4 Things You Should Not Do With PCOS

1- Eat High-Sugar Foods

As you probably know, PCOS is linked to insulin resistance. This alters the way your body is able to process and deal with sugar. If left unchecked, it can lead to diabetes and significantly worse complications. This isn’t to say that you have to avoid all sugars or switch to artificial sweeteners, but focus on eating natural and whole foods and try to eliminate as many processed foods as possible from your diet.

2- Skip Doctor's Appointments

Your doctor can help you monitor for complications and keep you healthy. The scheduled visits are important to keep track of your health and make sure that you stay symptom-free. This is especially important if you are undergoing infertility treatment. Some of the medications can cause severe complications and you need to be monitored.

3- Ignore Your Symptoms

The good thing about PCOS is that there are a lot of medication and treatment options available. There’s no need to disregard your symptoms or assume that they are something that you just have to deal with. Check in with your doctor regularly to discuss your symptoms, and don’t be afraid to say that the treatment isn’t working.

Smoke

Smoking can increase your risk for heart disease, atherosclerosis and diabetes. You are also at a much higher risk for developing those conditions when you have PCOS, so do yourself a favor and skip behaviors that will only make that risk higher. Check with your doctor if you need help kicking the habit.

4- Keep it to Yourself

PCOS can be a challenging condition, and having a good support structure is crucial. So, if you don’t know anyone else who has PCOS or don't have anyone with whom you talk about it, find a support group. There are many organizations that offer places where you can meet other women with PCOS. Check in with your doctor for ideas, too.