A Patient's Guide to PCOS

PCOS affects 6 million women in the US alone. Sadly, 3 out of 4 women who have symptoms of PCOS, such as infertility, acne, hirsutism, excess weight and sugar cravings, do not know the cause. Many women never discover what is really wrong with them as they bounce from one doctor to another without a proper diagnosis or effective treatment plan.

For those women who struggle with this issue, "A Patient's Guide to PCOS," by Walter Futterweit, M.D., is truly a blessing. If you suspect that you have PCOS, this book is a great place to begin your journey towards health and wellness. Dr. Futterweit has devoted more than 25 years of his career to treating women with PCOS. He is considered an early pioneer in the study of women with PCOS and the development of effective treatments. In addition to a private practice in New York City, he also conducts PCOS related research at the Mount Sinai Medical Center and School of Medicine.

Personally, it took me 13 years of visiting various doctors' offices to finally get a diagnosis of PCOS. If I had read this book when I was 18, it would have saved me years of heartache, anxiety and confusion. Reading "A Patient's Guide to PCOS" is equivalent to a two hour consultation with one of the nation's "Top Docs." Dr. Futterweit empowers you to take charge of your health by helping you take a step toward controlling this syndrome instead of letting it control you. In the early chapters, Dr. Futterweit educates and helps one to assess whether you may need to be further screened for PCOS. Once it has been determined that you may have the syndrome, a thorough explanation of diagnostic tests is outlined. It is suggested that these tests be conducted by an endocrinologist who specializes in PCOS.

Dr. Futterweit states, "You can't cure PCOS, but you can lessen its intensity to the point where you're symptom-free. You can feel good again." Lifestyle modification is essential to easing symptoms. "The bottom line is that losing 7-10% of your body weight through healthful eating and keeping those ten to twenty pounds off through moderate exercise can effectively reduce your PCOS symptoms."

Perhaps the book's greatest strength lies in the easy to follow low-glycemic carbohydrate eating plan and detailed discussion of winning eating strategies. Dr. Futterweit explains, "With the right food management strategies almost anyone suffering from PCOS can take control of her eating, her genetic influence, her metabolic resistance and most importantly her weight."

Throughout the book, Dr. Futterweit stresses the importance of keeping your weight under control with a healthy eating and exercise plan. Not only will lifestyle modifications ease the hair and skin symptoms of PCOS, but will also reduce a woman's risk of developing Insulin Resistance Syndrome (IRS).

I suspect that many women with PCOS are not fully aware of the dangers of IRS. Dr Futterweit reports, "Most women with PCOS are insulin resistant and have IRS. Many women with PCOS develop Type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes. These major problems may help to put PCOS-related skin and hair problems into perspective."

"Skin and hair problems associated with PCOS are troublesome but the development of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers make a diagnosis urgent," he warns. Again, the message to take away is that you need to take control of your health. You must become aware of why a woman with PCOS needs to be tested for IRS factors, and know the array of tests you need to ask your doctor for.

Lastly, Dr. Futterweit conveys a strong message of hope for fertility patients. "If you want to start a family, I've got good news: Your likelihood of conceiving and having a healthy baby, in spite of PCOS is very high. Metformin and Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) together help 75 to 80 percent of women with PCOS ovulate."

Fortunately, as I was trying to conceive my second child, I followed the Metformin /Clomid protocol that Dr. Futterweit outlines in the book and was able to conceive and carry a healthy baby boy who is now 4 years old.

I think that all of us who have struggled with finding a diagnosis for PCOS should try to help other women who may be struggling. The statistics of women who don't know they have the disorder are staggering. In the spirit of PCOS Awareness, sharing "A Patients Guide to PCOS" would provide a great way to "speak" to friend or relative that you suspect has PCOS so that she is not another statistic.

As Dr. Futterweit states, "Many women spend years suffering from symptoms while searching for an adequate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Early recognition and immediate treatment by a specialist can save women much heartbreak and wasted effort. Considering the possible diabetic, cardiovascular, and other serious consequences of untreated PCOS, early diagnosis and immediate treatment can be of lifesaving importance."

Amy Medling