Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects more women than we realise.
It’s thought that one in 10 women will experience it at some point in their lives. The symptoms can vary greatly, with some women having few or no noticeable signs, while others face a range of challenges, including irregular periods, acne, weight gain, and excessive hair growth. Many women, including myself, have struggled to get a proper diagnosis, often dismissed with other conditions before PCOS is correctly identified.
While there is no evidence that this is connected, I was prescribed the contraceptive pill in my teens to address mild hormonal acne. It’s a common solution from GPs, but recently, studies have come out indicating that hormonal contraceptives may disrupt our natural hormonal balance later in life. Now, as I continue to manage PCOS symptoms, including persistent acne, hair thinning, unwanted hair growth, and high cortisol levels, I'm reminded of how difficult it is to balance everything.
Fortunately, technology is offering us new ways to manage these symptoms from the comfort of our homes. I also spoke to Dr Alex Morris, women’s health coach and founder of Lunaire, who shares her recommendations for managing PCOS symptoms.
What is PCOS, and its symptoms?
PCOS is a condition where the body produces excess androgens, interfering with the normal ovulation process. This hormonal imbalance can lead to irregular periods, unwanted hair growth, acne and weight gain. While the symptoms can vary from person to person, most experience one or more of the following: missed periods, thinning hair, difficulty losing weight and skin flare-ups like acne.
Dr Morris explains that PCOS has different types, including adrenal, insulin-resistant, and inflammatory. "Regardless of the type, managing PCOS symptoms effectively requires a holistic approach to restore balance in the body," she says.
How to manage PCOS at home
There are several ways to manage PCOS symptoms effectively at home. While diet and exercise are key, modern gadgets can also help reduce the impact of symptoms. Dr Morris suggests a diet rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens and nuts to support hormone regulation. "Incorporating these into your daily meals stabilises blood sugar levels, which is crucial for managing PCOS symptoms," she notes.
Gentle movement, like a short walk after meals, can also reduce blood sugar spikes and support overall health. For those struggling with stress and cortisol levels, Dr Morris recommends yoga, meditation, and managing light exposure to protect the natural circadian rhythm, which is linked to hormone balance.
There are various gadgets that complement this lifestyle approach, like wearable stress trackers that monitor cortisol levels, and devices like red light therapy for reducing inflammation.
How to address PCOS-related skin concerns
PCOS often leads to skin issues, especially acne along the jawline. I spoke to Anel Lamine, facialist and skincare expert, who explains that inflammation is a key factor in these breakouts. "A combination of skincare, diet, exercise, and stress management is vital for improving skin health," she explains.
Lamine suggests going for calming ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides that help protect the skin barrier. "These ingredients reduce inflammation and regulate bacteria, which can be particularly beneficial for PCOS-prone skin," she adds. For those looking for at-home solutions, devices like facial cleansing brushes and LED masks can also help improve skin quality by addressing inflammation and promoting healing.
Hair loss and unwanted growth
PCOS often results in unwanted hair growth, especially on the face, chest, and back, and can cause thinning hair on the scalp. While years of laser hair removal visits to Therapie Clinic to regular scalp rebalancing treatments at Taylor Taylor have helped me massively with some of my physical symptoms, it is costly and requires constant upkeep. However, you don’t have to visit a clinic to manage hair-related symptoms.
At-home devices like laser hair removal tools and scalp massagers can be effective in addressing unwanted hair growth and stimulating hair regrowth. These gadgets complement professional treatments, offering an accessible way to manage PCOS-related hair concerns.
Body weight management and laser treatments
Weight gain is a common symptom of PCOS, and it can be challenging to lose weight due to insulin resistance. While lifestyle changes like a balanced diet and regular exercise can help, technology is making it easier to manage body composition.
Experts at Therapie Clinic recommend laser treatments for targeting stubborn fat and promoting body contouring. At-home devices like body sculpting tools can help enhance the results of regular exercise and healthy eating, offering a convenient solution for women with PCOS who want to tackle weight management. So while managing PCOS can be challenging, there are many gadgets and tech that can offer effective ways to address symptoms and support your health from home.
Read on for more.
Natural Cycles app
When it comes to managing PCOS, understanding your cycle is so important, but sometimes an afterthought. But Natural Cycles offers a really handy way to help track your menstrual health. Unlike some generic period-tracking apps, this technology is designed to adapt to irregular cycles, making it particularly useful for those with PCOS, where ovulation can be unpredictable.
The Cycle Insights tool goes beyond simple tracking, offering personalised data that can highlight atypical cycles, irregularities and patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. This isn’t just helpful for self-awareness; it provides valuable information you can take to your doctor or fertility specialist, so that you can get the most accurate support for your health. A yearly subscription is £89.99, or it costs £12.99 for a monthly subscription.
Buy now £12.99, Natural Cycles
Oura Ring 4
Of all the wearable tech I’ve tried this year, the Oura Ring is the one I’ve found most useful—and the only one I’ve continued to wear. It tracks my immune function, resilience to stress, and, most importantly, reminds me when it’s time to prioritise sleep.
