PCOS Mentioned on Oprah 2-19-08

[jmgibbs]

I just thought that I would mention that I was watching Oprah this afternoon b/c I was intrigued by a guy who was literally blue that I saw when I turned on the TV. Well, Dr. Oz was on to answer questions. A lady asked about facial hair. She said she has a lot on her face and she has shaved, plucked, waxed, etc. You could actually see a darkened area like 5 O'Clock Shadow. Dr. Oz mentioned asked if she has regular menstrual cycles and she said yes. He said that it could be PCOS if she doesn't have regular cycles, but she should get check for it anyway. He mentioned that PCOS affects about 10% of the population and is linked to IR and Diabetes as well as infertility and increased testosterone. He said that there are medical treatments for it and she should see a Doctor about it... It was funny b/c as soon as she asked about facial hair, I said to my DH, "Wait! He is about to mention PCOS!" So I turned up the TV and sure enough there it was. I am glad it was mentioned b/c I have written to the show asking for them to do a segment on it.

Oh and Dr. Oz told the lady who asked about the facial hair that he does not like plucking b/c it can cause pimples. He also said that he would prefer shaving or waxing to plucking. He said that it will not make more hair, but it appears thicker when you shave.

[KatCarney]

interesting. let's see if searches on 'pcos' are up at google.

[KimberlyMillions]

I saw it too; I was happy that it was mentioned...more people have been educated about PCOS today!

The woman that appeared on the show was very beautiful, but I saw the pain and embarrassment on her face when she broadcasted her flaw on national television...but it helped me because I feel like she opened the door for me to feel free to discuss it if anyone asked me any facial hair questions. I hope that someday people can accept this as "normal".

[jmgibbs]

I agree...I am glad that they talked about it. I really like Dr. Oz! I felt really bad for the woman too it must've been so hard to talk about especially since she just barely told her husband about it. Glad you saw it!

[middleschoolteach]

I was thrilled that they mentioned it! I know that before I was diagnosed, I had no clue that I wasn't normal. I read about PCOS in a magazine and went to the doc armed with info.

I just hope that this mention prompts other women to get diagnosed!

[drama queen]

I know I have Dr. Oz's book "YOU on a Diet" and he mentions PCOS in there! I wish more doctors were as personable and knowledgeable as Dr. Oz.

[tweetybyrdst]

I think this is great! but i also worry about the fact that they mentioned that with PCOS you have IR and/or diabetes. I heard a lot of that when I was diagnosed, and since I have neither of those things I did not accept the diagnoses. It just made it hard for me to understand how I could have it although I do not have any of those symptoms. I just wish that health care prov would mention that there are those that DO NOT have those symptoms, and may not even have cysts on their ovaries shown on an ultrasound, but still do have PCOS...

[jmgibbs]

Tweety- The crazy thing about PCOS is that nobody fits all of the symptoms all of the time. Some women are thin and IR some aren't IR, but are very overweight...That is why I so wish that someone would do a big special on it to incompass all aspects of it. Dr. Oz said that it now affects 1 in every 10 women...that is HUGE!!! I am with you girl! It is all so frustrating!

[tweetybyrdst]

yea I read about that "1:10 women" statistic too.... I still think that a lot more reseach needs to be done into PCOS b/c there are so many misinformed ppl out there trying to help other misinformed ppl.... the blind leading the blind...

[AngelaGrace]

Yes, I saw that on Oprah! Dr. Oz is awesome. He actually reminds me a lot of my Primary Care Doctor. Knowledgable, explaining things, and even his good looks. Haha! Anyway, waxing has also caused me some more pimples. How about society just be OK w/ facial hair? I wish...

[KatCarney]

yea I read about that "1:10 women" statistic too.... I still think that a lot more reseach needs to be done into PCOS b/c there are so many misinformed ppl out there trying to help other misinformed ppl.... the blind leading the blind...

There's actually a LOT of research being done. A LOT!

Take a look in the Research Articles forum, it will reveal a bigger problem: Too few women with PCOS are reading the research...

[tweetybyrdst]

there's a lot of research, yes, but they 2 me r all saying the same thing and in myyyy opinion i still kinda feel like they r say'n the same thing, and at the end of the day there is still a lot of uncertainty.

i kno this may b a terrible analysis but it kinda reminds me of when HIV/AIDs first presented itself as a "huge proplem" there was TONS of research done on that as well, b/c the ppl in the medical field had no idea wat they were dealing w/. but still, even w/ all their research it was considered "the white gay man's disease" 4 a long time until the research went too a deeper level. & i guess thats wat i mean... yes, there's research, i've read so much i feel my head will explode :-), even the 1s on the forums, but right now i still think there is a level of uncertainty w/ PCOS & there is not enuf depth in the research & that makes the research all seem the same to me.

just how i see it....

[KatCarney]

I just hope that this mention prompts other women to get diagnosed!

One thing's for sure: It drove more women to the web to find information. "Newbie" and unregistered visitor traffic has been WAY up here...

there's a lot of research, yes, but they 2 me r all saying the same thing and in myyyy opinion i still kinda feel like they r say'n the same thing...

I couldn't disagree more. In the last 6 months (180 days), there have been 213 studies released - that's more than one per day, even if you counted weekends. What is the 'same thing' they all said, and can you provide some example (ie 80 % of the studies all looked at this 'identical' issue, and came to the identical conclusion...)

Below are titles of the most recently released PCOS studies. With the exception of ONE, all have been released within the last 12 weeks. Again, what in your mind says 'the same thing' among these studies? Please be specific

Inappropriate gonadotropin secretion in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Body mass index is an independent risk factor for the development of endometrial polyps in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Impact of Metformin and Rosiglitazone Treatment on GLUT4 mRNA Expression in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Prevalence of symptoms associated with polycystic ovary syndrome

Comparison of clomiphene citrate, metformin, or the combination of both for first-line ovulation induction, achievement of pregnancy, and live birth in Asian women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

Influence of adiposity on leptin, LH and androgen levels in lean, overweight and obese PCOS patients

Luteal phase clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a novel protocol

Effect of folic acid in women with and without insulin resistance who have hyperhomocysteinemic polycystic ovary syndrome.

Premicroalbuminuria in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a metabolic risk marker.

Interrelationship of abnormal family history in the first degree relatives and clinical phenotype of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Lipoprotein(a) levels in girls with premature adrenarche

Association of Androgen Receptor CAG Repeat Polymorphism and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Hirsutism in Saudi females of reproductive age: a hospital-based study

Differences in dyslipidemia between American and Italian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

...kno this may b a terrible analysis but it kinda reminds me of when HIV/AIDs first presented itself as a "huge proplem" there was TONS of research done on that as well even w/ all their research it was considered "the white gay man's disease"

I agree...not a good analogy.

[tweetybyrdst]

Hey Kat!

U completely have all the right to your own opinion. I'm not trying to force my opinion as truth on ne1, it is just the way I see things, and it is just the way it seems to me.... I have studied a lot, and as a nursing student in the hospital I have seen a lot.... my opinon is just based on my own experience and my own research. If u see things differently that's fine by me :-). My statements r simply my opinions.... not facts....

have a gn :-)

[Curiousme]

I read the research (at least the ones posted on here) but I find I have trouble with a lot for the technical stuff and weeding out what "makes sense" in normal everyday speak.

As for the Oprah show, any chance of finding a re-run on the internet anywhere?