Using Bioidentical Progesterone to Naturally Increase Progesterone Levels
January 14, 2016
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photo by Caleb Frith on Unsplash
Do you have an unpredictable menstrual cycle?
Have you put on weight around your midsection?
Do you break out like a teenager?
Do you notice dark hair growth on your chin, belly, or back?
Are you having trouble getting pregnant?
It’s easy to blame stress; however, these can be symptoms of something much bigger – polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
PCOS has been recognized and diagnosed for over seventy-five years, but more than HALF of women who have PCOS have been undiagnosed. It has been estimated that approximately 1 in 10 women in their childbearing age are affected by PCOS, and half of those women don’t know it. Not only that, but PCOS is responsible for 70% of infertility issues in women who have difficulty ovulating. Those numbers are huge!
Curious About Your Fertility? Do This!
Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, is one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. Polycystic means “many cysts,” and PCOS often causes clusters of small, pearl-sized cysts in the ovaries. The cysts are fluid-filled and contain immature eggs. Women with PCOS produce slightly higher amounts of male hormones – known as androgens – which contribute to some of the symptoms of the condition.
Symptoms of PCOS include, but are not limited to:
Unfortunately, the exact cause of PCOS is unknown and, because the symptoms of PCOS are seemingly unrelated to one another, the condition is often overlooked and undiagnosed. However, early diagnosis and treatment is important as it has been linked to an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
To understand how PCOS affects your fertility, you must first understand how ovulation works.
Your eggs are produced in your ovaries which contain tiny fluid-filled sacs, called follicles. As the egg grows, the follicle builds up with fluid. Upon maturation, the follicle breaks open, releases the egg, and the egg then travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus for fertilization.
In women with PCOS, the ovaries don’t produce all of the hormones needed for an egg to fully mature. The follicles may start to grow and build up fluid; however, ovulation does not occur and your body does not produce progesterone. Without progesterone, a woman’s menstrual cycle is irregular, or sometimes even absent.
No ovulation = no egg to fertilize for pregnancy.
The bad news: there is no “cure” for PCOS.
The good news: you have plenty of options when it comes to managing and preventing further PCOS symptoms and related illnesses! Research into the nutritional approach to PCOS has revolutionized the treatment for this problem and, as such, lifestyle and nutrition changes should be the first step in managing your symptoms.
A major problem associated with PCOS is a rise in high muscle sympathetic nerve activity. This constricts the body’s blood vessels, which can increase a woman’s chances of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, two key contributors to heart attack or stroke. The best ways to promote increased blood flow throughout your body:
Drink at least ½ of your bodyweight in ounces of clean, filtered water per day. Do not drink out of plastic water bottles. Purchase a water filter for your home, and then use glass or stainless steel refillable water bottles.
Move your body every single day. Seriously. I can’t say that enough. Because weight gain is a common symptom of PCOS, shedding those excess pounds is incredibly important in managing your symptoms.
As women with (PCOS) lose weight, hormone levels start to return to normal. Find something that you love – whether it be hiking, yoga, cycling, tennis, whatever! – get out and do it, and do it often.
Along with the weight loss comes a remarkable change in ovarian function. In one study, 82% of the women who were not previously ovulating showed improvements, with a number of successful pregnancies during the study, even though many of these women had a long-standing history of infertility.
In treating PCOS with acupuncture, needles are placed along the acupuncture meridians related to the reproductive system. This helps stimulate the organs, improve blood flow, normalizes hormone levels and promotes the proper functioning of the reproductive system. Studies have shown that regular electro-acupuncture treatments lead to more regular menstrual cycles, reduced testosterone levels, and reduced waist circumference.
