Your doctor will measure your blood pressure, body mass index BMI , and waist size. They will also look at your skin for extra hair on your face, chest or back, acne, or skin discoloration.
Your doctor may look for any hair loss or signs of other health conditions such as an enlarged thyroid gland. Pelvic exam. Your doctor may do a pelvic exam for signs of extra male hormones for example, an enlarged clitoris and check to see if your ovaries are enlarged or swollen.
Pelvic ultrasound sonogram. This test uses sound waves to examine your ovaries for cysts and check the endometrium lining of the uterus or womb. Blood tests. Blood tests check your androgen hormone levels, sometimes called "male hormones.
Your doctor may also test your cholesterol levels and test you for diabetes. Once other conditions are ruled out, you may be diagnosed with PCOS if you have at least two of the following symptoms: 5 Irregular periods, including periods that come too often, not often enough, or not at all Signs that you have high levels of androgens: Extra hair growth on your face, chin, and body hirsutism Acne Thinning of scalp hair Higher than normal blood levels of androgens Multiple cysts on one or both ovaries.
How is PCOS treated? Many women will need a combination of treatments, including: Steps you can take at home to help relieve your symptoms Medicines. Healthy eating habits and regular physical activity can help relieve PCOS-related symptoms. Losing weight may help to lower your blood glucose levels, improve the way your body uses insulin, and help your hormones reach normal levels.
Removing hair. You can try facial hair removal creams, laser hair removal, or electrolysis to remove excess hair. You can find hair removal creams and products at drugstores. Procedures like laser hair removal or electrolysis must be done by a doctor and may not be covered by health insurance. Slowing hair growth. A prescription skin treatment eflornithine HCl cream can help slow down the growth rate of new hair in unwanted places.
What types of medicines treat PCOS? The types of medicines that treat PCOS and its symptoms include: Hormonal birth control, including the pill, patch, shot, vaginal ring, and hormone intrauterine device IUD.
For women who don't want to get pregnant, hormonal birth control can: Make your menstrual cycle more regular Lower your risk of endometrial cancer Help improve acne and reduce extra hair on the face and body Ask your doctor about birth control with both estrogen and progesterone. Anti-androgen medicines.
These medicines block the effect of androgens and can help reduce scalp hair loss, facial and body hair growth, and acne. These medicines can also cause problems during pregnancy. Metformin is often used to treat type 2 diabetes and may help some women with PCOS symptoms.
Metformin improves insulin's ability to lower your blood sugar and can lower both insulin and androgen levels. After a few months of use, metformin may help restart ovulation, but it usually has little effect on acne and extra hair on the face or body. Recent research shows that metformin may have other positive effects, including lowering body mass and improving cholesterol levels.
If you have overweight or obesity, losing weight through healthy eating and regular physical activity can help make your menstrual cycle more regular and improve your fertility. Find a personalized healthy eating plan using the MyPlate Plan tool. After ruling out other causes of infertility in you and your partner, your doctor might prescribe medicine to help you ovulate, such as clomiphene Clomid.
In vitro fertilization IVF. IVF may be an option if medicine does not work. In IVF, your egg is fertilized with your partner's sperm in a laboratory and then placed in your uterus to implant and develop.
A nourishing diet can help regulate your hormones and your menstrual cycle. Eating processed, heavily preserved foods can contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance. Whole foods are free from artificial sugars, hormones, and preservatives. These foods are as close to their natural, unprocessed state as possible. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are whole foods that you can add to your diet.
Carbohydrates and protein both impact your energy and hormone levels. Eating protein stimulates your body to produce insulin. Unprocessed, high-carb foods can improve insulin sensitivity. Instead of trying a low-carb diet, focus on getting enough healthy protein. Plant-based protein sources , such as nuts, legumes, and whole grains, are best. PCOS is described by one study as low-level chronic inflammation. Adding anti-inflammatory foods to your diet can help ease your symptoms.
