The Earthy Birthy Thought Swap

The Earthy Birthy Thought Swap

Well giving this a go. Check out The Earthy Birthy Thought Swap!

PCOS

I think exploring the connection between diet and exercise and how it affects you and PCOS is the key to finding a manageable solution. I have found the Glycemic index to be the best place to start. Once you understand how food affects your blood glucose levels, you can work at finding out how to balance what you eat and your activity level to help manage its effects on your body. If you’re overweight weight loss is important to regaining control over BG levels as well as the real possibility that it may increase your fertility level or even restore it. Once you regain control it simply becomes a life style that you become mindful of, understanding that this is what your body needs to stay healthy.

Womyn with PCOS usually have problems using insulin. If they are not already diabetic they may well be in the early stages of diabetes, showing signs of impaired glucose which will eventual be the cause of too much insulin is in the body. Too much insulin increases the production of male hormones beyond what normal levels would be in non PCOS womyn. I think it’s really important to understand the importance of early intervention in regards to diet and exercise vs. drug therapy. Its not just about dropping weight and a return of periods, its a life time commitment in order to assure your best chance at keeping risk factors associated with PCOS like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer low.

I think it’s very important for womyn of childbearing age to weigh the pros and cons to beginning and staying on a long term treatment like metformin. The long term effects noted for type 2 Diabetic patients are not safe when it comes to attaining and managing pregnancy. It is very important to make sure your b12 levels are in check long before getting pregnant while on metformin. Folic Acid supplementation is well noted in regards to pregnancy for all womyn who expect to become pregnant. Knowing the risks associated with metformin is key to making sure your body is prepared for conception and pregnancy.


Medscape Today
Metformin Use Increases Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients With Diabetes

Studies have demonstrated a prevalence of vitamin B12 malabsorption among patients undergoing long-term metformin treatment. The aim of the current study is to identify risk factors for metformin-related vitamin B12 deficiency.

Metformin treatment for PCOS has not been approved by the FDA. It's not intended for this purpose and no studies as to its long term effects and safety have been done when used outside of treating type 2 diabetes. Metaformin can cause vitamin B12 malabsorption, which can contribute to your risk of cardiovascular disease. Womyn who have PCOS tend to have pre-existing elevated homocysteine levels, metformin has been shown to elevate homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine levels are associated with coronary artery disease, heart attack, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, cognitive impairment, and cervical cancer. Elevate homocysteine levels during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia.

"High maternal homocysteine levels in the bloodstream increase the chance of miscarriage, and of serious pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and placental abruption. Such conditions can result in premature birth of the baby, low birth weight and, sadly, even the death of the baby or mother." Wiley- Interactice concepts in Biochemisty

Wiley InterScience

Effects of short-term treatment with metformin on serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Results. Amongst those who completed 16 weeks of treatment, metformin use, as compared with placebo, was associated with an increase in homocysteine of 4% (0.2 to 8; P = 0.039) and with decreases in folate [−7% (−1.4 to −13); P = 0.024] and vitamin B12 [−14% (−4.2 to −24); P <>
The Medical Journal of Australia

Metformin and intervention in polycystic ovary syndrome

Given the present lack of long-term safety data and demonstrable efficacy in a large number of patients, we recommend that metformin use be supervised by an endocrinologist or physician with expertise in the area. Ideally, further research should be encouraged so that outcomes can be scrutinised and regulatory issues can be carefully addressed.

I’ve used Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) also known as Chasteberry. It take about three months to start working but IMO well worth the wait with great results.

"The beauty of our next plant is that instead of adding hormones to the body, it encourages the body to achieve its own natural hormonal balance."

This herb’s power is said to be due to its ability to regulate the action of the pituitary gland. By normalizing the hormones that are produced in the pituitary gland, it effectively treats all sorts of menstrual problems. Irregular menstruation, painful menstruation, premenstrual tension (PMS), menopause, and irregularities resulting from coming off the birth-control pill are all sorted out with the use of chasteberry. It has been proven that chasteberry has the ability to balance the estrogen-progesterone levels necessary for what might be called average menstruation.

