PCOS Diagnosis

PCOS is often misdiagnosed.  But if you are prepared with the right questions, you and your doctor can work together from disrupting this condition from interrupting your day to day life.  If you think that you have PCOS, consider the following questions.  This is a perfect time to press pause and take some notes.

• Do your periods come about every two to three month or less ofter?
• Do you have bad acne?
• Do you have darker patches of skin on your neck, arms, or inner thigh?
• Have you noticed hair above your lip, chine, neck or chest area?
• Do you have a hard time losing weight or have you suddenly put on a lot of weight?
• Do you have a relative with PCOS?
• Do you have diabetes or does diabetes run in the family?

If your answer is consistently yes to any of these questions, let your doctor know.  There is no single test to diagnose PCOS but you can schedule a diagnostic appointment with your doctor to identify possible causes for your symptoms.

Your doctor will first ask you questions about your menstrual cycle. To help prepare yourself,  keep a record of your menstrual cycles, including when menstruation begins and ends, how much flow you have (count numbers of pads and tampons used, noting whether they are soaked), and any other symptoms you experience.

To further diagnose PCOS, your doctor will also ask you to outline your general health and medical history and then do a complete physical examination.  The doctor will want to measure your blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and waist size. She also will check out the areas of increased hair growth, so try to allow the natural hair growth for a few days before the visit.

At a diagnostic appointment, you most likely will need to have a blood test to check your hormone levels, as well as your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Your doctor might also want to do a pelvic exam to see if your ovaries are enlarged or swollen by an increased number of small cysts. A vaginal ultrasound also might be used to examine the ovaries for cysts and check out the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. At the end of a diagnostic appointment, your doctor might also want to take some other tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.

• Menstrual record
• Medical history
• Physical examination
• Blood tests for hormone, blood sugar and cholesterol levels
• Pelvic exam
• Vaginal ultrasound
• Other tests

Getting PCOS symptoms under control at an early age can help women to reduce their chances of developing complications like diabetes and heart disease in later years.  To learn more about treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome, please continue reading.