Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCystsIrregular PeriodsHirsutismInfertilityWeight GainFatigueMood SwingsAcneMigrainesHair LossSweet CravingsDarkening of the SkinFeeling SickDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cysts
Irregular Periods
Hirsutism
Infertility
Weight Gain
Fatigue
Mood Swings
Acne
Migraines
Hair Loss
Sweet Cravings
Darkening of the Skin
Feeling Sick
Diagnosis
You might have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) if you experience symptoms like irregular periods, hair loss, acne breakouts, and unusual hair growth on the face or body. These symptoms may begin around the time of your first menstrual period or years later. Many common symptoms of PCOS also occur in other conditions, however, so it’s important toget a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.
This article will explore some of the common symptoms of PCOS and how the condition is diagnosed.
Hero Images / Getty
These symptoms can suggest polycystic ovary syndrome, but only a healthcare provider can diagnose you. If you have irregular periods along with two or more of the other symptoms on this list, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
People with PCOS may have small, painless, fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries. These are called “cysts,” though they are actually follicles, or underdeveloped sacs that contain immature eggs. In people with PCOS, the follicles don’t release eggs as they are supposed to. The ovaries may also become enlarged.
Not everyone with PCOS has cysts. If you do have them, you may not know it until your healthcare provider finds them during an imaging test.
People with PCOS don’t ovulate regularly. This interferes with the development and shedding of the uterine lining. Instead of shedding during a regular menstrual period, the lining thickens and sheds irregularly. This can cause heavy or prolonged bleeding that happens unpredictably and/or infrequently.
If you have ovaries and are in your childbearing years, you have about a 10% chance of developing PCOS.
Abnormal Hair Growth (Hirsutism)
The high androgen levels of PCOS lead many people to develop coarse, dark hairs on the face and on body parts where men typically have body hair and women just havevellus hair(“peach fuzz”).This condition is calledhirsutism.
While hirsutism is a sign of possible PCOS, it may also be due to several other conditions, such as:
Not everyone with PCOS has hirsutism. But between 70% and 80% of women with hirsutism have PCOS.
PCOS and Excess Facial Hair
Talk to your healthcare provider if you’ve been skipping periods or have them irregularly. Just keep in mind that other things can also interfere with conception, including:
About PCOS and Infertility
People with PCOS often have insulin resistance. This can lead to weight gain, especially around the belly. It can also make it harder to lose weight.
One of insulin’s jobs is promoting fat storage. But some people with PCOS gain weight even when they eat a healthy diet, avoid binges, and get regular exercise.
If you have insulin resistance, you may also feel excessively thirsty or have frequent urination.
How Weight Loss Can Help Improve PCOS
Fatigueis a possible symptom of PCOS, but it’s also a symptom of many other illnesses and lifestyle factors.This reality makes it nearly impossible to diagnose any condition based on fatigue alone. It has to be looked at in the context of your life and any other symptoms you may be experiencing.
Lifestyle factors that can cause fatigue include:
Chronic conditions involving extreme fatigue that can have a severe impact on your life and ability to function include:
To help you and your healthcare provider figure out what’s causing fatigue, look for possible triggers. Do you get tired after eating certain foods? After a stressful event? After a small amount of exertion?
Reasons for Fatigue and Constant Tiredness
It’s theorized that mood swings are associated with PCOS because of abnormal brain chemistry and the potential disruption of the brain-gut connection. This refers to the chemical and physical links between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract.Beyond mood swings, some studies show that PCOS may possibly be associated with an increased risk of diagnosis of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is also linked to worse symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD, and somatization (when emotional distress shows up in the form of physical symptoms).
Lifestyle Changes Can Help
Testosterone—the primary male hormone—is a cause of acne, so the high levels associated with PCOS can lead to breakouts.Not all adult acne is due to PCOS, though. Common causes include:
10 Facts About Adult Acne
Little research has been done involvingmigrainesand PCOS. But a 2019 study appeared to suggest the link. It found that migraines are “highly associated” with PCOS.
Many people without PCOS have migraines, though. Migraines could be an indicator of PCOS if you:
Migraine Treatments: Everything You Need to Know
Hair lossin PCOS is sometimes calledfemale androgenic alopecia(FAGA) or female pattern hair loss. It happens because of theandrogens(male hormones) associated with PCOS. Similar to male pattern baldness, FAGA causes thinning hair on top of the head and along the hairline.It doesn’t result in baldness, as it does in men, because the follicle doesn’t die. This means the hair may grow in again. Multiple conditions other than PCOS can cause FAGA, including:
Several other conditions can cause general thinning of the hair all over rather than in the distinctive pattern of FAGA. They include:
Some medications may cause non-patterned hair thinning as well. Ask your healthcare provider if your medication is on the list.
