The bodies of both men and women produce androgens, which are typically characterized as male sex hormones. The difference between men and women, hormonally, is that men generally have more androgens than women, whose bodies turn them into estrogen.1 Although the female reproductive system generally converts androgens into estrogen, some women experience high levels of these hormones, leading to a variety of health concerns. One of the most prevalent of these concerns is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS.
Understanding PCOS
The term androgen encompasses several different hormones, including:1
- Testosterone
- Androstenedione
- Dihydrotestosterone
- Dehydroepiandrosterone
- DHEA sulfates
When these hormones become imbalanced and too many androgens are produced, women may experience a variety of symptoms that are associated with virilizing effects, or the process by which the male body is differentiated from that of the female.1 Some of these effects, which are frequently reported as symptoms of PCOS, include:1,2
- Acne
- Hirsutism (growth of hair in unexpected places, such as the face)
- Infrequent or absent menstrual periods
- Infertility
- Anovulation (the absence of ovulation)
Women may also experience other symptoms, including:2
- Cystic ovaries
- Acanthosis nigricans (the development of dark, thick patches of skin)
- Acrochordons (skin tags)
- Weight Gain
- High cholesterol and blood pressure
In addition, PCOS hormones can lead to other serious health issues, including Insulin Resistance, diabetes, and heart disease.1 For this reason, this condition is more than a simple hormonal imbalance—it can severely interfere with a woman’s life.
The Wide Reach of Hormones
The reason that hormonal issues are so pervasive is that hormones have access to many parts of the body. Although sex hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen, are produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat cells of a woman, they play a major role in the functioning of many organs, such as the kidneys, liver, muscles, and entire reproductive system.1 In fact, it has been estimated that androgens are directly involved in over 200 functions that take place within a woman’s body.1
Women experience hormonal issues differently; because women who have imbalanced hormones present a variety of symptoms, healthcare professionals must look to hormone levels to determine their cause. This can make the diagnosis of conditions like PCOS difficult to obtain. Although the diagnostic process may be frustrating, and living with an unknown ailment can be devastating, women who fight through the diagnostic process to determine which hormones are imbalanced are able to move forward with a better understanding of their condition. With the right lifestyle changes, many women who have this disorder are able to reverse their symptoms and vastly improve their health.
The other thing a women suffering Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) might do is to look into the Insulite Labs supplements that are available. In particular, the PCOS System offers hormone-balancing effects that have been scientifically calibrated to reverse the condition. That means there is very much hope here, and, for women who properly educate themselves and take the precautions necessary to thwart the effects of the disease, no reason why PCOS has to be interpreted as a devastating diagnosis.
Learn more about the subject of hormones and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and how it could be affecting your health, visit us on the web at www.pcos.com.
Next Steps
- Take the PCOS Quiz!  Get your score and assess your hormone health risks.
- Join our Facebook Sisterhood Group Pose your questions to this group of like-minded women. Get the answers to your questions and the support you need.
- Checkout the Hormone Reset. Guided Practices to eliminate anxiety, lose weight and boost energy.
We are committed to helping women reverse their symptoms of hormone imbalance – a major cause of excess weight gain, adult acne, unwanted facial hair, depression, anxiety, and heartbreaking female infertility.
©Insulite Health empowers women with hormone imbalance to transform their lives through a process of healing with the Natural Hormone Solution  –a complete solution for helping women reverse the symptoms hormone imbalance..