FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormones. Women with PCOS produce excessive amounts of male hormones, which causes them to skip menstrual cycles.
Can PCOS be reversed?
PCOS can not be treated with medication. Often, birth control pills are used for symptom management. However, hormonal birth control pills do not attack the root cause of the problem and induce periods through a mechanism called withdrawal bleeding. However, withdrawal bleeding is not the same as a natural period because it stops your body's natural ovulation.
How can Uvi Health help me manage my PCOS?
Our multi-disciplinary team of clinical nutritionists, gynecologists, and fitness instructors, has designed a program that takes science-backed best practices to help you start on a personalized journey for PCOS reversal.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
PCOS can be complex, and women suffering from the disorder will exhibit a different combination of symptoms. For this reason, there is no single test for PCOS. The best way to diagnose PCOS is through the Rotterdam Criteria. Based on the Rotterdam Criteria, if you have 2 out of the following symptoms, it’s most likely you have PCOS.
1. Menstrual Irregularities - If you have <9 cycles per year, >35 days between cycles or irregular cycles, your menstrual cycle is considered irregular.
What are the different types of PCOS?
A common misconception around PCOS is that all women go through the same symptoms. There are four different types of PCOS depending on what is your underlying trigger for hormonal imbalance. These are classified as follows:
2. Inflammatory PCOS - Inflammation happens when your body's natural immune system reacts to a foreign substance. Some foods can trigger inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation triggers your ovaries to make too much testosterone.
4. Pill-Induced PCOS - Birth control pills work by releasing hormones which supress ovulation. Once you come off the pills, it takes a few months for your body to resume its natural course of ovulation. If this has not happened for you, then you have pill-induced PCOS.
Would supplements help me reverse PCOS?
While diet and lifestyle alone can have significant impact in managing PCOS, targeted supplementation can also prove effective. What that means is that you should not take supplements without taking your clinical history and individualized lab results for nutritional deficiencies into account. Continue to monitor your lab results so as to not overdo supplements.