PCOS Diva Podcast

I feel as if I have found a kindred spirit in Dr. Lara Briden. A few months ago I discovered her Healthy Hormone Blog (http://www.larabriden.com/). She has worked with women with PCOS for the last 2 decades. I am very passionate about spreading the word regarding the risks of the pill as a treatment for PCOS. Dr. Lara is as well. She shared her thoughts with me during this 40 minute interview.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Andrea Dunaif earlier this month. Dr. Dunaif is the Charles F. Kettering Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. Dr. Dunaif held faculty appointments at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. She served as the first director of women’s health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She also established and served as chief of the Division of Women’s Health in the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and led the Harvard Medical School National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health. Dr. Dunaif is an internationally recognized expert in endocrinology and women’s health. Her research on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common hormonal disorder of reproductive-age women with prevalence rates of 5-10% worldwide, has shown that PCOS is a leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further, this research has revolutionized the treatment of PCOS with insulin sensitizing drugs. Dr. Dunaif is the Director of the National Institutes of Health-supported Northwestern University Specialized Center of Research on Sex Differences and leads an international effort to map the genes for PCOS. She also oversees two National Institutes of Health-supported training programs, the Northwestern University Building Interdisciplinary Careers in Women’s Health institutional K-award program and the Northwestern University Program in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hormone Action, an institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. Listen in and you’ll hear our 40 minute discussion of recent PCOS research, genetics and more.

I have been following Dr. Fiona McCulloch’s blog for several years now. She offers a refreshing view of managing PCOS. Dr. Fiona in fact has PCOS and is a board certified Naturopathic Doctor who has been in practice for 13 years in Toronto, Canada. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (Biological Sciences) from the University of Guelph and went on to graduate from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is the founder and owner of White Lotus Integrative Medicine, a busy clinic specializing in women’s health and fertility. Her clinical focus is on the treatment of fertility and hormonal conditions, and she is an avid writer and researcher, having published articles in major naturopathic journals. She also has a special interest in the treatment of PCOS. Fiona has been able to reverse her own PCOS symptoms with natural methods and is thrilled to be able to share what she has learned with other women suffering through the same concerns. She lives in Toronto with her husband and 3 boys. In this interview we chat about some of the positive PCOS research and answer some questions posted by Divas. You won’t want to miss it! Also, you won’t want to miss Dr. Fiona’s article on PCOS Diva about PCOS and Stress.

I recently had the pleasure to chat with one of the leading PCOS Researchers and experts, Dr. Richard Legro. Dr Legro is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. His research and clinical practice are focused on PCOS diagnosis, treatment and genetic/environmental causes. He established one of the first clinics devoted to the treatment of women with PCOS at the M.S. Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Legro is currently an investigator in an ongoing Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) in PCOS and is the lead investigaor of the multicentre U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH)- sponsored trials, Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome I and II. He is the head of the steering committee on several multicenter infertility trials currently underway in China, including PCOSAct, a trial of clomiphene and acupuncture in women with PCOS. I have recorded my 30 minute interview with Dr. Legro and you can listen to it in it’s entirety. We discuss his current studies.

I am thrilled to share the recording of my conversation with Dr. Walter Futterweit from earlier this month. Dr. Futterweit was a godsend to me early on in my PCOS journey. His book, A Patient’s Guide to PCOS

Ricardo Azziz is one of the preeminent PCOS researchers in the world today. It was an honor to speak with him this month. Prior to the interview, I asked Divas on Facebook to send me their questions. I had over 200 submissions! Listen in to hear our discussion and his answers to some of your burning questions.