One woman's story of how she overcame polycystic ovarian syndrome to become a mom
Learn more about PCOS, fertility care and the power of expert support through Atrium Health Women's Health.
Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is an integrated, nonprofit health system with more than 70,000 teammates serving patients at 40 hospitals and more than 1,400 care locations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
2 days ago
- Medscape
Rapid Rx: Hair Loss Treatments
Hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia remains a widespread concern for patients across the globe, as it severely affects their quality of life and self-esteem. With deeper insights into the biological mechanisms behind hair loss, a broader range of interventions are becoming available. Innovative methods ranging from laser-based treatments to microneedling and regenerative techniques are now entering clinical practice. These novel strategies offer promising alternatives, particularly for individuals who have seen limited benefit from traditional options or seek treatments with fewer systemic effects. How well do you understand the latest advances in managing hair loss? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz. Spironolactone reduces the influence of androgens, which are hormones that contribute to follicular miniaturization and hair thinning. In managing female-pattern hair loss, oral spironolactone is emerging as a novel therapeutic approach. It is commonly used to treat acne and hirsutism in females, especially those diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Patients with PCOS are often diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia. Topical spironolactone can be used for both men and women. Botulinum toxin is a treatment currently being studied for hair loss, although more research is needed before it can be recommended as a standard treatment. Low-level laser therapy can be used for both men and women. Low-dose oral finasteride (1 mg) has shown limited benefit in women but has not been as effective in postmenopausal women. Learn more about low-level laser therapy. Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure that harvests follicles from non-androgen-sensitive areas to areas affected by androgenetic alopecia. This procedure is best suited to individuals with nonscarring, patterned hair loss (typically androgenetic alopecia) who have a consistent and healthy donor area. Scarring conditions such as cicatricial alopecia damage the scalp and hair follicles permanently. For an effective surgery, the hair loss should be stable, and the patient should have a reliable zone from which follicles can be harvested. Similarly, widespread thinning across the scalp (diffuse unpatterned alopecia) compromises donor-site quality. In alopecia areata, the immune system targets hair follicles unpredictably, making transplant outcomes unreliable. Learn more about cicatricial alopecia. For women with androgenic alopecia who wish to evade systemic hormonal effects, topical finasteride offers a practical alternative. Unlike oral formulations, which circulate throughout the body and might affect hormone levels (potentially causing adverse effects such as irregular periods or reduced libido), topical finasteride delivers its action more locally, with minimal absorption. Although not formally approved by the FDA for this use, it has shown promising results in reducing hair loss. Oral dutasteride and high-dose oral finasteride are generally avoided in women of childbearing age due to their broad hormonal influence and risk for birth defects. Although topical minoxidil is a well-established treatment, it does not directly address the androgen-driven aspect of the condition. Learn more about androgenetic alopecia. Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, probably play an important role in follicle function. According to a systematic review, zinc is supported by research as a possible nutritional intervention for hair loss. The average dietary intake of vitamin A and biotin is adequate. Excess levels of vitamin A can cause hair loss, and neither biotin (vitamin B7) nor vitamin E supplementation are supported by the literature. In addition, biotin supplementation can cause potentially dangerous false troponin laboratory results. Learn more about zinc supplementation. Low-dose oral minoxidil (doses ranging from 0.25 mg to 2.5 mg daily) has been used off-label with good clinical efficacy and safety. Caution is advised when prescribing low-dose oral minoxidil to individuals with preexisting heart or vascular conditions. Although it is commonly used off-label to address hair loss in both female- and male-pattern hair loss due in part to its ability to enhance blood flow to the scalp, minoxidil was originally designed to lower blood pressure. Rare but potentially serious systemic effects such as increased heart rate or shifts in blood pressure could worsen underlying cardiovascular problems with its use. The magnitude of cardiovascular adverse effects is dose dependent, with 1 mg oral minoxidil being generally safe and well tolerated. (Oral minoxidil might also contribute to facial hypertrichosis, and it is not advised for use in pregnant women or in those who are breastfeeding.) Minoxidil is not the treatment of choice for autoimmune-related hair loss, such as with lupus and alopecia areata, but it could be used as an adjunct therapy. Adolescents with alopecia areata can be treated with minoxidil, which had similar efficacy to that in adults. Learn more about minoxidil.
