Making Sense of PCOS

Answers to Common Questions

By Shel Franco

More than likely, the blood work from a woman with PCOS will show some abnormalities. "Any [hormone] level that is twice the upper or lower limit of normal is particularly important and may indicate a serious problem," note the doctors at CARS.

Both Tiffany Sizemore, of Louisville, Ken., and Christine Vogle, of Peoria, Ill., showed abnormalities in their blood work. "[Mine] showed high-low testosterone levels and high blood sugar levels," Sizemore says. Vogle showed a hormone level greater than twice the normal limit.

What Are the Traditional Ways of Treating PCOS?
Women who are not trying to conceive can be placed on special diets and given medications to lessen symptoms. Some women, like Lisa Beamer of Pittsburgh, Pa., are put on birth control pills to control the growth of cysts.

However, women who wish to conceive most likely enlist the aid of Clomid, which CARS classifies as "an oral fertility agent."

"I was first treated with Clomid to introduce ovulation," says Devone Hart, of Tamarac, Fla. But Hart, as with some women on Clomid, didn't ovulate, despite increased dosages. In her case, a different approach was necessary.

Sometimes, treating the body's insulin resistance is the key to conception. "The most effective treatment is Metformin," Dr. Glueck says. "Other insulin sensitizing drugs are effective, but Metformin should be the drug of choice, being safe and effective."

Are There Alternative Treatments?
There are non-traditional approaches for dealing with PCOS. Vitamins, herbs and low carbohydrate diets top the list of alternative approaches.

Jackie Rosenzveig, of Modiin, Israel, finds information and advice on Internet discussion lists. "[The people] seem to be highly intelligent and knowledgeable, and their explanations of why one herb or another might help a particular problem always seem to make a lot of sense," she says. "When you start to look at PCOS as a hormonal imbalance rather than a curse, then herbs that are known to help normalize hormones seem more logical than a medicine that tries to trick your body into ovulating."

Want to see more?

• Check out our Article Library.
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