Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association, Inc.

28/10/2025

Posting from the ASRM Congress: Here is poster #110 presented by Tina Yi Jin Hsieh from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center highlighting her research on GLP-1 receptor agonist trends in PCOS. We are looking forward to more results and analysis of outcomes.

(ASRM = American Associarion of Reproductive Medicine)

25/10/2025

It was my honor to participate on the patient advocacy panel during today’s AE-PCOS meeting. What a fantastic group of patient advocates!

Patient advocacy and support groups - session chaired by Kathy Hoeger

🎤 Research priorities in regarding infertility and pregnancy

23/10/2025

Our Founder is at it again!

The first meeting of the Androgen Excess Society was 23 years ago. I was there. And now it’s called the Androgen Excess & PCOS Society. And here I am. 23 years of scientists from around the world talking about PCOS research. Stay tuned for insights from the meeting.

10/10/2025

If you are TTC (trying to conceive) with PCOS, or even if you are not yet at that point in your life but just want to understand it, Join Christine Updegraff this coming Sunday at 12 noon Eastern Time (USA) for this FREE webinar to learn more about the impact of PCOS on fertility, and practical steps you can take to optimize your body for conception. Sign up here!

FREE webinar - Build your knowledge for success in building your family with PCOS as a factor.

30/09/2025

**Today, on the last day of PCOS Awareness Month, I’m issuing a demand. Yes, I said it, demand.**

**STOP describing PCOS as a “disorder of reproductive age”!!!**

That phrasing is scientifically outdated, misleading, and damaging.

🔹 Emerging evidence and expert opinion increasingly recognize that PCOS can begin in the peripubertal years. But no matter when it develops, it persists throughout life — it does *not* magically vanish at menopause.
🔹 Current adolescent diagnostic guidelines require **irregular menstrual cycles** (appropriately defined relative to years post-menarche) **plus clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism**, after excluding other mimicking conditions. ([PubMed][3])
🔹 The use of pelvic ultrasound or AMH levels for diagnosis is *not* recommended in adolescents, reinforcing that the condition cannot be shoehorned into adult “reproductive age” definitions alone. ([BioMed Central][2])

OVERLOOKED RISKS WHEN CARE STOPS AT MENOPAUSE:
🔹Cardiovascular Disease: PCOS confers a higher risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke. These risks increase after menopause as estrogen’s protective effects wane. Ignoring PCOS at this stage overlooks an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity.
🔹Type 2 Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Insulin resistance remains a cornerstone feature of PCOS. After menopause, weight gain and loss of estrogen further compound this. Failure to screen and intervene means missed opportunities to prevent diabetes, fatty liver disease, and systemic inflammation.
🔹Endometrial Cancer: Lifelong anovulation and unopposed estrogen can increase endometrial cancer risk, and this risk doesn’t vanish at menopause. Some studies suggest women with PCOS may carry a higher lifetime risk.
🔹Mental Health & Cognitive Outcomes: PCOS is associated with higher lifetime prevalence of depression and anxiety. These mental health burdens may persist or worsen post-menopause, especially if medical follow-up is withdrawn. Emerging evidence links insulin resistance and inflammation to cognitive decline and dementia risk, another overlooked consequence.
🔹Bone Health: The relationship is complex: higher androgens may have protective effects on bone density, but insulin resistance and chronic inflammation may offset these. Without ongoing attention, osteoporosis risk may be underestimated.
🔹Quality of Life & Symptom Burden: Hirsutism, hair loss, and weight struggles do not necessarily resolve at menopause. Dismissing PCOS as “done” can leave women unsupported in managing symptoms that affect self-image and daily life.

Framing PCOS solely as a “reproductive disorder” erases the lived reality and risk profile of millions:
→ Girls who show early signs before puberty
→ Women whose metabolic, cardiovascular, and hormonal burdens endure long after menopause

It’s time for medical schools, professional societies, journals, CME programs, and clinical guidelines to evolve.

**Change the language. Change the framing. Change the care.**

Doctors. Researchers. Journal editors. Educators.
Will you step into the future — or cling to an outdated paradigm that ignores much of the story?

