PCOS is a medical condition that is also known as polycystic ovaries, Sclerocystic Ovarian Disease, Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, Chronic Anovulatory Syndrome, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD). It is the most common female endocrine (hormonal) disorder and is characterized by multiple abnormal ovarian cysts. Most ovarian cysts are harmless, fluid-filled sacs containing immature eggs that attach to the ovaries. But multiple cysts, with a typical appearance of “a string of pearls” or “pearl necklace”, are a hallmark of PCOS. An estimated 5-10% of women of childbearing age are affected by PCOS and it is one of the leading causes of infertility. Post-menopausal women can also suffer from PCOS.

PCOS can be a silent killer. Since the symptoms of PCOS can vary so widely from woman to woman, doctors very often misdiagnose the condition. This oversight became a matter of critical concern after a study conducted in 2000 found that women suffering from PCOS have a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

Symptoms of PCOS can include excessive weight gain and obesity, irregular, heavy or completely absent periods, ovarian cysts, excessive facial or body hair, Alopecia (male pattern hair loss), acne, skin tags (growths from the skin), Acanthosis Nigricans (brown skin patches) high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive and excess male hormones.

The underlying cause of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is Insulin Resistance, a condition that increases the chances of developing not only Diabetes but cardiovascular heart disease (CHD) as well. So it is critical that you understand the interaction of Insulin Resistance and Diabetes in order to avoid developing more serious health complications.

The human body processes food into energy by converting it into glucose, which is then passed into the cells by insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas. Diabetes is a disorder of that metabolism – a malfunction of the process that converts food to energy. People with Diabetes either cannot use the insulin that is produced or the pancreas produces little or no insulin. As the pancreas struggles to keep up with the body's need for more insulin, excessive levels of glucose and insulin build up in the blood stream, leading directly to Diabetes.

PCOS (also known as Polycystic Ovarian Disease) has many of the same underlying symptoms as Metabolic Syndrome: excessive abdominal fat (although lean women also have PCOS), high LDL (bad) blood cholesterol levels, low HDL (good) cholesterol levels, high levels of triglycerides and high blood pressure – all components of the development of Diabetes. Metabolic Syndrome, which is also called Syndrome X, is a disorder that substantially increases your chances of developing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).

When you are Insulin Resistant, your muscle, fat and liver cells do not use insulin properly. Because of the overproduction of insulin from the pancreas, many people with Insulin Resistance have high levels of both blood glucose and insulin circulating in their blood at the same time.

It's important to understand the distinction between Insulin Resistance and Diabetes. Insulin Resistance occurs when the body produces enough insulin, but its cells lack enough insulin receptor sites to allow the absorption of insulin at a cellular level. Diabetes occurs when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or it can't process the insulin that is produced.

All of the factors associated with Insulin Resistance and PCOS are interrelated. Obesity and lack of exercise worsen Insulin Resistance, which then has a negative effect on lipid production, increasing VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein), LDL (low-density lipoprotein – the “bad” cholesterol) and triglyceride levels in the bloodstream and decreasing HDL (high-density lipoprotein – the “good” cholesterol).

Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States . In 2000, it was the sixth leading cause of death and has been associated with long-term complications affecting almost every part of the body, leading to blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations and nerve damage.

Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is strongly related to PCOS. Obese women are particularly susceptible to Diabetes. This condition, in turn, puts women at dramatically increased risk of Cardiovascular Disease, as well as the development of many other serious health conditions, including strokes, kidney damage and blindness.

Many patients have been educated about the importance of checking their cholesterol levels, watching for signs of Diabetes, having their blood pressure monitored and exercising – but there has been little to tie all of these factors together.

Studies have shown that a single solution will simply not work in trying to address the myriad symptoms of these conditions. While no single pharmaceutical has yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for Insulin Resistance and PCOS, there are drugs approved for use in the treatment of Diabetes.

But a single pharmaceutical, or even a combination of them, will not eradicate or reverse PCOS and Insulin Resistance. You must combine neutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support system that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices if you wish to return to optimum health.