u/AllDaySaunaCo

If you haven't seen it yet, PCOS was officially renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) this week in The Lancet. Huge deal because it finally acknowledges this is a metabolic condition.

That got me digging and I remembered coming across this study a while back that I don't think gets nearly enough attention.

University of Oregon, 2019. Ely et al. They took obese women with PCOS and had them do 30 sessions of passive heat therapy over 8 to 10 weeks.

Results:

Testosterone dropped from 51 ng/dL to 34 ng/dL. That's a 33% reduction in circulating androgens. Fasting blood glucose improved. Insulin sensitivity improved.

Just from consistent heat therapy.

Given that PMOS is now being framed around metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance as the root issue, this study hits different. Heat therapy seems to target the exact upstream drivers they're now saying the condition is actually about.

Obviously not a cure and the sample was specific (obese women with PCOS) so results won't apply to everyone. But for something so low cost and accessible I feel like this should be talked about way more in these communities.

Full source if anyone wants to read it: Ely BR et al. (2019). Heat therapy improves glucose tolerance and adipose tissue insulin signaling in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 317(1): E122-E132.

Anyone else tried heat therapy as part of managing symptoms?

We've been in the sauna industry for a while now and see the same misconceptions about sauna hats come up constantly, so figured we'd write this out.

They're not about keeping your hair dry. The whole point of a sauna hat is head, hair, and brain protection. Your head is the most heat-sensitive part of your body - blood vessels there are close to the surface and your brain reacts quickly to temperature spikes. A proper sauna hat insulates your head so you can stay in longer without it overheating before the rest of your body is ready to leave.

Material matters more than most people think. Thick-felted wool is the traditional choice. It breathes, insulates without cooking you, and holds up in high humidity. Mesh hats serve a different purpose: airflow and comfort during longer, lower-heat sessions. Neither is wrong - it comes down to your sauna temperature and how long you like to sit.

Why Finnish sauna culture developed them: Traditional Finnish saunas run 176–212°F. At those temperatures, head protection isn't optional if you want a proper session. The hat lets you stay seated at bench level without cutting things short because your head gives out first. There are 3.3 million saunas in Finland for 5.5 million people — they've had a long time to figure this out.

Do you use one? What's been your experience?