Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder affecting more than half a million Australian people born with a uterus, many of whom go undiagnosed.

Common symptoms of PCOS include:

• Missed, irregular and/or painful periods
• Enlarged ovaries with multiple cysts (on ultrasound)
• High levels of androgen hormones (from blood tests)
• Disruption of normal ovulation or infertility
• Weight changes

Other symptoms include insulin resistance, acne or oily skin, skin tags and dark or thick skin patches, trouble sleeping, mood disorders and excess or abnormal body hair and/or hair loss.

Whether it’s a new diagnosis or something you’ve been living with for some time, we’re sure you’re feeling overwhelmed and fed up with the conflicting and fat-phobic dietary advice dished out by the ‘health and wellness’ industry that is unhelpful and not evidence-based. At Dietwise, we’re here to support you to find a better, long-lasting way to manage your PCOS and maintain a healthy relationship with food and body.

How our dietitians can help with PCOS:

Our Dietitians can help you navigate the conflicting nutrition information and provide advice and support based on the latest evidence and current guidelines, so you don’t have to work so hard to ‘manage’ your eating. Ways we can help you include:

• Recommending dietary and lifestyle changes to optimise blood sugars
• How to improve insulin resistance
• Educating you on the types and amounts of carbohydrates required
• Addressing weight concerns in PCOS
• Navigating nutrition supplementation for PCOS
• Helping you break free from the yoyo dieting cycle
• Using principles of gentle nutrition to help reduce inflammation
• Exploring ways of moving your body that you enjoy
• Answering any questions you may have about PCOS:​​

Our highly skilled, compassionate and caring dietitians are also here to answer any questions that you might be unsure about.

• Do I need to cut out carbs?
• Should I be avoiding fruit and dairy?
• Do I need to lose weight to improve my PCOS? (spoiler alert- no!)
• Does diet impact insulin levels?
• Which foods will assist with managing blood sugars or insulin levels?