4 Ways to Empower Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

As a dietitian or nutritionist, you may have noticed an increase in referrals for female health conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). If you’re unsure how to best support these clients, you’re not alone.

The growing recognition of female health issues is a positive change, but it also means more women are seeking guidance for PCOS symptoms, endometriosis and abnormal menstrual cycles. Addressing these concerns requires a compassionate, client-centred approach that goes beyond the diagnosis and prioritises the individual. It is important to remember and consider who they are and to treat the person first. After all, a positive experience with a health professional amidst a long and frustrating journey can make all the difference.

Below, we outline some tips on how you can empower women with polycystic ovarian syndrome as a health professional:

1. Lead with empathy.

Lead with empathy and prioritise listening to their needs and concerns.

For many clients, the journey to a PCOS diagnosis has been long and challenging, often filled with frustration, confusion and a range of emotions such as guilt, shame or even relief. When working with these women, empathy should guide every interaction. Put yourself in their shoes and:

• Listen actively: Understand their story and their challenges in reaching this point.
• Acknowledge and validate their feelings: Use open-ended questions to explore their experiences and validate their emotions.

Empathy not only builds trust but also helps create a safe environment for discussing sensitive topics like lifestyle changes for PCOS and nutrition.

2. Understand their relationship with food.

The way clients view food often reflects their relationship with their body and their past experiences. When discussing nutrition for PCOS, take the time to uncover these deeper food connections:

• Are there signs of disordered eating or eating disorder behaviours or thoughts?
• Are they experiencing guilt or shame around food decisions?
• Do they use food as a main(or only) tool to help manage their emotions?
• What are their current food beliefs associated with PCOS symptoms and/or diagnosis — what have they read, or heard and how do they feel about that information?

Remember that asking your client about their current relationship with food can take some time. Clients may have years of misunderstanding themselves, their body and their food. Your role is to guide them gently toward a healthier mindset.

3. Help them build a better body image.

Our relationship with food goes hand in hand with our relationship with our body. Since many clients with PCOS experience weight gain or changes in body shape, this can be a particularly sensitive area to navigate. If your client feels safe and ready, ask, assess and help them navigate their feelings with their body.

• Have they experienced weight gain or changes in body shape?
• Are they comparing themselves to others or to their previous self?
• How do they feel about the pressure to lose weight?
• Are they trying to change their body? If so, why?

4. Be the source of their support and hope.

This is a confusing time for your clients. What’s more, these women may feel betrayed by themselves and their bodies, with symptoms like irregular (or absent) periods, acne, changes to hair/skin and weight gain affecting their confidence and quality of life. As a dietitian or nutritionist, you are not just a provider of nutritional advice — you are a source of hope.

You can provide support in these areas:

• Fertility: Offer guidance on how nutrition can support fertility for PCOS patients.
• Symptom management: Help them understand how dietary adjustments can manage PCOS symptoms.
• Empowerment: Reassure them that lifestyle changes for PCOS, including diet, exercise, and stress management, can lead to tangible improvements.

Approach every conversation with care and compassion, recognizing that your support is an important part of their journey to reclaiming trust in their body.

Expand Your Expertise in Female Health and PCOS with Compeat Academy

If you’re unsure how to approach these conversations or want to deepen your understanding of the science behind nutrition for PCOS, consider enrolling in Compeat Academy’s latest course. You will learn:

• Strategies for tying the science of PCOS to a person-first approach.
• Creating safe environments for discussing sensitive topics like endometriosis, menstrual health, and PCOS symptoms.
• Practical advice for guiding clients through sustainable lifestyle changes for PCOS.

Join us today to gain actionable tools to transform how you support your clients. Contact us to request pricing for our courses.