If you suffer from PCOS, like up to 10% of women do, you may not know that you have it. Doctors often overlook the signs of PCOS and many women are lead to believe that symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, acne, and even hair loss are in some way their fault. If you feel like you are the reason you feel horrible, you won't keep looking for treatment. The good news about PCOS is that we know more now than ever before.

Sixteen years ago, when I was first diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, there was almost no information available at all. Today there are a dozen good books, great web sites and even specialists who can help women cope with the medical and personal aspects of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

How do you know if you have polycystic ovarian syndrome?

Symptoms of PCOS are many and often seem unrelated. It is quite common for a woman with PCOS to be seeing a half a dozen different doctors without any of them seeing that there is a pattern to her symptoms. She may see one doctor for acne, another for painful periods, a third for weight loss, and yet others to deal with chronic fatigue, asthma, thyroid problems, infertility and other related problems.

Read about the symptoms of PCOS here.

What causes PCOS?

We don't have all of the answers yet about what causes polycystic ovarian syndrome. We do know that it is more common in families where one person has already been diagnosed. It is also more common in women with a family history of inflammation related disease such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma.

Recent studies indicate that PCOS may be caused by a combination of chronic inflammation in the body caused by the typical Western diet and genetic factors.

What if I have PCOS?

PCOS can be treated naturally and with a number of new medications. Common medical treatments include using an insulin-sensitizing drug such as metformin (also known as Glucophage) or Avandia. Natural treatments include a low-glycemic diet, exercise, relaxation therapy and supplements such as Omega-3 essential fatty acid rich fish oil and an herb called vitex.

PCOS can't be cured, but there are many women who have managed to reduce their symptoms through natural treatments. If pregnancy is your immediate goal, you may want to talk to your doctor about using metformin as studies show it is very effective in restoring ovulation and preventing early miscarriage.

A low inflammation / low glycemic diet can reduce PCOS symptoms, cause weight loss (which will also reduce symptoms), and reduce the risk of the more severe complications of PCOS including heart disease and diabetes.

Want to learn more? My web site has several articles with more information about PCOS.