The Link Between Belly Fat and Irregular Periods: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Solutions Explained by Abdominal Masses

The concept of abdominal masses found in Donguibogam closely parallels polycystic ovary syndrome in modern medicine. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disease affecting around 10% of women of childbearing age, and its underlying causes are complex. A central factor is insulin resistance. When glucose enters the bloodstream, the pancreas secretes insulin to move glucose into the cells for energy. When insulin resistance develops, however, cells do not respond effectively to insulin signals. The pancreas then produces more insulin, leading to elevated blood insulin levels. This excess insulin prompts the ovaries to secrete androgen. Elevated androgen interferes with normal ovulation, causing multiple immature ovarian follicles to develop in the ovary, which is the defining feature of a polycystic ovary. Without regular ovulation, menstruation becomes irregular and may cease entirely. Increased androgen also contributes to acne, hirsutism, and a tendency to gain weight, particularly abdominal obesity. Developing excess belly fat is therefore not merely a matter of caloric intake; insulin resistance may be an underlying cause. This cycle continues, as abdominal obesity worsens insulin resistance and provokes inflammatory responses that further impair metabolism. This process reflects the modern clinical understanding of qi and blood stagnation described in Donguibogam. As metabolic pathways become disordered, energy is stored as fat rather than utilized, disrupting hormonal balance and producing varied symptoms. Understanding polycystic ovary syndrome requires looking beyond the ovaries alone to address the systemic interplay between metabolism and hormones.