PCOS Related Conditions The Relationship Between PCOS and Inflammation By Nicole Galan, RN Nicole Galan, RN Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Nicole Galan, RN, is a registered nurse and the author of "The Everything Fertility Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 27, 2022 Medically reviewed by Peter Weiss, MD Medically reviewed by Peter Weiss, MD Peter Weiss, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN and expert in women's health. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Inflammation occurs 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. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images Understanding Inflammation 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 in rheumatoid arthritis or gout; it can also occur in the internal organs. Other systemic conditions caused by inflammation include colitis (inflammation of the colon) and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). In addition to imaging studies like X-rays or CT scans, a blood test looking for a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP) can be used to detect inflammation. When elevated, CRP can indicate that an inflammatory response is occurring in the body, though it can’t identify where the inflammation is. The CRP Test PCOS and Inflammation Several studies have found that people with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to have elevated levels of CRP compared to those without the condition. This suggests that some form of inflammation is happening in the body. If you have PCOS, you may also have high levels of other markers for inflammation like oxidative 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. Elevated levels of CRP are also associated with diabetes, insulin resistance, and heart disease―conditions that are more common in those with PCOS. Lowering Your Risk 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 includes anti-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. Supplementing your diet with omega 3 fatty acids, the best absorbed form of fish oil, can also help reduce inflammation. Other ways to reduce PCOS-related inflammation include regular exercise, practicing mindfulness, and other stress-reducing activities. Lastly, make sleep a priority. Getting eight to nine hours of sleep each night can help your body fight inflammation as well as rest. 8 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Pahwa R, Goyal A, Bansal P, Jialal I. Chronic inflammation. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Nehring SM, Goyal A, Bansal P, Patel BC. C reactive protein. in: StatPearls [Internet]. Blumenfeld Z. The possible practical implication of high CRP levels in PCOS. Clin Med Insights Reprod Health. 2019;13:1179558119861936. doi:10.1177/1179558119861936 Xiong YL, Liang XY, Yang X, Li Y, Wei LN. Low-grade chronic inflammation in the peripheral blood and ovaries of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2011 Nov;159(1):148-50. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.07.012 Scicchitano P, Dentamaro I, Carbonara R. Cardiovascular risk in women with PCOS. Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Autumn;10(4):611-8. doi:10.5812/ijem.4020 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 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 Additional Reading 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 By Nicole Galan, RN Nicole Galan, RN, is a registered nurse and the author of "The Everything Fertility Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit