Dermatological Effects of PCOS

If a woman has hirsutism, acne and irregular periods, polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that is often considered. This condition can be treated initially with oral contraceptives, but also with other oral medications, such as spironolactone and other anti-androgen medications. A blood test at a physician’s office can determine the cause of these symptoms and the best treatment option.

Newswise | A Balancing Act: Hormones and the Skin

If you have some of the symptoms of PCOS you may go rushing to a dermatologist to get help, but make sure you see a doctor too, as treating the underlying cause may produce better long term results.

Lisa

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Free PCOS Seminar in Illinois

Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI), one of the nation’s leading infertility treatment practices, and PCOStrategies, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, motivating and stimulating the millions of women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), today announced a joint free seminar that will take place on Saturday, August 5th from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Northwest Community Hospital. The informational session is designed to raise awareness about PCOS, otherwise known as Syndrome O, and the various ways to combat this condition and increase chances of a successful birth.

Fertility Centers of Illinois and PCOStrategies Seminar to Raise Awareness about PCOS

This seminar may be of interest to some of you in the Chicago/Illinois area.

Lisa x

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Exercise and Insulin Resistance

In an article entitled "Effects of Diet and Exercise on Insulin Resistance during Pregnancy, James F. Clapp III, MD, presents the evidence to support the role a low-glycemic diet and exercise can have in helping to minimize the increase in insulin resistance that tends to occur during pregnancy in Western societies.

Insulin Resistance During Pregnancy Poses Risks for Mother and Child

If you aren't already taking regular exercise, this article tells you why you should be. Exercise really is important for PCOS sufferers. If like me you hate sweating it out at the gym and would rather stick pins in your eyes, try something different or fun. Start by brisk walking just 10 minutes a day and then gradually increase the time you walk - include the whole family or take the dog (if you have one). Take up a fun hobby that won't leave you bored after a few weeks - try belly dancing, skating, cycling, line dancing, kick boxing (start off gently)......

Lisa x

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What is the Difference between Syndrome X and PCOS

Syndrome X, also called Metabolic Syndrome or Insulin Resistance Syndrome, is a combination of insulin resistance or diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and central obesity. One of the main differences between Syndrome X and PCOS is that both men and women can have Syndrome X, while men cannot have PCOS. Syndrome X involves a cluster of symptoms found within the larger scope of PCOS symptoms - it is this metabolic disorder that contributes most to heart disease. To be diagnosed with Syndrome X, one must have insulin resistance, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia. It is possible to have PCOS without having all of these symptoms, and some women with PCOS may not appear to have any of them.

PCOS: FAQs

In a previous post, Donna left a comment saying that she has many of the PCOS symptoms but her doctor has told her it Syndrome X not Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The above should clarify the difference for you. Basically you can have Syndrome X and PCOS, but having one does not necessarily mean having the other.

To your good health,

Lisa

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PCOS Symptoms and Cushings Syndrome

Women with the symptoms described in this story are being urged to check with their doctors whether they might have polycystic ovary syndrome.Society is quick to label those who carry excess kilos as lazy, junk food addicts.But Fiona Te Wierik is a hard-working nurse whose excess kilos are due to a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a silent epidemic now affecting one-in-eight Australian women between the ages of 12 and 50.

Today Tonight on Seven

This article is interesting because it looks at PCOS and its symptoms, but also shows that the common symptoms do not always mean a sufferer has Poycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Lisa x

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Chili Aids Weight-Loss for PCOS?

EATING chilli regularly could help in the fight against insulin resistance and obesity, according to new Australian research.In a comparison of bland versus chilli-laden meals, researchers from the University of Tasmania’s School of Human Life Sciences found that a few spoonfuls of chilli reduced the post meal surge in insulin, particularly in overweight people.People with resistance to the actions of insulin have an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as polycystic ovary syndrome, fatty liver and certain cancers.The study found that in overweight subjects, changes to a range of glucose metabolism measures following chilli meals were more marked than those seen in normal weight subjects.

