PCOS: The 4 types & their underlying causes

We’re all different and special in our own unique way – and that includes the way our body feels, reacts to and experiences things, including Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

If you’re not sure what PCOS is, the short answer is it’s a hormonal condition that causes multiple small cysts to grow on the ovaries. You can read more about it here.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome can be really difficult to deal with and even harder to manage if you don’t know where to start or which information is right for you.

This complex hormonal condition develops differently in everyone so the information that works for someone else may not work for you. This is because PCOS presents or shows up in different ways within our bodies.

Read more on these different types of PCOS and the 4 underlying causes from your Perth holistic hormone coach.

The 4 Sub-Types of PCOS

Did you know there are 4 main "types" of PCOS and that every woman with  PCOS experiences it differently?

PCOS is actually a broad term for the syndrome, which has 4 different subtypes. These types are based on the origin of the development of PCOS, which helps to diagnose, manage and treat the condition.

Knowing which sub-type fits you the best is a good first step towards hormonal balance – you can be one or a mix of these types of PCOS.

As my motto goes: “Balance your hormones, balance your life.”

Ready to find out the different types of PCOS? Let’s dive in.

1.        Insulin Resistance PCOS

If this is you, you stand alongside 70-80% of women with PCOS.

As your body struggles with dealing with insulin, this is seen together with hormonal dysregulation since the excess insulin can lead to excess androgens (male sex hormones, like testosterone). This imbalance can cause:

·         weight gain (particularly in the central stomach area),

·         heart disease, and

·         eventually type 2 diabetes if not treated soon enough.

Some things that add to the problem include:

·         A high sugar diet

·         Stress

·         Alcohol

·         Smoking

·         Using the oral contraceptive pill

·         Sleep deprivation

·         Gut dysbiosis

·         Magnesium deficiency

Balancing blood sugar levels is key with this type of PCOS

2.      Post-Pill PCOS

Many women take the oral contraceptive pill for many different reasons.

The pill works to suppress your hormones and stops your body from ovulating, putting synthetic hormones into your body. What this does, is stop the communication from the brain to the ovaries.  So, once you stop taking the pill, your body needs to re-learn how to communicate to ovulate and make hormones.  

Post-Pill PCOS can occur after stopping the oral contraceptive pill, which causes temporary high androgens. Like with other types of PCOS, high androgens impair ovulation causing the symptoms of PCOS. As I touched on above, your body is trying to re-balance its natural hormones, whilst also dealing with nutrient depletion caused by the pill.

With this in mind, nutrition plays a big role in helping your body through this phase.

 1.       Inflammatory PCOS

When you have inflammation in your body (caused by many physical, emotional and environmental factors) it can be harder for you to ovulate and throws your hormones all over the place and, in some cases, leaving you with high levels of those androgens again.

Inflammation (caused by stress, environmental toxins, gut dysfunction, and inflammatory foods) in the body impairs ovulation and disrupts hormonal signalling causing high androgens.

Some symptoms to look out for include:

·         Digestive issues

·         Fatigue

·         Headaches

·         Joint paint

·         Skin conditions and/or acne

·         Food intolerances

Reducing inflammation is key with this type of PCOS.

2.      Adrenal PCOS

So, we’ve talked about the types of PCOS caused by insulin resistance and irregular ovulation. Did you know that stress is another factor that can play a role in developing PCOS?

But how do I avoid stress? You ask. Life is full of stress!

Yes, stress is unavoidable and it’s normal – it’s how we manage our stress that makes the difference. The problem comes with chronic and long term unresolved stress that takes a toll on our bodies and leads to adrenal depletion.

Adrenal PCOS is not triggered by insulin resistance or impaired ovulation and is instead driven by the stress response. Caused by exposure to chronic and excessive stress, adrenally depleted PCOS patients suffer from fatigue, insomnia and commonly mood issues.

When undergoing exposure to chronic and excessive stress, PCOS symptoms can include:

·         Fatigue

·         Insomnia

·         Mood issues

The focus is on nutrition and lifestyle to support your nervous system.

Destressing helps too - a therapeutic approach that I’d recommend is Reiki, which supports your body’s relaxation and stress response.

Need help on your PCOS journey?

Going through health challenges can be daunting and demotivating.

My journey navigating the waves of health alone was hard. I felt like I wasn’t being listened to or supported, but it drove me to be an advocate, not only for my own health and wellbeing, but for others like you too.

You no longer need to struggle finding hormonal balance alone.

I can work with you as a Perth holistic hormone coach to help support, manage and treat your PCOS.

Reach out today to see how I can support you.