PCOS can present in a myriad of ways. The picture of an average woman with PCOS is of an overweight woman with irregular, potentially painful, periods, infertility, excessive facial and body hair and acne. However, there is much variation. Symptoms may include:
Delay of normal menstruation (primary amenorrhea)
- Fewer than normal periods (oligomenorrhea)
- Absent periods, after having previously experienced periods (secondary amenorrhea)
- Menstrual cycles without ovulation (anovulatory cycles)
- Painful periods with abnormal flow
- Excessive body and/or facial hair
- Male p attern balding (alopecia)
- Acne
- Poly Cystic Ovaries on ultrasound
- Infertility
- Overweight or obesity
- Difficulty losing weight
- Elevated insulin levels
- Skin discolouration (acanthosis nigricans)
- Skin tags
- Fatigue
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal blood lipid levels
- Cravings
- Mood swings
- Hot flushes
- Sleep apnoea
- Diabetes
- Heart dis-ease.