PCOS: A Woman's Guide to Dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Given that polycystic ovary syndrome is still shrouded in much  uncertainty, it's a real shame thatPCOS: A Woman's Guide to Polycystic Ovary  Syndromeis not a better book.Coauthor Colette Harris, a British health magazine writer, was moved to write  this book after her own successful battle with PCOS, a genetic hormonal  imbalance that produces small ovarian cysts, acne, excess body hair, weight  gain, mood swings, and infertility and raises the risk for miscarriage,  diabetes, and heart disease. Her briefly told story is inspiring--how one woman  surprised her doctor by managing this incurable disease using a combination of a  vegan diet, herbs and nutritional supplements, filtered water, and exercise.Unfortunately, even with the tales of other women dealing with PCOS woven  throughout, Harris's insider perspective is not enough to carry the book. For  women confused about their seemingly unrelated symptoms,PCOSmay provide  some comfort in relaying that their collection of symptoms not only has a name  but a supportive patient community. Even so, apart from the theoretical  discussions of what causes PCOS--the medical community is still debating this  issue since not every woman with polycystic ovaries exhibits symptoms or even  the same collection of symptoms--there's little here that couldn't be gleaned  from dozens of other better-written wellness books. Indeed, most of Harris's  recommendations for managing PCOS are so general--eat a healthy diet, manage  your weight, try homeopathy, exercise, reduce stress--they could be (and in many  cases are) the foundation for any number of wellness programs. Plus, authors  Harris and gynecologist-nutritionist Adam Carey are given to straying so far off  topic in some sections--note the discussion of why conventional farming  practices deplete foods of nutrients--one wonders how (and when) they'll find  their way back. In the end, this book just feels like a magazine article that's  been stretched far beyond its scope to meet a publisher's page quota.--Norine Dworkin