PCOS Pamphlet for family!!!

If you are reading this, it is because a close relative or friend of yours of has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This has significant implications for your future health and it is important for you to understand what this all means.

PCOS is the most common hormone problem in women of reproductive age (puberty to menopause). However, the implications and consequences of PCOS extend beyond menopause. 

We now recognize that the cause of PCOS is an abnormality in the insulin receptor. This means that the insulin your body produces is not able to work as effectively as it should to keep your blood sugar normal. To overcome this defect, your pancreas has to produce more and more insulin. 

The excess insulin affects the way the ovaries function and causes them to produce increased amounts of male hormone. This interferes with normal ovulation and many women with PCOS have very irregular menstrual cycles. 

The increased male hormone production also leads to facial hair growth and/or acne.

It is also becoming increasingly apparent that the excess insulin production with the resulting elevated levels of insulin in your bloodstream has significant implications for your overall health and well-being. We now know that these excess insulin levels are a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and stroke - even in those people who are not yet diabetic. This whole problem falls under the heading of "Syndrome X". I can talk to you more about it if your wish. 


There is rapidly accumulating evidence that these high insulin levels also play a significant role in causing high cholesterol levels and hypertension as well. 

We know that women with PCOS are more likely to develop diabetes when pregnant and are also more likely to develop diabetes in later life. Insulin resistance is probably the abnormality that sets the stage for this. 

PCOS is an inherited disease and 50% or more of the close relatives of women identified as having PCOS will also have the disease although not all will manifest every symptom. 

Men can also inherit the genetic abnormality that in women would lead to PCOS. 

Although not everyone who is insulin resistant will ultimately develop diabetes, many do. Furthermore, you do not go from being normal to diabetic in one step. There are intermediate stages where you would not be classified as being officially diabetic but your body is not handling sugar properly and your blood sugars are higher than they ought to be.

As a result of all of this, we strongly urge you to be evaluated for possible insulin resistance. It is a simple blood test - one that our office can easily provide for you. All that is necessary is that you come into the office first thing in the morning - fasting. Nothing to eat or drink from the time you go to bed at night until your blood is drawn in the morning. 

We would also encourage any men who are close relatives of our patient to undergo the same testing. This would especially include men who are significantly overweight with elevated cholesterol and hypertension as well.

source: http://www.infertilityphysician.com/...ovulation.html