Can PCOS Affect Mental Health?
PCOS can significantly impact mental health. Factors including infertility, weight gain, acne, excessive body hair, and hormone-induced mood swings affect the nearly 116 million women worldwide who experience PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
Because of the frustrating symptoms of PCOS, emerging research suggests a significant link between mental health and PCOS, with women suffering from this condition being at higher risk of experiencing various psychological disorders.
This is something I personally struggled with. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was in year 8 of school and gained 10kg over one semester.
I had quite a stressful puberty with body image issues and emotional eating as I grew up in an Asian country. I was always a big-sized girl in my class, and I ate when I felt stressed. When I realized that I could not fit into my school uniform, I switched from binging to restricting.
Back then, I had no idea why I chose to eat more to cope with my mental stress until I found the link between PCOS and my emotional roller coaster. Dieting and losing weight did not fix my problems, but knowing why I’m having the cravings and how to satisfy my body by choosing the right food helped me get back control.
In this blog post, we'll discuss:
What PCOS is and Why It's So Common
The Close Connection Between Mental Health and PCOS
How PCOS Impacts Your Quality of Life
How to Improve Your Mental Health Despite PCOS Symptoms
What is PCOS?
Before focusing on the connection between mental health and PCOS, it's essential to understand what this condition entails.
PCOS is a common hormonal and metabolic disorder that leads to small cysts forming on the outer edges of the ovaries. These are a result of delayed ovulation. Tiny cysts form when an egg is ready to be released, and then the body signals it to wait, leaving the tiny cyst, delayed ovulation, and a delayed menstrual cycle.
When ovulation is complete, that tiny follicle or cyst releases the important hormone progesterone. If ovulation is delayed, estrogen quickly becomes out of check, leading to symptoms like weight gain and acne. This hormone imbalance also leads to higher testosterone levels in women, leading to facial hair.
PCOS is often diagnosed in women in their 20s or 30s. However, it can also affect teenage girls as soon as they start having their period. Uncontrolled blood sugar regulation, extreme stress, and even hereditary factors play a role in PCOS, but there is no ONE cause.
PCOS has become more common since the 20th Century and is attributed to lifestyle factors, environment, and genetics. It can even occur temporarily when coming off of hormonal birth control.
Women with PCOS may experience symptoms like irregular periods or no periods at all, excessive body or facial hair growth (hirsutism), weight gain, thinning hair from the scalp, and acne or oily skin. These physical manifestations can significantly impact a woman's self-esteem and body image perception, leading to emotional distress.
The Close Connection Between Mental Health and PCOS
Research has shown that women with PCOS more commonly have mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders compared to those without the condition. Studies show that women with PCOS have higher levels of depression and anxiety.
This association between mental health and PCOS could be due to various factors, such as hormonal imbalances associated with the condition itself or psychological stress resulting from the physical symptoms.
For instance, the elevated levels of androgens (male hormones) in women with PCOS can affect mood and mental well-being. It also creates an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone, which can lead to mood disorders.
Moreover, dealing with symptoms like weight gain, acne, and infertility can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, or inadequacy, thereby increasing the risk of mental health issues.
If you have PCOS and you're trying to conceive, you understand another way PCOS can affect your mental health. The dream of starting a family and becoming a mother seems further and further out of reach with every lengthy menstrual cycle.
How PCOS Impacts Your Quality of Life
PCOS doesn't just affect a woman's physical health; it also significantly impacts her quality of life. The condition can lead to severe emotional distress due to its visible symptoms like weight gain and hirsutism. These symptoms often result in body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, which can further exacerbate mental health issues.
Moreover, women with PCOS often struggle with infertility, which can be emotionally devastating for those who wish to have children. The stress and emotional trauma associated with infertility can lead to depression and anxiety.
Managing Mental Health with PCOS
Given the strong link between mental health and PCOS, it's crucial for healthcare providers to screen women with this condition for psychological disorders regularly. Early detection is key in managing these conditions effectively.
Lifestyle changes that include regular movement and exercise and a balanced diet can help manage both the physical symptoms of PCOS as well as improve mood and reduce anxiety levels. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has also been found effective in managing psychological distress associated with PCOS.
Additionally, stress reduction and management are also closely linked with overcoming PCOS symptoms and regulating menstrual cycles.
Improving Mental Health with PCOS
While more research is needed to understand the link between mental health and PCOS fully, it's clear that this condition does more than just affect a woman's physical health; it impacts her emotional well-being, too. Therefore, a holistic approach that addresses both physical symptoms and psychological distress is crucial in managing this complex condition effectively.
If you're struggling with symptoms like weight gain or infertility due to PCOS, getting a customized meal and lifestyle plan is your first step to overcoming PCOS symptoms and improving your self-confidence and quality of life. Book a call today to learn more.
