Scientists looked at 8 studies to see if the ketogenic (keto) diet could help women with PCOS, a common hormone condition that affects periods, weight, and fertility. They found that women who followed different types of keto diets for short periods lost weight and saw improvements in their hormone levels, blood sugar, and menstrual cycles. The keto diet seemed to help with many PCOS symptoms, but researchers say more long-term studies are needed to know if these benefits last over time.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether following a ketogenic (very low-carb, high-fat) diet can improve symptoms and health markers in women with PCOS
  • Who participated: Women diagnosed with PCOS across 8 different studies, though the total number of participants wasn’t specified in this review
  • Key finding: Women with PCOS who followed various types of keto diets showed improvements in weight, hormone levels, blood sugar control, and menstrual regularity
  • What it means for you: If you have PCOS, a short-term keto diet might help with symptoms, but you should work with a healthcare provider since long-term effects aren’t well studied yet

The Research Details

This was a scoping review, which means researchers gathered and analyzed existing studies rather than conducting a new experiment. They searched medical databases for studies published between 2019 and 2025 that tested ketogenic diets in women with PCOS. They found 8 studies that met their standards and looked at the results across all of them. The studies included different types of keto diets: very low-calorie ketogenic diets, regular ketogenic diets, and even a Mediterranean-style ketogenic diet.

Scoping reviews are helpful because they give us a broad picture of what research exists on a topic. Since PCOS affects so many women and current treatments don’t work for everyone, it’s important to explore whether dietary approaches like keto might offer new options for managing symptoms.

The researchers only included peer-reviewed studies, which means other scientists checked the work before publication. However, they didn’t specify how many women were studied in total, and the review only looked at short-term effects, so we don’t know about long-term safety or benefits.

What the Results Show

Women with PCOS who followed ketogenic diets lost weight and saw improvements in several important health markers. Their androgen levels (male hormones that are often too high in PCOS) decreased, which can help with symptoms like excess hair growth and acne. Blood sugar control improved, as measured by glucose levels and insulin resistance. The ratio of certain reproductive hormones (LH/FSH) also got better, which is important for regular periods and fertility. Additionally, women experienced improvements in their menstrual cycles, with more regular periods reported across the studies.

The keto diet also appeared to help with cholesterol and other blood fat levels. Some studies showed improvements in DHEAS (another hormone often elevated in PCOS) and SHBG (a protein that helps regulate hormones). There were also positive effects on fertility markers and some women experienced less severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) during fertility treatments.

These findings align with previous research showing that low-carb diets can help with PCOS symptoms. The ketogenic approach appears to be particularly effective, possibly because it’s more structured than general low-carb eating and may have additional metabolic benefits beyond just reducing carbohydrates.

The biggest limitation is that all studies were short-term, so we don’t know if benefits continue long-term or if there are any risks from following keto diets for extended periods. The review also didn’t specify total participant numbers, and different studies used different types of ketogenic diets, making it hard to know which approach works best.

The Bottom Line

Women with PCOS might consider discussing a ketogenic diet with their healthcare provider as a short-term approach to help manage symptoms. The evidence suggests it may be particularly helpful for weight loss, blood sugar control, and hormone balance. However, any dietary changes should be supervised by a medical professional.

This research is most relevant for women diagnosed with PCOS who are looking for dietary approaches to manage their symptoms. It may be especially interesting for those who haven’t had success with other dietary approaches or who are dealing with insulin resistance.

The studies reviewed were all short-term, typically lasting a few months. Some benefits like weight loss might be seen within weeks, while hormone improvements might take a few months to become apparent.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily carbohydrate intake (aiming for under 50g for ketogenic approach), weight, and menstrual cycle regularity
  • Gradually reduce carbohydrate intake while increasing healthy fats, and monitor how PCOS symptoms respond to dietary changes
  • Log symptoms like energy levels, mood, menstrual regularity, and any PCOS-related symptoms weekly to identify patterns and improvements

This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Women with PCOS should consult with their healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes, especially if they have other health conditions or take medications.