7 Million Women: Are You One? Is Your Daughter At Risk?

I just did a consultation with a 53 year old woman who is certain that she had PCOS (poly-cystic-ovarian-syndrome) with a long history of female issues and eventually a hysterectomy, but "back then" she stated, they just didn't know it. (It always makes me sad to hear this because she struggled with infertility and never had children along with all of the other painful details of her medical history.)

Last week I consulted with a 18 year old and her mother who had checked out a book at the library on PCOS and became suspicious that this was the problem for her daughter. She was experiencing horrible menstrual cramps and pain with the few menstrual cycles that she did have each year. I had her test her hormone levels through saliva collection and she did have lab result indicators that pointed to this disease. The next step was a visit to her doctor for an ultrasound and other tests. I also designed a custom regimen to combat high testosterone levels, erratic blood sugars, and missed menstrual cycles.   Thankfully she is young and if PCOS is the problem, then interventional and functional medicine can help her. Yay!!


We do know about the implications of PCOS "these days". Read on mothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, grandmothers..... you might just help someone you care about.


This is a SHOUT out to girls and young women who may be dealing with hidden practices and secrets related to polycystic ovaries. What do you mean(?), you might be asking. Did you know that it is not uncommon for a woman with this disease to have to shave various areas of their body (lip line/chin/etc)? Did you know that these women often struggle with depression? Did you know that it is common for them to  skip menstrual cycles of just not have them at all? Did you know that infertility is a huge problem for these women? Did you know that these women can be more prone to developing diabetes?

Did you know that PCOS is becoming more prevalent?
An estimated 7 million women and adolescent girls are affected by PCOS, with less than 50% diagnosed.  PCOS is responsible for 70% of infertility issues in women who have difficulty ovulating.  Studies have shown that approximately 40% of patients with diabetes between the ages of 20-50 may have PCOS.  In addition, studies have found that if a mother has PCOS, there is a 50% chance that her daughter will also have PCOS. (pcosfoundation)

Let me just give you a running list of some of the symptoms of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).

Infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, irregular bleeding, infertility because of no ovulation, increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes-a condition called hirsutism. Here's some more: ovarian cysts, acne, oily skin, dandruff, weight gain or obesity (around the waist), insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, male-pattern baldness or thinning hair, patches of thickened or dark brown skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs, skin tags in the armpits or neck area, anxiety or depression due to appearance or infertility, sleep apnea and excessive snoring. Hidden struggles as you see.... Who wants anyone to notice these things? It makes me sad to see young women dealing with this syndrome.

There is no single test to determine if a woman has PCOS. A comprehensive medical history will usually be taken along with a physical exam by the doctor. I totally recommend that a person have a hormone panel done because there are some key identifiers and values that are helpful in determining if this is the problem. I remember a 23 year old female that came my way about 3 years ago. She was referred by a friend who suggested she come in and get tested for many of the signs you. Thankfully she did. After evaluating the lab results, I was able to refer her on to a physician who did more testing and started her on a prescription regimen that gave her quality of life again. Her depression improved, she lost weight, the hair growth lessened on her face, she just looked brighter overall. Yeah!!

There are effective treatments for PCOS. (some prescription, some herbal, some lifestyle modification) If you know of a woman who may be dealing with these troublesome symptoms, please have her give my office a call. I would love to talk with them. I can walk them through the testing process, work with their personal physician, and get them on the road to better health. Time is critical in treating this syndrome. Call right away!