Things started to fall into place when I discovered that PCOS-sufferers are insulin-resistant, meaning tissues are less responsive to insulin (a hormone that controls blood glucose levels) so the body overcompensates by producing more, which has a huge knock-on effect, including poor handling of sugar and the production of excess testosterone. These will show up in a variety of ways, and Dr Liza Osagie-Clouard, founder of SOLICE, says these might include, “hirsutism [excessive hair growth], acne, weight gain, thinning hair, fertility issues, mood changes, and long-term health problems like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure.”