PCOS and Hair Growth/Loss
Many women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also called polycystic ovaries, either suffer from hirsutism - excess hair growth - or male pattern baldness.
For most PCOS sufferers, hair in the mustache and beard areas becomes heavier and darker. Masculine hair on the arms and legs is also possible, as well as hair on the abdomen, chest or back, together with extra growth in the pubic area. High levels of male hormones (androgens) cause this condition.
Just as heavier hair growth is possible, so is the type of hair thinning that many men experience (male pattern baldness). The high levels of excess insulin seen with PCOS can stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of the male hormone testosterone, preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month and causing infertility. Another side effect of high testosterone levels in women is the excessive hair growth or loss outlined above.
Excess insulin is caused by Insulin Resistance. This condition lies at the center of PCOS by preventing the efficient conversion of food into energy because of a vastly reduced number of insulin receptor sites on the surface of each cell. Too few receptor sites cause glucose and insulin levels in the blood stream to become severely unbalanced, leading to an increase in free-floating glucose which is sent to the liver and converted to excess body fat. This can result in weight gain and obesity, which, in turn, may lead not only to PCOS but also to other serious health conditions like Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
Source: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/PCOS-and-Hair-Growth-or-Loss.php
