PCOS: Symptoms, Causes, and How Medications and Lifestyle Help
When you have PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that disrupts ovulation, causes irregular periods, and often leads to insulin resistance. Also known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, it’s one of the most common reasons women struggle with fertility, weight gain, and acne—not because of poor habits, but because of how the body’s hormones misfire. It’s not just about cysts on the ovaries; it’s a whole-system problem that affects metabolism, mood, and long-term health.
Many women with PCOS also deal with insulin resistance, a condition where cells don’t respond well to insulin, causing the body to make more of it. This excess insulin pushes the ovaries to make more testosterone, which leads to facial hair, scalp hair loss, and irregular cycles. It’s why weight loss is often recommended—not because PCOS is caused by being overweight, but because losing even 5% of body weight can reset insulin levels and restart ovulation. The same insulin problem also links PCOS to type 2 diabetes, making blood sugar control a key part of managing it. And because hormones are tangled up, hormonal imbalance, the overproduction of androgens and underproduction of progesterone, is at the core of almost every symptom, from acne to missed periods. You won’t fix this with a diet alone, but you can calm it down with the right meds—like metformin for insulin, birth control to regulate cycles, or spironolactone to reduce excess hair.
What you’ll find in the articles below isn’t just theory. It’s real-world info on how medications like Combipres (used for high blood pressure, which often comes with PCOS), diuretics for fluid retention, and even supplements for liver support can play a role. Some women with PCOS also deal with chronic inflammation, autoimmune flares, or skin conditions like acne and hirsutism—all covered in related posts. There’s no one-size-fits-all fix, but understanding how PCOS connects to insulin, hormones, and other conditions gives you the power to ask better questions and get better results.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Understanding Hormonal Imbalance and Fertility Treatment Options
PCOS is the leading cause of female infertility due to hormonal imbalance. Learn how insulin resistance, high testosterone, and ovulation problems connect-and what treatments actually work, from lifestyle changes to letrozole and IVF.