Menopause and PCOS - #50

PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is one of the most common causes of female infertility, affecting 6% to 12% (as many as 5 million) of US women of reproductive age. There’s no known cause of PCOS, but several mechanisms have been linked to this syndrome, such as hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, and genetics.

Women with PCOS can develop serious health issues, especially if they are overweight. Here are some stats from the CDC:

-more than half of women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes by age 40, just as a woman has most likely entered peri-menopause

-women with PCOS are at higher risk of CVD, and as a woman goes through menopause, their risk of CVD also increases

-women with PCOS generally have elevated LDL cholesterol and decreased HDL cholesterol—which also increases the risk of heart disease

-women with PCOS are more likely to develop plaque clogging their blood vessels which can lead to blood clots that in turn can cause a stroke

Most women that I work with who have PCOS are in their childbearing years. Today, I'm going to focus on PCOS and menopausal women – a topic not covered enough in my opinion. PCOS never goes away. Once properly diagnosed, it’s yours to keep your whole life. Menopause is challenging enough. Adding PCOS to the equation is even more challenging for women.

I've invited Dr. Shawn Tassone MD, America's Holistic Gynecologist, to my podcast again. He's the first physician in the United States to be double board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Integrative Medicine. He holds a medical degree in addition to a Ph.D. in mind-body medicine. He’s a practicing OBGYN in Austin, Tx, hormone specialist, author, speaker, highly rated patient advocate, and creator of the world’s first integrative hormonal mapping system.

Resources:

Website: https://www.drshawntassone.com/

IG: shawntassonemd

Book: Hormone Balance Bible

Podcast: Confessions of a Male Gynecologist Podcast

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.