Understanding and Managing PCOS

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is more than irregular periods or cysts on your ovaries. It’s a complex condition that can impact many areas of a woman’s health, including insulin resistance, obesity, and excess hair growth (hirsutism). Lifestyle choices can play a powerful role in managing these symptoms.

The Griffin Center for Healthy Living in Oxford offers Understanding and Managing PCOS, a free three week program led by Center for Healthy Living Medical Director and Weight-Loss Medicine Specialist Dr. Aisha Khan that helps individuals make the right choices in nutrition, exercise, and stress management to manage PCOS in a sustainable, healthy way.

The class will review common PCOS symptoms and present proven ways to reduce or reverse them. For example:
• Insulin Resistance is common in PCOS and can lead to weight gain, especially around the belly. It also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But with the right lifestyle changes, we can improve insulin sensitivity and help control those blood sugar spikes.
• Obesity and PCOS are often linked, but focusing on healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management can significantly improve your weight and overall well-being—without drastic dieting or quick fixes.
• Hirsutism (excessive hair growth) is another frustrating symptom of PCOS. But by addressing the root causes, like insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances, we can reduce hair growth and restore balance.

Managing PCOS is not just about treating the symptoms – it’s about improving your quality of life.