Managing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can often feel like navigating a complex maze with no clear exit in sight. However, there is hope and a path to better health through the power of nutrition. In this guide, we explore why nutrition is a cornerstone of PCOS management and how finding the right PCOS nutritionist can impact your journey.
In this article:
- Why Nutrition is Key for PCOS Management
- Building Your PCOS Care Team
- How to Find a PCOS Nutritionist
- What to Look for In a PCOS Nutritionist
- Exploring Health at Every Size®
- What to Expect: Your PCOS Nutrition Consult
- What does a registered dietitian nutritionist do?
- How to Evaluate a PCOS Nutritionist
- PCOS Nutrition at Illume Fertility
- Who's in your corner?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It can cause a variety of challenging symptoms, including irregular periods, acne, unwanted hair growth or hair loss, and weight gain. PCOS also often complicates the process of trying to conceive due to irregular or absent ovulation, insulin resistance, or other related issues.
While some of these challenges can be remedied through medication or other treatments, nutrition remains an essential component of PCOS management - and can significantly impact your chances of success.
Whether you are navigating a new PCOS diagnosis or trying to manage existing symptoms that often feel beyond your control, finding the right healthcare professionals is a critical part of the process. Having a strong team of PCOS-informed experts in your corner can greatly impact your time to diagnosis, treatment plan, and confidence in your ability to manage and thrive with the condition.
Recent research published in ASRM's Journal of Fertility and Sterility shows that healthy eating and regular exercise can have a profound impact on the metabolic changes that are often present with PCOS.
This is why building a care team that includes a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who is familiar with PCOS is so important - they are true experts in helping patients manage symptoms and improve their overall health and well being.
After you learn the benefits of working with a PCOS nutritionist, your next question will likely be: Where exactly do I find the best professional to add to my team? And how will I know what to look for? With so much conflicting information floating around the internet, it can be hard to know what to prioritize.
As a registered dietitian nutritionist who has worked in the field for over 20 years, I've put together some helpful tips that will help you locate the right provider for you!
While there are many ways to find a nutritionist, here are three great places to start:
While each person will have their own preferences and needs (i.e. in-person vs. virtual appointments, driving distance to the provider's office, male or female, takes your insurance), there are a few specific factors you should always consider:
The first thing you should know is that not all nutritionists are created equal! Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, but that doesn't necessarily mean they have the extensive training and accreditation needed to appropriately treat those with PCOS.
A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) is a highly-qualified nutrition professional who has met specific academic and supervised practice requirements and has successfully passed the rigorous examination put forth by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
All RDNs will typically have:
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In addition to paying attention to their credentials, try to find a nutritionist who has experience working in women’s health (ideally, with PCOS patients in particular). This puts you in the care of a professional with a greater understanding of the unique challenges of the condition, such as insulin resistance, weight gain, hair loss, and acne.
Because of the complexity of this metabolic disorder, finding a provider with additional knowledge of endocrine issues, heart disease, diabetes, and weight management can also be incredibly beneficial.
Abnormal glucose and insulin levels, low vitamin D, thyroid abnormalities, and high cholesterol are some of the metabolic changes often seen with PCOS. Having a clear understanding of these levels (and the steps you can take to normalize them) is key to helping you improve your symptoms.
The bottom line: Your nutritionist should have a comprehensive understanding of PCOS and be able to confidently discuss the disorder, review related lab values, and communicate results in a meaningful way that you can understand.
Nutrition is an ever-changing and evolving subject. You'll want to work with a professional who has a vested interest in staying on top of current nutrition research, plus a true understanding of how to apply that information to help you in a practical way.
A good registered dietitian nutritionist:
There is no magic cure or one-size-fits-all diet for PCOS.
Does the nutritionist promote restriction or offer a more balanced approach?
Eliminating entire food groups or adopting an extreme diet can leave out important nutrients that are beneficial for your overall health - and will never be sustainable. If a nutritionist promotes these types of drastic changes or mentions other strict rules they ask patients to adhere to, that's usually a red flag.
This guidance will of course change if you have any severe food allergies.
