Women’s Health
Manage the symptoms
A time where diet and nutrition can help manage the symptoms of many common women’s health concerns.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormone disorder which is diagnosed by a medical professional based on a range of symptoms which may include excessive hair growth, irregular menstrual cycles, acne, weight gain, and challenges falling pregnant. PCOS can reduce fertility and is associated with longer term health risks such as gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy), type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, raised blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Many of these effects can be minimised by diet and lifestyle changes. The effects of PCOS can be managed but are not a cure for the condition. Some, but not all women with PCOS will have an elevated BMI and some of the symptoms may improve with weight reduction. We can work together to assess your diet and lifestyle pattern and come up with a plan to improve your nutritional intake to help you manage PCOS.
Endometriosis
It’s estimated that up to 1 in 10 New Zealand women have endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial tissue which normally lines the uterus, grows outside of the uterus in places such as the ovaries, bowel and bladder. It is a condition characterised by pelvic pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, infertility and PMS type symptoms. The aim of dietary changes is to help manage some of the symptoms and gastrointestinal discomfort such as bloating or fluctuating bowel motions (constipation or diarrhoea). There appears to be an overlap between women with endometriosis and women who experience irritable bowel syndrome. We can work with you to evaluate your current diet, and come up with an achievable dietary plan to manage your symptoms.
Constipation
Constipation is when bowel motions (or ‘poos’) are firm or hard to pass. Adults can experience constipation, it may be a long standing issue, or related to pregnancy, dietary changes such as adopting a new fad diet, or a flare up in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome – constipation predominant. Common causes include, a sedentary lifestyle, a low fibre diet, inadequate fruit of vegetable intake, and not drinking enough water. Remedies can include dietary changes, and we can work with you to assess your diet to prevent or to treat constipation and make toileting easier for you.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS as it’s commonly known, is a complex and multi-factorial issue affecting gastrointestinal tract. It can cause symptoms such as bloating, pain, loose stools (diarrhoea), hard to pass or infrequent stools (constipation) or a mixture of everything in between. Patients should consult with their GP or family doctor and may be referred onto a gastroenterologist for a formal diagnosis. IBS can be affected by diet, sleep, exercise, stress and hormones. We can work with you to make changes to your diet and life style to help you manage your IBS symptoms.
Low FODMAP Diet
A low FODMAP diet is a short term diagnostic diet which can be beneficial for people who experience IBS. There is an overlap between women with IBS and endometriosis and the evidence is emerging that a low FODMAP diet can help some of the gastrointestinal symptoms in these women too. A low FODMAP diet is not intended for the long term, and patients should have a Dietitian with knowledge in this area to support then with the various steps of the low FODMAP diet. We can provide support and guide adults through each of the three phases of the Monash low FODMAP diet.
Get Started!
Book a consultation and find out what dietary changes you can make to manage your symptoms