Insulin, LH, and PCOS Hormonal Chaos: Understanding the Connection

In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll explore how luteinizing hormone (LH) plays a pivotal role in ovulation, and how its interaction with insulin can create hormonal chaos in PCOS. LH is the hormone responsible for triggering ovulation, but when it becomes imbalanced, cycles can become irregular or even anovulatory. This discussion sheds light on why LH may be elevated and how this elevation disrupts ovulation, especially when paired with high testosterone levels. How Cycle Chaos Unfolds: Elevated LH and Ovulation Insulin resistance, common in PCOS, contributes to elevated testosterone and disrupts LH levels. Even without insulin resistance, women with PCOS may experience high insulin levels due to dietary habits. This elevation prompts the ovaries to produce more testosterone, which in turn increases LH. The result? Disrupted ovulation, missed LH surges, and cycles that are difficult to interpret. When LH levels are chronically elevated, the body misses the distinct surge that’s necessary for ovulation to occur. You’ll discover how this prevents egg release, contributes to cystic ovaries, and leads to inconsistent or missed periods. Practical Tools to Lower Insulin and Restore Ovulation You’ll learn practical strategies for lowering insulin and restoring hormone balance. This includes optimizing nutrition and strategic eating patterns to support better glucose regulation and lower daily insulin loads. For deeper insight into how your body handles food and stress, a CGM can be a powerful tool. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use a CGM to observe patterns, make small dietary changes, and experiment with meal timing and movement to lower insulin responses and improve hormone balance. Exercise is another key lifestyle tool for improving insulin sensitivity. You’ll hear how Zone 2 exercise and strength training help your body use insulin more efficiently. These simple habits can dramatically reduce post-meal glucose spikes and improve overall hormonal function. Stress is a major hormone disruptor. You’ll discover how elevated cortisol increases insulin, promotes fat storage, and throws off hormonal rhythms, including LH and ovulation. This episode covers how daily stress management practices are essential to support hormonal healing. Supporting Ovulation with Supplements Once foundational root causes are addressed, well selected supplements can further support insulin sensitivity and ovulation. This episode explains when and how to incorporate these supplements and provides resources for trusted product recommendations. If you’ve struggled to interpret LH tests, manage irregular ovulation, or understand the hidden factors behind PCOS symptoms, this episode breaks it down in a clear, practical way. You’ll leave with an understanding of how insulin impacts LH and what daily strategies, like movement, food timing, and supplements, can help regulate this delicate hormonal balance. You can take the quiz to discover your root cause here Get the PCOS Supplement Guide for trusted product recommendations and discounts. Let’s continue the conversation on Instagram! What did you find helpful in this episode and what follow-up questions do you have? The full list of Resources & References Mentioned can be found on the Episode webpage at: https://nourishedtohealthy.com/ep-169