PCOS is partly, though not entirely, genetic. One wonders then, what about males who inherit genes related to PCOS? While there will probably be no absolute proof until the genes for PCOS have been completely identified, I think the answer is right in front of us. Those men with substantial hair loss, who are overweight on the upper part of their body and insulin resistant probably have the male equivalent of PCOS. Of course having facial and body hair is normal for men so no one pays attention. Men cannot have irregular periods but they can have the metabolic changes. I suspect that many men with adult onset diabetes actually have the equivalent of PCOS. I’ve noticed that many of the women I see at the Hormone Center of New York have a family history of diabetes, often in male relatives.
Significantly, the treatment for IR or diabetes in men is the same as that for women with PCOS – insulin sensitizers. Of course, many of the hormonal treatments I have discussed are suitable only for women.
hi
i think it's really interersting, thanks. My dad was diabetic... and both my grandmothers had 'womens' problems' (never dx in those days) but lots of af etc type of pcos problems
eva
Hi,
I found this a couple of weeks ago and found it very interesting too. I even told my parents that our whole family shows some signs of PCOS ~ all the men showed male pattern baldness <30 yrs. All 3 of my brothers had full beards by the time they were in grade 8. 2/3 have the weight in the "right" area. Only 1 has been dx'd as diabetic but the other 2 "don't go to doctors" so who knows if they do. My father also has the male pattern baldness and the weight symptom. My sister went through menopause by the age of 35~ but didn't question it because she was finished having children and was happy about it.
I recently sent my family some information about PCOS because they have always been great supports and I thought they might want to be aware of it since I have 4 nieces as well as being aware of it for friends that might have it.
The articles are here:
BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most frequent endocrinopathy in women with estimated prevalence of 5-10 %, is characterised by a hormonal and metabolic imbalance of polygene autosomal trait. The complexity of symptoms and genetic base started up the hypothesis on the existence of male equivalent of PCOS. Precocious loss of hair before 30 years of age was suggested as one of the male symptoms of this syndrome.
more...
semmien: lol my DH would prob be like what r you talking about ........but he doesnt have any of those symptoms.....but on the other hand my dad fits into this category but does not have diabetes.
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hmmmmmmm, interesting... I'm not sure what to think about this. It seems to point to the origin of PCOS (male or female) as a metabolism issue. I found this article which is interesting because it discuss other hormones that are seldom mentioned in studies of PCOS and it points to how they effect both men and women, I wonder if there is a testicular dysfunction disorder similar to our ovarian dysfunction...
Tosca L, Chabrolle C, Dupont J. Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR 6175 Inra-CNRS-Université François Rabelais de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. tosca@tours.inra.fr
5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine kinase that acts as a fuel gauge in regulating energy metabolism. It restores cellular ATP levels by switching on catabolic pathways and switching off anabolic pathways. Some evidence indicates that AMPK could be also implicated in reproductive functions such as granulosa cell steroidogenesis and nuclear oocyte maturation in several species. Some metabolic hormones such as leptin, resistin, adiponectin (three adipokines) and ghrelin may in part act through the AMPK signaling. These hormones are also involved in the control of the reproductive functions at the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis level in both male and female. Thus, AMPK could be one of the signaling pathways controlling the interactions between energy balance and reproduction. The reproductive system is tightly coupled with energy balance, and thereby metabolic abnormalities can lead to the development of some physiopathological situations such as the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS show altered fertility mostly associated with metabolic disorders such as insulin-resistance, hyperinsulinemia and/or dyslipidemia. Metformin, an insulin-sensitizer, is used for the treatment of women with PCOS. It restores subnormal fertility and energy balance. Recent studies show that AMPK is involved in the mechanism of action of metformin. Thus, it may be a therapeutic target. However, further investigations are necessary to elucidate the functions of AMPK in both metabolic and reproductive tissues.
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Mum was talking to my Aunty (dad's sis) about my PCOS and my Aunty said that my Grandmother (dad's mum) had many of the same issues! Dad started balding while he was still at high school - his friends used to give him flyers on hair regrowth products all the time as a joke apparently. One of my PCOS books that has a bit of info on the male genetic side of things says that sub-fertility is also another common trait of the "male PCOS", which my Dad had also, as well as the other signs.
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Article Excerpt: IS THERE A MALE PCOS? 
My dad was diabetic... and both my grandmothers had 'womens' problems' (never dx in those days) but lots of af etc type of pcos problems
article on male PCOS possibilities 
