Pamphlet for Close Relatives and Friends of women with PCOS
If you are reading this, it is because a close relative of yours is under [a physician's] care and has Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This has significant implications for your future health and it is important for you to understand what this all means.
PCOS is the most common hormone problem in women of reproductive age (puberty to menopause). However, the implications and consequences of PCOS extend beyond menopause.
We now recognize that the cause of PCOS is an abnormality in the insulin receptor. This means that the insulin your body produces is not able to work as effectively as it should to keep your blood sugar normal. To overcome this defect, your pancreas has to produce more and more insulin.
The excess insulin affects the way the ovaries function and causes them to produce increased amounts of male hormone. This interferes with normal ovulation and many women with PCOS have very irregular menstrual cycles.
The increased male hormone production also leads to facial hair growth and/or acne.
It is also becoming increasingly apparent that the excess insulin production with the resulting elevated levels of insulin in your bloodstream has significant implications for your overall health and well-being. We now know that these excess insulin levels are a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and stroke - even in those people who are not yet diabetic. This whole problem falls under the heading of "Syndrome X". I can talk to you more about it if your wish.
There is rapidly accumulating evidence that these high insulin levels also play a significant role in causing high cholesterol levels and hypertension as well.
We know that women with PCOS are more likely to develop diabetes when pregnant and are also more likely to develop diabetes in later life. Insulin resistance is probably the abnormality that sets the stage for this.
PCOS is an inherited disease and 50% or more of the close relatives of women identified as having PCOS will also have the disease although not all will manifest every symptom.
Men can also inherit the genetic abnormality that in women would lead to PCOS.
Although not everyone who is insulin resistant will ultimately develop diabetes, many do. Furthermore, you do not go from being normal to diabetic in one step. There are intermediate stages where you would not be classified as being officially diabetic but your body is not handling sugar properly and your blood sugars are higher than they ought to be.
As a result of all of this, we strongly urge you to be evaluated for possible insulin resistance. It is a simple blood test - one that our office can easily provide for you. All that is necessary is that you come into the office first thing in the morning - fasting. Nothing to eat or drink from the time you go to bed at night until your blood is drawn in the morning.
We would also encourage any men who are close relatives of our patient to undergo the same testing. This would especially include men who are significantly overweight with elevated cholesterol and hypertension as well.
Thanks for posting this I am sending it to my family and friends!!
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Carey(31) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Paul(43)
Married 7-25-02
PCOS Diagnosed Nov 02'
Bi Polar Diagnosed Feb 08'
Current meds~ Lithium&Celexa
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 4 furbabies To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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thank you Kat thats the best explination of PCOS to a family member that i've ever seen.
When i got to the bottom i didn't realize
Quote:
Men can also inherit the genetic abnormality that in women would lead to PCOS.
My bio sperm donor has diabetes or at least was borderline diabetic in 83 or something like that. So now i'm starting to wonder where or at leach which side of the family i got this from. I'm actually stating to think possibly both sides.
But thank you again for the info
__________________
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Thanks Kat! This is great info to help our friends & family understand PCOS.
__________________ Janet (31) DH (41) ttc 7 years
Miscarriage 1/19/1999 at 10 weeks
Met ER 2000 mg daily HSG to be scheduled next cycle after af
Waiting on dh's SA results
Expecting to start Clomid after test results are in
I have PCOS and have been put on Metformin. I also have Hypothyroidism and have been put on Synthroid. I still do not understand why I was put on Metformin becuase my blood sugar is PERFECT. Can someone explain this to me?
I do, however, have many of the other symptoms/side-effects of PCOS.
(Also, please read my new post called "Gynecological Oncologist".)
thank for this info mabey ppl will understand me better when i am trying to tell them about it
__________________ Monica & Robert Married 14 years ttc diagnosed in 2000 4 fur babyies SissyLaLa 15yrs old,Missy 6yrs old,Samson 4years, and Smokey 2 years old 5 feather babies rainbow,pickel,omaly,julia
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Pamphlet for Close Relatives and Friends of women with PCOS 
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