Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is PCOS?PCOS and InflammationWhat Causes Inflammation?ComplicationsHow to Reduce Inflammation
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is PCOS?
PCOS and Inflammation
What Causes Inflammation?
Complications
How to Reduce Inflammation
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)is a hormonal condition (associated with chronic inflammation) that affects how the ovaries work.
Inflammationoccurs when your body’s natural immune system, composed of white blood cells and other factors, reacts to a foreign substance in an attempt to protect your body from a perceived threat. Unfortunately, sometimes your body’s inflammation response gets triggered inappropriately and causes your immune system to react to your own tissues and cells.
This article discusses the causes and symptoms of inflammatory PCOS, as well as ways you can manage the condition.
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images
What Is Inflammatory PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal condition that can cause ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, and other health problems. Inflammatory PCOS is associated with chronic inflammation, with elevated levels of inflammatory markers like tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) andC-reactive protein (CRP).
PCOS is a common cause of infertility and affects an estimated 8% to 13% of reproductive-aged females.
Symptoms of PCOS may include:
The CRP Test
What’s the Connection Between PCOS and Inflammation?
Several studies have found that people with PCOS are more likely to have high CRP levels compared to those without the condition.This suggests that some form of chronic inflammation is happening in the body.
If you have PCOS, you may also have high levels of other markers for inflammation likeoxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and white blood cells called lymphocytes and monocytes. All of these factors are involved in the immune response and are also found during inflammation.
Cytokines and How They Work
This inflammatory response can cause different symptoms such as swelling, pain, fatigue, and headaches. Inflammation isn’t just associated with the joints and muscles, as is commonly seen inrheumatoid arthritisor gout; it can also occur in the internal organs.
In addition to imaging studies like X-rays orCT scans, a blood test looking for CRP can be used to detect inflammation. When elevated, CRP can indicate that an inflammatory response is occurring in the body. Elevated CRP has been associated withpancreatitis,appendicitis, and more.
Research continues into how CRP differs at specific sites of inflammation; for example, CRP measured incerebrospinal fluidhas shown differences between a viral meningitis type, a bacterial type, or no infection at all.
Meningitis
Can Inflammatory PCOS Cause Complications?
Elevated levels of CRP are also associated with diabetes, insulin resistance, and heart disease―conditions that are more common in those with PCOS.
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Research suggests that persons with PCOS are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease. This can increase the risk of having a heart attack.
Infertility
PCOS can cause problems with ovulation and fertility. This can result from unbalanced hormones, such as testosterone levels.
What is the life expectancy of a person with PCOS?Most people with PCOS are able to lead a normal life without serious complications.
What is the life expectancy of a person with PCOS?
Most people with PCOS are able to lead a normal life without serious complications.
How to Reduce Inflammation With PCOS
Anti-inflammatory Diet
If you have PCOS, you can start easing inflammation through lifestyle changes. One of the best ways to do this is through a healthy diet that includesanti-inflammatory foods.
Studies show that people with PCOS who followed a Mediterranean-style anti-inflammatory diet for three months lost 7% of their body weight and showed significant improvements in their cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers.
A Mediterranean diet is designed to be low-calorie, low-fat, and low-saturated fat with a low-glycemic index and moderate to high fiber intake. It emphasizes anti-inflammatory foods such as fish, legumes, nuts, olive oil, herbs, spices, and green tea.
It’s also recommended that you avoid foods that can spike your blood sugar or cause inflammation. Foods to avoid with PCOS include:
Exercise
Research shows that exercise can reduce PCOS-related inflammation. Aerobic exercise, in particular, was found to be effective in lowering inflammatory markers in those with PCOS.
Additional Strategies
In addition to diet and exercise, the following strategies may also help with reducing PCOS-related inflammation:
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Summary
PCOS and hormone-related health conditions, including fertility problems, may be due to inflammation. Some studies have shown a link. Inflammation also may play a role in diabetes and other conditions that can co-occur with PCOS.