Consider the Mediterranean diet as an option. Olive oil , tomatoes, leafy greens, fatty fish like mackerel and tuna, and tree nuts all fight inflammation. Some women with PCOS experience heavy bleeding during their period. This can result in iron deficiency or anemia. If your doctor has diagnosed you with either condition, talk with them about how you can up your iron intake. They may recommend adding iron-rich foods such as spinach, eggs, and broccoli to your diet.
Too much iron can increase your risk of complications. Almonds, cashews, spinach, and bananas are PCOS-friendly foods rich in magnesium. A diet high in fiber can help improve your digestion.
Lentils, lima beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, pears, and avocados are all rich in fiber. Caffeine consumption may be linked to changes in estrogen levels and hormone behavior. Try boosting your energy with a decaf alternative, such as an herbal tea. Green tea has been shown to improve insulin resistance. It can also help with weight management in women with PCOS. Before adding more soy to your diet, ask your doctor about the latest research.
Soy acts like estrogen in your body. This might help balance hormones if you have PCOS. People with a family history of estrogen-related cancers, such as some breast cancers, should avoid soy products. If your doctor approves adding soy to your diet, consider soy milk, tofu, miso, and tempeh.
Supplements claim to help with hormone regulation, insulin resistance, and inflammation associated with PCOS. Speak to your doctor before taking any supplement. A physical exam will include checking for signs of excess hair growth, insulin resistance and acne. If you have a diagnosis of PCOS , your doctor might recommend additional tests for complications.
Those tests can include:. PCOS treatment focuses on managing your individual concerns, such as infertility, hirsutism, acne or obesity. Specific treatment might involve lifestyle changes or medication. Your doctor may recommend weight loss through a low-calorie diet combined with moderate exercise activities. Even a modest reduction in your weight — for example, losing 5 percent of your body weight — might improve your condition.
Losing weight may also increase the effectiveness of medications your doctor recommends for PCOS , and can help with infertility. You may be referred to a specialist in female reproductive medicine gynecologist , a specialist in hormone disorders endocrinologist or an infertility specialist reproductive endocrinologist.
For PCOS , some basic questions to ask your doctor include:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Diagnosis Pelvic exam Open pop-up dialog box Close. Pelvic exam During a pelvic exam, your doctor inserts two gloved fingers inside your vagina. With a colleague, Lynda delivers presentations for students from Years 10 to 13 to teach about EBM and to encourage critical thinking, particularly around healthcare claims made in the media.
She blogs about Cochrane Reviews for the Evidently Cochrane website. Polycystic ovary syndrome: how can it be treated? This article is really helpful, I am 29 years and I have been diagnosed poly ovarian cysts.
Am confused, will I be able to conceived. Hi, Such an informative content and thanks for it. I personally have seen good results for those who prefer to change their lifestyle by adopting regular physical workouts and could able to maintain their BMI in limits.
At least their periods have become regular and reduction in stress level too have been noted. I was wondering whether this would certainly helpful for those who planning for pregnancy as well, and your article has provided good insights. Interesting blog, good information is provided regarding pcos complications. Was very useful, thanks for sharing the blog. Your email address will not be published. Search and hit Go. Evidently Cochrane.
Women's health. The most widely accepted criteria state that two out of the following three features should be present: absent or infrequent periods. These can be measured in the blood and may cause symptoms such as hirsutism unwanted excess hair growth. These are ovaries that are larger than normal and contain multiple fluid-filled cysts.
What causes PCOS? Hormones and PCOS All women have small amounts of male hormones in their blood but in PCOS the ovaries often produce higher levels than normal, especially testosterone. A few women with PCOS have raised prolactin levels. What are the effects of PCOS? Symptoms may include : irregular, infrequent periods or no periods at all hirsutism — unwanted facial and body hair loss of hair on the head weight gain and difficulty losing weight acne reduced fertility.
This risk is further increased in women with PCOS who are over 40, have a family history of diabetes, developed diabetes during pregnancy or are obese. High blood pressure.
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