During your consultation with the GP, she will examine you & discuss your symptoms. She may recommend that you take some blood tests to check your glucose & hormone levels, & monitor the activity of your thyroid. An ultrasound scan may be recommended in order to see whether you have ovarian cysts or enlarged ovaries. If the GP suspects that you have PCOS, they may refer you to a specialist for further investigation & treatment, at no extra cost.
Symptoms
The two main components of PCOS are:
- Irregular or absent periods (amenorrhea), caused by the ovaries not releasing eggs regularly (irregular ovulation).
- A higher than normal level of androgens (male hormones, such as testosterone) in the body, which causes the symptom of excess body hair (hirsutism), predominantly on the face, around the nipples, or on the low abdomen.
In addition to irregular periods & hirsutism, other symptoms of polycystic ovarian symptom include:
- Infertility
- Weight gain
- Loss or thinning of the hair on the head
- Insulin resistance
- Overweight
- Acne and/or oily skin
In a healthy menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs monthly in the middle of the cycle, around day 14. During ovulation, an egg is released from a follicle, a small swelling in the ovary, into the fallopian tubes. If the egg does not fully mature inside of the follicle, it will not be released, & ovulation will not take place.