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How Diet Affects PCOS

Your Fertility May Benefit from Low Carb Eating

By Teri Brown

Low carb eating has been hailed as a cure not only for obesity but for a number of other medical problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Now a number of experts believe that low carb diets may be just the ticket to solving some women's infertility issues.

Dr. Ellen Hayes, reproductive endocrinologist at Conceptions Women's Health and Fertility Specialists in Littleton, Col., says a diet low in carbohydrates is especially helpful to those women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). According to Dr. Hayes, PCOS is a constellation of symptoms including irregular menstrual cycles, elevated androgen (male-type hormone) levels, infertility and frequent obesity.

Researchers have also found that many women with PCOS have insulin resistance. "This means that they have higher than normal levels of insulin in their blood, and this can have a direct effect on the ovary to produce androgens," says Dr. Hayes. "High androgen levels then can interfere with normal ovulation and menstruation, leading to difficulty getting pregnant, as well as causing acne and excess hair growth."

Dr. Hayes says it is a well-known fact that diets lower in simple carbohydrates will not raise insulin levels as high after a meal as diets that are high in carbs. This can be helpful, not only for diabetic patients who are trying to maintain normal blood sugar levels, but also for PCOS patients who have abnormally high insulin levels. "By keeping their insulin levels in the normal range, we can lessen the effect of high insulin levels on the ovary and help to treat their metabolic syndrome as a whole," says Dr. Hayes. "In this way, we may be able to get these women to experience more regular ovulation and menstrual cycles, leading to improved fertility."

Christina Worrall of Wilmington, Del., was diagnosed with PCOS in 2001. She tried to get pregnant on her own without success. She went to a support group two years later and met Dr. Ronald F. Feinberg of Reproductive Associates of Delaware. "Dr. Feinberg told me about the relationship between diet and fertility," says Worrall. "If I made better choices, my body would start to get back on track. Before making lifestyle changes, I tried Clomid, and it didn't work. While taking a break from fertility treatments, I started taking Glucophage in addition to eating better and exercising. I lost a significant amount of weight, and my cycles returned. Within a few months, I was pregnant. I had an uncomplicated pregnancy and gave birth to my son, William, 5 months ago."

Dr. Feinberg, author of Healing Syndrome O: A Strategic Guide to Fertility, Polycystic Ovaries and Insulin Imbalance (Avery Penguin, 2004), has seen success quite often with women like Worrall. He wrote Healing Syndrome O

Want to see more?

• Making Sense of PCOS
• Excerpt >From PCOS: A Woman's Guide to Dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Herbs for Infertility: Do You Know Your Options?
• Talk about it!