The Chicken & The Egg of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
A question I get asked frequently by patients is whether their Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is due to their weight gain or whether their weight gain is due to their Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?
The answer to both is a definitive maybe and maybe not..
Let’s get into it!
PCOS is one of the common hormonal disorders affecting women of reproductive age with symptoms such as irregular or absent periods, which may in turn lead to difficulties conceiving, as well as symptoms due to high ‘male’ hormones such as acne, excessive hair growth (hirsutism) on the face, chest, back and buttocks and loss of hair from your head.
Women with PCOS may have enlarged ovaries with fluid filled sacs (follicles) surrounding the eggs affecting their ability to function normally.
Long term risks associated with PCOS include an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
If you’re worried you might have PCOS, make an appointment to see your family doctor to discuss further.
So how does it connect to weight gain?
Well, this is where things get fuzzy..
Insulin resistance is thought to be one of the main mechanisms at play when people develop PCOS.
Insulin resistance means that your body is not using the available insulin normally, the consequence is that your pancreas produces more and more insulin to try and bring your blood sugar down and p