The link between hirsutism and insulin resistance

If you’ve read my past posts, you will know studies show the main cause of excess facial and body hair (a.k.a. hirsutism ) is elevated levels of testosterone.

A recent study at UCLA shows that insulin is directly related to hirsutism; the higher your insulin level the worse the problem. Women with PCOS are likely to have increased insulin levels due to the insulin resistance that is so common with PCOS (possibly even a cause of PCOS according to some studies). This may explain why many women still fight with hirsutism despite having normal testosterone levels.

Now, studies aside I have to say that I have both a normal (all be it a “high normal”) testosterone level and normal blood glucose levels, however I still fight constantly with severe facial hair. I have, however, seen a significant decrease in this problem since taking Vitex (an herb known to regulate female hormones).

This study is helpful, however it still shows how very little we all (including the medical community) know about the condition; that MANY more studies are required before we can even get a tiny glimpse into the causes of and issues related to PCOS.

To read more about this study, click here