PCOS: what it is, and how it's managed
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a common hormonal condition that affects how the ovaries work, often disrupting regular ovulation. It is one of the more common causes of irregular periods and of female infertility, but it is a manageable condition — most women with PCOS who want to conceive have a number of treatment options open to them.
What PCOS actually is
PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that affects how the ovaries release eggs. Instead of one egg maturing and being released each month in a regular cycle, the ovaries may contain many small, immature follicles that do not mature and release on a predictable schedule. "Polycystic" refers to how the ovaries can look on an ultrasound scan — not that the ovaries contain harmful cysts. The exact cause is not fully understood, but insulin resistance and hormonal factors both play a part, and PCOS often runs in families.
Typical symptoms
Symptoms vary a lot from one woman to another, and not everyone has all of them. The more common ones are:
- Irregular periods, infrequent periods, or periods that stop altogether
- Difficulty conceiving, due to irregular or absent ovulation
- Weight gain, or difficulty losing weight
- Acne, particularly along the jawline and chin
- Excess hair growth on the face or body, and sometimes thinning hair on the scalp
None of these on their own confirms PCOS — plenty of other conditions can cause similar symptoms, which is why a proper diagnosis matters rather than assuming based on symptoms alone.
How PCOS is diagnosed
Diagnosis is usually based on a combination of your history, a physical examination, blood tests, and an ultrasound scan.
History and examination
Your periods, weight history, skin and hair changes, and family history are all part of building the picture.
Blood tests
Hormone levels are checked to look at ovulation and to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as thyroid problems.
Ultrasound
A scan of the ovaries looks at their size and the pattern of follicles within them, alongside the other findings — the scan appearance alone is not enough to diagnose PCOS.
Managing PCOS
PCOS cannot be cured, but it can be managed well, and management is tailored to what matters most to you at the time — whether that is regulating periods, managing symptoms like acne or hair growth, or conceiving.
Lifestyle measures
For many women, even a modest amount of weight loss, where relevant, improves symptoms and helps periods become more regular, because PCOS is closely linked to how the body responds to insulin. Regular activity and a balanced diet are usually the first thing discussed, whatever the end goal.
Medication
Depending on the goal, medication may be used to regulate the menstrual cycle, manage symptoms such as acne or excess hair growth, or to induce ovulation for women trying to conceive.
Fertility treatment
Where pregnancy is the goal and ovulation-inducing medication alone is not enough, IUI or IVF are options, chosen based on your individual investigation results and how you have responded so far.
PCOS and fertility
PCOS is one of the more common causes of female infertility, mainly because irregular ovulation makes it harder to predict, or sometimes achieve, a fertile cycle without help. This does not mean pregnancy is unlikely — many women with PCOS conceive with lifestyle changes and medication alone, and those who need more support move on to IUI or IVF in a stepwise way, rather than starting with the most involved treatment first.
Getting started
If your periods are irregular, infrequent, or absent, or if you are trying to conceive and are concerned PCOS may be involved, call or WhatsApp us to arrange an assessment. Bring any previous scan or blood test reports you have — they often shorten the path to a plan.
Does PCOS mean I can't get pregnant?
No. PCOS makes ovulation irregular or less predictable, which can make conceiving harder, but many women with PCOS conceive with lifestyle changes and medication alone, and others go on to IUI or IVF.
Is PCOS the same as having ovarian cysts?
No. The name refers to how the ovaries can look on ultrasound — many small follicles rather than large, harmful cysts. It is a hormonal condition, not a cyst-related one in the usual sense of the word.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
Through a combination of your history, a physical examination, blood tests to check hormone levels, and an ultrasound scan of the ovaries — no single test confirms it on its own.
Can PCOS be cured?
It cannot be cured, but it can be managed well through lifestyle measures, medication, and, where needed, fertility treatment.
This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.