What are the signs of PCOS?
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS
The classic trio: irregular or missing periods, signs of excess androgens such as stubborn acne, facial hair growth or scalp thinning, and polycystic-appearing ovaries on ultrasound. Two of the three make the diagnosis once other causes are excluded.
Weight gain around the middle, dark velvety skin patches, and difficulty conceiving often travel with it. Plenty of women with PCOS are lean, which delays their diagnosis.
It matters beyond periods: PCOS raises long-term diabetes and heart risk, so naming it early means protecting more than fertility.
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