Archive for December, 2008

New hope for excess hair?

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

A study has found that using a topical cream containing 2% fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) reduces hair diameter by about 18%.

 

Click here for more details:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13678227

 

 

Although this study wasn’t done with women with PCOS, it may provide an option for those sufferring hirsutism as one of their symptoms. Excess hair is caused by an increased stimulation of the hair follicles by testosterone. High testosterone can be triggered by high insulin levels.

 

It’s interesting though, that some women with excess hair have normal blood levels of testosterone. This may indicate that the problem lies in an increase in the locally produced androgens within the hair follicle or skin itself.

 

Julie

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Getting tested for insulin resistance

Monday, December 8th, 2008

With PCOS, it is important to get tested for insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when the cells have difficulty taking up glucose from the bloodstream, often resulting in an increased secretion of insulin, which worsens the symptoms of PCOS.

Many people say “But my blood glucose levels are normal”. You can still have insulin resistance and have normal blood glucose levels. It is vital that insulin levels are tested too, but they aren’t always automatically done, so you may need to ask.

Here’s what to ask for”

A glucose tolerance test (GTT) with fasting, one hour, and two hour insulin levels.

This will involve having blood taken before you have eaten anything for the day, then drinking a glucose solution, and having more blood taken after one hour, and then after two hours. This determines how well your body copes with the intake of glucose. Make sure you get the two hour bloods taken as well, sometimes everything else is normal exceot for the two hour insulin level.

Julie

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