I have done A LOT of reading on PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) the genetic goof-up I have. And I have LEARNED a lot. First of all people don’t seem to understand how something with Ovary in the name can have anything to do with life-style changes. Or how this one thing can affect your whole system. Well let me tell you how. The root cause of PCOS is a problem with insulin. The syndrome has actually been linked recently to chromosome 19 close to the insulin receptor gene. How exactly it happens is not known, but people with PCOS (and I say this because men can have this syndrome too) become Insulin resistant. Insulin’s main job is to be a “key” to let glucose (sugar) into the cells so the body has energy. If there is insulin resistance, there are fewer insulin receptors on the cells (the door insulin works as the key to open) so fewer molecules of glucose get into the cells, which in turn makes the pancreas produce more and more insulin to try and get the glucose levels down. Eventually over time, the pancreas can no longer do this, and the sufferer of PCOS becomes diabetic. It is this unnaturally high level on insulin in the body that leads to the many symptoms of PCOS. The one for which it is names caused cysts on the ovaries, because the ovaries can not decrease the number of insulin receptors on the cell surfaces, and the root effect is cysts. Another job of insulin is to regulate other hormones, especially the male specific hormones, like testosterone. It is the regulation of these hormones that when messed up leads to a lack of ovulation, which leads to infertility. In excess these hormones cause other problems like acne, and hair loss, and abnormal hair growth (i.e. in places women don’t normally have hair). So if you hear someone say they have PCOS, don’t just assume oh that’s a reproductive problem and you will be fine, just adopt…. Cause its NOT and it affects every aspect of a woman or man’s life! So what can be done about it? Well regulating the insulin actually can almost reverse or stop the symptoms of PCOS, but it has to be life long, this is not something that is just during the reproductive years, the insulin problem will be there forever, there is no cure just management. I plan on managing with a low GI (Glycemic Index) diet, and exercise, and potentially if the diet and exercise don’t fix it enough, taking a drug called metformin can help too.

So you are thinking ok Stephanie so you got a problem with insulin, what’s the big deal? The big deal is, this is a problem that has MANY long term issues, and is very scary and support, and understanding are what I need right now, not everyone saying well you should do this, or if you just exercise more you will lose weight, or if you wash your face more you will get rid of acne. I have a disorder, a problem with my insulin, which causes so many other problems. My body doesn’t know how to burn fat for energy or otherwise, it is solely using carbohydrates for energy, which leads to the incredible sugar cravings I have, because my body needs energy and it knows it gets it from sugar. There is no quick fix. And a low GI diet and exercise are not guarantees that my weight and other problems will be fixed. Mainly I am just looking for some understanding, which I don’t feel I am getting from several of my good friends.

Categories: Science and the like, Life