The Savvy Woman's Guide to PCOS: The Many Faces Of A 21st Century Epidemic... And What You Can Do About It. Paperback – January 1, 2006

This is the book I wish I had read fifteen years ago. Dr. Vliet thoroughly explains the multiple causes and complex hormonal activity that can cause PCOS, without ever condescending to the reader or filling her with despair. The informational dump can get a little overwhelming at times, but it's a complex subject. (I was so enthusiastic to see some real explanations of the nutty hormonal behaviour my body was manifesting that I tried to read it all in one go.) Dr. Vliet offers a recommended series of tests, explains what normal and atypical results are, makes suggestions for dealing with uncooperative doctors, and explains the various hormonal treatment options available. Rather than just suggesting diet and exercise treatments like so many other PCOS books, she presents additional options for those of us who didn't find diet and exercise to be sufficient remediation. I particularly appreciated the extended treatment of common additional conditions -- I had no idea that my heart problems were related to my endocrine system, or that my asthma medication could be throwing me out of balance, or that offset cortisol cycles could explain my trouble getting out of bed in the morning. After having read this book, I feel armed with enough scientific information to work with my doctor to more precisely pinpoint my hormonal levels, and to work to restore them to normal. Thank you, Dr. Vliet!

While this book does provide good information, I think that you can do better. Most of the book is written almost as an advertisement for the author's own PCOS clinic. She spends so much time touting how wonderful that she is that it is hard to read the book. It also made me wonder how accurate the information is, or if she just wanted to brag on herself and her clinic. If you get this book do not make the mistake I did and also order "Its my Ovaries, Stupid!" by the same author. They books are almost exactly the same. I recommend "The PCOS* Protection Plan: How to Cut Your Increased Risk of Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity, and High Blood Pressure" by Colette Harris.

I found this book EXTREMELY helpful. I actually took it to my Dr. with me and asked to get the blood tests done she recommended. He did and I had most of the issues she listed.Now I take metformin, spironolactone, and after going through a few types of birth control pills I found one that works very well for me. The birth control thing is hit or miss and you have to be patient to find the one for you- they all work differently for each woman.I feel SO much better, and I've lost almost 50 pounds (and still losing) since getting proper treatment 2.5 years ago. My blood pressure dropped significantly after starting on the spironolactone. I had been retaining a lot of fluid and it corrected that issue. I was also vitamin D deficient (good one to have checked on the side).I recommend this to everyone I know who does or may have PCOS. I have a couple of other books but this one was laid out very well and it was a no frills, straightforward book.Medication is a GOOD thing when you need it. I felt terrible before this.

I think it speaks to the dearth of books on the subject that this is rated so highly. It is full of grammatical errors and typos, which is so sloppy and unprofessional that it makes me question the validity of the information provided. It's not that there isn't useful information here, but I would rather not have to settle for something that I don't trust. I also found some of her dietary advice to be questionable. For example, eating foods rich in good fats (like olives) is one of the ways I keep myself away from carbohydrate-rich foods, and I think there is a lot of data to support consuming them. My true rating would probably be a three, but I felt the need to contradict all of the 5-star ratings. This is not a 5-star book!

Dr. Vliet's newest book is a super addition to the others! As a sufferer of PCOS, I found this book to present a thorough understanding of the condition, filled with medically sound advice. She exposes the common practice of doctors prescribing mood-stabilizers for womens emotional problems, instead of checking blood hormone levels. She discusses the various diagnostic tests that should be performed, as well as drug therapies, including important information on oral contraceptive and Hormone Replacement Therapy. (I have my own mixed views on the use of OC's for PCOS due to the blood clot risks, but can appreciate her approach and reasoning behind recommending them, though they are certainly not for every woman). Also recommended, are sensible alternative/nutritional approaches, along with advice on overcoming the emotional effects of the disorder. I really connected with the patient stories. Overall, this book is a validating, holistic approach to treating the complexities of PCOS. I highly recommend it to patients, and their physicians.

The content is excellent. However, vender said book was unread and unmarked. The questionnaires in the book were all marked.

This book was great - I already have several books on PCOS so thought I'd probably read it all, however this one stands out from most others in its detail. It really goes into the nitty gritty of hormones and how slight changes affect them, and in turn how this can affect your mood and overall vitality. So many moments I thought - "ah-ha, I knew I wasn't crazy!". It discusses lots of different treatment strategies - I took the book with me into the doctors, and she even photocopied a few pages.It also has a lot of specific detail on what tests to ask for when trying to get a diagnosis. The author really sympathises with the frustration so many PCOS sufferers have had to deal with.Definitely a must-have book for anyone who has, or thinks she may have PCOS.

This book is so amazing, I wish I had read this years ago! It is a clearly laid out book with easy to digest info on all areas of PCOS and is written in a sympathetic manner, its not cold or clinical in its 'bedside manner'. I would recommend this to ANY woman who thinks or knows she has PCOS and wants more info. I'm taking it to my doctor to get a better handle on my PCOS. The best money I have ever spent, its worth its weight in gold.