29: Is menopause when my PCOS symptoms will get better?

While it’s not top of mind for everyone, menopause is a topic that I actually get quite a few questions about.I’ve had more women than you would expect say to me:“Okay well, if PCOS is all to do with my ovaries then when I hit menopause, it’s problem solved right? Because I’m not ovulating and having periods anymore?”Well not quite…I mean, it’s literally called poly-cystic OVARIAN syndrome - so I can understand that it can make it a bit more confusing.But there’s a lot more to PCOS than just your ovaries and the cysts you have on them.There are SO many factors that play into the symptoms we see on the outside and in our tests. If you’re a long time listener, you’ll have heard me harp on about this and the importance of finding your root cause.As always on the internet, there’s a lot of misinformation and confusion out there. Menopause and PCOS is no exception to this rule!Menopause is much more than just your ovaries saying ‘ok bye I’m retiring now’ - but that’s the main part we tend to hear about.So this week on The PCOS Nutritionist Podcast, I’m going to clear up the confusion. I’m going to breakdown what menopause actually is, the symptoms, HOW it affects your PCOS and a whoooole lot more.And spoiler alert - you don’t have to wait until you’re 50-something for menopause to ‘fix’ your PCOS.This episode is for you if:You’ve been told that ovarian cysts are the main part of PCOSYou’re thinking of just waiting out the symptoms until menopause, when your ovaries will be ‘shutting down’You want to learn more about your reproductive healthYou’re in your 40s or 50s (although this episode is actually important for all women to listen to!)You’re confused about where your oestrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH levels should be before and at menopauseYou’re insulin resistantSome things we cover in this episode:What menopause actually isInsulin resistance and menopauseWhat happens to our hormones during menopauseSymptoms of menopauseDoes PCOS get better after menopause?The interaction between PCOS, menopause and stressHow much our ovaries are actually contributing when it comes to hormones