04/07/2026
On the surface, PCOS looks like irregular or infrequent periods. But what exactly is going on underneath? Here’s all the details…
PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a collection of symptoms that all happen when we do not ovulate regularly. No regular ovulation…So no regular periods. Our ovaries may have follicles maturing in hopes of ovulation, but instead the follicles remain in the ovaries. Therefore, poly/many cysts which may be seen on the ovaries.
So why can’t we ovulate? One of the hormone triggers for the maturation and release of the egg is estrogen. And that estrogen is actually converted from testosterone. Yes, our ovaries make testosterone first then convert to estrogen. Women with PCOS accumulate lots of testosterone but have trouble converting it over to estrogen. So they may have signs of high testosterone (such as acne, abnormal hair growth, abdominal weight gain, or more) but low estrogen and infrequent ovulation.
So why can’t we make estrogen from testosterone? Well, many factors are involved but the biggy here is glucose and insulin. Higher insulin levels will prevent that conversion to estrogen.
While there can be several reasons for PCOS, working towards optimal glucose and insulin is most important. Nutrition and lifestyle changes can play a huge role in managing PCOS symptoms and promoting regular ovulation.
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Courtney Hasseman, CNM
🌿 https://courtneyhasseman.com/