Is There Any Link Between Celiac And Polycystic Ovaries

[em4778]

I have been diagnosed with Celiac and polycystic ovaries aswell as Anaemia, low iron.... I can understand the iron, however, I do tend to have VERY few periods - AND I AM STILL anemic??....

can anyone shed light onto this, can anyone help?

I also have gained weight?.. will this come off if I eat a gulten free diet?

[mommida]

Have you researched the PCO and found it to be almost like a pre-diabetic condition? There are some articles that suggest there is a link.

L.

[em4778]

I havn't..

My grandfather had diabeties so it is not uncommon for my family to get that....

I havn't done much research into PCO (as the doctors said there is nothing they can do - until i want children - but as i hardly menstrate, my chances are very slim. Im 28 )

But thanks, thats food for thought

[mommida]

My friend has PCO and I was doing light research for her. She has a happy healthy one year-old and is expecting in April. She is 33 years old. You will be a lot healthier on a gluten free diet, give yourself some time to heal and adjust.

L.

[Phila]

My previous doctor had diagnosed me with PCOS, but my current doctor told me that was bogus. I was averaging one period per year my entire life (I"m 30 now), so my doc said that I had PCOS (a moniker often attached to unexplained amennorhea). I went gluten-free in Nov and have had about 6 periods since then. My doc could not give me a good explanation for the link b/w celiac and amennorhea, but he says that in my case it was leading to the amennorhea. He says it's about more than just malnutrition. If anyone knows a good explanation for this, please let me know. Oh...he did mention something about the hepatic vein in the liver and fact that it transports hormones. I don't know...he was very vague about it.

[hineini]

How did I know I'd find other PCOS'ers here?!? ;-P

I have a dx of PCOS based on unexplained weight gain (and difficulty losing), body hair, acne, hair thinning on my head, no ovulation, irregular periods. My hormone & insulin/fasting glucose levels are totally normal! I am apparently infertile (at least without the help of fertility meds).

However... I went gluten-free and lost 10 lbs within the first 2 months, and my period look like they might be becoming normal. If they do become fully normal after I lose a little weight I think I'm gonna have to dismiss the PCOS diagnosis (for myself) as TOTAL BS!

Like so many of the other dx's I have... fibromyalgia, IBS, etc... I think PCOS may well be over-diagnosed, misunderstood, and probably consists of more than one different problem with more than one different root (i.e. we are not all the same).

[dionnek]

I was dx with PCOS and insulin resistance several years ago - went of the pill to get pregnant and didn't have a period for 14 months so did several rounds of progesterine drugs and clomid. I think the PCOS thing might be bogus also, b/c now I was finally dx with celiac 3 months ago (almost 2 years after my sweet little girl was born). Anyway, I have not had a period since I got pregnant (almost 3 years now) and going gluten-free hasn't changed that. I think I have gone through menopause (been having night sweats and hot flashes for about 5 years now), but my dr's don't believe me. I think a lot of it is just lazy drs. - they find something that "sounds" good (like PCOS and insulin resistance in my case) and pin that on you, telling you there is nothing that can be done about it. Well, I think all of my symptoms had something to do with celiac (I also have hypothyroid and Raynoids disease, whatever that is from!). I'm just waiting to see if anything gets better once my intestines start to heal.

[beelzebubble]

i've been wondering the same thing myself for the last few years. i also have pcos. i did read something in an article about gluten intolerance causing overproduction of insulin. being that overproduction of insulin is a possible cause of pcos, i have to wonder. maybe we should all research it and post back here about anything we find.

i'd never had a period on my own until i went gluten free. now i get them every 30-40 days. makes you think...

