Can PCOS give you UTIs?
PCOS is characterised by cysts in and around the ovaries, an increase in androgens - the male sex hormones which females still have although normally in lesser proportions, and/or a lack of ovulation.
Whilst PCOS doesn't directly cause urinary tract infections, there are many underlying risk factors that can overlap with both conditions. This can include hormone imbalance, blood sugar dysregulation or structural considerations; all of which can affect the female reproductive organs and/or the urinary tract.
Here I run through these shared, underlying risk factors in more detail, also exploring what can be done to help manage these different areas:
1. Hormone imbalance
Typically, higher levels of androgens (male sex hormones such as testosterone) can be typical in cases of PCOS, and this can then potentially affect the ratio of our other female sex hormones including oestrogen and progesterone.
Now, as we drill down a bit more into the female sex hormones, there is a bit of a debate in the medical community whether or not oestrogen is generally high or low. Some postulate that levels are low relative to testosterone, but then, as there is often a lack of ovulation as well, this can mean that we aren't getting enough progesterone to balance oestrogen, so potentially that could mean that oestrogen is too high (relative to progesterone, at least).
These values may also fluctuate throughout the course of the month, but these may not be in the form of the usual fluctuations that we would expect from a typical menstrual cycle.
It is clear from research, though, that these imbalances in hormones do somewhat affect the bladder, and androgens can also affect the pelvic floor muscles as well in a negative way. (1)
2. Blood sugar regulation
Blood sugar regulation, or dysregulation, is another important consideration which it comes to both PCOS and UTIs. Insulin resistance is thought to have a huge impact in PCOS. (2)
This may even be the main driving factor, which can then go on to drive the arguably more obvious hormone imbalance.
The links that exist with diabetes and both PCOS and UTIs also highlights the importance of proper blood sugar regulation in these conditions. Excess glucose in the urine, for example, is a common risk factor for fuelling urinary tract infections.
3. Structural impacts
We also have structural considerations when it comes to PCOS, which could also potentially give rise to symptoms of cystitis or urinary tract infections.
This could be in the form of cysts in and around the ovaries, which could then have an impact on the bladder, or there could have been previous surgeries or other procedures that have gone on, which could then impact the bladder. Remember the ovaries, bladder and the rest of the urinary tract are in very close proximity.
What can be done to help?
First of all, we've talked about hormones and the underlying hormone imbalance that is apparent in cases of PCOS.
The herbal remedy Agnus castus may be helpful in some cases of hormone imbalance, although you will notice that this is licensed for symptoms of PMS rather than PCOS specifically.
So, if you're keen to understand more about the suitability of this product in individual, hormone imbalance cases, please do get in touch with us directly via out helpline where we can offer more 1:1 advice.
Next, how can you support your blood sugar levels? This is often one of the main areas that we recommend focussing on when it comes to cases of PCOS. This approach can also be an important aspect of managing UTIs too, and can often more easily be put in place from home.
First stop, is to consider your diet. Upping your fibre, upping good quality protein, plus healthy fats, can all help to better support your blood sugar levels, as can trying to reduce your intake of refined carbs, refined sugars, and processed foods, as well.
Processed, packaged foods are not only often high in refined carbs, but also very inflammatory, and inflammation is also thought to be an important factor in PCOS and in cystitis and UTIs.
Then for further blood sugar and insulin support, we have some other supplements that may be helpful as well, such as cinnamon, a good one to include in your diet; the mineral chromium, more easily acquired in the right amounts in a supplement form, can also be very helpful for blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity.
Then gut health; supporting this area of your body can be helpful for both for your blood sugar regulation and for cystitis. Prebiotics such as Molkosan may be helpful in this respect, and/or probiotics such as the 'female specific' probiotics, for more purposefully targeting your intimate areas. Again, this approach can very helpful in both cases of PCOS and urinary tract infections.
Little and often exercise can also be really helpful for a number of reasons, again when it comes to both conditions.
So, moving move can help support your blood sugar regulation and your insulin by helping to support the maintenance of a healthy body weight. See, excess body weight has some links with PCOS, plus, potentially putting extra pressure on your bladder and surrounding areas, including your pelvic floor muscles, for example, which can have implications in the case of recurrent UTIs.
Next, stress. Stress could potentially drive hormone imbalances as well, as well being detrimental to your immune system as well, which of course we need to be working optimally in order to detect infections as UTIs.
This is where something like your Stress Relief Daytime could become part of an overall, supportive regime, depending on individual, likely driving factors.
Finally, of course, if you do have obvious symptoms of a urinary tract infection at present, then something like your Uva-ursi & Echinacea drops would be something you would want to introduce quite quickly, in order to target those symptoms head-on.