Treating Hair Loss in PCOS
Craving sweetsall the time is a common symptom of PCOS, likely due toinsulin resistance.Women with PCOS tend to have high levels of insulin in their blood. All that insulin can interfere with the function of other appetite-regulating hormones, leading to increased hunger. Eating sugar and refined carbs, in particular, can lead to sugar-rush-and-crash cycles that trigger even more cravings.
PCOS cravings can lead to unhealthy behaviors. For example, people with PCOS are especially prone to binge-eating. If you’re obese, you’re more likely to have a lot of food cravings, which makes weight loss harder.
To gauge whether your cravings could be insulin-related, watch for symptoms oflow blood sugar. They can surface a few hours after a binge, when high insulin levels can cause blood sugar levels to plummet. Symptoms include:
Watch Low Blood Sugar Symptoms
People with PCOS can develop dark patches of skin calledacanthosis nigricans. These dark patches often appear around the neck or in the underarm area, though they can appear anywhere on the body. They can be brown, purple, or black and may have a velvety appearance.
Acanthosis nigricans are a symptom of insulin resistance, so the first step in treating them is to treat your insulin resistance. The discoloration will often fade as you lose weight and adopt a healthy diet.
Can Polycystic Ovaries Make You Feel Sick?
How Healthcare Providers Diagnose PCOS
If you suspect that you may have PCOS, pay attention to your symptoms and their triggers. Most importantly, see your healthcare provider. Because the symptoms listed here can be traced to other conditions, it can take a while for your healthcare provider to be certain of your diagnosis. You might need the following tests to confirm it:
The diagnostic criteria for PCOS includes:
If you are diagnosed with PCOS, it may help to know that numerous treatment options can help you manage the symptoms. For example, even a 5% weight loss can relieve many PCOS symptoms—and make living with the condition more bearable, day to day.
Do I have to take birth control if I have PCOS?Hormonal birth control pills can help treat the symptoms of PCOS, but there are other ways to manage the condition such as lifestyle changes and other types of prescription medication.
Do I have to take birth control if I have PCOS?
Hormonal birth control pills can help treat the symptoms of PCOS, but there are other ways to manage the condition such as lifestyle changes and other types of prescription medication.
Additional Tests After PCOS Diagnosis
After you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS, your healthcare provider may want to screen you for complications and conditions that can occur alongside polycystic ovary syndrome. Some additional tests you may need include:
How do I know if I have PCOS or endometriosis?PCOS and endometriosis can both affect fertility. Endometriosis, however, causes chronic pelvic pain while PCOS typically does not. Additionally, those with endometriosis tend to have regular menstrual cycles, whereas those with PCOS tend to experience irregular bleeding.
How do I know if I have PCOS or endometriosis?
PCOS and endometriosis can both affect fertility. Endometriosis, however, causes chronic pelvic pain while PCOS typically does not. Additionally, those with endometriosis tend to have regular menstrual cycles, whereas those with PCOS tend to experience irregular bleeding.
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome can disrupt your menstrual cycle and interfere with your fertility. Since PCOS can also put you at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, you’ll want to stay alert to PCOS warning signs like irregular periods, unusual hair growth, weight gain, acne, hair loss, and darkening of the skin.
Many of these symptoms overlap with other conditions, but if your periods are irregular and you have two or more of these symptoms, it’s wise to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to be checked for PCOS.
