The Connection Between PCOS & Depression

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition that affects five to ten percent of women. It occurs when the ovaries do not produce an egg each month, making the most prominent symptom irregular periods. Other symptoms include weight gain, infertility, unwanted hair growth and depression, the last of which is caused due to several aspects of PCOS.

Emotional Connection

• For some women, simply suffering the symptoms of PCOS can lead to depression. Many of the symptoms affect personal appearance, such as excess body hair growth, acne and weight gain that persists despite diet and exercise. The frustration and grief that accompany infertility and miscarriages due to PCOS can contribute to depression.

Hormones

• The elevated testosterone levels that accompany PCOS can also contribute to depression in women. This is generally the case in women whose testosterone levels are only slightly higher than normal---women with extremely high testosterone levels do not typically suffer from the associated depression

Insulin Resistance

• Insulin resistance is a condition that is closely associated with PCOS, and is generally the cause of excessive or uncontrollable weight gain. It occurs when the bloodstream sustains unnaturally high levels of insulin, and can lead to more serious conditions, like diabetes. Insulin resistance and depression are medically connected, meaning that women suffering from both PCOS and insulin resistance may experience depression.

Diet

• PCOS sufferers---especially those with insulin resistance---should adhere to a strict diet, which may help them manage their weight and achieve a healthy chemical balance. Leafy vegetables, nuts, fish and poultry are preferable to grains, which are high in carbohydrates. Foods high in vitamin B, like avocado, can combat a deficiency that is associated with PCOS. Sugars, caffeine and alcohol should be avoided, as they can exacerbate feelings of depression and anxiety.

Medical Treatment

• Women who suspect that they have PCOS should seek medical treatment, including glucose tests that can point to insulin resistance. Prescribed medication like the birth control pill can help regulate a woman's period and adjust her hormone levels, which in turn may ease her depression. Other medications like metformin may decrease insulin resistance, precipitating weight loss and restoring ovulation. The elimination of these symptoms may alleviate depression, as well.