How Functional Medicine is Complementing Traditional PCOS Treatments by Using Peptides like Semaglutide
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) disrupts natural metabolic processes, which can make maintaining a healthy weight a struggle.
A potential option for managing PCOS and its effects on weight could be peptides, namely, semaglutide, also widely known as Ozempic® and Wegovy®. In this article, we’ll dive into the details behind these popular peptides and how they could help people with PCOS lose weight and regain hormonal balance in their bodies.
Why Are Peptides Becoming a Popular Choice for Weight Control in PCOS Patients?
Peptides are the foundation of proteins. They are a string of amino acids, and each one has a different role depending on the type of acids it contains.
Peptides can impact appetite, digestion, and gut barrier function. The use of peptides in healthcare can lead to healthier digestion and regulate appetite to assist in weight loss.
Peptides can also reduce insulin resistance by preventing the body from breaking down other key peptides linked to insulin production and providing hormonal stability. This is often discussed in diabetes management, but it has its benefits for PCOS patients as insulin production is so greatly affected by polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Dr. Meg on the success of peptides for PCOS clients
How Hormones and Insulin Resistance Tie Into PCOS Related Weight Gain
Sex hormones and insulin both play a role in maintaining a healthy weight, and these are two areas that people with PCOS often struggle with. Hormonal imbalances are highly common in PCOS, and they can lead to a range of problems spanning from your energy and mood to your weight and skin health.
Insulin’s primary responsibility is to convert food into energy and stabilize blood sugar levels, but when the body becomes insulin-resistant, blood sugar increases, along with hunger. This can contribute to excessive weight gain. PCOS can cause the body to resist the signal of the hormone insulin. In turn, this causes the pancreas to produce more insulin than needed.
What is Insulin Resistance & How Does it Impact PCOS?
Insulin resistance occurs when the cells do not respond effectively to insulin. Normally, blood sugar levels will elevate after you eat, which then signals the pancreas to produce insulin, a vital hormone that helps glucose absorb into the cells and tissues for energy.
Insulin resistance means that cells are less responsive to the signal of insulin, so the pancreas produces too much in an effort to keep up. Blood sugar levels will then drop in an effort to compensate for the higher levels of insulin.
Over time, insulin resistance can lead to:
Type 2 diabetes. When blood sugar levels reach unhealthy levels from prolonged insulin resistance, patients can develop type 2 diabetes.
Metabolic syndrome. High insulin levels can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and abdominal obesity. Collectively, these symptoms form a condition called metabolic syndrome.
PCOS complications. Patients with PCOS and insulin resistance have a higher risk of health problems, such as pregnancy complications, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease.
Hyperinsulinemia. This is when a high amount of insulin is produced, and it creates a higher than normal amount of insulin in the blood stream. This could eventually lead to diabetes or issues regulating blood sugar.
According to the Journal of Ovarian Research, the underlying cause of insulin resistance in PCOS is not fully understood, but the implications have a long-reaching impact on women’s mental and physical health.
Can the Peptide Semaglutide be an Effective Treatment For Insulin Resistance and PCOS?
Semaglutide is a peptide originally developed to help treat type 2 diabetes. Thanks to its effectiveness at managing insulin resistance, many patients and doctors found it could have advantages in weight loss as well.
For PCOS patients who struggle with weight due to insulin resistance, semaglutide could be a beneficial treatment option.
The Impact of The Peptide Semaglutide on Insulin Resistance and PCOS Related Symptoms
Semaglutide works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which is released by your gut when you eat. GLP-1 prompts the body to make insulin, but for people with insulin resistance, this can be a problem.
By managing GLP-1 levels, semaglutide can help patients with PCOS by improving insulin sensitivity and lowering excessive levels of insulin in the bloodstream. Additional potential benefits in relation to PCOS symptoms can include:
More regulated menstrual cycles. Higher insulin levels or insulin resistance can negatively affect menstruation. Therefore, improving sensitivity levels could also lead to more consistent, healthier cycles.
Potential improvement in fertility. By regulating menstrual cycles and stabilizing hormones, semaglutide could also help potentially improve fertility levels.
However, it is important to discuss your unique treatment needs with a doctor, as semaglutide can negatively affect levels of the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
Everyone’s body is different, and we encourage you to reach out for a free consultation with our team. We would be happy to discuss your needs and determine whether peptides for weight loss are the right choice for you.
How Semaglutide Helps to Control PCOS Related Weight Gain
Semaglutide may help generate weight loss by normalizing fasting glucose in PCOS patients. This is the type of blood sugar your body makes after a period of not eating or drinking anything besides water for eight to 12 hours.
Fasting glucose is often used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes. A normal range is 70 to 99 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), and patients whose fasting blood sugar is 100 to 125 mg/dL may have prediabetes, while people with a fasting glucose of 126 mg/dL or higher may have diabetes.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine suggests that semaglutide may be an effective treatment option for patients with PCOS. Researchers examined the effects of 0.5 mg semaglutide administered once a week subcutaneously in 27 obese patients with PCOS. After three months, 80% of participants reduced their body weight by 5%, and they also reported more regulated menstrual cycles.
These patients had previously tried to lose weight through lifestyle modifications to no avail. The results indicate that semaglutide could be a promising treatment for patients whose weight is caused by an underlying condition. Additionally, the benefits of weight loss and greater insulin sensitivity can have overarching benefits on other symptoms of PCOS.
How Functional Medicine is Approaching PCOS Treatments by Using Peptides
Peptides help us embrace a whole-body approach to healthcare. By addressing underlying causes of weight gain, insulin resistance, and related conditions, using peptides can help patients find long-lasting relief and positive change.
We know that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment. We build customized treatment plans for every PCOS patient, which may include integrating semaglutide into functional medicine protocols.
In addition to ensuring each patient receives treatment for other conditions, we also consider factors such as lifestyle, preferences, diet, exercise, and mental health.
If you are interested in learning more and exploring peptides as a possible treatment for PCOS, please schedule a consultation with us at Holistic Health Code.