If you struggle with symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), you will likely do anything to find a cure. But can you cure PCOS?
You may find conflicting information online, which simply comes down to the difference between a cure and remission. Are they the same?
Today, we will break down the difference between this terminology and find out what you can do to find relief from your PCOS symptoms.
What Is the Difference Between a Cure and Remission?
A cure means eradication of the condition from the body or a complete and permanent remedy. Remission refers to a period during which symptoms are reduced or eliminated, a temporary recovery, or when the seriousness of a disease is lowered.
There is no cure for PCOS. This multi-faceted, complex syndrome encompasses many bodily systems. This means we can’t simply get rid of ovarian cysts and then you no longer have PCOS. It is more complicated than that.
There is nothing we can do to eradicate PCOS and all its features from the body. Neither do we know the exact cause of PCOS.
So what can we do?
Can PCOS Go Into Remission?
Yes, PCOS can go into remission. You may have heard many say they were able to reverse their PCOS. This simply means, they made certain changes that reduced or eliminated symptoms.
However, that doesn’t mean that PCOS has gone away completely. The genetic disposition, and, often, the underlying imbalances remain present.
You’ll find a few ways that PCOS can go into remission: through medication, weight loss, or other significant lifestyle changes.
Can you completely reverse PCOS? That’s a little nuanced. It all depends on the person, the body, and the factors at play.
Can PCOS be cured on its own? It is unlikely that PCOS will go into remission on its own without making changes. Supplements, diet, exercise, stress relief, and others, can help make your PCOS go into remission. But you will always have the risk of those symptoms returning.
Is PCOS a Lifelong Disease?
PCOS is a lifelong disease. Even after menopause or a hysterectomy, women may still face hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, and other symptoms.
The name of the disease is often misleading, as the ovaries are not the only culprit. Most scientists have found that one of the biggest underlying factors is insulin resistance, which causes a cascade of other hormonal imbalances.
While PCOS can remain present for life, the symptoms, severity, and manifestation of it will change throughout your life.
Some women find relief after menopause from certain symptoms, and others do not. But no matter your age or how your body responds to PCOS, you can take action to remedy symptoms and find relief.
Why Is It So Hard to Improve PCOS?
It can be difficult to improve PCOS because it affects everyone differently. Thus, some advice may work great for some and not for others. Additionally, the endocrine (hormonal) system in the body affects every other function and system.
All of the hormones work together and influence one another. Insulin resistance can cause high androgens. High androgens can impact LH and FSH hormones.
This tangled web can make it difficult to pinpoint a solution that works for you. However, that doesn’t mean it is impossible.
While there is no cure for PCOS, let’s go over a few things you can do to improve your symptoms and start on the path to remission.
Can PCOS Go Away With Weight Loss?
Weight loss can dramatically help improve PCOS symptoms, but doesn’t cure them forever. For example, losing weight may improve your insulin resistance, but you may still have ovarian cysts or facial hair.
Treating the root cause of PCOS on a hormonal level can help you find more lasting relief.
Losing weight and exercise have proven to help with insulin resistance, cortisol (the stress hormone), and others.
However, the kicker is that having PCOS makes weight loss difficult. But it’s not impossible. Finding exercises you enjoy and can do consistently will have the most impact. Check out our article “PCOS Weight Loss 101” for more information.
But let’s talk about other things you can do to improve your PCOS.
How Can PCOS Go Into Remission? 5 Options That Can Lead to Results
No cure for PCOS? No problem. We can still beat all those symptoms and reset our hormones with the right treatment plan and support. You won’t see quick results, but over time you may start noticing huge improvements and find relief.
You may even put your PCOS into remission through your diligent efforts and the right tools. Let’s talk about the main steps that can lead to results.
Hormone-Friendly Nutrition
Your diet impacts more than just your gut and digestion. Nutrition is vital to your hormonal and brain health.
Cutting back on sugary and processed foods is a great place to begin. This doesn’t mean you can never have dessert again. However, reducing your sugar intake has great benefits for your insulin resistance and blood sugar levels.
In addition to cutting out things from your diet, your main goal should be adding in nutrient-dense, hormone-friendly foods. Nuts, chia seeds, leafy greens, and many others can give you energy and benefit your hormones.
Diet alone won’t cure your PCOS, but it can have great benefits in reducing symptoms such as fatigue, cravings, brain fog, high androgens, and others. Learn more about how a healthy PCOS-focused diet can help.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best things you can do to send your PCOS into remission. Being active can improve hormonal regulation, menstruation, ovulation, insulin sensitivity, and heart health. It can also give you more energy and improve your mental health.
However, consistency is key. Finding exercise you actually enjoy doing and can do regularly will have the biggest impact.
Additionally, excessive high-intensity exercise can increase cortisol and put your body into a stress response state.
Most researchers and doctors recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, or about 20 minutes a day.
Smart Supplementation
Vitamin deficiencies can contribute to or worsen PCOS. Finding the right supplements can help improve a wide range of hormonal imbalances.
For example, inositol, a plant-derived sugar naturally found in the body, has proven to lead to incredible improvements in PCOS, especially insulin resistance, menstrual cycles, and fertility.
Others such as berberine can lead to belly fat loss and ovulation. Zinc can help reduce facial hair growth and high androgens. Talk to your doctor about which supplements will work best for you. They can give you directions on what to take, when, and what dose.
It is important to note that supplements alone won’t cure your PCOS. Taking a comprehensive and balanced approach to supplementation includes diet, exercise, stress reduction, and more.
Stress and Sleep
Everyone knows that diet and exercise are important. But those aren’t the only tools to improve your PCOS. Stress and sleep have a huge impact on your hormonal balance.
High amounts of stress increase cortisol. This hormone affects others in your body such as the production of androgens. Reducing the amount of stress in your life and how you react to it can help on a hormonal level to improve your PCOS.
Additionally, “obstructive sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness occur more frequently among women with PCOS compared to comparison groups without the syndrome,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
This means practicing good sleep habits can help improve PCOS symptoms and improve hormonal cycles.
Going to bed at the same every day, and turning off screens an hour before bedtime, among others, are simple steps you can take to help your PCOS go into remission. Talk to your doctor about your sleep habits and concerns.
Medications
Doctors may recommend certain medications that can help your PCOS. The most common is metformin which helps to reduce insulin resistance. A newer option is semaglutide injections such as Ozempic, which lead to weight loss and blood sugar improvements.
And remember that hormonal birth control does not put PCOS into remission. It simply masks the underlying issues and can also cause further hormonal imbalances.
While it may help with temporary symptoms, it is not a cure-all for PCOS. It may work wonders for some, but cause issues and other health risks for others, as do all prescription medications.
These medications come with various health risks and side effects. Always consult your healthcare provider about if these options will improve your PCOS symptoms.
Is Relief and Remission from PCOS Possible?
Relief and remission from PCOS are possible. While it may seem unreachable, your consistent efforts and support from your healthcare team can help you achieve your goals. Don’t lose hope!
Diet, exercise, supplementation, sleep, and stress relief can all work together over time to improve your PCOS. It may not come quick or easy, but you can do hard things. Living with PCOS is hard.
Taking action to improve it is hard. You can do hard things. And you don’t have to start all of them at once. Slowly work these changes into your routine and lifestyle one by one.
Many have reversed their PCOS by following these tips. They may not cure it for good. If you stop these healthy habits, PCOS will likely return. But remission is possible.
What steps have helped improve your PCOS symptoms?
