Post by Angie on Oct 24, 2008 20:05:12 GMT -5
What causes polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
No one is quite sure what causes PCOS. Although women with PCOS often have a mother or sister with the condition, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that the condition may be inherited. The ovaries of women with PCOS frequently contain a number of small cysts, hence the name poly (many) cystic ovarian syndrome. A similar number of cysts may occur in women without PCOS. Therefore, the cysts themselves do not seem to be the cause of the problem. A malfunction of the body's blood sugar control system (insulin system) is frequent in women with PCOS, and researchers believe that these abnormalities may be related to the development of PCOS. It is known that the ovaries of women with PCOS produce excess amounts of male hormone known as androgen. This excessive production of male hormones may be a result of the abnormalities in insulin production
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also known as Polycystic Ovarian Disease, is often caused by a hormonal imbalance brought on by Insulin Resistance-related obesity. It's a disorder that affects an estimated 5 to 10 percent of all women, and is one of the leading causes of infertility. The root cause of PCOS is Insulin Resistance.
Symptoms of PCOS can vary widely from woman to woman and may include: irregular or completely absent periods, ovarian cysts, Hirsutism (excessive facial or body hair), Alopecia (male pattern hair loss), obesity, acne, skin tags, Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive, excess male hormones and infertility
Current studies clearly link PCOS and Insulin Resistance. A report released in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2000 indicated that up to 40 percent of women with PCOS have either impaired glucose tolerance or Type 2 Diabetes by age 40. In addition, with PCOS, high levels of insulin stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of testosterone (a male hormone), which can possibly prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month, thus causing infertility. High testosterone levels can also cause excessive hair growth, male pattern baldness and acne
PCOS is one of the most common endocrine (or hormonal) disorders and is characterized by multiple abnormal cysts in the ovaries. Most women who seek medical help for this condition do so because of infertility problems, irregular periods, acne or other skin conditions or unusual hair growth.
Researchers have also found a link between PCOS and other metabolic conditions such as high levels of obesity, LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) and high blood pressure. These are all risk factors for coronary heart disease, as well as symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome (also known as Syndrome X, this disorder substantially increases your chances of developing Cardiovascular Disease). These findings substantially raised the bar on the seriousness of the condition and made it even more important that physicians correctly diagnose PCOS and recommend appropriate therapy.
Because insulin production of the pancreas is thrown off by the Insulin Resistance, there is an inhibited conversion of food to energy and an increase in the amount of stored fats. When glucose cannot enter the cells efficiently it remains in the blood stream, causing elevated blood sugar - whereupon it is sent to the liver, which converts it to fat and stores it throughout the body.
When the body takes in calories, it has a choice of either burning those calories for energy or converting them to fat and storing them. In patients with PCOS, Insulin Resistance encourages the storage of fat and the production of excessive amounts of testosterone.
At the present time, there are no cures for PCOS - even removal of the ovaries will not completely eliminate this syndrome. But there are ways to address the underlying issue of Insulin Resistance, although a single approach will simply not work when trying to reverse the effects of this syndrome.
A complete system is needed to reverse PCOS. This should include neutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific) as well as a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support network that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices.
No one is quite sure what causes PCOS. Although women with PCOS often have a mother or sister with the condition, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that the condition may be inherited. The ovaries of women with PCOS frequently contain a number of small cysts, hence the name poly (many) cystic ovarian syndrome. A similar number of cysts may occur in women without PCOS. Therefore, the cysts themselves do not seem to be the cause of the problem. A malfunction of the body's blood sugar control system (insulin system) is frequent in women with PCOS, and researchers believe that these abnormalities may be related to the development of PCOS. It is known that the ovaries of women with PCOS produce excess amounts of male hormone known as androgen. This excessive production of male hormones may be a result of the abnormalities in insulin production
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also known as Polycystic Ovarian Disease, is often caused by a hormonal imbalance brought on by Insulin Resistance-related obesity. It's a disorder that affects an estimated 5 to 10 percent of all women, and is one of the leading causes of infertility. The root cause of PCOS is Insulin Resistance.
Symptoms of PCOS can vary widely from woman to woman and may include: irregular or completely absent periods, ovarian cysts, Hirsutism (excessive facial or body hair), Alopecia (male pattern hair loss), obesity, acne, skin tags, Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches), high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive, excess male hormones and infertility
Current studies clearly link PCOS and Insulin Resistance. A report released in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2000 indicated that up to 40 percent of women with PCOS have either impaired glucose tolerance or Type 2 Diabetes by age 40. In addition, with PCOS, high levels of insulin stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of testosterone (a male hormone), which can possibly prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month, thus causing infertility. High testosterone levels can also cause excessive hair growth, male pattern baldness and acne
PCOS is one of the most common endocrine (or hormonal) disorders and is characterized by multiple abnormal cysts in the ovaries. Most women who seek medical help for this condition do so because of infertility problems, irregular periods, acne or other skin conditions or unusual hair growth.
Researchers have also found a link between PCOS and other metabolic conditions such as high levels of obesity, LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) and high blood pressure. These are all risk factors for coronary heart disease, as well as symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome (also known as Syndrome X, this disorder substantially increases your chances of developing Cardiovascular Disease). These findings substantially raised the bar on the seriousness of the condition and made it even more important that physicians correctly diagnose PCOS and recommend appropriate therapy.
Because insulin production of the pancreas is thrown off by the Insulin Resistance, there is an inhibited conversion of food to energy and an increase in the amount of stored fats. When glucose cannot enter the cells efficiently it remains in the blood stream, causing elevated blood sugar - whereupon it is sent to the liver, which converts it to fat and stores it throughout the body.
When the body takes in calories, it has a choice of either burning those calories for energy or converting them to fat and storing them. In patients with PCOS, Insulin Resistance encourages the storage of fat and the production of excessive amounts of testosterone.
At the present time, there are no cures for PCOS - even removal of the ovaries will not completely eliminate this syndrome. But there are ways to address the underlying issue of Insulin Resistance, although a single approach will simply not work when trying to reverse the effects of this syndrome.
A complete system is needed to reverse PCOS. This should include neutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific) as well as a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support network that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices.
