PCOD symptoms checklist: 8 common signs and what they mean

You may have only a few of these. Every woman with PCOD is different, and the list below is a guide, not a score. PCOD, PCOS and now PMOS, the new official name for PCOS, all show up through some mix of the same signs.

The eight signs

Irregular, missed or heavy periods

A typical cycle is every 21 to 35 days, with bleeding for 2 to 7 days. Gaps longer than 35 days, fewer than 8 periods a year, skipped months or spotting between periods are worth checking. This happens because the egg often does not release. Without ovulation there is no rise in progesterone, so periods become late, missed or heavy.

Acne and oily skin

Painful pimples on the jawline, chin and lower face are typical. They often flare before periods and may leave marks. High androgens make oil glands more active.

Extra dark hair

Coarse, dark hair on the upper lip, chin, chest, belly, back or thighs is called hirsutism. It is different from the light, fine fuzz that most women have on the face.

Thinning hair at the parting

The centre parting gets wider and the hair feels thinner on top. The hairline at the front usually stays. Androgens make some hair follicles on the scalp shrink.

Dark, velvety patches

Darker, softer-feeling skin on the back of the neck or in the underarms can point to insulin resistance. Skin tags can come with it.

Weight gain around the belly

Belly weight, sugar cravings and feeling sleepy after meals can also point to insulin resistance. Lean women can have it too, so a normal weight does not rule it out.

Low mood, anxiety, tiredness and poor sleep

Anxiety, low mood and worry about body image are 2 to 3 times more common in PCOD. It is not weakness. Hormones and insulin play a role. Tiredness, snoring and poor sleep need a check as well, since thyroid problems, anaemia and sleep apnoea can cause them.

Difficulty getting pregnant

PCOD is the most common cause of ovulation problems. It does not mean you cannot have a baby. Most women with PCOD do conceive, sometimes with medical help.

How many signs are enough to see a doctor

See a doctor if you notice two or more of these, or if even one is bothering you. You do not have to wait for a full set, and you do not have to wait until it is "bad enough".

What the doctor does with your list

There is no single test. Doctors use the Rotterdam criteria, which means any two of three signs: irregular or no ovulation, high androgens (seen as signs on the body or found in blood), and polycystic ovaries on a scan. Other conditions are ruled out first. Thyroid and prolactin problems can look like PCOD, so they are always tested.

The tests you may be advised depend on your signs. They can include hormone tests, sugar and insulin tests, a lipid profile, vitamin tests and a pelvic ultrasound. In teenagers, a scan alone is not used to diagnose PCOD in the first eight years after periods start.

A symptom can also have another cause. Thinning hair can come from low iron or thyroid trouble. Tiredness can come from anaemia. That is another reason to let a doctor sort out which sign means what.

Teens and parents

Irregular periods are common in the first 2 to 3 years after the first period. A doctor can check whether it is simply the body settling in, or something that needs care. It is also worth a visit if there is no period by age 15, or more than 3 years after breast growth began.

A simple way to prepare

Write down the first day of every period. Add how many days it lasted, whether the flow was light, medium or heavy, any pain on a scale of 0 to 10, your weight, and any notes. Make a list of any medicines or supplements you take. A few months of dates tell your doctor more than memory can.

A doctor decides

This page is education, not a diagnosis. Signs like these can have more than one cause, and only a doctor who has your history, tests and scan can say what applies to you. PCOD is common and manageable, it is not your fault, and most symptoms improve with the right care.

When to get help urgently

Do not wait for an appointment if you have any of these. Get medical help the same day.

• severe lower tummy pain
• fainting
• very heavy bleeding
• chest pain or breathlessness
• a sudden deepening of the voice with rapid hair growth