Blood tests and imaging studies can be used to diagnose an inflammatory condition. Your healthcare provider can recommend treatment and prevention strategies, including changes to your diet.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Regidor PA, Mueller A, Sailer M, Gonzalez Santos F, Rizo JM, Egea FM.Chronic Inflammation in PCOS: The Potential Benefits of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators (SPMs) in the Improvement of the Resolutive Response.Int J Mol Sci.2020 Dec 31;22(1):384. doi: 10.3390/ijms22010384World Health Organization.Polycystic ovary syndrome.MedlinePlus.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Blumenfeld Z.The possible practical implication of high CRP levels in PCOS.Clin Med Insights Reprod Health. 2019;13:1179558119861936. doi:10.1177/1179558119861936Mancini A, Bruno C, Vergani E, d’Abate C, Giacchi E, Silvestrini A.Oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome: controversies and new insights.IJMS. 2021;22(4):1667. doi:10.3390/ijms22041667Keshteli AH, Valcheva R, Nickurak C, Park H, Mandal R, van Diepen K,et al.Anti-Inflammatory Diet Prevents Subclinical Colonic Inflammation and Alters Metabolomic Profile of Ulcerative Colitis Patients in Clinical Remission.Nutrients. 2022 Aug 11;14(16):3294. doi: 10.3390/nu14163294.Sproston NR, Ashworth JJ.Role of C-Reactive Protein at Sites of Inflammation and Infection.Front Immunol. 2018 Apr 13;9:754. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00754.Barbieri RL, Ehrmann DA.Patient education: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Beyond the Basics).UpToDate.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome.Salama AA, Amine EK, Salem HA, Abd El Fattah NK.Anti-inflammatory dietary combo in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.N Am J Med Sci. 2015;7(7):310-6. doi:10.4103/1947-2714.161246Lăcătușu CM, Grigorescu ED, Floria M, Onofriescu A, Mihai BM.The Mediterranean diet: from an environment-driven food culture to an emerging medical prescription.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar;16(6):942. doi:10.3390/ijerph16060942Johns Hopkins Medicine.PCOS diet.Elbandrawy AM, Yousef AM, Morgan EN, et al.Effect of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers in polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2022;26(10):3506-3513. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202205_28845Calder PC.Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man.Biochem Soc Trans.2017 Oct 15;45(5):1105-15. doi:10.1042/BST20160474Additional ReadingAgacayak E, Tunc SY, Sak S, et al.Levels of neopterin and other inflammatory markers in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.Med Sci Monit. 2015;21:2446-55. doi:10.12659/MSM.894368
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Regidor PA, Mueller A, Sailer M, Gonzalez Santos F, Rizo JM, Egea FM.Chronic Inflammation in PCOS: The Potential Benefits of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators (SPMs) in the Improvement of the Resolutive Response.Int J Mol Sci.2020 Dec 31;22(1):384. doi: 10.3390/ijms22010384World Health Organization.Polycystic ovary syndrome.MedlinePlus.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Blumenfeld Z.The possible practical implication of high CRP levels in PCOS.Clin Med Insights Reprod Health. 2019;13:1179558119861936. doi:10.1177/1179558119861936Mancini A, Bruno C, Vergani E, d’Abate C, Giacchi E, Silvestrini A.Oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome: controversies and new insights.IJMS. 2021;22(4):1667. doi:10.3390/ijms22041667Keshteli AH, Valcheva R, Nickurak C, Park H, Mandal R, van Diepen K,et al.Anti-Inflammatory Diet Prevents Subclinical Colonic Inflammation and Alters Metabolomic Profile of Ulcerative Colitis Patients in Clinical Remission.Nutrients. 2022 Aug 11;14(16):3294. doi: 10.3390/nu14163294.Sproston NR, Ashworth JJ.Role of C-Reactive Protein at Sites of Inflammation and Infection.Front Immunol. 2018 Apr 13;9:754. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00754.Barbieri RL, Ehrmann DA.Patient education: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Beyond the Basics).UpToDate.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome.Salama AA, Amine EK, Salem HA, Abd El Fattah NK.Anti-inflammatory dietary combo in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.N Am J Med Sci. 2015;7(7):310-6. doi:10.4103/1947-2714.161246Lăcătușu CM, Grigorescu ED, Floria M, Onofriescu A, Mihai BM.The Mediterranean diet: from an environment-driven food culture to an emerging medical prescription.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar;16(6):942. doi:10.3390/ijerph16060942Johns Hopkins Medicine.PCOS diet.Elbandrawy AM, Yousef AM, Morgan EN, et al.Effect of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers in polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2022;26(10):3506-3513. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202205_28845Calder PC.Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man.Biochem Soc Trans.2017 Oct 15;45(5):1105-15. doi:10.1042/BST20160474Additional ReadingAgacayak E, Tunc SY, Sak S, et al.Levels of neopterin and other inflammatory markers in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.Med Sci Monit. 2015;21:2446-55. doi:10.12659/MSM.894368
