If you are affected by PCOS, you’re not alone. PCOS is a very common condition in the population around the world. It affects 10-20% of people with ovaries. And so the PCOS myths that are believed about it. Those myths are so common and you may have seen one or a few of them.
Most of these myths and beliefs come from influencers online or understood from short doctors’ visits.
A myth is a widely held but false belief or idea. Because those myths are widely spread, they might feel believable and difficult to ignore.
Being a PCOS dietitian, I do not only help with intervention regarding nutrition and lifestyle. I also empower you with education around PCOS and I love to bust myths around the condition.
In this blog, I collected 15 myths grouped from diagnosis to treatments or what is claimed to be a “cure” for PCOS and then discussed them to show how untrue or inaccurate they are!
PCOS Myth #1: You Caused Your PCOS
Unfortunately, you may have been made to believe that you caused your PCOS, especially if you live in a large body, and that is not true. PCOS IS NOT YOUR FAULT!
We still don’t know exactly what causes PCOS. Some research shows a genetic connection and environmental influence while in the womb.
PCOS runs in families, hence the genetic connection. Some environmental factors affect androgen levels in the fetus, which might be a cause.
It is important to know that what you ate didn’t cause PCOS. Your body size didn’t cause it!
PCOS Myth #2: It is Easy to Diagnose PCOS
Your experience when you got diagnosed with PCOS may be similar to the majority of people with PCOS. As it takes on average 2 years and 3 health professionals to receive PCOS diagnosis according to a study.
Many clients come to me describing how difficult it was to receive a diagnosis for PCOS.
Additionally, PCOS diagnosis is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means other conditions need to be excluded first such as thyroid diseases, tumors, prolactin level, and adrenal conditions.
To diagnose PCOS, many physicians diagnose it based on symptoms, or they may run few tests such as blood work and/or transvaginal ultrasound.
Also it is considered a misdiagnosed condition. It can sometimes be over-diagnosed. Read more about PCOS diagnosis here.
PCOS Myth #3: An Irregular Period Means PCOS Diagnosis
Not necessary! As we discussed in the myth #2. Conditions that may present the same symptoms have to be excluded first.
For PCOS to be diagnosed, at least 2 out of these 3 criteria need to be present:
- Irregular Periods, which is having longer than 35 days cycles or 8 or less periods a year.
- High Androgens (e.g. testosterone) in lab work or appearing as signs and symptoms such as acne, hair loss, extra hair growth
- Poly-cystic ovaries that are 20 or more immature follicles appearing like a string of pearls on one or both ovaries from a transvaginal ultrasound
An irregular period may mean other diagnoses such as hypothalamic amenorrhea or hyperprolactinemia, or thyroid disease.
PCOS Myth #4: You Have to Have “Cysts” to Be Diagnosed With PCOS
PCOS has a misleading name. The name has the word poly-cystic ovaries, which might not be present to receive the diagnosis.
As discussed above, the diagnostic criteria has 3 items, and at least two of the three criteria.
The cysts are actually immature follicles that appear like a string of pearls on the ultrasound.
Here it is also worth mentioning that PCOS is different from cystic ovaries that when cysts appear on the ovaries and they are actually sacs filled with fluid, which may cause pain, especially when they rupture.
PCOS Myth #5: Pain is a Symptom of PCOS
Pain or pelvic pain is not a symptom of PCOS. PCOS is a metabolic condition. There might be pain associated with the cystic ovaries as another condition that may happen with PCOS, but PCOS itself doesn’t cause pain.
PCOS Myth #6: It is Helpful to Know Your PCOS Type
There are no 4 or 5 different types of PCOS, which I see very popular online, especially on social media such as insulin resistance, inflammation, adrenal, post pill, or hypothyroid. Those are not real!
PCOS has 4 phenotypes based on the diagnostic criteria. And PCOS may come with all the characteristics of the “different types” such as insulin resistance, inflammation, stress (adrenal), hypothyroidism, etc.
What are the phenotypes?
- Phenotype A (Classic PCOS): irregular periods, high androgens, and poly-cystic ovaries.
- Phenotype B (hyperandrogenic anovulation): irregular periods, and high androgens.
- Phenotype C (ovulatory PCOS): high androgens, and polycystic ovaries.