Medscape
3 days ago
- Medscape
Can Blocking AMH Reverse PCOS? New Study Says Yes
Researchers from the French National Institute of Health & Medical Research (Inserm), University of Lille in Lille, France, and the university's teaching hospital CHU de Lille have identified a promising new therapeutic strategy for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In preclinical models, the use of antibodies that block the activity of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) helped prevent the onset of PCOS-like symptoms — and even reversed them in adults who were already affected. Paolo Giacobini, PhD, neuroendocrinologist and group leader at Inserm's Lille Neuroscience and Cognition Research Center (Centre de recherche Lille Neuroscience et Cognition), shared the findings with Medscape's French edition . Reduced Quality of Life PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility among women of reproductive age, affecting approximately 1 in 10 women — or more than two million individuals in France alone. Currently, treatment options are limited to symptom management. 'This condition has a significant impact on women's quality of life,' said Giacobini. 'It presents with a broad spectrum of symptoms that vary between patients, including polycystic ovaries, elevated androgen levels leading to menstrual irregularities, acne, hair loss, excessive body hair, high levels of AMH, and, in some cases, metabolic syndrome. At least half of women with PCOS have associated comorbidities such as overweight or obesity, elevated insulin levels that increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.' A Multifactorial Condition Diagnosis of PCOS is typically based on the presence of at least two of the following three criteria: irregular menstrual cycles, clinical or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology as observed via ultrasound. The exact cause of PCOS remains unclear. 'We've done extensive laboratory research using preclinical models to better understand the heritability of the syndrome,' Giacobini said. 'Genetics are a factor, but they do not fully explain the high prevalence. We've also identified epigenetic changes and environmental influences, such as hormonal exposures during fetal development or after birth. It is highly likely that PCOS has a multifactorial origin.' In a recent study, Giacobini's team focused on the role of AMH. In PCOS, the ovaries produce excess AMH, which impairs the maturation of follicles and contributes to androgen overproduction. 'In previous preclinical studies, we found that prenatal exposure to AMH could induce PCOS-like symptoms in offspring, and these symptoms were transmitted across generations,' Giacobini explained. 'We then examined critical periods of vulnerability in humans and observed that children of women with PCOS — both daughters and sons — had elevated AMH levels, even before puberty. We also found that mice exhibited high AMH levels during 'mini-puberty,' a transient hormonal phase in early infancy.' Blocking AMH Receptors The research team next investigated whether blocking AMH could help prevent PCOS. To do this, they developed a novel antibody, Ha13, designed to block AMH receptors located both in the ovaries and on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-producing neurons, which regulate reproductive function. 'By administering this antibody to young mice during the mini-puberty phase, we were able to prevent the development of PCOS in adulthood,' said Giacobini. 'And when we treated adult mice already exhibiting PCOS symptoms, we reversed all reproductive abnormalities — normalizing menstrual cycles, ovulation, and androgen levels.' Giacobini views this study as 'a gateway to further research on the pharmacokinetics of this antibody, which could eventually pave the way for human trials.' Although the molecule has been patented, several steps remain before it can be considered for clinical use. 'The effects in animals are very promising, but we still need to evaluate long-term outcomes and establish optimal dosing,' he emphasized. An Advanced Alternative Another therapeutic avenue targeting the GnRH receptor is already further along in development. 'We published our preclinical research on GnRH antagonists in 2018, and, thanks to European funding, we were able to initiate clinical trials. The pilot-phase results have been encouraging,' Giacobini said. 'One advantage is that this molecule is already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for other indications. We're already familiar with its pharmacological profile and side effects, which significantly accelerates development,' he concluded.
Business Journals
4 days ago
- Business Journals
One woman's story of how she overcame polycystic ovarian syndrome to become a mom
Erica spent years dealing with irregular periods and unwanted hair growth — symptoms she didn't realize were connected to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) until she was diagnosed. In this inspiring video, she shares how working with Dr. Rebecca Usadi at Atrium Health Fertility Center led to answers, treatment and the joy of becoming a mother — twice. Learn more about PCOS, fertility care and the power of expert support through Atrium Health Women's Health. Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is an integrated, nonprofit health system with more than 70,000 teammates serving patients at 40 hospitals and more than 1,400 care locations.
