean you’re guaranteed to have fertility issues. Remember, correlation does not imply causation! In other words, just because the two things are related doesn’t mean one necessarily causes the other to happen. 

With PCOS, this is particularly true if you know how to support your hormonal and reproductive health. If getting pregnant with PCOS is a concern for you, check out our Own Your Hormones course to learn what exactly you can do to boost your chances by arming yourself with a deeper understanding of your specific hormonal landscape.

Myth 2: If you have PCOS, you’re doomed to be overweight

Not true! PCOS causes insulin resistance, which in some may result in weight gain, or difficulty losing weight, but once again it’s not a guarantee! A better understanding of the metabolic patterns of PCOS is key to shedding light on the subject of weight control and even eliminating pesky belly fat.

Myth 3: If you have PCOS, you should take birth control pills

Ever noticed how birth control is often doctors’ fave answer for all things “irregular” in the female reproductive system? In reality, it typically manages to address only a snapshot of the issue instead of the whole picture. A whole-body approach that relies on nutrition, lifestyle and stress management is a more powerful and direct way of dealing with symptoms of PCOS, including weight gain. 

Myth 4: You will definitely have ovarian cysts with PCOS

Even though the word cyst is right there in the name, women with PCOS may not have cysts, and women with ovarian cysts may not have PCOS. In fact, only 30% of women with PCOS actually have cysts. The defining factor for PCOS is insulin resistance, which is unfortunately ignored by traditional medicine standards. To be diagnosed with PCOS in traditional medicine, one only has to meet two of the three criteria: irregular periods, ovarian cysts, or excess of testosterone.

Myth 5: PCOS goes away with menopause

Unfortunately this one is also not true since PCOS affects more than just your menstrual cycle. Even after menopause, women with PCOS may continue to struggle with insulin resistance, weight gain, and altered cortisol.

The Truth About PCOS

Now that we know what’s not true about this hormone disorder, we can start to think about what we know is true. Here’s the bottom line about these PCOS myths:

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome is not a guaranteed sentence of infertility
• Stubborn belly fat and weight gain with PCOS is more in your control than you think
• Birth control pills are not a must for controlling symptoms of PCOS
• You may or may not have cysts with PCOS, and
• Symptoms of PCOS do not go away with menopause 

The trick to feeling your best with PCOS is to get curious about  your hormonal and metabolic makeup so you can best support your body and its specific needs. It’s essential to support yourself with nutrition, exercise, supplements, and stress management.

Not sure where to start? We’ve taken the guesswork out of how to supplement your body to combat things like hair loss, insulin resistance, acne, facial hair, and other symptoms associated with PCOS. Check out this PCOS protocol to get on the path to health and wellness today!