Practitioners’ Advice

When hormone imbalance is wrecking havoc with your life, be it in the form of mood swings, acne, or irregular periods, Chasteberry is the first herbal port of call. Practitioners agree that most cases of hormone irregularity are cleared up with its use. It works and it works well.
~ Planet Botanic

Diabetic Pregnancy

Jumping through some hoops these days. Not that I want to be diabetic, but give some credit for working my arse off to stay on top of things. Apparently Type 2 Diabetics when in control need to prove their membership status by taking a GTT. Ummm last I checked, that’s not a safe demonstration of loyalty to the club, especially while pregnant.

IMO better the pregnant Diabetic you know, that the one you don't in term of prenatal care. This is my third; I guess technically fourth diabetic pregnancy. I'm in control without meds prior to pregnancy and without insulin during pregnancy. At least so far, if and when that may become necessary, I'll be on board. One of the things I have learned over the years in regards to pregnancy and Type 2 Diabetes is that there is a great learning curve to using insulin especially while pregnant. I've heard many womyn say how difficult it is and they never really get it figured out until the baby is born, if ever. I can only imagine the difficulty in figuring it out in my case as I plan all my activities around my meals. I'm at the gym almost daily, attending yoga etc... I've managed to avoid any serious lows which may not be as easily accomplished after tossing insulin into the mix especially when its not really necessary. Insulin has its place, I do think if possible diet and exercise is the best way to go, anyway, sucks to have to constantly defend your right to do things right, just because it's not the norm.

Last pregnancy I was told by the specialist that "I've only every had one womyn in my practice manage pregnancy without the use of insulin" I proudly stated, we'll I'm number two!

Important reasons to get things under control before you get pregnant. PCOS can be treated with life style modification such as diet and exercise. Once things are under control it’s a life time commitment but something that can be managed with a positive attitude. Being in control helps reduce complications associated with PCOS and pregnancy. There will be fewer hoops to jump!

Impact of Insulin Resistance on Pregnancy Complications and Outcome in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Fertility

Well there are bazillion things to talk about when it comes to natural pregnancy and birthing, not to mention parenting. Pregnancy is of course the key to birthing and parenting, so it only makes sense that society should focus on the importance of fertility and what it means to future generations. I think we under value and under estimate our control over our fertility, both womyn and men. Seems like its a given, it should always be there at least until the clock starts winding down right? The reality is fertility is something to be honored and protected, something we don't do.

I'm not going to quote statistics; anyone can look them up online. Fertility has always been something we considered under our control. Now that declining fertility rates are affecting the overall replacement rate, ratio of seniors to children is widening dramatically, we have to finally admit we may have gone too far in the wrong direction. Population growth estimates are estimates, they are not predictors of global crisis such as pandemics, wars, genocide and diseases such as HIV which can play a large role in global mortality rates especially in third world countries, the reality is this problem also lies in developing countries.

We don't seem to consider the after effects of events like war, the increased cancer rates among our children, the effects on fertility rates for both men and womyn, and the birth deformities that can be related back to the inevitable effects of such events. If the replacement birth rate was sitting at 2.1 children it makes sense that those two children born to a womyn would account for the eventual lose of parents due to aging and and/or diseease, a birth rate of 1.2 is not a replacement rate, especially when there is no guarantee of that child’s ability to produce its own off spring at a later time due to increased infertility. Emigration accounts for population decline within some countries, once again adding to the problem of an unstable youth to senior ratio. Some countries rely on emigration to prop up their declining population rates, once again throwing off the youth to senior ratio. An ageing population taxes the social welfare and pension systems that are supported heavily by our young who continue to invest and fund these systems that support our elderly. We can argue the system all we want but the reality is there always needs to be a younger, healthy population following behind an increasing ageing population in order for human kind to survive.

Overpopulation is not what I’m talkign about here, I agree it’s an issue, when it’s really an issue. My concern lies with the decline in fertility vs. the decline in births, or the ability to birth…. K, simply put the rise in infertility rates. Without fertility the argument of under-population or over-population is a moot point, because there is no choice.

So lets embrace our fertility and do what we can to protect and nurture it, in doing so we leave the possibility for continued debate over how to mange this gift.