PCOS Diva

Most women with PCOS struggle with fertility; I know I did.  I frequently hear from women who are not only concerned about getting pregnant, but about maintaining a healthy pregnancy. I am often asked if there are there increased risks in pregnancy with PCOS and whether supplements help. My recent conversation with Rebecca Murray, APRN, outlined many ways that women can best prepare for pregnancy as well as what they can do to enjoy a healthy, issue-free pregnancy.  During our 45 minute interview, Rebecca’s integrative approach to fertility touched on important topics including: 3 things to do before you even think about getting pregnant Tests you should consider before and during pregnancy Progesterone related miscarriage and how to prevent it Supplements you should take during pregnancy Managing your risk of gestational diabetes The link between preeclampsia and magnesium deficiency

Pelvic pain is a common symptom for women struggling with PCOS.  With multiple organs tucked into a very small space, irritation can become widespread and extremely painful.  In my interview with Jessica Drummond, a well-respected pelvic physical therapist and owner of a private women’s health clinical nutrition and coaching practice, she stresses the importance of getting to the root of your pelvic pain including hormone imbalances, endometriosis, cysts, muscle fatigue and stress.  No woman with PCOS needs to live with pelvic pain.  There are steps you can take now to start relieving your PCOS pelvic pain. Listen and learn about: How stress and elevated cortisol can throw your hormones out of balance and increase your pain 2 types of foods your need to reduce or eliminate to dispel your pain Supplements that may help alleviate your symptoms Effective self-care education and techniques How to find a pelvic physical therapist near you

If you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), you have chronic body-wide inflammation.  Recently, I spoke with Dr. Felice Gersh, M.D., a leading expert on the subject.  Dr. Gersh is one of the top integrative gynecologists in the United States and an expert in the field of PCOS.  Her philosophy involves looking at a patient’s whole being in order to help them achieve optimal health.  She believes that doctors don’t heal people; they merely help patients resource their own healing abilities and find the right balance in their bodies, ideally through the right mix of exercise, nutrition and lifestyle.  In our recent interview, she delivered cutting edge information about PCOS and its causes as well as practical advice on how to begin healing. Listen and you will learn: How gut inflammation is the root of many of your toughest PCOS symptoms The 5 steps you need to take today to reduce inflammation How to protect your children from PCOS starting even before birth Whether a hysterectomy will cure your PCOS How to monitor your inflammation levels

Most women with PCOS struggle with reproductive as well as metabolic issues including obesity.  Questions about how the two might be related are the center of Dr. Dan Dumesic’s work.  I was fortunate enough to interview Dr. Dumesic and ask about his research and recent findings. Listen, and you will learn about: How reproductive and metabolic issues may be intertwined Dumesic’s cutting edge research at UCLA examining PCOS in lean women to determine the link between androgen excess and body fat Possible anti-androgen medication to treat PCOS How location of fat in your body can effect different areas of your health What is fatty liver? Medications available, in addition to lifestyle changes, to improve your health The risk of obesity damaging the long term health of a child

The Magic 5: Naturally Treating PCOS with Dr. Dian Ginsberg February 2, 2015 The average doctor examines a woman with PCOS, prescribes the pill, tells her to lose some weight and sends her on her way.   Dr. Dian Ginsberg is not your average doctor.  Listen to our information-packed 43 minute interview to learn her 5 Magic Elements for treating PCOS.  Dr. Ginsberg is a respected traditional doctor who has branched out into functional medicine.  Her goal is to help patients heal themselves by understanding the underlying causes of PCOS and achieving balanced wellness naturally.  In our interview, she shares a wealth of information about micronutritional deficiencies as well as practical advice about sleep, diet, stress and proper exercise for women with PCOS.  Her thoughts on the PCOS diet and the PCOS lifestyle are not to be missed

It is always a pleasure to speak with someone knowledgeable about PCOS, so I was excited to interview Dr.  Mark Perloe, an OBGYN and PCOS fertility expert.   He shared that PCOS is less about a woman’s ovaries and more about her insulin resistance.  His analogies of the way our bodies process insulin to a car engine and subway train rang true and made a complicated issue very accessible.  Listen as he explains why treating PCOS is a 3 legged stool involving your exercise, relationship with food and insulin sensitizers.  He offers practical advice on the most effective way to exercise to both lower insulin and lose weight, how to change your relationship with food, choose a doctor and what supplements to consider as well as his thoughts on PCOS and pregnancy.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with well-known Fermentationist, Summer Bock.  Our conversation changed the way I think about fermentation and healing of our gut through natural probiotics.  While people have long understood the benefits of probiotics and fermented foods, it is only recently that science has begun to link the two and really explore the far reaching benefits of healthy bacteria in our guts. Listen in as Summer reveals the one fermented food we should all be eating daily to help heal your gut. The goal is to establish a healthy ecosystem in your gut which contains a balance of good and bad bacteria. The result will be a stronger immune system, clearer skin, lower sugar cravings and lessened anxiety and depression symptoms.

It isn’t often that I hear rave reviews about a PCOS practitioner.  I certainly hear lots of horror stories, so when I repeatedly hear wonderful things about a doctor who has a wonderful bedside manner, and treats her PCOS patients with kindness and respect, I have to take notice. For the past several years, I kept hearing great things about Dr. Katherine Sherif, so I invited her to join me on a PCOS Diva Podcast. Katherine Sherif, M.D. is Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.  She is also Director of Jefferson Women’s Primary Care. Dr. Sherif, an internist, became interested in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in the 1990’s when she was studying insulin resistance.  She started treating women with PCOS and in 2000, she established the country’s first academic program for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Besides PCOS, Dr. Sherif interests include menopause and hormone therapy, omega-3 fatty acids heart disease in women.  She published a textbook on women’s health in 2008, and a medical handbook on hormone replacement therapy in 2013. In the podcast below, Dr. Sherif walks us through typical visit with one of her PCOS patients.  She also shares her thoughts on fatty liver and using supplements to manage PCOS.  You’ll want a pen and paper ready to take notes!

Overcoming Low Libido with Dr. Jen Landa October 23, 2014 I often hear from Divas that their sex drive is low or even non-existent. There are  lots of underlying reasons for low libido – from  The Pill, depression, stress, anxiety, to low self-esteem  and hormonal imbalance. I have called in one of my favorite experts to chat more about how women with PCOS can increase libido. Dr. Jen Landa is a Hormone Expert MD. She’s an Ob/Gyn, Sexpert, and Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD. She’s also the author of The Sex Drive Solution for Women  and creator of Rewire Your Desire, a program to help women face life with renewed energy and passion. Dr. Jen lost her spark when she was 28 years old, newly married, and just beginning her career as an Ob/Gyn. Her determination to bring it back sent her on a journey that lasted many years. She found the answers she needed in integrative medicine using hormones, nutrition, supplements, and other lifestyle changes. Dr. Jen has created a framework of easy-to-follow practices that helped her, helped her patients, and is now helping women everywhere restore their energy, their health, and their sex lives. As wife, mother and physician, Dr. Jen’s friendly, accessible style has made her a favorite among women seeking solutions for health issues from PMS, baby blues and low libido, to hot flashes, vaginal dryness and menopausal mood swings. She’s been featured on Dr. OZ, Fox News with Dr. Manny Alvarez, Shape Magazine, Elle,Men’sHealth and more.

Dr. Ricardo Azziz is one of the preeminent PCOS researchers in the world today.  It was an honor to speak with him this month. Prior to the interview, I asked Divas on Facebook to send me their questions.  I had over 200 submissions!   Listen in to hear our discussion and his answers to some of your burning questions: