Katherine is a Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.  She is also Director of Jefferson Women’s Primary Care. Katherine became interested in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in the 1990’s when she was studying insulin resistance.  She started treating women with PCOS and in 2000, she established the country’s first academic program for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. In today’s show, we talk about PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), and how Katherine treats women with PCOS and helps them to conceive without fertility drugs! Topics discussed in today's episode What is Internal Medicine and how does an Internist differ from a regular doctor? Why do women with PCOS often experience fragmented care? Why a woman's menstrual cycle health is actually connected to her overall health What is PCOS? And what are some of the common symptoms? The relationship between testosterone, insulin resistance, and polycystic ovary syndrome Why are women with PCOS often not getting diagnosed by their doctors or care providers? Why hormonal contraceptives do not treat PCOS, and how this mode of treatment can be harmful to women in the long run The connection between PCOS and diabetes and why it is so important to address this as early as possible Why PCOS is often a precursor to type II diabetes The relationship between PCOS and weight The role that vitamin D plays in women's menstrual and overall health Metformin and PCOS How long does it typically take for women's periods to return after following Katherine's protocol? The connection between acne and PCOS Connect with Katherine You can connect with Katherine on the Thomas Jefferson University web site! Resources mentioned Thomas Jefferson University | Dr. Katherine Sherif FFP 016 | Real Food For Gestational Diabetes | Pre-conception & Pregnancy Nutrition | Lily Nichols FFP 022 | What is PCOS? | Healing PCOS Naturally | PCOS Diva Amy Medling Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes! Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by Sirc of (The Nock)