One particularly useful feature is Cycle Insights, which uses temperature deviations to accurately track, predict, and visualise my monthly cycle. Even better, it syncs seamlessly with apps like Natural Cycles. Oura Ring members can transfer their overnight temperature trend data into the Natural Cycles app each morning, where it’s analysed by the app’s algorithm to calculate daily fertility status.
Buy now £499.00, John Lewis
Compex Core Belt 5.0
PCOS belly is a real struggle, and while exercise is an important part of managing it, sometimes you need extra support. That’s where the Compex CoreBelt 5.0 comes in. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it works deep into your core and lower back muscles, helping to improve stability, posture and overall muscle tone.
For those dealing with PCOS-related bloating and stubborn weight around the midsection, this belt provides targeted stimulation to help engage muscles that can be hard to activate with traditional workouts alone. Plus, the structured app-based coaching programme makes it easy to stay on track, whether you're just starting out or looking for an extra challenge.
Buy now £199.99, Compex
CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Regrowth Device
The most helmet-looking hair growth device on the market, this CurrentBody creation looks straight out of Star Wars with its Stormtrooper-esque design. It also shoots lasers, but these specialised wavelengths work on a cellular level and are designed to encourage regrowth of the hair follicles and counteract pattern balding, thinning and receding in men and women alike.
Before you get started, take a ‘before’ photo. This set expectations high as we looked forward to viewing the ‘after’ four months down the line. You are advised to use the device every single day across a 16-week period, which may not sound like the easiest to do, but seeing as you only need to wear it for 10 minutes, it was remarkably more seamless to slip into a routine (provided you have no extended holidays on the cards). What’s more, there are headphones inside the helmet that can connect to your phone via Bluetooth so you can pop on a playlist or a podcast while mid-treatment.
Applied to a clean, dry head, it boasts support and rejuvenation for the scalp too. There are 120 red LED bulbs to provide full coverage, and it can be used on all hair types. To breathe new life into your locks, it works through three varying wavelengths (630nm, 650nm, 655nm) that are medical-grade and activate the follicles.
Buy now £649.99, Amazon
Beautypro LED Wand 5 in 1 device
Featuring five advanced technologies, including LED light therapy, this device offers targeted treatment for various skin concerns. The blue LED light is particularly effective for acne, reducing oil production in follicles, decongesting pores, and minimising breakouts.
The wand goes beyond acne care, addressing ageing concerns with red LED light to boost collagen production, helping to smooth fine lines and improve skin firmness. Additional technologies work to lift and tone the skin, creating a youthful, glowing appearance.
Lightweight and user-friendly, the device is designed for at-home use and integrates easily into any skincare routine. With its multifunctionality and proven results, the BeautyPro LED wand is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a versatile tool to achieve clearer, healthier, and more radiant skin.
Buy now £79.00, Boots
Bondi Body Laser @Home V2
Known as the ‘hair removal queen’, Trish Coulton, founder of Bondi Body, has this award-winning IPL device in her range, suitable for the whole body (except for around the eyes). It is straightforward to use with automatic and manual settings, and a good range of intensity levels to turn up or down depending on your sensitivity to the device.
It’s a fuss-free option with no attachments to swap over, but as long as you keep the device head flat on the skin, it still works on all the tricky areas with ease. Interestingly, the frequency of use is higher with this one as you’re allowed to use it twice a week on legs, forearms and underarms, but you still need to complete the 12-week course to see the best results.
Buy now £299.00, Bondi Body
Magnitone Pluck It 2 Super Glide Compact Epilator
For those looking to spend less, Magnitone has this value-for-money epilator in its collection of accessible electronic beauty devices. Lightweight and compact, this tool comes with two interchangeable heads. There’s a regular head to use on larger areas like legs and underarms, and a precision head perfect for the bikini line.
Despite its budget price tag, there are still two speeds so you can dial up the tempo when going over larger areas for quicker results, and down when using it over awkward areas, like knees and ankles. It’s fully charged with a USB after around an hour and will give you 60 minutes of gliding time.
Buy now £22.51, Amazon
Rubis Classic Slanted Tweezers
While laser hair removal is my favourite option for getting rid of unwanted hair, sometimes there are unexpected sprouts that you spot when out and about. Which is why I always carry a set of tweezers with me in my makeup bag, just in case.
Beloved by professional makeup artists from Bobbi Brown to Katie Jane Hughes, Rubis is a trusted name in the tweezer game. The brand makes its high-quality stainless steel tools in Switzerland, where each is meticulously handcrafted. The durability and precision that these bathroom cabinet essentials offer are shown by the simple fact that they were the instrument of choice in the watch industry, where the likes of Rolex and Cartier used them to ensure the utmost accuracy when crafting the timepieces. It’s no wonder that Brown dubbed them the “Ferrari of Tweezers”.
The slanted model is complete with a non-slip grip and is made for brow shaping, where the design allows for optimal precision. They are also rust and corrosion resistant.
Buy now £27.98, Amazon