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Regidor PA, Mueller A, Sailer M, Gonzalez Santos F, Rizo JM, Egea FM.Chronic Inflammation in PCOS: The Potential Benefits of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators (SPMs) in the Improvement of the Resolutive Response.Int J Mol Sci.2020 Dec 31;22(1):384. doi: 10.3390/ijms22010384World Health Organization.Polycystic ovary syndrome.MedlinePlus.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Blumenfeld Z.The possible practical implication of high CRP levels in PCOS.Clin Med Insights Reprod Health. 2019;13:1179558119861936. doi:10.1177/1179558119861936Mancini A, Bruno C, Vergani E, d’Abate C, Giacchi E, Silvestrini A.Oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome: controversies and new insights.IJMS. 2021;22(4):1667. doi:10.3390/ijms22041667Keshteli AH, Valcheva R, Nickurak C, Park H, Mandal R, van Diepen K,et al.Anti-Inflammatory Diet Prevents Subclinical Colonic Inflammation and Alters Metabolomic Profile of Ulcerative Colitis Patients in Clinical Remission.Nutrients. 2022 Aug 11;14(16):3294. doi: 10.3390/nu14163294.Sproston NR, Ashworth JJ.Role of C-Reactive Protein at Sites of Inflammation and Infection.Front Immunol. 2018 Apr 13;9:754. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00754.Barbieri RL, Ehrmann DA.Patient education: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Beyond the Basics).UpToDate.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome.Salama AA, Amine EK, Salem HA, Abd El Fattah NK.Anti-inflammatory dietary combo in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.N Am J Med Sci. 2015;7(7):310-6. doi:10.4103/1947-2714.161246Lăcătușu CM, Grigorescu ED, Floria M, Onofriescu A, Mihai BM.The Mediterranean diet: from an environment-driven food culture to an emerging medical prescription.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar;16(6):942. doi:10.3390/ijerph16060942Johns Hopkins Medicine.PCOS diet.Elbandrawy AM, Yousef AM, Morgan EN, et al.Effect of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers in polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2022;26(10):3506-3513. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202205_28845Calder PC.Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man.Biochem Soc Trans.2017 Oct 15;45(5):1105-15. doi:10.1042/BST20160474
Regidor PA, Mueller A, Sailer M, Gonzalez Santos F, Rizo JM, Egea FM.Chronic Inflammation in PCOS: The Potential Benefits of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators (SPMs) in the Improvement of the Resolutive Response.Int J Mol Sci.2020 Dec 31;22(1):384. doi: 10.3390/ijms22010384
World Health Organization.Polycystic ovary syndrome.
MedlinePlus.Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Blumenfeld Z.The possible practical implication of high CRP levels in PCOS.Clin Med Insights Reprod Health. 2019;13:1179558119861936. doi:10.1177/1179558119861936
Mancini A, Bruno C, Vergani E, d’Abate C, Giacchi E, Silvestrini A.Oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome: controversies and new insights.IJMS. 2021;22(4):1667. doi:10.3390/ijms22041667
Keshteli AH, Valcheva R, Nickurak C, Park H, Mandal R, van Diepen K,et al.Anti-Inflammatory Diet Prevents Subclinical Colonic Inflammation and Alters Metabolomic Profile of Ulcerative Colitis Patients in Clinical Remission.Nutrients. 2022 Aug 11;14(16):3294. doi: 10.3390/nu14163294.
Sproston NR, Ashworth JJ.Role of C-Reactive Protein at Sites of Inflammation and Infection.Front Immunol. 2018 Apr 13;9:754. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00754.
Barbieri RL, Ehrmann DA.Patient education: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Beyond the Basics).UpToDate.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Salama AA, Amine EK, Salem HA, Abd El Fattah NK.Anti-inflammatory dietary combo in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.N Am J Med Sci. 2015;7(7):310-6. doi:10.4103/1947-2714.161246
Lăcătușu CM, Grigorescu ED, Floria M, Onofriescu A, Mihai BM.The Mediterranean diet: from an environment-driven food culture to an emerging medical prescription.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar;16(6):942. doi:10.3390/ijerph16060942
Johns Hopkins Medicine.PCOS diet.
Elbandrawy AM, Yousef AM, Morgan EN, et al.Effect of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers in polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2022;26(10):3506-3513. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202205_28845
Calder PC.Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man.Biochem Soc Trans.2017 Oct 15;45(5):1105-15. doi:10.1042/BST20160474
Agacayak E, Tunc SY, Sak S, et al.Levels of neopterin and other inflammatory markers in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.Med Sci Monit. 2015;21:2446-55. doi:10.12659/MSM.894368
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