Exclusive Dr. Hyman+ Functional Medicine Deep Dive: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Mark Hyman
Jan 2, 2024
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Recognize 'skinny fat' as a PCOS risk despite normal weight
You can be a normal weight and still have high levels of inflammatory visceral fat around your organs, a condition known as 'skinny fat' that is common in PCOS.
Understand PCOS diagnosis without ovarian cysts
You can be diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) without having polycystic ovaries on an ultrasound, as long as you meet two of the three diagnostic criteria.
Manage insulin levels to control androgen production
High insulin can increase the production of androgens from ovarian cells and decrease a protein called SHBG, leaving more 'free' testosterone to cause symptoms.
Raise awareness to diagnose PCOS effectively
Despite being the number one endocrine disorder in females, it's estimated that as many as 75% of patients with PCOS go unidentified in clinical practice.
Understand hormone pulsing patterns to address PCOS
Hormones are not released continuously like water from a hose, but are pulsed out from the brain in specific patterns like Morse code, which can be disrupted in PCOS.
Understand PCOS symptoms despite normal testosterone levels
You can experience PCOS symptoms like cystic acne with normal testosterone levels if your androgen receptors are genetically more sensitive and reactive.
Reassess insulin levels to reduce metabolic syndrome risk
While conventional labs consider a fasting insulin level under 25 to be normal, research suggests a level over 7.9 significantly increases the risk for metabolic syndrome.
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