5 Positives of PCOS #7
Are there any positives of having PCOS?
Hi, This is Francesca from The PCOS Newsletter where we provide answers to complex PCOS questions in a concise and easy-to-understand format. Today we are looking at the positives of PCOS.
This week’s question:
Are there any positives of having PCOS?
The answer:
There is a lot out there about PCOS that can scare you. I particularly despise fear as a tool to increase sales. If you ever see titles that are phrased to be very scary and at the bottom they sell you something, I would turn the other way around.
There are many things we can do with the research we have to increase awareness and help women understand what they are facing and take the right precautions, but this should always aim to educate. I believe we all need to make the most of life in the way that it is served to us.
I have been asked by a few people if, in the middle of all this doom and gloom, there are any positives of having PCOS. I started researching and to my surprise, there are a few.
Here are 5 positive things about PCOS:
Strength of character 🧠
A study looked at the personality and psychological profile of PCOS women. PCOS patients had higher scores of judgement, hope, perspective and transcendence than the healthy controls. I would recommend reading this study, as I somehow find myself identifying with their description of women with PCOS. (Do you think I could put this as evidence on my CV? 👀)
Attention towards your body 🧘🏼♀️
Our bodies are incredible. I, personally, didn’t get taught much about my cycle in my teenage years, and from conversations with other women, we know little about how our hormone variations affect our mood, weight, appetite, etc. Getting a diagnosis of PCOS automatically forces you to be more in tune with your body and notice these variations and learn from them. I even tell my colleagues where I am in my cycle as a heads up of why I might be a bit more direct in the next days.
Enhanced muscle strength 💪🏼
It is believed that due to high androgens, muscle mass and strength can be elevated in women with PCOS. A study looking at 40 women with and without PCOS found that hyperandrogenism was a predictor of increased strength in biceps curl exercises, in the dominant leg and better handgrip strength. This is an incredibly small study, but I will take it. Anything that gives us that confidence in the gym to lift some weights. Building muscle mass helps considerably with insulin sensitivity, so let’s get lifting.
It can act as a body clock ⏱
I have learned to refer to my PCOS symptoms as a body clock. If I have been on top of my nutrition and exercise, my body tells me it’s healthy by easing any PCOS symptoms. The moment I exaggerate, I notice how my body starts lengthening my cycle, some acne starts popping up, and I retain more water. It’s a very efficient clock to tell me I have let go of some habits I have to get back to. Sometimes I think, if I didn’t have PCOS, would I have acquired bad habits and end up with a more serious condition when I am older? As a result, I am thankful, and I feel amazing when I eat right and exercise.
Fertility after 35 years old 🤰🏼
This is something that goes a bit against what we hear about PCOS. However, due to the disturbances in ovulation at an earlier age, ovulation tends to stabilise the older you get. A study done on women undergoing IVF found better outcomes in terms of births and chances of pregnancy for women with PCOS compared to those without it. The cumulative live birth rate was 50% vs 21.5%, which is a significant difference. For those who are struggling with infertility, this might be a ray of light for women hoping to access IVF services.
All of the studies mentioned have very small samples sizes, so I really doubt they can be used a factual scientific findings. However, in the midst of high negativity posts online about PCOS we need to remember there could be positives. We are more than just a condition. Please refer back to this post when you feel defeated. Save it in your inbox.
Our bodies are our friends, not our enemies ❤️
See you next Sunday,
Francesca
1 Sources
Ghazeeri, G., Ibrahim, N., Khalifeh, F., Beyrouthy, C., El-Taha, L., & Bizri, M. (2022). Character strengths of women with polycystic ovary syndrome in a single center. PloS One, 17(4), e0266398. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266398
Kogure, G. S., Silva, R. C., Picchi Ramos, F. K., Miranda-Furtado, C. L., Lara, L. A. da S., Ferriani, R. A., & Dos Reis, R. M. (2015). Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have greater muscle strength irrespective of body composition. Gynecological Endocrinology: The Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, 31(3), 237–242. https://doi.org/10.3109/09513590.2014.982083
Li, J., Liu, X., Hu, L., Zhang, F., Wang, F., Kong, H., Dai, S., & Guo, Y. (2019). A slower age-related decline in treatment outcomes after the first ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10, 834. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00834
Disclaimer: We are all so unique in our own ways so this information is for education purposes only. Please further consult your healthcare provider about your health needs.