As a practicing physician, “I have PCOS” or “Do I have PCOS?” is what I hear the most from women. PCOS (or polycystic ovarian syndrome)  has become a viral buzzword, causing concern for a lot of women. This is understandable because it is a fairly common disorder, affecting between 5% to 15% of women of reproductive age worldwide. 

Do you think you have PCOS? And how do you know if you have PCOs? 

PCOS may present with a variety of symptoms. The most important symptoms and what constitute the characteristic triad of PCOs are:

Menstrual irregularity, having periods more than 35 days apart. Or even amenorrhea, where you don’t get your period at all. 

Unusual/abnormal hair growth (or hirsutism) 

Increased body weight and insulin resistance

Due to increased androgens in the body with PCOs, you may also experience other symptoms such as aggressive acne and male-patterned baldness.

If you have any combination of the symptoms mentioned, you should definitely consult a physician. In order to diagnose PCOS you will need to fulfill what is known as the Rotterdam criteria. You must have at least two of the following findings:

Hyperandrogenism. It can be determined by symptoms and laboratory blood tests for levels of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). 

Ovulatory dysfunction, which is responsible for menstrual irregularities. 

If PCOS is left unmanaged, there is increased risk for:

Diabetes

Heart disease

Endometrial cancer

There is no definite cure for PCOS. Treatment plans are tailored for each patient based on symptoms and personal concerns. It usually requires a combination of drugs and lifestyle changes in order to adjust the hormonal and metabolic imbalance caused by PCOS.

If you suspect that you have PCOS, do book an appointment with your family physician or gynecologist. 

If you want to know what lifestyle adjustments help with PCOS, click here.