Have you been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? If so, you are definitely not alone. It is estimated that almost 10% of all women of childbearing age have PCOS.
Women with PCOS often display a cluster of symptoms, including acne, weight gain, excess facial and body hair growth, and male-pattern hair loss, all of which are believed to be caused by elevated levels of male hormones, such as testosterone. High levels of androgen hormones also lead to fertility-related problems, including irregular periods, infrequent or absent ovulation, and ovarian cysts.
Did you Know? Taking some “you” time to drink some tea and lower your stress is beneficial. FertiliTea is an all-natural and organic tea to increase your chances of conception.
My-Inositol and PCOS
Although it not yet fully understood why PCOS develops, it is known that women with PCOS have cells that are resistant to insulin, a condition referred to as insulin insensitivity or insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that is responsible for carrying sugars into cells where they can be burned for energy. With insulin resistance, the cells of the body are unable to respond to the normal actions of insulin and cannot use this hormone effectively. As a result, blood sugar levels increase (because sugar cannot enter the cells), which causes the pancreas to keep producing more insulin. The result is elevated levels of both sugar and insulin in the blood.
Fertility experts suspect that the elevated levels of insulin in the blood cause the increased production of male hormones. As a result, women with PCOS are often prescribed medications that lower insulin or make cells more sensitive to insulin, such as metformin. By lowering insulin levels, women see improvement in cycle regularity and ovulation frequency.