Christine Updegraff (nee Gray-DeZarn)
Founder and Chairman
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association, Inc.

[1]: https://journals.lww.com/co-pediatrics/Fulltext/2019/08000/The_diagnosis_and_treatment_of_PCOS_in.21.aspx?generateEpub=Article%7Cco-pediatrics%3A2019%3A08000%3A00021%7C10.1097%2Fmop.0000000000000778%7C&utm_source=chatgpt.com "The diagnosis and treatment of PCOS in adolescents"
[2]: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-025-03901-w?utm_source=chatgpt.com "International evidence-based recommendations for polycystic ..."
[3]: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40945763/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Update on diagnosis of polycystic o***y syndrome during ..."

18/09/2025

If you live in the Northeast USA, don't miss this event this coming Saturday, September 20.

For those of you in the Northeast USA with PCOS, I am pleased to announce that I have been added to the line-up for PCOS CON NYC! Join me and a full day of speakers and fellowship in New York City this Saturday, September 20. It's not too late to sign up!

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-pcos-con-new-york-tickets-1378642178869?msockid=14dd735881a0671219d9650580ef6639

09/09/2025

We are thrilled to share with our members the launch of PCOSynergy TTC. Congratulations!

Finally — Clarity and Hope for PCOSLiving with PCOS can feel overwhelming, especially when every article, supplement, or “miracle plan” seems to contradict t...

05/09/2025

PCOS Awareness - pass it on!

🌸 Many women with PCOS live with a hidden symptom: **hirsutism** (unwanted hair growth on the face, chest, or body).

Because of embarrassment, many don’t even mention it to their doctor—delaying diagnosis and treatment. But this isn’t “just cosmetic,” and it’s not simply a family trait. It’s a medical sign of a hormone imbalance.

If this sounds like you—or someone you love—know you’re not alone. PCOS affects 1 in 10 women worldwide, and early recognition can make a big difference. Tell your doctor, and learn about PCOS.💜

03/09/2025

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bellwether-wellness-and-zone-labs-launch-pcosynergy-ttc-the-first-pcos-fertility-program-to-offer-tech-enabled-coaching-and-metabolic-engineering-nutrition-302544211.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawMkj_RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsLICIoMsQdCMZVkG6VjOOYmScf-zHOKHMS1ReA65Rq2J_NBYpG3zkA8tZmw_aem_qB8bwcws5EbjYxVnCxMRkA

/PRNewswire/ -- To mark PCOS Awareness Month, Bellwether Wellness and Zone Labs announce the launch of PCOSynergy TTC, the first fertility program for women...

03/09/2025

Most women don’t hear “PCOS” until they’re trying to conceive.

In fact, the majority of women are only diagnosed with Polycystic O***y Syndrome after experiencing infertility. But here’s the truth: PCOS is much more than a fertility issue.

It’s one of the most common endocrine disorders in women, affecting hormones, metabolism, and long-term health. Left unaddressed, PCOS can increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other serious conditions.

That’s why treatment matters — whether or not pregnancy is your goal. Supporting hormonal balance, reducing insulin resistance, and improving metabolic health are essential steps for every woman with PCOS. And this is why September is PCOS Awareness Month.

💡 Learn how PCOSynergy can help you understand and manage PCOS at its root.
👉 Schedule a no-cost PCOSynergy Clarity Call here: https://www.pcosynergy.com/sp/bb473299fd5

02/09/2025

PCOS = Polycystic o***y syndrome. It's not what it sounds like. WORST NAMED MEDICAL CONDITION EVER. It's a hormonal condition that affects almost every system in the body. Many women who have it simply think they are "unlucky", while others believe they are "cursed". Many have mysterious symptoms that they just can't figure out. Take time out in September to learn about PCOS, because even if you don't have PCOS, you know women who do. At least 1 in every 10. Do they know? Pass this message on!

19/08/2025

I’m honored to be speaking at PCOS CON on September 13 in Los Angeles! Join us for a powerful day of education, community, and awareness around PCOS.

Register here → https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-pcos-con-los-angeles-tickets-1378667574829?aff=oddtdtcreator