In a morning segment on KPRC, Haley Hernandez joined THI at the inaugural Cardiometabolic Syndrome Conference to chat with Dr. Stephanie Coulter about PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). This condition affects an astounding 116 million women worldwide and has implications far beyond what many might expect.

Dr. Coulter shed light on the often-misunderstood syndrome, which is marked by hormonal imbalances, irregular periods, and ovarian cysts. According to Dr. Coulter, PCOS isn’t just about infertility or weight gain—these are symptoms of a deeper, genetic issue that can pave the way for long-term health complications.

“Their ovaries are driven by their body chemistry and their genetic code to make male hormones. So, there’s a lot of interplay between that and insulin resistance and obesity,” Dr. Coulter explained.

Haley’s report highlighted the importance for women with PCOS to take proactive steps for their health, including regular exercise, managing blood pressure, and keeping cholesterol levels in check. Dr. Coulter emphasized the urgency of early risk assessment, noting, “Instead of coming in for cardiovascular risk assessments at age 50, for some people that’s too late. That’s too late. You need to be very, very clear about assessing risk in certain individuals at an earlier time. This is where it’s going to take the entire medical community to help us.”

Catch Haley Hernandez’s full report for more insights and practical advice on managing PCOS here.