How to Treat PCOS
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Spritzer PM, Barone CR, Oliveira FB.Hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome: pathophysiology and management.Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(36):5603-13. doi:10.2174/1381612822666160720151243Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Infertility.Abdollahi L, Mirghafourvand M, Babapour JK, Mohammadi M.Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving the quality of life and psychological fatigue in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized controlled clinical trial.J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2019;40(4):283-293. doi:10.1080/0167482X.2018.1502265.Ilie IR.Neurotransmitter, neuropeptide and gut peptide profile in PCOS-pathways contributing to the pathophysiology, food intake and psychiatric manifestations of PCOS.Adv Clin Chem. 2020;96:85-135. doi:10.1016/bs.acc.2019.11.004.Brutocao C, Zaiem F, Alsawas M, Morrow AS, Murad MH, Javed A.Psychiatric disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Endocrine. 2018;62(2):318-325. doi:10.1007/s12020-018-1692-3Ju Q, Tao T, Hu T, Karadağ AS, Al-Khuzaei S, Chen W.Sex hormones and acne.Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):130-137. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.10.004.American Academy of Dermatology.Adult acne.Ramly B, Afiqah-Aleng N, Mohamed-Hussein ZA.Protein-protein interaction network analysis reveals several diseases highly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(12):2959. doi:10.3390/ijms20122959.Carmina E, Azziz R, Bergfeld W, et al.Female pattern hair loss and androgen excess: a report from the Multidisciplinary Androgen Excess and PCOS Committee.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(7):2875-2891. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-02548Starace M, Orlando G, Alessandrini A, Piraccini BM.Female androgenetic alopecia: an update on diagnosis and management.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(1):69-84. doi:10.1007/s40257-019-00479-xPhillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R.Hair loss: common causes and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378.Mohammad K Shalabi M, Burgess B, Khan S, Ehrsam E, Khachemoune A.Alopecia syphilitica, from diagnosis to treatment.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2022;35(2):180-183. doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.2021761Krug I, Giles S, Paganini C.Binge eating in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: Prevalence, causes, and management strategies.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019;15:1273–1285. doi:10.2147/NDT.S168944.Jeanes YM, Reeves S, Gibson EL, Piggott C, May VA, Hart KH.Binge eating behaviours and food cravings in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Appetite. 2017;109:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.010.Williams T, Mortada R, Porter S.Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(2):106-113.Barber TM, Franks S.Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome.Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2021;95(4):531-541. doi:10.1111/cen.14421
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Spritzer PM, Barone CR, Oliveira FB.Hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome: pathophysiology and management.Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(36):5603-13. doi:10.2174/1381612822666160720151243Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Infertility.Abdollahi L, Mirghafourvand M, Babapour JK, Mohammadi M.Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving the quality of life and psychological fatigue in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized controlled clinical trial.J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2019;40(4):283-293. doi:10.1080/0167482X.2018.1502265.Ilie IR.Neurotransmitter, neuropeptide and gut peptide profile in PCOS-pathways contributing to the pathophysiology, food intake and psychiatric manifestations of PCOS.Adv Clin Chem. 2020;96:85-135. doi:10.1016/bs.acc.2019.11.004.Brutocao C, Zaiem F, Alsawas M, Morrow AS, Murad MH, Javed A.Psychiatric disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Endocrine. 2018;62(2):318-325. doi:10.1007/s12020-018-1692-3Ju Q, Tao T, Hu T, Karadağ AS, Al-Khuzaei S, Chen W.Sex hormones and acne.Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):130-137. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.10.004.American Academy of Dermatology.Adult acne.Ramly B, Afiqah-Aleng N, Mohamed-Hussein ZA.Protein-protein interaction network analysis reveals several diseases highly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(12):2959. doi:10.3390/ijms20122959.Carmina E, Azziz R, Bergfeld W, et al.Female pattern hair loss and androgen excess: a report from the Multidisciplinary Androgen Excess and PCOS Committee.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(7):2875-2891. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-02548Starace M, Orlando G, Alessandrini A, Piraccini BM.Female androgenetic alopecia: an update on diagnosis and management.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(1):69-84. doi:10.1007/s40257-019-00479-xPhillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R.Hair loss: common causes and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378.Mohammad K Shalabi M, Burgess B, Khan S, Ehrsam E, Khachemoune A.Alopecia syphilitica, from diagnosis to treatment.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2022;35(2):180-183. doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.2021761Krug I, Giles S, Paganini C.Binge eating in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: Prevalence, causes, and management strategies.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019;15:1273–1285. doi:10.2147/NDT.S168944.Jeanes YM, Reeves S, Gibson EL, Piggott C, May VA, Hart KH.Binge eating behaviours and food cravings in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Appetite. 2017;109:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.010.Williams T, Mortada R, Porter S.Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(2):106-113.Barber TM, Franks S.Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome.Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2021;95(4):531-541. doi:10.1111/cen.14421
