PCOS and Alcohol - how avoiding alcohol has helped me better manage my polycystic ovary syndrome

In this article I reflect on my journey with PCOS and how reducing my consumption of alcohol has improved my life.

A younger Meg

I have never been a big drinker. When I was 17, I went to a birthday party and got so drunk that I threw up on myself and my friend. This was embarrassing and a turning point for me but I feel like it's a common occurrence in British youth culture. I hated how out of control I felt and I never wanted to feel like that again. I didn't give up drinking completely though, as I turned 18 and started going out clubbing I would get alcoholic drinks and have a good night out, not drink in excess but I would still wake up the next day feeling hungover and like I was wasting the entire next day just lying around feeling worse for wear.

Happiness

As I got older I started going on nights out or to events and not drinking. I actually had more fun; it was fun to dance and feel in control. It's fun to spend time with friends and family and not feel the need to have a drink in your hand. I think society has somehow got it into people's minds that to have fun on a night out, they need alcohol; this really isn't the case.

Another great thing that has happened is that my Saturday and Sunday mornings are spent doing productive things, whether I'm getting up and going for a long walk along the clifftop paths, visiting family or going for breakfast catch-ups with friends.

The moment I realised that I was having more fun not drinking than drinking was when, at the end of a night out, I offered my friend a lift home. My friend said "what the h**l!! You can't drive Meg, you're so drunk!" It felt so good to say "I've been drinking lime waters all night" and think to myself that I now have a free ride home in my car, no long queue for a taxi out in the cold and I'll be up and about tomorrow morning no problem! I just remember my friend's face looking shocked, followed by "but you were dancing like crazy, I thought you were so drunk?!" I felt so good about myself, I was genuinely having such a good time dancing and feeling happy that I probably did look drunk but yet there I was about to drive myself home and wake up feeling good about the night before with new happy memories made!

Love a Cranberry Juice!

Linking it back to PCOS

I had already significantly reduced the amount of alcohol I consumed prior to my PCOS diagnosis; looking back I am so thankful that I did this. Not only has reducing drinking given me more experiences to remember, but it's also helped my PCOS.

Save your Liver!

Alcohol raises insulin levels and causes an increase in the production of hormones that affect glucose levels in the body. PCOS also messes around with your body's insulin resistance and hormone levels, so combining the two just wouldn't be a good idea. There have been studies looking into the heightened risk of liver disease when women with PCOS consume alcohol. This is because the liver treats alcohol like a toxin and uses up built-up stores of antioxidants and vitamin C to break down the alcohol, which can leave you vitamin and mineral deficient.

Alcohol and Fertility

Probably the most talked-about symptom of PCOS is the difficulty in getting pregnant that most women face. Research has found that heavy alcohol consumption is associated with menstrual irregularities. These irregularities include anovulation (where the ovary does not release a ripened egg) and early menopause. Additionally, moderate to heavy alcohol intake has been found to increase the risk of spontaneous abortions and breast cancer. All of these factors mean that alcohol can make it harder for you to get pregnant if you are a woman without PCOS, so, for those of us who are 1 in 10, consuming alcohol is something to consider if you are already struggling to get pregnant.

Depression, Anxiety and Mood Disorders

PCOS increases the risk for depression, anxiety and mood disorders for many women and as alcohol is a depressant, these symptoms can be heightened. Instead of reaching for a drink when I have had a challenging day at work, I reach for my journal where I write out how the day has made me feel, why it made me feel the way I do and ways I will deal with it and move forward. I've also found mindfulness apps to be good when it's all feeling a bit much, I personally like to use headspace as I like the layout of the app and the mindfulness on there.

It's just not right for me anymore.

It is hard sometimes to not drink when in social situations, especially with new people or at work events. Getting drunk can be fun but everything else that comes with it just isn't and the health drawbacks are clear and well researched. I've read a lot that red wine is the drink to choose for women with polycystic ovary syndrome because of its rich antioxidant content, although I am not a medical expert nor have I done enough research to comment on this yet.

I don't have anything against getting drunk, all of my friends do and I have a great time with all of them. I've also been absolutely hammered myself but since my PCOS diagnosis, I am making a conscious effort to avoid alcohol.

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I hope you have found this to be an interesting read. I'm blogging my journey with polycystic ovary syndrome, which is a condition that affects 1 in 10 women in the UK, in order to raise awareness and share my experiences. When I was first diagnosed I felt very lost, so if this blog helps just 1 woman, I will be happy.

You can follow along with my journey on Instagram and TikTok: @itsmegclifford

Love, Meg x