The Border Mail - For weight loss, add a dash of chilli

It sounds quite bizarre, but if you are at a plateau and you like your chili, it might be worth a try. Certainly a good excuse to spice up your meals!

Lisa

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An Online Petition for PCOS Recognition

The PCOS Treatment and Awareness Petition plans to empower the PCOS Community to speak very openly about their struggles, symptoms, and trials to overcome the illness, to help other women and girls understand the syndrome and seek the proper resources to help them manage their lives with PCOS. It hopes to be a driving force in changing the way the public, media and government view PCOS education, treatment and coverage for medical procedures, as a result of PCOS.

Online Petition Hopes to Make PCOS a Known Acronym

You may be interested in signing this petition. More is explained in the article above.

The online petition can be found at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/pcosweb1/petition.html

Lisa x

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Obesity in Puberty Linked to PCOS

Girls who are obese during the early stages of puberty have an increased risk of developing abnormally high levels of androgens, a type of steroid hormone, according to a report in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Obesity in puberty linked to hormone disorder (press release)

The thing that they don't explain in this research is whether those who are obese during puberty are more at risk of developing further problems due to being obese, or whether they are struggling with obesity because the health problems are there already.

Lisa

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PCOS Conference and Awareness Month

The Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association, Inc. (PCOS Association) will offer its 8th International Conference dedicated to the wellbeing of women with the endocrine condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Entitled "Moving Mountains", this comprehensive educational, lifestyle and support-oriented conference will take place in Denver, Colorado to coincide with PCOS Awareness Month in September 2006.

Patient-focused Conference Addresses Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

This may be of interest to some of you - a conference for women with PCOS (not medical professionals) designed to raise awareness and offer support and education. And it's good to hear that September has been designated PCOS Awareness Month.

Lisa x

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PCOS Misunderstood and Misdiagnosed

One of the leading causes of infertility is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS, often leads to abnormal periods, abnormal weight gain, and hair growth. Many women with the syndrome are insulin resistant and have abnormal cholesterol levels. But with proper testing and treatment, women lose weight, return to normal insulin, and cholesterol levels and 60 to 70% eventually get pregnant. Dr. Steve Foley with Advanced Gynecology said, "A lot of people aren't treated because we don't have a definitive test to say this is what you have. We can treat it, but what I tell patients, we can't cure it." Between 5 and 10% of all women of childbearing years have PCOS. The percentage is twice that among black and Hispanic women.

News First Online

Check out this interesting news report on PCOS - there is a video that accompanies it (you have to wait through an annoying commercials). I get asked a lot whether PCOS means complete infertility, but as this report shows this is only the case for a very small number of sufferers.

To your good health,

Lisa

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Short Legs and Diabetes

A new study suggests people with disproportionately short legs may be slightly more at risk for Type 2 diabetes than those with longer legs.

All Headline News - People With Short Legs May Be At Higher Risk For Diabetes - July 13, 2006

Oh come on - short legs and PCOS, I don't stand a chance! How on earth did they come up with such a ridiculous statistic?!

You've gotta laugh ;-)

To your good health,

Lisa

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Symptoms of PCOS

Women with PCOS may have some of the following symptoms (please note, that not every sufferer has all the symptoms, and having some of these symptoms does not automatically mean you have PCOS):

- no or infrequent or irregular menstruation

- infertility

- obesity or unexplained weight-gain (usually concentrated around the abdomen)

- acne

- thinning hair/male-pattern baldness

- excess hair (called hirsutism) on the face and body

- dark brown patches of skin around the back of the neck and in skin creases

- skin tags

These are symptms that you may see for yourself. There are other symptoms (such as cystic ovaries or enlarged ovaries) that would require a medical test to discover.

To your good health,

Lisa

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"Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" on Google Video

Take a look at this informative video from google videos about PCOS. Just click on the title below or copy and paste the url from the bottom of the post into your browser.

