One of the things I most often have to clarify is regarding the words above–’Curing’ PCOS, Treating PCOS and Managing PCOS. Are they the same thing? No, not at all.

Again, just to remind everyone, I’m not a doctor or medical professional. I have PCOS and this is my opinion.

One of the items I am continually removing from Golden Shoes’ Facebook page are spam comments where people post “I found a cure for PCOS here” or “Buy this and cure PCOS.” This frustrates me to no end.

First, PCOS can not be cured. You can treat it. You can manage it. But you can’t cure it.

Why? Ok, hear me out.

‘Curing’ PCOS

PCOS is genetic. It’s a part of you. It’s not like the flu or some bacterial infection. Bacteria and viruses can be treated and eliminated. Your genes? Nope, those can’t. You were born with ‘em and you’re going to die with ‘em.

Treating PCOS

To treat PCOS means something is being done to remedy the symptoms or the root. Treatment can be a noun (for example, you can say that one of your treatment methods is a change in your diet). It is something that you can do. It’s also a verb. “I’m treating my PCOS with metformin, diet and exercise.” Treatment is something you do!

Managing PCOS

So what happens when you are maintaining your treatment program? You are managing your PCOS! Now, let’s remember that each woman will manage her PCOS in a different way. We’re all different. And because management of PCOS comes in many forms, there is no cookie-cutter method. However, management of PCOS definitely means it is ongoing. Not like a ‘only on Fridays’ kind of thing. ;)

So, this is my approach to PCOS and how my doctors have approached it as well. I am fortunate to have not only a PCOS specialist GROUP (amazing!) of physicians, but my general practitioner has a PCOS specialty and my gynecologist does too. In fact, my gynecologist also did my ovarian drilling surgery. It’s important that your physicians be on the same page with you on your PCOS. But you knew that. You’re smart. You’re concerned about your health. And you know that your own intuition is your best bet.

Thanks for letting me share. What do you think about this?

-Cole

These suggestions cost no money and only take a little time. Research continually shows (referring to yoga therapy studies here) that these methods have boosted the success rate of many infertile couples.

Here’s and excerpt from the article:

Sleep through Fertility, the Yogi Way

a blog by Tami Quinn, Pulling Down the Moon, August 20, 2010

Last time we wrote a blog on how proper nutrition and some healthy lifestyle changes can assist with insomnia or other sleep disorders. This week we thought we’d share with you a yogi’s perspective on how to get a good night’s rest.

As you probably know by now, an increasing amount of evidence points to the importance of a good night’s sleep in the treatment of infertility. Poor sleep can lead to the disruption of hormones, a weakened immunity, a lower tolerance for stress and even depression. While some folks can pinpoint the reason for their sleeplessness, many of us cannot.

Since sleep is an important part of a holistic fertility program at Pulling Down the Moon, we thought we’d share additional tips, this time from a yoga perspective on how to get to sleep and stay asleep.

And here’s the link to the full story.

Microwave Popcorn

The expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group,

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. “They stay in your body for years and accumulate there,” says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.

The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.

The rest of the article is here: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/the-7-foods-experts-wont-eat-547963/