- Phenotype D (non hyperandrogenic PCOS): irregular periods, and polycystic ovaries.
Don’t waste your time with “finding out” your “PCOS type”.
It’s important to understand your own PCOS and find the right ways to work with it.
PCOS Myth #7: You Can’t Get Pregnant With PCOS
You hear this a lot at diagnosis, and you may feel defeated by that. It is totally not true.
While PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility, many individuals can get pregnant “naturally” with PCOS. It might be challenging. Many may require medical help too.
Nutrition, lifestyle, and some supplements may help with the process.
Also, PCOS is not a birth control! If you don’t want to get pregnant, you need to use a birth control method even if you have PCOS.
PCOS Myth #8: PCOS Only Affects you in Reproductive Age
PCOS is a condition that can be diagnosed in the reproductive time, but it is a chronic metabolic condition that has consequences such as:
- Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes
- Dyslipidemia and Heart Disease
- Fatty Liver Disease
- COVID-19
- Infertility
- Cancer Risk (ovarian, endometrial, and breast)
- Mood Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Nutrient Deficiencies
PCOS Myth #9: PCOS Only Affects People in Larger Bodies
This is a big one. PCOS affects people of all sizes equally. PCOS has no “look”. PCOS may affect people with smaller sized bodies about 50% of the time.
Unfortunately, due to this believed myth, many individuals do not receive the appropriate care for their PCOS or they get dismissed with “just lose weight”.
PCOS Myth #10: You Don’t Need to Worry About PCOS if You Don’t Want Children
PCOS is not just a reproductive condition or an ovary issue. It is a metabolic condition that affects your risk to many diseases and conditions such as:
- Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes
- Dyslipidemia and Heart Disease
- Fatty Liver Disease
- COVID-19
- Infertility
- Cancer Risk (ovarian, endometrial, and breast)
- Mood Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Nutrient Deficiencies
That’s why it needs to be managed regardless of your reproductive goals.
PCOS Myth #11: Diets Are the Answer to PCOS
With the culture around us, diets are usually suggested for “weight loss” or to “fix” PCOS. Diets do not work and diets harm PCOS.
You might want to go on a diet to lose weight, but do you know that diets are the predictor of weight gain?
Dieting is not innocent. I talked about diets for PCOS in this blog in more details.
It is important to highlight that people with PCOS are at increased risk of eating disorders and nutrient deficiencies.
Additionally, food and nutrition are very important, but there are other factors that affect PCOS and its treatment.
PCOS Myth #12: You Need to Cut Gluten, Dairy, and Fruit if You Have PCOS
Restriction is not the answer to PCOS. This myth is everywhere on social media. It claims that those foods affect inflammation and insulin resistance. This is not true. You can manage PCOS while eating gluten-containing foods, dairy, and fruit. MAny of these foods are very nutritious and they provide benefits to PCOS.
You don’t need to cut any foods with PCOS, except if you have an individual reason to do that such as allergies or sensitivities.
At the end the best diet for PCOS is the diet that works for you individually and helps you manage PCOS without worries or food fears.
PCOS Myth #13: Weight Loss Will Cure Your PCOS
“Just lose weight”. You may have heard this somewhere in your PCOS journey. Weight loss is not a behaviour. Weight loss mostly does not help much if you do not address the roots of the PCOS.
Focusing on weight loss has its issues too.
Finally, there is no cure for PCOS, and weight loss is definitely not a cure.
PCOS Myth #14: A Hysterectomy will Cure PCOS
A hysterectomy is a surgical removal of the uterus. PCOS is a metabolic and endocrinological (affecting glands and metabolism). There might be some reduction in symptoms, however, it is not considered a cure as the reproductive system isn’t the only producer of androgens.
As mentioned before PCOS is a metabolic condition, which means the risks are still there. There are also side effects to hysterectomy as it is considered a surgical menopause.
PCOS Myth #15: Hormonal Birth Control will Fix Your PCOS
Although hormonal birth control (HBC), especially “the pill” is given as the way to “fix” PCOS and period-related problems. It is not the answer.
While HBC is helpful to prevent unwanted pregnancies, its not a way to fix PCOS.
HBC is considered a “band-aid” treatment. It also has a wide range of side effects.
I talked about it in more details in this blog.
