 Mood swings haven’t always been perceived as a medical concern. Millions of women have lived with them - enduring the emotional roller coaster that can accompany PCOS and other hormonal disorders - never really understanding what was going on with their own bodies. And that’s logical: the human body is very complicated.
In truth, the complex interactions of the endocrine system are still being unraveled, but we now understand that emotional balance is inextricably connected with our hormone balance. If our hormones are off center, we are likely to find ourselves more prone to noticeable - even debilitating - mood swings. But now, as our understanding grows, we also have some solutions.
Understanding Mood Swings and PCOS
 PCOS is the result of a misdirected endocrine system, a cascade of hormonal imbalances that have very real and very serious affects on the body as well as on the mind. Each and every cell of the body is a buzzing energy factory with numerous receptors or docking sites on its surface that allow hormones and other nutrients to latch on and perform their specialized tasks.
Our bodies require that specific levels of these hormones be maintained. In a complex response system, based in part on the amount of different hormones that successfully locate and latch on to their own receptor sites on the cell’s surface, the body monitors and adjusts the levels of hormones and other active constituents such as glucose.
If the body senses that a hormone level is too low, it will stimulate the production of more hormones. If it senses that it’s too high, it will stop production and possibly even send in another specific kind of molecule to remove the excess, as it does with excess glucose which is stored as fat. In the case of perfect health, our systems work well. However, because of disease, genetics and lifestyle factors such as nutrition, exercise and stress, this highly sensitive system is often thrown out of kilter.
External Influences
 Some medications can affect the workings of the hormone system. As an example, consider the drug, Clomid, a well-known pharmaceutical that has been prescribed for nearly thirty years to induce ovulation. Clomid blocks the estrogen receptors on the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that monitors hormone levels. In doing so, it tricks the hypothalamus into thinking that the body doesn’t have enough estrogen. As a result, this mechanism induces the pituitary gland, the master gland of the endocrine system, to produce more FSH, LH and GnRH hormones (Folical Stimulating Hormone, Leutinizing Hormone, Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone) to stimulate more follicles to mature in the ovaries in order to increase the chance of fertilization. (1)
In the process, estrogen and testosterone levels fluctuate causing a ripple effect in our brain chemistry which may result in mood swings as a significant side effect. And, although the full impact of estrogen on the body is still unclear, it is known to have an affect on the levels of both serotonin (a neurotransmitter that effects emotion and mood), and endorphins (the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter). (2)
In fact, many of the drugs we take today have the potential to alter our brain chemistry, and if one is taking multiple prescriptions, as many of us are, there is a reasonable likelihood that our brain chemistry is being affected.
PCOS and Depression
 For some individuals, however, mood swings don’t adequately express the magnitude of what they’re suffering. It isn’t uncommon for women with PCOS to struggle with various levels of depression. A 2004 Finnish paper noted that researchers had found a statistically “positive correlation between insulin resistance and the severity of depressive symptoms and that depression was associated with greater insulin resistance in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” (3)
This was confirmed by the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA School of Medicine Mood Disorders Research Program in Los Angeles. Their findings noted a high prevalence of depression among women with PCOS and that their depression was associated with a more severe level of insulin resistance. (4)
Mood swings and insulin resistance have also been studied in connection to other sources in women with PCOS, such as hypothyroid conditions and inflammation. Why? Because all these systems are interconnected. What seems like a small imbalance of one kind of molecule in one area can result in a great excess of another kind of molecule in another. Initially, this may manifest itself in most women as unrelenting fatigue, weight gain, irritability and bouts of depression. Many people live with this set of symptoms for years before realizing that this is their body’s way of telling them that something is not right; that they need to make changes and take control of their lives.
How Can We Alter This Course?
 Exercise is the single most important first step in the treatment of insulin resistance that we all can do on our own. Within days of starting a regular exercise program, our body’s systems begin to respond to the exertion of energy. Endorphins are released in the brain, stimulating the immune system and softening the strangle-hold on mood swings and depression.
And it doesn’t have to cost a bundle. What is necessary, however, is that we approach a daily exercise regimen as if our lives depend on it…which they do. The problem is, it’s difficult – if not impossible – to get going if our mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of hopelessness and fear. This is when we need a support group, a group of walkers or a group of women with PCOS, who support us in motivating ourselves into taking that first walk and continue each day after that.
The Internet and other online PCOS forums, blogs and message boards are helping women with PCOS connect around the globe. Women pass on valuable personal advice and research information in a supportive community environment.
A balanced regimen of nutritional supplements and a healthy diet provide the nutrient support the body needs to help it regain its balance. Try to buy fresh, organic, whole foods. Look for a supplement system that is formulated for women and specifically addresses the issues of PCOS. Certain vitamins can help moodiness and reduce depressive symptoms; some address inflammation and others are very helpful for weight issues.
 Consulting with a health care provider is also important because, depending on your PCOS symptoms, you may still require medication. In the meantime, taking a few steps to improve your overall health will help support your progress. In addition to exercise, improving your diet and reducing your stress levels will help stabilize your insulin and glucose levels and improve hormonal balance.
Click here to read about the groundbreaking Insulite PCOS System. It is scientifically-designed to help reverse Insulin Resistance-linked obesity and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which, if left unchecked, can lead to emotional and mental problems. The system includes formulations like InsulX, which features vanadium, a nutrient that can restore blood glucose levels and reduce appetite naturally, both of which can combine to improve your mood and outlook.
Find continuous support at the Insulite PCOS Community. Visit our PCOS Support Blog and PCOS Forum. Read "Our Stories" where women with PCOS share their positive experiences. Contact Us with questions for guidance and support from our Consulting & Advisory team.
You may be interested in some of our Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) on PCOS and the Insulite PCOS System.
(1) Women’s Health Information; Clomid
(2) Web MD: Estrogen and Women's Emotions
(3) Insulin resistance and depression: cross sectional study, Markku Timonen, acting professor1, Mauri Laakso, senior lecturer2, Jari Jokelainen, biostatistician2, Ulla Rajala, BMJ 2005;330:17-18 (1 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.38313.513310.F71 (published 16 December 2004)
(4)Depression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical and biochemical correlates. Rasgon NL, Rao RC, Hwang S, Altshuler LL, Elman S, Zuckerbrow-Miller J, Korenman SG, J Affect Disord 2003;74: 299-304
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