Managing PCOS with Registered Nurse and Women's Health Advocate Maddi Munro. We hosted a Women's Hormone Health Event to celebrate our first birthday. Over 10 days, we shared interviews and presentations from leading experts in women's hormone health.
Topics that were covered were from nutrition to naturopathy, PCOS to endometriosis, and everything in between (including seed cycling of course!)We hope this event has been entertaining and most of all expanded your knowledge when it comes to your body and hormones. We all want you to know you are not alone on your hormone health journey. You can watch the full event here.
Managing PCOS with Registered Nurse and Women's Health Advocate Maddi Munro shares her key takeaways from the event.
Hi my name is Maddi and I wanted to highlight some important key takeaway messages and my opinions from this event I have been watching for the past week. But, first of all, I want to talk a little bit about my story... I have had PCOS for what I think is about over 10yrs.
I was put on the pill, like many women in my teens by a conventional Dr, and was on it for about 5 years, until I gained knowledge about the effects of it, and transitioned off it about 7 years ago with support from a functional Dr. My current goal is symptom management and to ovulate on a regular basis in order to conceive in the future and for overall health. Through diet, exercise, acupuncture, herbal remedies, 6 monthly blood tests, I do everything I can help manage my body. Although it sounds cliché, and you’ve “heard it all before” it can be a long journey, hormones are complex and so many external factors can affect us, so it can be a unique experience for everyone.
September is PCOS awareness month, I decided to enroll and watch these videos about optimizing health and managing PCOS.
As a registered nurse and passionate women's health advocate, I am continually researching, educating and reading about the latest information about PCOS and beyond because I look after a lot of women hospitalized with gynecological issues such as endometriosis, ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages. Alice and Gina’s talk on the menstrual cycle and training resonated with me the most.
I totally agree that our cycle must sync with exercise, in that hormones impact on our energy levels etc and influence what type of exercise we can handle at that time. With conventional and “HIIT” gyms becoming more popular, for example, PLC, f45, Fitstop, Airlocker etc, these are not necessarily a good thing for women, especially when research shows that 1 in 10 women have PCOS. What these gyms/programs fail to realise is that high intensity training is not conducive during our luteal and menstrual phase and there is a lack of awareness surrounding this topic.
I admit, myself, I feel absolutely rubbish after a session if I’m in that phase, and I won’t know how I feel before until I start the workout. My advice? Create “PCOS friendly” gyms and incorporate this important subject into PT study programs. I also loved Kristy Knight’s talk on PCOS drivers, and how recognising the “root cause” of your PCOS is so important. For me, I have never had a definitive root cause been mentioned to me, but by my symptoms and blood tests I was initially post pill, undermethylated, and insulin resistance.
Tris Alexander’s mission was also profound got me and the 5 key steps to reverse PCOS symptoms and highlighting in a positive way there is hope! I believe health is wealth, and no amount of money can be put on your health because symptom free PCOS is a feeling of happiness, positivity, accomplishment…. The list goes on.
When you feel great, you are able to do so much more, and able to flourish and live life to the fullest.
Yes I understand in this day and age nutritious foods, testing, gym memberships, supplements, body healings etc are expensive, but if you can invest in your health and can change your habit of being able to afford a Netflix account, or dining out, or getting your nails done, than you can afford that shopping list, or monthly seed cycling subscription.
My takeaway message? Knowledge is power! Check out my article on Navigating shift work and complex menstrual cycles – an important and sensitive topic amongst us. Navigating shift work and complex menstrual cycles: My experience | Support for Nurses & Midwives (nmsupport.org.au)