What you eat directly affects PCOS symptoms and the elimination (or exacerbation) of the condition. To start with, restrict or completely eliminate the following from your diet to optimize blood sugar and therefore hormonal balance:
Instead, focus on eating real, whole, fresh food that you cook yourself. You want to eat lots of clean proteins, healthy fats, and tons of vegetables. Be sure to incorporate the following into your daily diet:
salmon, mackerel, herring, halibut, shellfish, oysters, cod, tuna, flounder, sardines, hake, skate, trout, red snapper
beef, wild game, bison, lamb, pork, pasture-raised: duck, goose, Cornish game hen, pasture-raised, organic chicken and turkey
grass-fed butter or ghee, egg yolks from pastured chickens, animal fats from clean animals (lard, tallow, duck fat, bacon grease, etc), wild caught fatty fish and seafood, raw and unrefined coconut oil
focus on the low-sugar fruits including all kinds of berries, nectarines, plums, apricots, cantaloupe, grapefruit, lemons and limes
kale, spinach, Swiss chard, lettuces, broccoli, cabbage, kale, turnips, arugula, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and watercress
There are several specific nutrients that may help alleviate the symptoms of PCOS. The world of supplements can be a little overwhelming, so I’ve narrowed down my top 5 for you:
Sensitol: a unique formulation comprised of two naturally occurring isomers of inositol: myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) – along with alpha lipoic acid, designed to support normal insulin function and cellular metabolism. Inositol restores ovulation, improves insulin and glucose signalling and helps with other aspects of PCOS. Inositol also improves egg quality.
N-Acetyl Cysteine: excessive levels of oxidative stress impede normal ovarian function and new research suggest that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have higher levels of oxidative stress which may exacerbate havoc wreaking symptoms on the ovaries. By replenishing glutathione stores and neutralizing the effects of oxidants, NAC has been proven to significantly reduce hirsutism, improve insulin sensitivity, balance hormonal parameters (hyperandrogegism) and improve ovulation rates.
Chromium Synergy: a synergistic formula of nutrients for optimal insulin function and blood sugar control. It combines the best chelated minerals in a base of cinnamon powder to assist insulin receptor function and cellular glucose uptake. Chromium is an extremely important mineral if you have PCOS. It helps to encourage the formation of glucose tolerance factor (GTF) which is a substance released by the liver and required to make insulin more efficient.
Magnesium: many women with PCOS exhibit symptoms of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, risk factors that raise the risk for heart disease and other problems like diabetes and stroke. Low magnesium levels are often associated with diabetes, and some research indicates that a dietary supplement of the mineral may improve insulin sensitivity, a factor in the development of type 2 diabetes and PCOS.
Vitamin D: vitamins D and K are essential for optimal bone and arterial health and for maintaining the immune system in proper balance. Studies have shown that women with PCOS who supplement with Vitamin D saw improvements in BMI, menstrual abnormalities, and other symptoms related to PCOS.
GlucoSupreme: ideal for supporting healthy insulin and glucose levels. This unique, synergistic formula combines standardized herbs and other botanicals that are shown to support healthy blood sugar through various mechanisms. It also contains berberine (Berberis aristata), a compound highly regarded for its efficacy in supporting healthy blood glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity.
Curious About Your Fertility? Do This!
Natural Remedies for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
5 Delicious Tried and True PCOS Fertility Smoothies
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown; however, early detection is essential in preventing further complications.
While there is no official “cure” for PCOS, food and lifestyle changes can have the most dramatic effect in the management of PCOS symptoms, including infertility.
The Fertility Code is the best-kept secret of women who want to take the guesswork out of conceiving, and give themselves every possible chance of getting pregnant quickly and naturally.
Bringing together evidence-based information,science-backed protocols and nurturing practices, this course is your one-stop-shop for getting your body, mind and soul prepared for conception.
This essential fertility course is for anyone who is struggling to get pregnant, or thinking about getting pregnant soon. The course covers all the fertility topics: egg quality, ovarian reserve, miscarriage, ovulation, cycle tracking, low progesterone, IVF, prepping for egg retrieval + embryo transfer, thyroid health, toxins, and much more.It covers EVERYTHING you need to know and you can move through the modules at your own pace.
The Fertility Code will give you the tools, protocols, tests, supplements, and more to optimize your fertility health, nourish your body, and give it what it needs to make a baby, and ensure a healthy full-term pregnancy.It has helped hundreds of women get pregnant, and stay pregnant, and it can help you too.
And if you want to get a baseline of your fertility health before getting started, take my quiz! After you complete it, you’ll receive a detailed report from me explaining your results.
If you want more personalized guidance and support, or want to have a more in-depth conversation about your specific concerns, feel free to schedule a 1:1 consultation. I offer 1:1 consultations through the convenience of video conferencing for women and couples with various fertility & hormonal health concerns.
Sarah Jane Sandy is a certified nutrition therapist, and a fertility and women’s health expert. She has helped hundreds of women increase their fertility naturally and go on to have healthy full-term pregnancies. Learn more about her own fertility journey here. To send Sarah a message, complete her Contact Form.