If you have a history of disordered eating and/or live in a larger body, you may benefit from working with a nutritionist who embraces the Health at Every Size® (HAES) framework. This model emphasizes that healthcare is a human right for people of all sizes, including those at the highest end of the size spectrum.
From the Association for Size Diversity and Health: "HAES®-aligned providers are equipped with tools that support patient health goals without the pursuit of weight loss. This includes relearning tools co-opted by the weight loss industry, like nutrition and physical activity."
Note: You can search for HAES® practitioners via their provider listing tool.
At your first appointment, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) should spend a comfortable amount of time with you and aim to get a good understanding of your history - both through medical records and by being an active listener as you share your experiences.
This sets the tone for your visit and allows the nutritionist to get a sense of where you are coming from, identify challenging or sensitive areas for you, and assess your readiness for change.
An RDN should discuss the following with you:
They will then work with you to make evidence-based recommendations that are tailored to your specific nutrition needs and health goals, providing practical applications and real-life examples (i.e. meal/snack ideas) that are feasible within your food preferences and lifestyle.
You may be wondering what specific types of support an RDN offers (beyond the basics). Here are just a few ways a nutritionist can assist you on your path to achieving your goals:
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Even if you find a nutritionist who checks all the boxes mentioned above, they may still not be the right fit for you, and that's okay! If you're feeling uncertain about moving forward with a provider after your first meeting, here are a few helpful questions to ask yourself:
You should be comfortable with the provider's communication style and confident that they accept you as the individual you are. They should also be considerate of the issues that are most important to you.
Just as you want to find someone with experience treating the range of symptoms you are experiencing, you also want someone who is open to caring for you as you are. Nutrition and health are such personal, sensitive topics, and the provider should be considerate of that.
You should always feel comfortable and safe in their space (regardless of body size), and their focus should remain on your health goals. This can help improve self acceptance, boost self esteem, and facilitate healthier outlooks on life.
Many patients come to a nutritionist with a history of disordered eating (i.e. binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia), excessive exercising, or obsession with the scale. Is the provider cognizant of any potential triggers for you? Do they encourage you to practice intuitive eating?
If they force you to discuss your weight or track calories, they likely aren't the right fit.
You want a nutritionist who encourages you to try new things and expand your comfort zone. Maybe this looks like trying a new recipe, a different form of exercise, or way of thinking about your body.
Your nutritionist should work with you to develop reasonable goals, such as finding ways to include exercise in your day or sharing ideas for how to adopt new eating habits.
Did you feel you could communicate openly with the nutritionist without judgement? There should always be space to ask questions and express concerns, since food, weight, and mental health are typically sensitive topics for anyone.
Watch Out for Red Flags
As you look for the right PCOS nutritionist, you may notice some of the following issues. If you do come across these red flags, keep searching for a better fit.
- Unrealistic promises, such as "Lose 50 pounds in a month!"
- Quick fixes that sound too good to be true
- Unscientific advice that isn't based in research
- Promoting products they claim you 'need' to be successful
When I first joined the team at Illume, I found one of the most amazing aspects of the practice was that they actually had a nutritionist on staff. To me, this demonstrated that Illume is a medical practice that both values the importance of nutrition and recognizes the profound impact that nutritional counseling can have on their patients.
I also learned that nutritionists were only one part of Illume's larger Integrated Fertility & Wellness team, which provides holistic support in complementary ways to patients looking for additional resources.
As a practitioner, it is so helpful to be a part of a diverse group of healthcare professionals. We are able to bounce ideas off of each other, discuss new research, work together on difficult cases, and collaboratively develop comprehensive care plans to help solve challenging issues for the greater good of our patients.
No matter where you are in your PCOS journey, having access to a multidisciplinary team of experts who both understand the complexity of the condition and treat you as a whole person is key to your success. Here at Illume Fertility, we are proud to offer this type of 360-degree care to all of our patients.
If you've been feeling hesitant about beginning your search for a PCOS nutritionist, we hope this guide serves as a helpful resource, giving you the confidence to take that first big step.
We're here for you - reach out to our team today to schedule a consult!