10 Common Signs and Symptoms of PCOS

Let’s have a discussion about some of the symptoms associated with PCOS. **DISCLAIMER: Any information or opinions named in my post are of my own. Please, always consult with your doctor for any questions or concerns regarding this condition, or before starting anything new.**

If you’re new to my blog… I have dedicated a section just for my fellow female PCOS Warriors! These posts are all about PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Check it out at the top bar of my homepage. It’s listed under PCOS Warriors. Click it, and it’ll send you to all my posts about PCOS. This is an open and safe environment for women to share their stories, so don’t be shy! Also, don’t forget to subscribe to my page to get the latest 🙂

There is probably no true way to list all of the tell-tale signs of having PCOS because there are so many that differ between each and every woman. I will list and talk about some of the ones I have myself and have read about in this post. My goal is for this to be informative regarding this condition and help others understand it better… and to discuss with your doctor if you’re having some of these issues.

First and foremost, please understand you might not experience every one of these symptoms. And you might not have them to the same severity as the next person does. Every person’s body is different and we should treat it as such! You might have one of these symptoms, you might have all of them, or you might have a few. It’s important to remember if you’re concerned about these symptoms to PLEASE discuss it with your doctor. You’re going to get tired of hearing me say it… but would I be a true nurse or mom if I didn’t preach to the choir a little?? HAHAHAHA

Alright, let’s get to it! Check it out below:

