Around six percent of women in the United States are affected by PCOS, also known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Women with PCOS experience a variety of symptoms, including irregular menstruation, facial and body hair, hair loss, weight gain in the upper body, acne, and cysts on the ovaries.

There is an intricate relationship between insulin and PCOS. Women who have PCOS often become insulin resistant. Some studies even suggest that insulin resistance is a cause, rather than a result, of PCOS. Around a third of women who have PCOS will also have insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body does not correctly process insulin. As a result, levels of sugar increase in the blood. This can lead to diabetes and a variety of other problems. This increased amount of insulin is thought to lead to an increased production of androgens, or male hormones. These hormones are often responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS, including facial and body hair, hair loss, and weight gain.

There are a variety of factors that can make you more prone to insulin resistance. These include:

– Age. If you are over 40, you are at higher risk.

– Family history. This includes a history of Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease.

– Weight. Being overweight puts you at increased risk.

If you have PCOS, you should talk with your health care provider about insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can be diagnosed with a simple test that will check your body’s tolerance for glucose. If your insulin resistance is not treated, it can create a variety of problems, including diabetes, kidney damage, vision loss, nerve damage, and heart problems.

Problems with insulin can often be treated with medications, such as Metformin, that control glucose production in the body, and thereby reduces your body’s needs for insulin. Also known as Glucophage, this medication impacts the way that insulin regulates glucose, and it also helps to cause a decrease in the production of testosterone. This can help ovulation to return, and can also help to slow down the irregular hair growth. Weight reduction may also help with your insulin resistance, as will other medications, known as insulin-sensitizing agents. Treating insulin problems may be, in many cases, the best way to treat PCOS.

Posted in PCOS

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