[mhb]

I would love to hear any updates on this. I've been treated for PCOS for years due to symptoms and hormone levels, though no insulin resistance upon testing. I went gluten-free/DF 5/8/08 and went off the metformin to see what would happen. Two weeks later my period came on time and I'm hoping it will continue to. However, I am breaking out a lot, and that had been controlled by the metformin. I don't know how long to give gluten-free/DF to help the acne and periods before just caving to the meds again 'cause I can't stand all the breaking out at age 46! I do plan to retest hormone levels *even if* gluten-free seems to help. PCOS may be over diagnosed, but it is not something to take casually. If you still have the hormonal imbalances (though it would seem if the symptoms resolve you wouldn't), you are at significantly higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and uterine cancer. For myself, I won't want to *assume* that resolution of the symptoms means hormone imbalances are resolved, though I'd expect them to be.

Martha

[Rachel--24]

I believe there is some relationship between candida yeast and ovarian cysts...as well as endometriosis.

You can google it for more info. From what I read about it there seemed to be alot of evidence that yeast was a factor for most women having these conditions. Antifungal treatments seemed to improve their conditions.

Yeast typically only becomes a problem when immune defenses are down or when the body is under stress.....as it would be in a person who has Celiac (prior to the diet).

I'm not aware of any direct link bewteen Celiac and PCOS.

[sandpiper]

I believe there is some relationship between candida yeast and ovarian cysts...as well as endometriosis.

You can google it for more info. From what I read about it there seemed to be alot of evidence that yeast was a factor for most women having these conditions. Antifungal treatments seemed to improve their conditions.

Yeast typically only becomes a problem when immune defenses are down or when the body is under stress.....as it would be in a person who has Celiac (prior to the diet).

I'm not aware of any direct link bewteen Celiac and PCOS.

Hi Rachel,

Just read this post and the concerns. Actually endometriosis is an autoimmune disease itself, and I believe that ovarian cysts can greatly be effected by the hormones with a strong emphasis on the over-production of the thyroid in particular. Just some thoughts, hope this helps.

Susie

[Rachel--24]

Hi Rachel,

Just read this post and the concerns. Actually endometriosis is an autoimmune disease itself, and I believe that ovarian cysts can greatly be effected by the hormones with a strong emphasis on the over-production of the thyroid in particular. Just some thoughts, hope this helps.

Susie

Susie,

Yes, I'm aware that endometriosis is autoimmune. However, every autoimmune condition has a trigger.

There is a strong belief (and much evidence supports this) that autoimmune conditions are triggered by bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, toxins, food proteins, etc. Leaky Gut is thought to be the "gateway" which allows these "foreign invaders" into the bloodstream.

Autoimmune diseases dont just 'happen'.....something triggers them. Genetics also play a role in the development of autoimmune disease.

Yes....ovarian cysts are affected by hormones. I believe that ovarian cysts are associated with excessive amounts of estrogen. However, something causes that situation in the first place.

Yeast, bacteria and other pathogens produce their own byproducts...these toxins can have a profound effect on all body systems...including the endocrine system and the reproductive organs. When the body is not in balance it does have an impact on our overall health.

About yeast and estrogen.

An often ignored source of estrogen is from intestinal yeast. Yeast make estradiol, the strongest of the human estrogens. However, yeast isn

[Rachel--24]

OK....here's more:

A pathogenic yeast makes estradiol, the strongest of the human estrogens. This creates hormonal imbalance, but also estrogen wastes B6, folic acid, B12 and zinc ( leading to deficiancies elsewhere of these nutriets). Estrogen also causes the retention of copper. Estrogen suppresses the thyroid which helps the ovaries make more progesterone. So even less progesterone is made. That intestinal yeast can contribute to the hormonal and nutritional imbalances that give rise to Pre Mentrual Syndrome in women.

As you can see.....even though hormonal imbalances are involved in certain conditions such as Endometriosis.....something still has to be causing that situation to occur. You wont find that out in your OB/GYN's office though.

Western medicine does not look for these types of underlying causes...nor do they recognize them.

If you look up "estrogen and yeast"....you will find that the two have a very strong link. When estrogen is high....yeast is also an issue. They go hand-in-hand.

[mhb]

Thanks for this. Since that post I discovered my bloating is significantly caused by yeast. Coconut oil and Enzymemedica's Candiasis is helping the part of the bloating that gluten-free/CF didn't. I did have PCOS symptoms before any yeast problems, but maybe one thing led to another.