Could I have PCOS? Missed Periods & Facial Hair

[racermom]

I am a 42 year old woman who is also a lesbian. I have had problems with my period for as long as I can remember. My weight has been a problem as well. No matter what I do, can’t get the pounds to come off. Last, but not least, I also have random hair on my upper lip, chin and neck. I don’t want to have these whisker type hairs anymore! Could I have PCOS? Please help.

[drandrea]

I am a 42 year old woman who is also a lesbian. I have had problems with my period for as long as I can remember. My weight has been a problem as well. No matter what I do, can’t get the pounds to come off. Last, but not least, I also have random hair on my upper lip, chin and neck. I don’t want to have these whisker type hairs anymore! Could I have PCOS? Please help.

Dear Racermom,

I am delighted that you found our forum and decided to write in! We recognize that PCOS is much more than just an issue of fertility. PCOS is a syndrome and can affect a myriad of bodily systems producing many different symptoms. We understand what a challenge it can be to find a way to manage PCOS, but there is hope and things can get better!

PCOS is notoriously difficult to diagnose. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. In other words, it is important to rule out other diseases that can cause symptoms similar to PCOS (such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia). To diagnose PCOS, we use a combination of clinical symptoms (what you experience as the patient, such as excess hair growth, irregular menses,
acne, skin tags, weight gain, infertility, etc.) and lab tests.

As you may have read on our website, the underlying cause of PCOS in most cases seems to be Insulin Resistance. With Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (male hormones).

As you may have read about on our website, www.pcos.insulitelabs.com, with Insulin Resistance, the body becomes insensitive to the insulin it produces, which leads to elevated circulating levels of insulin. This in turn leads to hormonal imbalances such as increased testosterone and other androgens (masculinizing hormones).

Elevated insulin and Insulin Resistance also contribute to the formation of cysts in the ovaries in part due to the hormonal imbalances and also because the ovaries are highly sensitive to the influence of insulin. In women with PCOS, the ovaries are over-sensitized to insulin’s effects.
Finally, the weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight.

The weight gain associated with PCOS is intricately related to Insulin Resistance. Losing weight helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and vice versa: becoming more sensitive to your insulin helps you to lose weight. Unfortunately, people who have Insulin Resistance have a very difficult time losing weight, as you have experienced.

The increased testosterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and abnormal menstrual cycles. Regulating your hormones will help many of the hormonally related symptoms of PCOS such as hair growth and acne.

Some of the long-term consequences of Insulin Resistance can include PCOS, diabetes, cardiovascular complications, liver disease, infertility, and more. You can read about the long-term consequences on our website:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCO...Resistance.php.

I hope this information is helpful for you! There is amazing customer support at Insulite Labs for our customers; we are here to help you through this healing journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns. We are here to help.

[111john111]

I like the sypethetic approach Dr. Andrea...