What Do Ovarian Cancer and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Have in Common?

While PCOS and ovarian cancer are two distinctly different conditions, certain studies have suggested that they may originate from the same types of activities and habits. For example, in a study of over two thousand Italian women, there appeared to be a direct association between the total glycemic load involved in their diets and the presence of ovarian cancer. This means that those who consumed the most carbohydrates, especially those with the highest glycemic index, were shown to have an increased likelihood of developing the cancer. So, many believe that dietary habits such as consuming high amounts of refined carbohydrates may lead to a heightened risk. However, this danger is not only present for ovarian cancer, but for PCOS as well. So, foods that are capable of raising blood sugar levels may pose a risk to both those susceptible to PCOS, and ovarian cancer.

Why is it that these dietary carbohydrates are a danger? They raise blood sugar and insulin levels, which can then impact insulin-like growth factors, like IGF-1, that are responsible for traveling within the body and directing cells on how to perform. However, if insulin and insulin-like growth factors are spikes, these may be altered resulting in not only ovarian cancer and PCOS, but other degenerative conditions and cancers as well.