I am really curious about this. Low-carbing does seem to affect my cycle (for the better) and I understand women with PCOS are recommended to go low carb. How does this help balance hormone levels? I would be interested in any thoughts or info anyone might have - thank you!!

I have been doing Atkins for about 2 weeks now and it has definately affected my cycle. I posted a thread that you may want to check out called "Changes in Your Cycle" or something like that. I got some good information.

Can you please tell me what PCOS is?
Gina

Oh Tilly, you arrived at the tail end of my obsession over having another baby and dealing with PCOS. I was diagnosed in Feb of last year and went through serious fertility treatment with no success. I am making peace with that now, but I still have to manage my PCOS. Yes--a low carb diet workd wonders for me. For a couple of years I followed CALP, but my hormone levels weren't balancing out well enough so I followed Atkins with amazing results. I got a period on my own, dropped 20 pounds (overall) and I confounded my doctor with the results of my blood work in just 6 days! The key to living a beter life while dealing with PCOS is eating low carb, exercise and, and taking a PCOS med like Glucophage. All three of these things in the long term wil help you accomplish your goals of a healthier lifestyle and homrone balancing!

Best of luck!

Gina...PCOS is polycystic ovary syndrome. There is a board dedicated to it...check it out.

Ive been off the pill for about 2 months, (I have PCOS) and havent had a "normal" cycle yet. None at all actually.......but eating lc has made a huge difference in my moods. Leveled everything out for me. It has to be the best side effect of this diet (aside from the weight loss)

Oh, don't even get me started!!!!!! PCOS is a curse and thank you mother and grandma, for passing it down to me. Hmph!

The effects of insulin? Well, let me tell you about the effects of low carb. This is long, and same old same old for a lot of you! In 2001 I was bleeding uncontrollably, no amount of medication or even the d&c performed helped to stop it. Well, then I discovered low carb. Wow! After 3 days, 3 DAYS! The bleeding was gone. I went off all hormones and had normal cycles for almost a year. NORMAL! No bcp, no nothing.

So now in 2002 it started again. Different doctor, same results. Still going through it now. Guess what? Due to the hormones I have been injected with, the diet is NO LONGER CONTROLLING IT!! Dr. Atkins is right, medication really does interfere with the effectiveness of his diet. So, now the weight is coming off veeeeerrrrrrry slowly and nothing has changed hormonally. Doctors!

Sorry for the vent. I truly believe that the insulin surge negatively effects the estrogen/progesterone and throws it all out of whack. Don't ask me for a scientific explanation, it's been a long day! Let me look it up in my book, okay?