New Insights into PMOS and GLP-1 Drugs

Charlotte Touzalin began experiencing symptoms such as weight gain, irregular periods, and facial hair as a young teenager. These mirrored the same unexplained issues her mother, Anne Schultz, faced for decades. Despite numerous doctor visits, no one connected the dots. Charlotte shared, “I’d go home and I’d cry. I didn’t understand why all this weight was coming back or why my friends didn’t have to shave their faces and I had to.”

Eventually, both mother and daughter were diagnosed with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), a condition affecting 1 in 8 women worldwide. However, unlike her mother, Charlotte found new hope by participating in a study that tested GLP-1 drugs as a treatment.

The Promise of GLP-1 Drugs

Research indicates that obesity medications, particularly GLP-1 drugs, may not only aid in weight loss but also improve issues like insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, and ovulation in PMOS patients. This health condition, previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), was renamed to focus away from ovaries and cysts.

Dr. Melanie Cree, leading several studies on this treatment, emphasizes the effectiveness, mentioning, “We are finding them incredibly effective and really exciting for improving symptoms in women with this condition.”

Challenges in Diagnosing PMOS

Both women faced a long journey to diagnosis. PMOS symptoms often overlap with other conditions and vary, leading to frequent misdiagnoses. The disorder commonly runs in families and does not have a single known cause.

Insulin and testosterone are critical to PMOS. Many sufferers experience insulin resistance, meaning the hormone is less effective. Excess insulin can signal ovaries to produce more testosterone, causing issues like missed periods, acne, and excessive hair growth.

Charlotte’s Personal Journey

Charlotte’s mother faced numerous miscarriages and similar symptoms. Both struggled with proper diagnosis, feeling lost in the medical system until a nurse practitioner began connecting symptoms for Charlotte. Dr. Cree officially diagnosed her last year.

“It was like a godsend,” Schultz shared, emotional. “We finally had an answer and some kind of a path for her.”

Charlotte participated in a study where she received semaglutide shots weekly for 10 months, leading to slowed hair growth, normalized periods, and feelings of fullness after eating for the first time. “I became a happier version of myself,” she noted.

Research and Insurance Hurdles

Results were positive among the study’s participants. Many showed significant weight loss and improvements in testosterone and insulin levels.

Despite encouraging outcomes, insurers often deny coverage for GLP-1 drugs when prescribed for PMOS, as these medications are not officially approved for this condition. Dr. Rana Malek notes, “I use these medicines a great deal, especially to help with weight loss for patients with insulin resistance.”

While GLP-1 drugs can be beneficial, they may cause side effects like nausea. If discontinued, weight may return.

Both Charlotte and her mother are fighting insurance barriers to continue the treatment. Schultz is proactive, seeking options through drug company programs. She emphasizes, “It’s something that could help a lot of other people.”

Charlotte looks forward to a future where every PMOS patient has access to this potentially life-changing treatment.

AP video journalist Brittany Peterson in Denver contributed to this story.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.