Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects about one in 10 women and is linked to health risks including cardiovascular disease. But it’s still under-recognized, under-diagnosed and under-treated.

Authors:

  • Jamie Benham | Endocrinologist & Assistant Professor, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
  • Pauline McDonagh Hull | PhD Candidate, Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
  • Robyn Vettese | Research Assistant (Community Scholar), Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance that affects ovaries, periods and fertility in about one in 10 Canadian women. Different from ovarian cysts, PCOS is associated with infertility, pregnancy complications, heart disease and a general decreased quality of life, and yet fewer than half of those affected even know they have it.

This under-recognition and under-diagnosis is a significant problem, because a recent Canadian study suggests these women are 20 to 40 per cent more likely to experience negative health outcomes during their lifetime than the general population, including hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, eating disorders, depression and anxiety.

  • matelt@feddit.uk
    7·
    15 days ago

    And even if you know you have it, there is no treatment per se, and no one gives a shit so unless you have the energy, the stamina, the support around you to lead a battle against dismissive medical personnel, you just suck it up. You might be lucky and find someone willing to help you treat some symptoms but that’s it.

    Source? My experience.

    • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
      1·
      13 days ago

      There is a established link between elevated insulin levels and PCOS

      i.e. Ketogenic - Chapter 3 - Endocrine

      3.7.3.3 Polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility / The insulin connection

      “is that the three defining features of PCOS (hyperandrogenism causing masculine features, polycystic ovaries and anovulatory cycles) all reflect the same pathophysiology: too much testosterone, ultimately caused by too much insulin. In other words, too much insulin causes PCOS. Like obesity, PCOS is best understood as a disease of hyperinsulinemia. Although obesity and PCOS do not always occur together, they are both manifestations of an underlying hyperinsulinemia.

      The eponymous criterion of PCOS is the presence of multiple cysts in the ovaries, which are derived from the multitude of small follicles. Many women have a few cysts on their ovary, but the sheer number of cysts distinguishes this syndrome from virtually all others. Almost no other much insulin and too much testosterone human disease causes polycystic ovaries. Ultimately, these polycystic ovaries are caused by too.

      Both the cysts on the ovaries and the hyperandrogenism are caused by the same underlying problem: too much insulin.

      The full book is available on the normal free literature places, but the TLDR is that a diet that reduces insulin levels can be used to treat and reverse PCOS

      This is also another more direct (and open) article on the issue: Effects of a ketogenic diet in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome - My notes from reading the paper can be found here - https://hackertalks.com/post/13750353