Episode #13: PCOS & Risk Factors
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.
What you’ll learn in this episode
PCOS is not just a fertility issue. It is a medical condition that comes with long term health risks. Yet healthcare providers only address it if certain symptoms are bothering you. Most women including me have been diagnosed, offered birth control and told to return if and when they want help with fertility.
What about monitoring for longer term problems? What about reducing the risk of factors? Well that is exactly what this episode is about
What are the risk factors that come with having PCOS?
While PCOS often is thought of as a fertility or reproductive hormone disorder, those are only the tip of the iceberg. The real hormones that we can rebalance to reverse PCOS symptoms AND risk factors go deeper than that into our metabolic system.
These deeper, root cause hormones can lead to all the common symptoms of PCOS but if not addressed and allowed to stay out of balance can lead to more problems as well. These other problems may take longer to develop but they are also more problematic to your health. These risk factors include:
~ Type two diabetes
~ Heart Disease
~ Cancer
As well as other health disorders.
How to address risk factors associated with PCOS
The good news is that with early diagnosis and appropriate lifestyle adjustments for PCOS you can avoid or significantly lessen any health risk in your future. Back in episode #2 I shared how PCOS makes us sensitive to our environment but when we create an environment that allows for health PCOS risk for long term health risks decreases immensely
That’s why in this episode I walk you through how risk factors to be aware of, how to work with your doctor to monitor your health and how to head them off all together.
So go ahead and tune into this very important episode.
Here’s a glance at this episode…
[00:06]
PCOS is not just a fertility issue. It is a medical condition that comes with longterm health risks. Yet healthcare providers only address symptoms if they’re bothering you, otherwise they just diagnose it and then mostly leave it alone.
[05:25]
As we reach our thirties, the risks, depending on your current state of health, start to become something that we should be looking at. Definitely by your forties and fifties these are things that should be monitored on a routine basis.
[06:32]
But what we really need our healthcare providers to do is to monitor our health over time. So when should we contact our doctor?
[07:37]
Retesting to see if you can lower doses, reduce medications, come off certain medications. If a medication is really giving you a hard time with side effects, by all means talk to your physician. Again, there are many medication options for both heart disease, cholesterol, diabetes.
[08:46]
It is not an either or [lifestyle or medical treatment]. So be sure to work with your doctor on this. And at the very least, make sure that you are being monitored on a regular basis.
[09:46]
So again, start with the root cause and then because PCOS can lead to these long term problems, even with lifestyle management, make sure your doctor is monitoring you.
[12:07]
Getting your periods back [naturally] is relatively straightforward. Some of the other symptoms of PCOS can be a lot more difficult. But having regular enough cycles to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer is one of the more simple things to do when it comes to PCOS management.
[13:10]
Take the Root Cause Quiz because this changes over time. If it’s been a while since you’ve assessed your root cause, make sure you take the PCOS Root Cause Quiz. It will be linked in the Show Notes below.
Resources & References Mentioned in this episode
Get your FREE copy of the PCOS Fertility Meal guide
Take the PCOS Root cause quiz to learn what your body needs to heal
Episode #10: Exercise for PCOS Hormone Balance
References:
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) 101
Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of polycystic ovary syndrome
Cardiovascular disease risk in women with PCOS
Results are not guaranteed. Please see Medical Disclaimer for more detail.
Similar Podcasts You Will Enjoy
Episode #179: Why “Doing All the Right Things” Still Doesn’t Fix PCOS
If you’ve followed the plans, taken the supplements, cut the carbs, tracked your labs, and still aren’t seeing progress, you’re not alone. In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll discover why doing “all the right things” doesn’t always lead to healing, and why the problem isn’t your effort, it’s the approach. You’ll learn why generic advice often falls short for women with PCOS, how symptoms like fatigue, weight fluctuations, and inflammation are actually adaptive signals, not signs of failure,and why listening to your body with clarity and curiosity is the key to real results. If you’re feeling discouraged despite your dedication, this conversation will help you reconnect with your body, rebuild your confidence, and finally understand what your symptoms are trying to tell you.
Episode #178: Why PCOS Symptoms Aren’t Random (And What They’re Actually Telling You)
In this eye-opening episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll discover how to reframe the frustrating symptoms of PCOS, irregular cycles, fatigue, inflammation, and more, as valuable messages from your body, not random or broken disruptions. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not seeing results, this conversation will help you make sense of those patterns. By diving into the hormonal communication network behind your symptoms, including insulin, cortisol, and reproductive hormones, you’ll learn how to decode what your body is truly asking for. You’ll explore why common “healthy” strategies like calorie cutting or intense workouts can actually backfire, and how to shift toward a healing path that supports your unique root causes.
Episode #177: Diet vs. Lifestyle: The Real Key to Long-Term PCOS Health
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of PCOS diets, cutting carbs, counting calories, or chasing the latest “PCOS-friendly” meal plan, this episode is your chance to step back and breathe. In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll discover why food alone can’t solve your hormone imbalances and what it really takes to create lasting change. This episode breaks down the limitations of diet-only approaches and invites you to embrace a root-cause lifestyle that supports your whole body. From identifying hidden hormonal triggers to creating small, sustainable daily habits, this episode will help you shift out of diet mode and into a lifestyle that heals and empowers. If you’re ready to stop starting over every Monday and instead build rhythms that actually support your PCOS healing, this one’s for you.
PCOS FERTILITY MEAL GUIDE
What I changed to finally get pregnant after almost 2 years of trying.
What the heck to eat to boost PCOS fertility
It’s not a one size fits all
Sample Meal Plan Included
Plan and Prep Guide Included
Go beyond diet & nourish your hormones to boost fertility
I share the steps I followed in this FREE MEAL GUIDE.
About the Show
Welcome to The PCOS Repair Podcast!
I’m Ashlene Korcek, and each week I’ll be sharing the latest findings on PCOS and how to make practical health changes to your lifestyle to repair your PCOS at the root cause.
If you’re struggling with PCOS, know that you’re not alone. In fact, it’s estimated that one in ten women have PCOS. But the good news is that there is a lot we can do to manage our symptoms and live healthy, happy lives.
So whether you’re looking for tips on nutrition, exercise, supplements, or mental health, you’ll find it all here on The PCOS Repair Podcast. Ready to get started? Hit subscribe now