Lisa

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Description:
Too many women and healthcare providers are in the dark about the serious health complications of PCOS. This two-minute video clip analyses the issue. Common symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, acne, facial hair, loss of scalp hair and infertility. Says Dr. Rhoda Cobin of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, in an interview, “We are trying to increase the awareness of healthcare providers about not only the diagnosis of the syndrome but its link with these serious diseases. Understand that you have a metabolic condition that is going to put you at risk for diabetes, for heart disease for hypertension, for stroke.” It is imperative for physicians to acknowledge that their PCOS patients are at high risk for developing diabetes and heart disease. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists advocates screening PCOS women by age 30 for diabetes.

If you're having trouble watching the video, try copying the following URL into your browser:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6155402938481789606&q=pcos&pr=goog-sl

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome video

How Common is PCOS

Polycystic Ovarian (Ovary) Syndrome affects approximately 5-10 percent of women of childbearing age and it is a leading cause of infertility. It is the most common endocrine disorder among reproductive age women. As many as 30 percent of women have some characteristics of the syndrome.

Lisa

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PCOS and GI

"A low-GI diet could be particularly helpful to women with PCOS because the root of the problem is extreme insulin resistance. High insulin levels produce the high androgen levels that disturb fertility, cause acne and facial hair and inhibit weight loss. We know that a low-GI diet will acutely lower postprandial [after-meal] insulin levels in comparison with a conventional low-fat diet. By lowering insulin levels, a low-GI diet allows us to burn more fat and less carbohydrate per unit of work done. Everything I've said can be backed by several studies. But we are still in the process of proving that a low-GI diet will improve insulin sensitivity and facilitate weight loss specifically in women with PCOS.''

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2006-07-06/goods_health.php


The GI diet has been highly publicized over the past few years and there is some evidence to suggest it is a good regime (I hate the word diet - too many negative connotations) to follow if you have PCOS.

It can also be incredibly confusing.

If you are looking into it, consider trying the GL (Glycaemic Load) program instead which tries to simplify GI and takes into account average portion sizes as well.

To your good health,

Lisa

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Losing Weight with PCOS

I just read this on a medical website:

"If you have PCOS you might need to lose weight"

I think they meant that not everybody with PCOS is overweight, but when I read it I just laughed and thought "no kidding"! A lot of us with PCOS are overweight but losing it isn't always easy, in fact it's an ongoing battle. Yes, symptoms improve with weight-loss but one of the symptoms is that it is harder to lose weight - a catch-22!

Be well,

Lisa x

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PCOS and Hypothyroidism

There is even a strong connection between hypothyroid and polycystic ovary syndrome. “In lab research, when you want to create a polycystic ovary, you create hypothyroidism in the animal,” says Rais.

Career, kids, now thyroid : HindustanTimes.com

This is new to me and very worrying. I wonder how many women with PCOS have been tested for thyroid problems - I'm sure I haven't.

Lisa

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PCOS Awareness

Realizing real change has to come from more awareness, exposure and education for PCOS(Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), a petition drafted by a PCOS Awareness Advocate is now online. For many PCOS Awareness plays a key role in helping them learn to live and deal with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and ultimately live a healthier life. Many feel PCOS Awareness has to happen now to ensure women and girls do not have to go through another day, month or year of silent suffering and to ensure they are educated on how to live a healthier life with this syndrome.

Online Petition Hopes to Make PCOS a Known Acronym

Take a look at this press release about making people more aware of PCOS. 10% of women suffer from it and yet many people still don't know it exists. There is a petition  you can sign online as well.

Lisa

technorati tags:pcos, polycystic+ovarian+syndrome, awareness, polycystic+ovary+syndrome, petition

PCOS Matters

Welcome to PCOS Matters, a blog dedicated to PCOS, otherwise known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

I look forward to sharing with you the latest news and updates on PCOS as well as my own journey with the syndrome.

To your health,

Lisa x