Читать книгу The Ultimate PCOS Handbook - Theresa Cheung - Страница 49

Research on PCOS and clinical trials addressing the best treatments are taking place in many countries around the world.

At the time of writing there’s currently a lot of research in the area of genetics as regards PCOS and the best way to treat it. Micro-rays are miniature chips that permit the screening of thousands and thousands of genes, and this type of research is simplifying the search for genes that have an impact on ovarian function, insulin resistance and PCOS.

With the increasing interest in hormonal therapies for prostate cancer it’s likely that novel treatments for the PCOS symptoms of hirsutism and acne will one day be found, such as a pure anti-androgen that has an effect only on the skin and doesn’t upset the menstrual cycle.

Preliminary research is also looking at the widely available anti-cholesterol drug simvastatin as a treatment for PCOS. Researchers at Yale University School of Medicine studied 48 women with PCOS. Levels of testosterone fell by an average of 18 per cent and cholesterol by 12 per cent in the women taking simvastatin. It also reduced hirsutism by 4 per cent and helped some women get rid of acne. Those who took part in the trial took twice the normal 10-mg dose usually recommended for cholesterol-lowering effect. More research needs to be done.

Several large-scale studies are underway to determine metformin’s safety and effectiveness for use in the long term and during pregnancy. Other studies are attempting, among other things, to determine why the ovaries are sensitive to insulin, what the most effective diet is for women with PCOS, and the impact of weight loss, diet and lifestyle on symptoms.

One other insulin-sensitizing medication, inositol,¹² is showing particular promise. It will be a while before conclusions can be drawn, but at present one thing is certain: the now accepted link between PCOS and insulin resistance and diabetes has ensured that PCOS will never again be neglected by the medical community. The search for new treatment options will continue.