PCOS – Diagnostics and Treatment

No single test shows whether you have polycystic ovary syndrome or not. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and give you a physical exam and blood tests to help discover if you have this condition. PCOS is a common hormone disorder that can create troubles with your period, fertility, weight, and skin. It can also put you at threat of other conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. If you have it, the sooner you find out, the sooner you can begin your treatment.

What Your Doctor Will ask?

Your doctor will want to learn about all the symptoms and signs you’ve noticed. This is an essential step to help determine whether you have PCOS and rule out other conditions that induce identical symptoms. You’ll require to answer questions about your family’s medical record, including whether your mother or sister has PCOS or difficulties getting pregnant. This detail is useful – PCOS tends to run in families. Be prepared to discuss any period issues you’ve had, weight changes, and other problems. Your doctor may diagnose PCOS if you have at least two of these symptoms:

• Irregular periods
• Higher androgen levels (male hormones) are revealed in blood tests or through signs like acne, male-pattern balding, or extra hair growth on your face, chin, or body.
• Cysts in your ovaries, as shown in an ultrasound exam.

Physical Exam

Your doctor might check your blood pressure, BMI (body mass index), and waist size. If you have PCOS, they may also inspect your skin to check for extra hair growth, acne, and discoloured skin. Pelvic exam: Your doctor will inspect and feel areas of your body, including the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and rectum, studying for anything uncommon. Pelvic ultrasound (sonogram): This produces an image of your ovaries. For the ultrasound, you lie down, and the doctor briefly puts an ultrasound device in your vagina. The doctor will inspect for cysts in your ovaries and how thick the lining is in your uterus. That lining may be thicker than normal if your periods aren’t occurring when they’re supposed to. Your ovaries may be 1½ to 3 times bigger than normal when you have PCOS. Ultrasound can show ovary changes in about 90% of PCOS women. Blood tests: Your doctor or other health care provider will take a little amount of blood from a vein in your arm. Lab tests will calculate the levels of these hormones:

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) impacts your ability to get pregnant. Your level might be lower than normal or even normal if you have PCOS.
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates ovulation. It could be higher than normal.
• Testosterone is a sex hormone that is higher in women with PCOS.
• Estrogens are a group of hormones that let women get their periods. Your level may be normal or high if you have PCOS.
• Your sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) level may be lower than normal.
• A sex hormone called androstenedione may be at a higher-than-normal level.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): This hormone test can review to see if you’re pregnant. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH): This test can check how well your ovaries work and help assess how far off menopause may be. The levels would be elevated with PCOS. Your doctor may suggest a few more tests to rule out other conditions such as thyroid problems, tumours, and hyperplasia (organ-swelling due to too many cells) with identical symptoms to PCOS.

After Your Diagnosis

If you have PCOS, you may get blood glucose and cholesterol test. Doctors usually do these tests to check on your overall health and odds of having other conditions:

• Lipid profiles check your cholesterol and triglycerides. PCOS can make you more likely to develop heart disease.

• A glucose test allows you to see if you have diabetes. More than half of women who have PCOS have this disease.

• Insulin: Your doctor will want to decide how well your body responds to insulin, which helps control your blood sugar level. If your body doesn’t respond to the insulin, it’s making. You may have insulin resistance. It’s common among women with PCOS and can lead to diabetes.

Your doctor will work with you to manage your PCOS symptoms and become as healthy as possible