The 5 Symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) to Look Out For, According to Doctors

Updated on 9/8/2020 at 10:20 AM

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a complicated hormonal condition that affects an estimated six to 12 percent of people with female sex organs (as many as five million), according to the CDC. In fact, PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility in people with female sex organs. However, these numbers may vary, as many people have PCOS but do not know it. Although PCOS can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider, symptoms often go ignored until someone tries to get pregnant; the majority of people with PCOS struggle to conceive.

People with PCOS produce more androgen (male hormones) than others, which causes enlarged ovaries with multiple small cysts due to the follicles not maturing into eggs. This leads to a host of physical symptoms, many of which go ignored. POPSUGAR tapped ob-gyn Nataki Douglas, MD, chair of the Modern Fertility Medical Advisory Board, and reproductive endocrinologist Margaret Nachtigall, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU's Grossman School of Medicine, who explained five of the most common symptoms associated with PCOS. Read on to see if you experience any of these symptoms, and when you should seek a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Irregular Periods

Everyone's periods are on a little different of a schedule, especially if you aren't on birth control, but Dr. Nachtigall defined an irregular period as one that is more frequent than every 21 days or less frequent than every 42 days.

"People who have fewer than nine periods a year, that's something that should be evaluated, and some people with PCOS don't have any periods at all," she explained. "They have complete absence [of a period], called amenorrhea." Irregular periods are due to a hormonal balance; people with PCOS have more androgen and don't ovulate.

Irregular periods is one of the biggest indicators of PCOS. If you're not trying to get pregnant and you don't object to taking oral contraceptives, Dr. Nachtigall said you can get your periods back on schedule by taking a birth-control pill combining estrogen and progesterone.

Acne

Another side effect of the increase in androgen is hormonal acne, which is usually found on the face (typically the mouth and chin area), chest, and/or upper back. "If you can lower the androgen levels, you can often reduce or eliminate the acne," Dr. Nachtigall explained, such as getting on a combination birth-control pill.

Weight Gain

Although not everyone with PCOS experiences weight gain, about 75 percent have unwanted weight gain, especially in the midsection, as a symptom of PCOS, Dr. Nachtigall explained. "Many people with PCOS also have insulin resistance, where they're less sensitive to their own insulin," she said. Although the two tend to go hand in hand, she explained that there's no clear evidence as to whether PCOS causes insulin resistance, or insulin resistance leads to PCOS.

"There are probably two types of people: some who the insulin resistance is the first problem, and some who the PCOS is the problem," she said. "They all look very similar, and they have the same problem, which is that they're not ovulating." If you have experienced unexplained weight gain, have been at a higher weight for most of your life, or are having difficulty losing weight, it could be a symptom of PCOS.

Thinning Hair

Thinning hair or hair loss, especially near the temples or along the hairline, could be a symptom of PCOS due to the increase in androgen.

Excess Hair Growth

Even if you're losing hair on your head, another common PCOS symptom is excess hair growth in places like your face, chest, back, and arms — places where people who are assigned male at birth are more likely to grow hair — due to the increase of androgen.

When You Should Visit a Doctor For PCOS

Every person is different, so some people may experience a combination of symptoms and not others. "One of the things about making the diagnosis of PCOS, because the diagnosis is varied, is that some people will have irregular periods and acne," Dr. Nachtigall explained. "Other people will have irregular periods and hair growth. Other people will have irregular periods and hair loss. And then, a whole group of people with PCOS, about 25 percent, are actually extremely thin."

While irregular periods is the top symptom to look out for, especially if you are trying to get pregnant, if you experience any of the above symptoms, Dr. Douglas urges you to visit a doctor who can properly diagnose PCOS. Ideally you should visit a doctor who has experience with reproductive health and hormonal disorders, such as an ob-gyn or endocrinologist.