1. Irregular periods. Ah, an obvious one, but not always a tell-tale sign of PCOS. I did not have irregular periods prior to be diagnosed. In fact, it was BECAUSE I didn’t have irregular periods that I never considered having PCOS prior to finding out that I did. This can start in your teens, 20’s, or even 30’s.
2. Painful periods. Periods are just a pain in the butt in general. But when does it hit the point that it becomes too painful?? Painful and heavy period can also mean the possibility of having endometriosis, as well. Endometriosis is where the lining of the uterus does not properly shed each month. These periods can be heavy and painful. It’s best to check with your doctor about heavy and painful periods. Mainly because, I’ve seen SO many women that don’t only have PCOS but endometriosis too.
3. Infertility. Unfortunately, one of the bigger issues that comes with PCOS is infertility. PCOS messes with our periods and our ovulation, making them irregular… causing this. For some, this makes it much harder to conceive. I have had this issue myself. But I’ve also known many women who did not have trouble conceiving either. It can go either way. But it is also one of the leading causes of infertility in women. Fortunately, there are different options to aid in conceiving… such as medication, IUI (intra-uterine insemination), and IVF (invitro fertilization). On the other hand, it can be quite costly having to use these options.
4. Weight Gain/Trouble losing weight. With PCOS can come insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can cause weight gain. It definitely can also cause issues with trying to lose weight. Our hormones and bodies are trying to resist the production of insulin, making our blood sugars increase in the body and our bodies not producing enough of the insulin hormone to bring those blood sugars down, holding on to extra fat for storage. That doesn’t mean every woman will have weight gain or issues losing weight, but it is a pretty common sign among many, even myself. Excess weight gain may occur in the abdomen or midsection, face and neck. It can also cause darkening of the skin in the armpit areas and back of the neck, and skin tags. It also causes worsening periods as well….. great. It can become severe enough that it eventually can lead to diabetes, causing even more complications in the body.
5. Insulin Resistance. To back up what was said in #4, insulin resistance is a large contributor to weight gain in those with PCOS. The more weight gain, the worse insulin resistance becomes, the harder it makes it to lose weight easily, the higher the chances you have at developing diabetes and high blood pressure. Notice the cycle? Other than losing weight, it’s best to try and aid losing weight by controlling blood sugars, if they are elevated. Not all ladies with PCOS are diabetic, not all have high blood sugars. This is the case for me. I am insulin resistant, but my body has completely normal blood sugars, fasting blood sugars, Hemoglobin A1C (which we will discuss in another post), and yet I am not diabetic nor close to being one. The problem is, as I age, I am gaining weight, metabolism is slowing, it is getting harder to lose weight, and it puts me at higher risk of developing diabetes. So, I am doing my best to prevent that. We will delve more into this in another post because I could talk for HOURS on how all of this affects the body.
6. Cystic ovaries. This is one that will have to be diagnosed by the doctor, via ultrasound. I had absolutely no idea that BOTH of my ovaries were covered in small cysts, not until my doctor performed a transvaginal ultrasound. I was floored, to say the least. This is one way for doctors to actually diagnose you with PCOS. It usually requires at least one of the symptoms above I posted and cysts on the ovaries to be diagnosed. There is really no way to know you have cysts on the ovaries for sure besides additional testing. It might be worth asking your doctor about to look into. Cysts can be small and many… or they can be large. I’ve heard stories of women having cysts the size of cantaloupes and baseballs… big enough they have to be surgically removed. Most small cysts will heal or burst on their own and can be painful. But it is worth noting that if you’re having a large amount of lower abdominal or pelvic pain, to get it checked out.
7. Hair fall. This is the one that got the ball rolling for me knowing something was wrong. Our hormones with PCOS can cause an increase in androgens, or male hormones. This does include testosterone as well. The increase in male hormones can cause hair fall (think pattern male baldness). It can be mild or very severe. The goal here is to try to reduce the androgens, which we will discuss more in depth in another post. You can get blood tests that include a hormone panel that will help determine what exact hormones are elevated or too low.
8. Unwanted Hair growth. On the opposite side of that is also unwanted hair growth. This, too, comes with the increase of androgens in the body with PCOS. Hair growth can occur on the face, the chin, jawline, and upper lip. It can also occur around the breast and belly button areas. Again, the way to help stop this is by reducing male hormones in the body, which we will cover in depth in a future post. It can be very frustrating and affect self-esteem on us as women. I have struggled with this myself.
9. Anxiety/Depression. I feel like anxiety and depression gets thrown into about any disorder there is, but it is an important one. It is very common for women who have PCOS to have both of these, as well and PMDD (Pre-menstrual depressive disorder). The tricky thing with this is to prevent things from getting too bad in the mind so you can focus on getting your body in a healthier state. That’s easier said than done, I know. I, too, have struggled with this. Our mental state plays a MASSIVE role in the health of our physical bodies. And so many studies have been performed to show just how much it actually can harm us in the long run. It is important to know that if you are suffering from either anxiety or depression, ASK FOR HELP. We have made such good progress over the last decade or so on the importance of mental health and being more open about it and asking for help. Being in a good mindset will be a building block to healing your body in dealing with PCOS. So, I encourage everyone to talk to your doctor, see a therapist… whatever you got to do. It will make a huge difference in the long term.
10. Acne. As if teenage years weren’t hard enough, those of us with PCOS may also have to face the possibility of having acne well into our adult years. Painful, cystic-like acne that can occur anywhere, but a lot of it is due to the imbalance of hormones in our body. Unfortunately, this can also be a side effect of birth control, which is commonly used to help treat PCOS. It is best to discuss your options with your doctor regarding acne and maybe consider a dermatologist. Diet can also have an effect on this, as well, but we will dive into that in a future post.

Those are most of the common symptoms associated with PCOS. I’m going to say it again… not everyone with PCOS will have all of these symptoms. If you are concerned you may have PCOS, please discuss it with your doctor and your options.

Now that we have a lot of the basics about PCOS out of the way, we can go more into depth in future posts about different things involving the treatment of PCOS. I have learned a lot in my journey with it and can’t wait to continue to share my journey with all of you!

Please, feel free to discuss and share! Let me know if there is anything I left out or something you have learned along the way with your journey. Again, this is a safe space for everyone! We are in this together!

Remember… Do good, Bee well, Bee happy! Ciao, my busy bees!

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