Diet and PCOS

[BlueChangeling]

I’ve been TTC to for two years, prior to that I was on implant / injection for ten years. The fertility consultant has diagnosed PCOS, but has advised that it’s severe as I don’t have a cycle, no period at all for the last two years, and I haven’t responded to clomid. There is a backlog in my local NHS and we need to wait ten months for a review appointment and to find out what the next stage in treatment is.

I have previously spoken to the consultant about a diet overhaul and he advised since my BMI is normal it probably wasn’t necessary, but I feel like doing this in the New Year and having something to work towards while I’m waiting for our next appointment will help me stay in a good place mentally. Instead of just sitting in limbo feeling helpless.

What I’m asking for is book / meal plan recommendations that you have found success with?

Thanks in advance

Best diet for PCOS is low carb low sugar. If you google a low GI or diabetic diet that would be what you would want to follow. Another diet great for PCOS is intermittent fasting so something like the 16:8 diet. It’s all about insulin and how your body processes it. Even if you aren’t overweight you can still be insulin resistant which can interfere with hormones and sadly can also lead to miscarriage. Perhaps you could try metformin instead of clomid?

I second low carb. I have PCOS and do the low carb bootcamp under the weight loss section and on both bootcamps I've come on my period within a week. Usually over 50 days apart but when i low carb they're about 32/35 days apart.

Keto or low carb. It works!

A low GI/GL eating plan would be better to follow than a low carb diet and Collette Harris (herself a PCOS patient) has written some cookbooks with PCOS in mind. Its also more sustainable in the long term.

Waiting 10 months however, for your next review appointment is really unacceptable. I would be looking to be seen far sooner than in ten months time and also be contacting PALS. (I would phone the department regularly to see if there are any cancellation appointments available because you may get seen quicker that way).

Have a look at Verity's website too and educate yourself further on PCOS and the various treatment options. It will help you in the long run.

I agree with the above and, as anything low-carb is a massive change for me, I am following a lady called Kym Campbell's 30-day PCOS challenge. You can look her up on Facbeook and her website is called Smart Fertility.

It takes a lot more thought/prep than a standard Western diet, but I can already see improvements in my skin. It's hard to say what effect it's having on my cycle as I'm also on Clomid, plus I haven't stuck 100% to it... Oops!

I am also slim but it's just as relevant. We apparently have 'lean' PCOS! I have lost a couple of kilos anyway, so am just going to watch that to make sure I don't lose too much before IVF.

Good luck! x