Hello everyone,
I am bringing you a bit of an interesting article this week. Can men have PCOS?
Well they don’t have ovaries so by default they can’t have PCOS. However in recent research PCOS-like symptoms has been noticed in male.
Recent large-scale genetic research using data from the UK Biobank has provided strong support for the idea that men can develop a condition with features similar to PCOS, even though they don’t have ovaries. In a major study involving over 176,000 men, researchers found that those with genetic changes similar to those seen in PCOS were more likely to have obesity, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and early-onset hair loss. These findings held true in another large group of men from the Estonian Biobank, confirming that the pattern is real and not just a coincidence.
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The main symptom: Early-onset androgenetic alopecia before the age of 35, aka early boldness. It looks like receding hairline and thinning at the crown, often forming an "M" shape.
They also display low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin, increased free androgens, and sometimes paradoxically lower total testosterone compared to the normal range. If you want to catch up on what SHBG, for which we are also low in you can find the article below:
In addition multiple studies show that men with early-onset AGA have a higher average body mass index (BMI) and are more likely to be overweight or obese than those without this type of hair loss. Higher BMI is significantly associated with greater severity of hair loss in early-onset AGA and in one study, men with early-onset AGA had a four times higher frequency of metabolic syndrome (which often includes obesity) compared to controls.
Here we are, we are not the only ones having to go through hormonal rollercoasters.
Unfortunately, brothers of women with PCOS and sons of women with PCOS often fall into this category, showcasing the PCOS is indeed a genetic condition.
See you next Sunday,
Francesca