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Spritzer PM, Barone CR, Oliveira FB.Hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome: pathophysiology and management.Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(36):5603-13. doi:10.2174/1381612822666160720151243Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Infertility.Abdollahi L, Mirghafourvand M, Babapour JK, Mohammadi M.Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving the quality of life and psychological fatigue in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized controlled clinical trial.J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2019;40(4):283-293. doi:10.1080/0167482X.2018.1502265.Ilie IR.Neurotransmitter, neuropeptide and gut peptide profile in PCOS-pathways contributing to the pathophysiology, food intake and psychiatric manifestations of PCOS.Adv Clin Chem. 2020;96:85-135. doi:10.1016/bs.acc.2019.11.004.Brutocao C, Zaiem F, Alsawas M, Morrow AS, Murad MH, Javed A.Psychiatric disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Endocrine. 2018;62(2):318-325. doi:10.1007/s12020-018-1692-3Ju Q, Tao T, Hu T, Karadağ AS, Al-Khuzaei S, Chen W.Sex hormones and acne.Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):130-137. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.10.004.American Academy of Dermatology.Adult acne.Ramly B, Afiqah-Aleng N, Mohamed-Hussein ZA.Protein-protein interaction network analysis reveals several diseases highly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(12):2959. doi:10.3390/ijms20122959.Carmina E, Azziz R, Bergfeld W, et al.Female pattern hair loss and androgen excess: a report from the Multidisciplinary Androgen Excess and PCOS Committee.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(7):2875-2891. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-02548Starace M, Orlando G, Alessandrini A, Piraccini BM.Female androgenetic alopecia: an update on diagnosis and management.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(1):69-84. doi:10.1007/s40257-019-00479-xPhillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R.Hair loss: common causes and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378.Mohammad K Shalabi M, Burgess B, Khan S, Ehrsam E, Khachemoune A.Alopecia syphilitica, from diagnosis to treatment.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2022;35(2):180-183. doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.2021761Krug I, Giles S, Paganini C.Binge eating in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: Prevalence, causes, and management strategies.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019;15:1273–1285. doi:10.2147/NDT.S168944.Jeanes YM, Reeves S, Gibson EL, Piggott C, May VA, Hart KH.Binge eating behaviours and food cravings in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Appetite. 2017;109:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.010.Williams T, Mortada R, Porter S.Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(2):106-113.Barber TM, Franks S.Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome.Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2021;95(4):531-541. doi:10.1111/cen.14421
Spritzer PM, Barone CR, Oliveira FB.Hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome: pathophysiology and management.Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(36):5603-13. doi:10.2174/1381612822666160720151243
Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Infertility.
Abdollahi L, Mirghafourvand M, Babapour JK, Mohammadi M.Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving the quality of life and psychological fatigue in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized controlled clinical trial.J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2019;40(4):283-293. doi:10.1080/0167482X.2018.1502265.
Ilie IR.Neurotransmitter, neuropeptide and gut peptide profile in PCOS-pathways contributing to the pathophysiology, food intake and psychiatric manifestations of PCOS.Adv Clin Chem. 2020;96:85-135. doi:10.1016/bs.acc.2019.11.004.
Brutocao C, Zaiem F, Alsawas M, Morrow AS, Murad MH, Javed A.Psychiatric disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Endocrine. 2018;62(2):318-325. doi:10.1007/s12020-018-1692-3
Ju Q, Tao T, Hu T, Karadağ AS, Al-Khuzaei S, Chen W.Sex hormones and acne.Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):130-137. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.10.004.
American Academy of Dermatology.Adult acne.
Ramly B, Afiqah-Aleng N, Mohamed-Hussein ZA.Protein-protein interaction network analysis reveals several diseases highly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(12):2959. doi:10.3390/ijms20122959.
Carmina E, Azziz R, Bergfeld W, et al.Female pattern hair loss and androgen excess: a report from the Multidisciplinary Androgen Excess and PCOS Committee.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(7):2875-2891. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-02548
Starace M, Orlando G, Alessandrini A, Piraccini BM.Female androgenetic alopecia: an update on diagnosis and management.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(1):69-84. doi:10.1007/s40257-019-00479-x
Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R.Hair loss: common causes and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378.
Mohammad K Shalabi M, Burgess B, Khan S, Ehrsam E, Khachemoune A.Alopecia syphilitica, from diagnosis to treatment.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2022;35(2):180-183. doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.2021761
Krug I, Giles S, Paganini C.Binge eating in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: Prevalence, causes, and management strategies.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019;15:1273–1285. doi:10.2147/NDT.S168944.
Jeanes YM, Reeves S, Gibson EL, Piggott C, May VA, Hart KH.Binge eating behaviours and food cravings in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Appetite. 2017;109:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.010.
Williams T, Mortada R, Porter S.Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(2):106-113.
Barber TM, Franks S.Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome.Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2021;95(4):531-541. doi:10.1111/cen.14421
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