POLY-CYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS)

PCOS is a hormonal disturbance thought to affect up to 1 in 5 Australian women of reproductive age, which is just an astounding statistic. Presenting with a multitude of symptoms including irregular or absent periods, excessive body hair, thinning hear on the head, unexplained changes to weight, acne and fertility issues.

The most common medical treatment for PCOS is the oral contraceptive pill (OCP). Use of the OCP causes havoc on the the body’s natural hormone balance by suppressing ovulation - which happens to be the critical factor in female health by the production of hormones (namely progesterone and estradiol) that are essential for energy, mood, skin, hair, libido, thyroid function and insulin responses (just to name a few) - not to mention the prevention of osteoporosis later in life. By suppressing ovulation we may be eliminating some of the associated symptoms of PCOS - but are we not addressing the cause and helping the body come back to it’s natural equilibrium.

Modifications to diet and lifestyle in addition to targeted nutritional supplementation has been shown to give huge improvement to women with PCOS by supporting and rebalancing the hormones involved in the progression of PCOS.

A nutritional consultation will help you form a deeper understanding on how nutritional medicine can reduce your PCOS symptoms and improve your overall wellbeing while supporting and regulating your natural ovulatory cycle.

ENDOMETRIOSIS & ADENOMYOSIS

Endometriosis is a painful inflammatory and immune condition affecting around 10% of Australian menstruating females. It commonly first appears in teenagers and often goes undiagnosed for 7-12 years.. Most women with endometriosis report symptoms including debilitating pelvic pain around menstruation, painful periods, pain during sex, ovulation pain, painful bowel movements, pain with urination, are you seeing a theme? This pain is due to what are called “adhesions” being formed, sticking together parts of the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder and bowel. Over time, these adhesions can cause scar tissue, which may reduce fertility.

Adenomyosis is the lesser known but equally as brutal sister to Endometriosis. where the uterine tissue grows into the surrounding muscles. While the conditions are often seen together they may present individually and cause the same set of symptoms.

In both cases an ultrasound can confirm diagnosis. The go to treatment for these conditions (short of surgery and hysterectomy) is hormonal birth control (OCP), which masks the condition, while some women do report an improvement of menstrual pain while on the OCP, this is mainly due to the absence of ovulation and menstruation and therefore absence of symptoms related directly to a period, the OCP does not address the clinical cause of these conditions.

Strengthening the immune system and bringing down systemic inflammation are the best lines of defence in the management of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis and this can be achieved by making specific changes to the diet and the introduction of targeted nutrients in supplement form. Don’t suffer through this painful condition, see how Nutritional intervention can help relive you of the pain and inflammation associated with Endometriosis and Adenomyosis.

PERI-MENOPAUSE & MENOPAUSE

Anxiety, insomnia, depression, hot flushes, heavy menstruation, irregular periods, forgetfulness, increased heartbeat, lowered libido and changes to hair are the most common symptoms of peri-menopause, which usually begins in women in their 40’s but may begin to be seen as early as the 30’s. Peri-menopausal symptoms generally start 8-12 years before Menopause, which is signalled by the absence of a period for 12 consecutive months.

As menopause is a natural progression in the cycle of womanhood, it should be a phase as celebrated as the onset of menses,, however it is for many women a time of unrest. By ensuring the body is naturally clearing excess hormones and reestablishing a balance, with simple diet and lifestyle modifications, we can help make the progression a little less of a daunting and stressful time. A nutritional consultation can help you to understand what is happening to your body during this time of change and put a plan in place to manage your symptoms.