Insulin resistance is an increasingly common cause of infertility, as it produces physical changes in the ovulation process and affects the ability to achieve pregnancy. And we say that it is a common and growing cause because this condition affects about 40% of women. The positive side: it has an easy solution.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the páncreas cuyo propósito controlar los niveles de glucosa en sangre. Lo hace asegurando una adecuada y medida administración de azúcar a las células para que tengan energía y puedan ser funcionales. Una persona con resistencia a la insulina sufre una alteración en sus tejidos que impide a esta hormona ejercer su acción sobre ellos; el páncreas libera entonces más insulina en un intento de que las células respondan a su acción.
This excess of insulin helps maintain normal sugar levels, but it has negative consequences for other functions. For example, it increases the production of andrógenos como la testosterona, que dificulta una correcta ovulación. También reduce la capacidad de implantación del embrión y se asocia con un mayor número de abortos. Además, unos niveles altos de insulina en sangre son una de las características del síndrome de ovarios poliquísticos.
Insulin resistance occurs for various reasons: genetics, sedentary lifestyle, obesity or polycystic ovary syndrome, for example.
There are some suspicious symptoms when this condition occurs:
- Accumulation of fat in the abdomen.
- Mood swings, tremors or dizziness after 2 or 3 hours without eating.
- Need to eat something sweet every day.
- Excessive thirst.
- Pigmentation on the skin, especially in the folds of the armpits and neck.
- Abundant hair on the face and abdomen.
- Depression and/or fatigue.
- Elevated levels of cholesterol or triglycerides.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis consists of a fasting test. Blood samples are taken before ingesting a glucose load; and 60 and 120 minutes later, they are taken again to determine the insulin levels in the blood. If these are high, treatment must be started to achieve pregnancy and reduce the risk of miscarriage.
If you are overweight or obese, it is advisable to follow adequate guidelines for eating and living a healthy life:
- Don’t overeat carbohydrates. Especially after 6pm.
- Do physical activity every day. A 30-minute walk at a different pace is enough to ensure a good cardiological response.
The treatment consists of a medication that has been particularly effective against this problem: metformin.