Diabetes and Reproductive Health in Women: A Review
“Insulin does more than simply regulate the body’s blood sugar. It appears to stimulate gonadotropin-releasing hormone,… It also appears to stimulate the ovaries to produce sex hormones, which may lead to their subsequent overproduction and the symptoms of PCOS.”
Metabolic Implications & Nutritional Management of PCOS: A Review of Research
“A modest weight loss of 5-10% can improve insulin resistance, endocrine abnormalities, menstrual function, and fertility.”
Patient-Centered Care in Contraceptive Counseling: A Review of Research
“The patient’s preferences and needs come first and should be used to guide contraceptive counseling, whether the patient wants complete involvement of their clinician or none at all.”
The Menstrual Cycle’s Impact on the Knee Joint: A Review of Research
“Anterior knee laxity was greater in the ovulatory and luteal phases compared to the follicular phase.”
Spironolactone and Metformin in PCOS Management: A Review of Research
“The combination of low-dose spironolactone and metformin resulted in significant improvements in glucose and insulin sensitivity markers compared to either drug alone.”
Myo-inositol for PCOS: Summary of a Systematic Review
“For patients with PCOS, there are multiple advantages to using myo-inositol, including hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive health benefits. Myo-inositol even improved the pregnancy rate … and induced ovulation earlier in the cycle.”
The Impact of FABMs on Quality of Life
“FABMs use different markers of a woman’s fertility – including cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and urinary hormones — to provide guidance to women about what is happening and where they are in their menstrual cycle.”
Finding common ground to educate future healthcare professionals
“It is so inspiring to be working with students, giving them information that is just not taught to them in medical schools.”
A Potential Role for Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Reproductive Health: A Review
As we continue National Women’s Health Week, we are highlighting research published in Human Reproduction Update by Dewailly et al that explores the role of Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in female reproductive health. While on the FACTS elective, Megan Harman summarized this 2014 study [1] that discusses why AMH may represent a useful marker of fertility for women across the reproductive lifespan.
The Symphony of Hormones and Female Health
Angel Marquez, DO, a former FACTS elective participant, highlighted how fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) can empower women and men with knowledge about their fertile window, as well as explore the dietary and lifestyle factors that can contribute to infertility. He also illustrates why it is so important for physicians and medical professionals to learn more about these methods in order to help their patients address infertility with empathy and professionalism.