November 11, 2008

Study: Thin women with PCOS more likely to have acne than obese counterparts

Filed under: Insulin Resistance, Living with PCOS, Research, Skin Conditions — editor @ 5:14 pm

Clinical and biochemical presentations of polycystic ovary syndrome among obese and nonobese women.

Fertil Steril. 2008 Nov 1.

Liou THYang JH, Hsieh CH, Lee CY, Hsu CS, Hsu MI.
Obesity Research Center, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 

OBJECTIVE: To study the differences in clinical and biochemical characteristics between obese and nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University teaching hospital.

PATIENT(S): Four hundred sixty-four Taiwan Chinese women, among whom 295 were diagnosed with PCOS and 169 were non-PCOS controls.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Body mass index, average menstrual interval, modified Ferriman-Gallwey score, acne, total T, and waist-to-hip ratio.

RESULT(S): Obese women with polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM) had a greater risk of developing of PCOS (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-10.4) than nonobese women with PCOM. Obese women with PCOM had a higher incidence oligomenorrhea (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.6-4.1) and biochemical hyperandrogenemia (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.6-4.0) than nonobese women with PCOM. Obese subjects with PCOS had a higher risk of developing oligomenorrhea (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.7) and biochemical hyperandrogenemia (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.6-4.2) than nonobese women with PCOS. Moreover, obese women with PCOS had significantly higher serum total T levels and more prolonged menstrual intervals than nonobese women with PCOS. Notably, the obese women with PCOS presented less acne than the nonobese subjects (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9).

CONCLUSION(S): Obese women with PCOS had more severe ovulatory dysfunction and higher serum total T levels than nonobese subjects. Moreover, obese women with PCOS had a significantly lower frequency of acne than nonobese subjects.

 

www.soulcysters.net

September 11, 2008

Reach Out & Touch Someone

by Angi Ingalls
PCOS in ConnecTion

I thought I would share an incident that happened today as inspiration. I hope it gives you power to reach out to others and enjoy the effect you can have on others - even if it means you have to push past your apprehension.

I went to the local pharmacy store to pick up some odds-n-ends. In the beauty-care aisle I heard a mother talking to her 20-year-old daughter about finding a good foundation to cover up her acne and brown spots.. I took it upon myself to interject, always looking for an educational moment or to help out, ya know.

After learning from my experiences, they chose the product I recommended and continued shopping when another woman approached me after overhearing our conversation. “Since you’re giving advice…” she said and the four of us had a little chuckle. Just ‘Ask Ange’ if you see me >chuckle<.

After the conversations, we finished our shopping, separately of course. After arriving at the counter, I saw the mother-daughter team checking out. I got a better look at the daughter’s complexion and felt reminiscent of my younger-years.

Feeling compelled to discuss in further detail, I put down my supplies at the counter and followed them out of the building. I cautiously approached them, which was easier since we spoke earlier, and brought up the daughters complexion. They said it was fine and they seemed eager to hear more. We discussed options about how to improve her skin complexion so she would have less to cover-up. Shortly into the discussion it came out that she was informally diagnosed PCOS. We spoke in great depth on the subject; including the fact that her endocrinologist passed her off to her gynecologist because she was not diabetic. Sad, isn’t it?

This conversation turned into a touching moment when the mother turned to me and started to cry. She proclaimed that they were frustrated with doctors, frustrated at the little information they have received thus far and how it was meant to be that we met. We spoke for at least forty-five minutes in the parking lot of CVS. I gave them my card and phone number with the proclamation that my email and phone are always open to them. The daughter said she would email me right when she got home for more information that I had for her on my computer. A few hours later, that emailed arrived.

Her email was filled with several versions of appreciation for changing her life, gratitude for meeting and excitement for the possibilities of her future. It was the most affirmative email I have gotten based on what I am trying to do - educate and give the power of knowledge to others.

It may not always be easy to approach someone you think may have PCOS, and it may not always seem appreciated, but in my opinion, it’s necessary to reach out to others who may not know what is out there. Overlook your shyness and embarrassment and find ways to approach the other person. Use your environment like I did to start the conversation. You may be surprised at how many you help in doing so.

Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
Guest PCOS writer and Educator for over 18 years
http://angiingalls.com
pcosinct@yahoo.com
Diagnosed in 1985 at 12, living with PCOS since 1981
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. Information obtained is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

August 4, 2008

Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham Hiking in the Hollywood Hills? Eating Natto to Combat Acne?

Filed under: Exercise, Fertility, Skin Conditions — editor @ 12:43 pm
Posted in David Beckham, Victoria Beckham  by Laura Lily on August 4th, 2008
Victoria Beckham has reportedly been keeping fit by hiking in the Hollywood Hills.
A source said, “It was a surprise to say the least that Posh is into hiking.
“She’s rarely seen out of tight-fitting designer dresses, let alone hiking gear.
“It would be interesting to see whether she wears hiking boots. But then, she once wore high heels for playing baseball, so perhaps she goes on long walks in the California wilderness in her Louboutin heels!
“Good for them if they are getting out in the fresh air.”      

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Victoria Beckham news ~

Victoria Beckham has reportedly been eating specific Japanese food to help combat her acne-prone skin.
Victoria’s latest Japanese food of choice is Natto, which is made from fermented soy beans. Natto supposedly helps clear up acne scarred skin because of its vitamin PPQ content, it is also said to increases energy levels.
A source said, “Victoria says Natto tastes weird and smells a bit horrible but you only have to eat a small portion to get the benefits.
“She has just been having two small pots a day, sometimes with rice.
“She has been able to relax her super-strict diet and eat and drink more of what she likes, such as green tea ice-cream and her all-time favourite, champagne!
David is very happy about it and Victoria has already noticed a difference, even though she has only eaten it for a couple of weeks.”

Victoria is reportedly “thrilled” after adding Natto to her diet and she has gained 8lbs.
The source added, “Victoria’s confidence is really growing. She is looking fantastic and so natural that she’s comfortable being seen out in the casual Los Angeles look nowadays.
“She feels much more chilled out now and the extra pounds make her look so healthy.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It has also been reported that Victoria and her hubby David Beckham are hoping to have another child, hence Victoria’s eating Natto and her eagerness to gain weight.
A source said, “Victoria knows she needs to weigh more to conceive, so she’s bumping up the calories.”
Speaking about her constantly commented on, skinny frame, Victoria reportedly said, “Some people can’t help being thin, some people can’t help being fat.
“People just have to be healthy.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In yet more rumours, Victoria Beckham has reportedly been having problems conceiving, so she has been seeking advice from fertility specialists in London and Los Angeles?

Victoria reportedly recently had a routine checkup at the Portland Hospital in London, England, where she was informed that her fertility rate has dropped.
Victoria and David have reportedly been trying to conceive for 3 months.

A friend of Victoria’s reportedly said, “Victoria also suffers from PCOS; polycystic ovary syndrome, and irregular periods, both of which can affect her chances of having a baby.
“She’s trying not to get too nervous as she knows this won’t help, but it’s becoming more and more of a concern.”

A source said that Victoria and David have been discussing the possibility of fertility drugs, maybe
Clomid?
The source said, “They’d definitely try Clomid if they really had to, but they’re hoping not to resort to that.
“The couple laugh about it now, Victoria’s main worry with having twins is, can she pull it off looking as glamorous in a maxi dress as the likes of Angelina Jolie?”

Victoria, 34, is reported to be 5′ 4″ and her weight is 110lbs, 7 stone 12lbs?