As our understanding of PCOS continues to change over time, and as more and more women continue to be diagnosed with the condition and new technologies emerge, I believe it’s important to keep up with these changes, as they seem to happen almost by the minute.

With that in mind, here are a few recent updates in the world of PCOS and some of my thoughts/reactions to them.

New PCOS Tech

Allara launches at-home hormone test for diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome (via Fierce Biotech)

I’ve heard a bit about this new company that promises to be basically a one-stop shop for patients dealing with PCOS since it requires so many different types of doctors depending on your individual needs (ie gynecologist, nutritionist, dermatologist, endocrinologist, etc.). This article talks about how they are attempting to provide at-home blood tests and a diagnostic tool to help patients diagnose themselves rather than wait potentially months to see a doctor. The tool is currently priced at $149 and available in 11 states to start, and provides a consultation with providers to create a custom treatment plan.

I think this could potentially be a good resource for people who either can’t find a good doctor in their area or are uncomfortable with going in person for some reason. My concern is the cost could be a bit much for some and it seems like it’s exclusive to join, and there’s something about not having that personal experience with a doctor that still seems weird. But it does seem like models Allara is proposing are the way of the future. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this company in the months and years to come to see what develops.

Medications & Testing for PCOS

Most providers ignore diabetes testing guidelines in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (via Healio)

Though I don’t know the differences between the various insulin/diabetes tests they mention here, the point this study makes is that there is not enough focus on determining insulin resistance with PCOS, a common element of having the condition. This quote by a medical resident involved in the study really stood out to me, and perfectly encapsulates my purpose behind this blog:

“As a resident, I noticed that I focused my own learning about PCOS on the challenges of diagnosis and the different management for patients who do and don’t desire fertility. I paid much less attention to the cardiometabolic risks that could actually be life-limiting for these patients,” Kaiser told Healio. “When I started digging into the appropriate screening further, I realized I had definitely not heard of most people doing glucose tolerance tests for PCOS.”

Because some tests are more convenient to administer than others (ie no fasting, inconvenience/waiting time), the doctors in this study argue that many providers take the easy way out in testing for insulin resistance/pre-diabetes, which can present in different ways in patients with PCOS. This can be hurting patients, especially if insulin resistance is not caught early, where early treatment could make a difference. This is the result of hyper-focusing on fertility alone, which I hope is something that improves as diverse groups of women deal with managing PCOS.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/birth-control-pills-pcos-5207427

Diet & Nutrition for PCOS

I’m A PCOS-Focused Dietitian: These are My Go-To Nutrition Tips (via mindbodygreen)

This one is short and sweet, but it’s a good starter guide to a healthy diet and relationship with food with PCOS. The tips include starting small and taking things one step at a time, eating small healthy meals throughout the day to keep blood sugar stable, and not depriving yourself of foods you love, within reason of course.

While advice will vary from person to person, I think these general tips are helpful because it helps reframe the approach to living and eating with PCOS–it doesn’t have to be a diet of deprivation, just making healthy choices in moderation.

PCOS Social Issues

Socioeconomic inequities may lead to fewer PCOS diagnoses (via Healio)

This report sadly kind of falls into the category of “well, duh,” based on all we know about racial inequality in medicine, but in all seriousness it’s important to learn more of the specifics on one of the most important issues of PCOS and health (particularly women’s health) overall: the disparity between racial and class groups in access to diagnosis and treatment. The study reports that white women with higher economic status have the best chance of being diagnosed with PCOS, while black women in the same economic category.

A lot more research would be needed to really drill down into these numbers and differences, but it doesn’t seem to be a stretch to say that white women on the whole tend to be diagnosed with PCOS more than black women, not because it is necessarily more or less prevalent, but because of the opportunity and ability to pay for medical visits, etc.

What PCOS/women’s health news are you reading lately? Add yours below!

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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and do not claim to offer medical advice in these posts. These are meant to be informational only. Please consult further with your doctor for specific advice and treatment plans.

Image by Ashni on Unsplash