What causes PCOS?
The thinking about the cause of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) has changed drastically since I was diagnosed in 1992. At that time there was no real idea of what caused PCOS. Shortly after that the idea that PCOS was caused by insulin resistance became popular. While insulin resistance is one common symptom of PCOS, I do not believe it is the cause. Current research indicates that PCOS may be caused by chronic inflammation within the body. Chronic inflammation is caused by environmental pollutants, the typical Western diet, stress, lack of sleep, and a sedentary lifestyle. The good news is that most of these causes are treatable. Treat the causes of inflammation and you will not only treat PCOS, but also reduce your risk of asthma, arthritis, heart disease and many other auto-immune related disorders. Most of the diseases we consider to be “lifestyle” disease such as heart disease, diabetes, and PCOS are now being shown in studies to be linked to chronic inflammation. There appears t
Although first described over 65 years ago, we still do not know the exact cause of PCOS. Theories regarding the mechanism(s) include the effects of abnormal pituitary hormone secretion, high levels of insulin, and abnormal production of male hormones by the ovary. The pituitary gland secretes two hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In general, LH controls the production of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in the ovary and FSH controls the development and release of eggs in the ovary. LH and FSH are released in pulses from the pituitary gland in response to stimulation by gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) from the brain. LH and FSH secretion normally varies throughout the menstrual cycle, and it appears that different patterns of GnRH pulses from the brain affect the different patterns of LH and FSH secretion. Specifically, fast GnRH pulses appear to favor LH secretion, and slow GnRH pulses favor FSH secretion. Estrogen and progeste
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. There are studies being conducted to see if there may be a genetic link that PCOS is passed along in families. Just as one might have a genetic predisposition to diabetes, one might also have a disposition to PCOS. The above analogy to diabetes seems appropriate as many current studies into PCOS are focusing on the body’s ability to process insulin. A growing collection of data suggests that elevated insulin levels are unhealthy and contribute to increased androgen production, worsening PCOS symptoms from cosmetic issues to infertility, and eventually increasing the risk of certain cancers, diabetes and heart disease. It is also possible that PCOS may be caused or worsened by valproate, a medication used to treat seizures, but it is hard to say if it is the epilepsy per se or the agent used to treat it that brings about the PCOS symptoms in some women. The condition may be improved by switching to another medication.
