Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS, is a common yet often missed condition. Ten to twenty percent of reproductive age women have PCOS. 66 million women globally have PCOS -. 5-10 million in the US alone.
PCOS costs the US healthcare system $8 billion per year.
One third of patients have a diagnosis of PCOS delayed by two years and in many women,, diagnosis takes much longer. Many women live with symptoms their entire lives and are never diagnosed accurately.
PCOS can cause male pattern hair growth, obesity, infertility and increases an affected person’s risk of diabetes and heart disease. The diagnosis of insulin resistance PCOS is important, because we have ways to treat it and to prevent potential complications of it.
In PCOS, women have insulin resistance and elevated male hormones. This can be treated with a healthful diet and exercise plan. It can also be treated with metformin. Women with insulin resistance PCOS who struggle to lose weight can benefit from weight loss medications. Women with male pattern hair loss and growth, acne and irregular periods may benefit from spironolactone, metformin and oral contraceptives.
Check out the IG live Dr. Thangudu did with Dr. Gentile answering all of your PCOS questions!