Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects between 5 and 6 million U.S. women. Black women, in particular, often face more severe symptoms, including higher rates of hirsutism (excessive hair growth), insulin resistance, obesity, infertility, and cardiovascular risks than white women. Despite how common the hormonal imbalance is, many women struggle to find treatments that work.
A new study suggests that intermittent fasting (only eating during specific times or days of the week) may help lower testosterone levels and improve hormone balance in women with PCOS.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects the ovaries. The exact cause is unknown, but it does involve a mix of genetic factors, inflammation, and insulin resistance.
Common symptoms of PCOS are:
Treatment typically involves lifestyle changes, oral contraceptives (birth control), metformin (for insulin sensitivity), and fertility treatment.
Intermittent fasting might help manage symptoms from a hormonal condition that affects nearly 1 in 5 women, new clinical trial results say.
Weight loss associated with intermittent fasting helped lower testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), researchers reported March 27 in the journal Nature Medicine.
These lowered levels could wind up improving PCOS symptoms over time, researchers said.
“This study and several other studies published by our lab and others show that intermittent fasting can actually improve female hormone levels, particularly in women with PCOS,” researcher Krista Varady, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois-Chicago, said in a news release.
PCOS occurs when women don’t create enough female hormones needed to ovulate, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. As a result, the ovaries develop many small fluid-filled sacs called cysts, which produce male hormones like testosterone.
Higher levels of these male hormones cause problems like irregular periods, weight gain, and infertility among women with PCOS, Johns Hopkins says.
“We’re looking for other ways of lowering testosterone levels in these women,” Varady said.
“One way is through weight loss. If someone loses around 5 percent of their body weight, they can actually help lower testosterone levels and sidestep any kind of drug intervention.”
Intermittent fasting — restricting eating to a six-to-eight hour daily window — is one potential means of weight loss, but some critics have said the diet might instead disrupt female hormones.
“There’s a particular sentiment that intermittent fasting is really bad for women,” Varady said.
For the trial, researchers recruited 76 women with PCOS and assigned them to one of three groups.
One group adopted intermittent fasting; another tried to lose weight through calorie counting; and the third served as a control group that continued their usual diet.
Both fasting and calorie counting cut the women’s food intake by about 200 calories a day, and both groups lost an average 10 pounds during the six-month trial.
Both dieting groups also had a decrease in their testosterone levels, researchers said.
But only intermittent fasting reduced free androgen index, the ratio between testosterone and the protein that transports it through blood, researchers said. This is a marker of how much active testosterone is reaching a body’s tissues.
Intermittent fasting didn’t lessen PCOS symptoms like irregular periods, but researchers said those symptoms might improve with longer time on the diet.
About 80 percent of the women assigned to intermittent fasting said they planned to continue the eating pattern, Varady said.
While PCOS can affect women of all races and backgrounds, Black women often face delayed diagnoses, higher rates of obesity, and insulin resistance — all conditions that can overlap or worsen PCOS symptoms.
Unfortunately, hormonal symptoms like irregular periods, weight gain, or difficulty getting pregnant may sometimes be dismissed or normalized, leading some women to go years without answers. Delayed diagnoses can make it more difficult to manage symptoms and lower future health risks.
It’s important to understand that PCOS is not solely a reproductive health issue. The hormonal disorder is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, and metabolic disorders. Because Black women already face higher rates of many of these conditions, early recognition and treatment of PCOS is critical.
Fortunately, lifestyle changes, medical treatment, and better awareness can make a meaningful difference. Knowing the signs of PCOS and advocating for your health can help you get the support you need much sooner.
The short answer? No. While intermittent fasting may help some women with PCOS, it may not be the safest option for everyone. Any eating plan that limits when you eat should be carefully approached, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions.
Intermittent fasting is typically not recommended for people who are pregnant, trying to conceive, breastfeeding, underweight, or recovering from an eating disorder. Extra caution may be recommended for those with diabetes or who are taking medications that affect blood sugar levels.
It’s best to speak with your provider or a registered dietitian before trying intermittent fasting.
PCOS can be an overwhelming condition to manage on a day-to-day basis, but small, yet meaningful changes can make a big difference. This latest research suggests that intermittent fasting may help some women improve hormone balance and weight. However, the best treatment plan is one that’s customized to your body, symptoms, and goals.
More information
Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on polycystic ovary syndrome.
SOURCE: University of Illinois-Chicago, news release, March 27, 2026
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