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An antimalarial drug used in ancient Chinese medicine could be an effective treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a groundbreaking study suggests. The herbal extract artemisinin appeared to stop the ovaries producing too much testosterone, and women who took the drug for 12 weeks had more regular periods. The findings from the small trial by a Chinese team have been hailed as a potential breakthrough that could lead to an entirely new approach to treating the condition that affects around one in 10 women.

“It’s very rare that you get a brand new development in a really important condition, so this is big,” said Dr Channa Jayasena, a clinical senior lecturer at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the research. “It’s a tremendous potential breakthrough and really welcome as women’s health problems have not traditionally received the attention that heart disease and cancer have.” PCOS occurs when the ovaries produce too much testosterone.



The hormonal imbalance interferes with ovulation, which can lead to irregular periods and affect fertility. There are other wide-ranging health impacts, with many patients developing insulin resistance, which raises the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Higher testosterone levels can also cause excess facial hair and acne.

“The name [of the syndrome] makes it sounds like it just affects the ovaries, which does a disservice to women,” Jayasena said. “It’s a body-wide disease. You’re more .

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