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That is an interesting question to which researches are still seeking the answer.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (referred to as PCOS and also known as Stein Leventhal Syndrome) is a hormone imbalance that causes multiple cysts to develop on the ovaries. Women with this syndrome produce more testosterone, and often less estrogen than normal. Symptoms can include irregular and painful periods, no periods, weight gain, acne, excess body hair, and infertility, or there can be no symptoms at all.

Cause:

• The exact cause of the hormone imbalance is unclear, although it is believed to have a genetic component that is influenced by environmental factors such as diet and exercise. While it has not been determined that PCOS causes diabetes, it has been speculated that insulin resistance may contribute to PCOS. It is felt that women who are overweight and who have PCOS are at increased risk for diabetes, as well as lipid problems and heart disease. There are several statistics that relate PCOS, insulin resistance, and diabetes:
• According to the American Diabetes Association web site, it is estimated that 5-10% of women of childbearing age have PCOS.
• Furthermore, Clinical Diabetes, 2003 reported that an estimated 30% of women with PCOS have pre-diabetes, and over 7% have diabetes.
• Clinical Diabetes further reported that up to 27% of premenopausal women with type 2 diabetes also have PCOS-which shows the effect of insulin resistance on PCOS, but also illustrates that insulin resistance itself does not lead to PCOS in most women with type 2 diabetes.

Treatment:

• Reducing the insulin resistance has been shown to improve the PCOS-so often weight loss and exercise have had a significant impact on this condition. In addition, other insulin sensitizer drugs have been given to women with PCOS, even if they don't have diabetes, because these drugs decrease insulin resistance. Other medications, such as hormones, are used as well.

Studies Continue:

Studies are ongoing to better understand the relationship of insulin resistance to PCOS, as well as the most effective treatment for this condition.