Irregular periods? Excessive hair growth? Really aggressive acne? It might be PCOS. But how can you be sure about it?
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is mostly characterized by a group of symptoms that affects the female reproductive organs – the ovaries, and the process linked to them – ovulation. There can be 3 main signs to ascertain if you have PCOS:

1. Cysts in your ovaries
2. Higher levels of androgen (male hormones) in your blood
3. Irregular periods

There is no exact reason as to what is the causes of PCOS and why it affects different women in a different manner. However, if you are aware of the symptoms in your body and spot a pattern, it is advised to get it checked immediately with your doctor. Some of the common PCOS symptoms are:

1. Irregular periods: Since PCOS affects the ovaries and ovulation in your body, you may experience an irregularity in the occurrence of your periods. The lack of ovulation can prevent your uterine lining from shedding on the predicted date of your cycle.

2. Heavy bleeding: Due to delayed or lack of ovulation, the lining of your uterus might have built up and the periods you get later may be heavier than the normal flow.

3. Hair growth: A lot of girls and women experience accelerated growth of extra hair on their body, especially on their face, chest, and back – due to the excess of male hormones in their body. This excess of hair growth is also known as hirsutism.

4. Acne: The androgens can make the skin oilier than the usual oil secretions on the skin. You may notice more acne breakouts on your face, back, and chest due to increased oil secretion.

5. Gain of weight: Almost 80 percent of women with PCOS become overweight due to a multitude of reasons while dealing with insulin resistance and inflammation.

6. Alopecia: Some women may also experience thinning or hair and gradual hair fall in PCOS because of the androgens. This symptom is also known as alopecia.
With such diverse and scattered symptoms of PCOS, it can be difficult to understand if the condition you have is PCOS or not. Your doctor might conduct a couple of preliminary or confirmatory tests to ascertain if you have PCOS, and that may include an ultrasound and a couple of blood tests.

Tests to check if you have higher levels of androgens in your blood, along with tests to estimate your prolactin or thyroid-stimulating hormones – may be conducted. These hormones can directly or indirectly affect your menstrual cycle and can be used to eliminate other conditions that may have similar implications. An ultrasound – either transvaginal or abdominal, might be conducted so that the doctor can visualize if you have cysts on your ovary or if the ovary is enlarged due to a different reason. The combination of both physical and blood tests can be used to differentially diagnose if you have PCOS or not.