Living with PCOS

Having a healthy lifestyle is the most effective way to manage PCOS and reduce the severity of symptoms. This includes:

• eating a balanced diet
• maintaining a healthy weight
• being physically active
• reducing or stopping harmful habits, such as smoking and drinking lots of alcohol.

It can be hard to reach and maintain a healthy weight if you have PMOS.

Making lifestyle changes can be hard. You may be more likely to make and maintain lifestyle changes when you have a strong support network. A support network can include healthcare professionals, family and friends.

How physical activity can help manage PMOS symptoms

Physical activity is an important part of managing PMOS symptoms. It can improve symptoms and reduce the risk of developing long-term health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

If you have PMOS, there are many benefits of regular physical activity, including:

• increased energy levels and fitness
• weight loss and maintenance
• improved self-confidence and motivation
• improved emotional wellbeing
• reduced androgen production (androgens are hormones involved with the development of male characteristics, for example, facial hair)
• improved menstrual cycle regularity
• improved fertility.

While there’s no evidence that one diet is better than another in helping to manage PMOS symptoms, it’s recommended you eat a healthy, balanced diet.

A healthy diet:

• helps you to lose weight and prevent weight gain
• ensures you get the right amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals
• helps to regulate hormone levels, which may improve PMOS symptoms such as pimples (acne), excess hair growth, menstrual cycle regularity and infertility
• helps to reduce the risk of related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• is more effective than exercise alone in achieving a healthy weight range.

Many women with PMOS report an unsatisfying health care experience, including:

• delayed or missed diagnosis
• a lack of quality information
• care that doesn’t address the diverse features of PMOS.

Weight stigma is also common in women with PMOS. This can affect the quality of health care they receive, as well as their mental health.

PMOS can affect you physically and emotionally. It can also affect relationships with partners, family, friends and colleagues.

Symptoms can lead to a lower quality of life, with different impacts for each woman depending on their symptoms, life stage, social situation and culture.