What the scientists are saying…
Hope for a PCOS breakthrough A drug that is already used to treat malaria has been found to be effective against polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a painful condition that is a leading cause of infertility, and which affects an estimated 10% of women worldwide. Sufferers of PCOS experience hormone imbalances, including the over-production of testosterone, which leads to symptoms such as irregular periods, acne and an excess of body hair. They are also prone to insulin resistance, which puts them at higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. Existing treatments only ease the symptoms, and do not work for everyone. But when, for a small clinical trial, 19 women took the anti-malarial drug dihydroartemisinin for three months, all of them experienced a drop in their testosterone levels and 12 saw their…