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  • My name is Claire Daly and I am an Accredited Practising Dietitian in private practice in Australia.I have personal and professional experience in PCOS and also fertility issues. This gives me an opportunity to help women and adolescents make changes to their own diet and weight to improve their health with PCOS. If you are a woman and trying to get pregnant, I can also provide diet plans and support to increase your chances of getting pregnant if you have PCOS. I can also help you eat well during pregnancy and beyond. I provide consultations in person and by telephone or online. I have worked with several fertility specialists, conducted patient education sessions for Monash IVF and developed resources on PCOS for other Dietitians to use. You can read more about my available PCOS services by clicking the button 'Get a personal PCOS diet plan by Claire' in the top left column.
  • I am a member of the Dietitian's Association of Australia and an Accredited Practising Dietitian. Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are recognized professionals who have the qualifications and expertise to provide expert nutrition and dietary advice. APDs must meet the detailed criteria developed by the Dietitians Association of Australia. Not only do APDs have sound tertiary qualifications, they must undergo ongoing training and comply with the profession’s guidelines for best professional and ethical practice. Accredited Practising Dietitians display a distinctive logo to enable you to easily identify them.
  • I can be contacted by email (link below) or by phone to 041 212 0498.

Symptoms of PCOS and how Diet Can Help

PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) affects 7-10% of women of reproductive age. A healthy diet / eating plan for PCOS and weight loss if you are overweight are two of the main things you can do to improve your PCOS symptoms. The main symptoms of PCOS are

Being overweight, or noticing a sudden increase in weight. High levels of insulin in the blood can make it harder to lose weight because it encourages the body to store fat. Some women also experience depression, self esteem problems and fatigue which contribute to being overweight. Changing the amount and types of food you eat and being physically active (with your GP's approval) can help with weight loss. Losing weight will also improve insulin resistance and many of the other symptoms of PCOS.

Irregular periods. This is caused by the higher levels of insulin and male hormones which disrupt the hormonal cycle that regulates the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Sometimes periods become less frequent, or sometimes stop alltogether. Some women also experience very heavy periods.

Excess hair on face and body, often in a male pattern and sometimes hair loss on the head. This is caused by the higher levels of male hormones produced in the ovary, which results from insulin resistance.

Acne. This is also caused by the higher levels of male hormones produced in the ovary, which results from insulin resistance.

Fatigue. Women with PCOS very often complain of fatigue. There can be many reasons for this including being overweight, not getting good quality sleep because of sleep apnoea, having low iron levels because of heavy periods, feeling depressed and having impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes. Your GP will be able to help you determine the cause of your fatigue and some ways to treat it.

Difficulty getting pregnant. This is mainly because of the disrupted menstrual cycle and less frequent ovulation. Some women with PCOS also have other problems affecting the risk of getting pregnant including reduced egg quality, and a higher risk of miscarriage. It is still possible for women with PCOS to get pregnant, but some women will need medical assistance.

Depression and anxiety. Women with PCOS appear to be at higher risk of anxiety and depression which can impact on their overall quality of life. If you feel depressed or anxious you should discuss this with your GP as there are many effective treatments available.

As you can see, the majority of PCOS symptoms are caused by the underlying insulin resistance. This is why weight loss, a healthy diet and being physically active are the first things recommended to treat PCOS.

 

Claire Daly is an Accredited Practising Dietitian / Accredited Nutritionist who works with women and families. She has particular interest in working with women who have PCOS (Claire has PCOS herself), fertility problems or who are wanting to achieve a healthy weight and good health prior to and during pregnancy. Claire has her own private practice in Melbourne. For more information visit www.eatwell.com.au

Like to use this blog post in your own newsletter or publication? Just email Claire to let her know which article you would like to use and how I would like you to acknowledge the source of the article, then you are on your way.