Can you be slim and have PCOS?

Can you be slim and have PCOS?

However, it is possible to have PCOS and be a healthy weight or even underweight. This is known as lean PCOS. Women with lean PCOS may struggle with irregular periods, blood sugar control, fertility problems, and other symptoms caused by elevated androgen (testosterone) levels such as excess facial hair and acne.

What is a lean PCOS?

So, I am a woman with ‘lean PCOS’ (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). What this means, technically, is that I fall into the 1 out of 3 women who have PCOS who are not overweight or obese. For this, I am both proud and lucky. Proud because I am able to manage a healthy lifestyle with this condition.

Can lean PCOS be cured?

The takeaway. Careful management of your PCOS, even when you’re within a healthy BMI range, can reduce symptoms and side effects. With a carefully planned diet and exercise regimen, you may find the severity of your PCOS reduced and your fertility improved.

Can you get pregnant with lean PCOS?

In another study, researchers found that lean women with PCOS had a 52 percent pregnancy success rate when treated with ovulatory fertility drugs plus Intra-uterine insemination (IUI). The pregnancy rates for obese women with PCOS were much lower. (Just 22 percent.)

How do you diagnose lean PCOS?

Lean PCOS is diagnosed like other forms of PCOS. There are different ways to diagnose PCOS by different expert groups. Usually the diagnosis is based on having high androgen levels in the blood and menstrual cycle issues.

How can I shrink my PCOS?

To help decrease the effects of PCOS , try to:

1. Maintain a healthy weight. Weight loss can reduce insulin and androgen levels and may restore ovulation.
2. Limit carbohydrates. Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets might increase insulin levels.
3. Be active. Exercise helps lower blood sugar levels.

What are the symptoms of lean PCOS women?

It appears that women with “lean PCOS” have much in common with their heavier counterparts. They both exhibit, in varying degrees, the symptoms of elevated testosterone, Insulin Resistance, and excess insulin levels in their blood.

Is it possible to lose weight with PCOS?

In a small study of 5 women with PCOS, a 24-week ketogenic diet reduced their body weight by 12%, testosterone by 22%, and fasting insulin by 54% on average ( 29 ). However, that diet restricted participants to a maximum of 20 grams of carbohydrate per day for the entire 24 weeks.

How many lean women with PCOS are insulin resistant?

Insulin resistance is usually associated with obesity. However, as mentioned above, lean women with PCOS may be at an increased risk of developing insulin resistance despite not being overweight. Researchers have estimated that about 20%–25% of lean women (BMI <25) are insulin resistant. 3 

Are there any supplements for overweight women with PCOS?

5) Just like overweight women, lean PCOS women can also have problems metabolizing a B-vitamin called “inositol”. Supplementing with inositol or d-pinitol (a cousin of inositol) has been shown to improve symptoms and help restore a normal cycle.