Women and Elevated Testosterone

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormone related condition that affects millions of women. It is the most common cause of infertility and it is estimated that between 5 to 10% of the population may have PCOS. Seventy percent of cases are undiagnosed and can lead to diabetes, heart disease and endometrial cancer. This is a lifelong condition..... even when the ovaries are removed or a woman goes through menopause the condition still persists. The hormone imbalance seen in PCOS reflects an over abundance of testosterone and DHEA, low progesterone and insulin resistance.

Treatments include birth control pills, androgen suppressors, natural progesterone and insulin lowering medications like metformin. Results from studies of a supplement called Inositol are promising for the treatments of PCOS.

Inositol: or cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol is a chemical compound with formula C6H12O6 or (-CHOH-)6. Inositol is a carbohydrate, though not a classical sugar. It has a taste which has been assayed at half the sweetness of table sugar (sucrose). It is a nutrient found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and can exist in a D-chiro (regulates glucose) or myo isomer.

Inositol is an Insulin Sensitizing Drug or Insulin Mimetic which activates enzymes that control glucose metabolism causing

   1) Decreased serum insulin

   2) Decreased serum testosterone

   3) Enhanced ovulation (reducing the hyperinsulemia state positively effects LH secretion)

Myo-inositol: In addition to the above actions myo-inositol plays a key role in follicular development and good oocyte quality. Inositol is combined with folic acid and marketed in Italy under the trade name Inofolic. Folic acid is added because ladies with PCOS tend to have low folic acid levels which cause high homocysteine levels. We know that high homocysteine levels put the patient at risk for cardiovascular disease. Visit Inofolic's website to read more on their product and read about their research documenting substantial decreases in insulin and serum total testosterone levels and an improvement in metabolic factors.

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    Pure Encapsulations Inositol Powder

            250 gram container (which is a 60 day supply) cost is $28.77

                 Sig: mix 2 level scoops in water or juice and drink once daily

                 You will need to take this product 3 to 6 months to see results.

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Want to read more?

** Effect of the treatment with myo-inositol plus folic acid plus melatonin in comparison with Myo-inositol in patients with PCOS: A novel method for ovulation induction by Dr Enrico Papaleo in Gynecological Endocrinology, Dec 2007

**Comparison of Myo-Inositol and Metformin on Clinical, Metabolic and Genetic Parameters in PCOS: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Clinical Endocrin-ology August 2017  

If fertility is not an issue peri-menopausal women would benefit from supplementing with progesterone. If patient is trying to get pregnant do not supplement her with progesterone. We will know the supplement is working when patient resumes ovulation. When she ovulates her corpus luteum will secrete progesterone verifying ovulation did indeed occur.

For us to dispense the above prescription we must have a saliva test that shows high testosterone and low progesterone. The patient that is taking Inositol needs to be aware that this supplement WILL increase her fertility.

Also decreasing carbohydrates is a key factor in PCOS... dedicated women feel better on a "Paleo Diet".