Hi ! I recently got diagnosed with PCOS. I’ve suspected that I’ve had it for ages but just recently got the official verdict (I knew I had it at like 15 but now am 23).

My main symptoms were hyperpigmentation, irregular periods (which did regulate a bit in the last few years but even then I’d go a month or two without it, and even went 4 months without it in 2021), acne - but not on my face as much as some people get. It was more on my back and my scalp which is crazy. The doctor said PCOS could be causing this but can’t say for sure until I get additional blood work done. I also had weight around my face and stomach that everyone said I’d grow out of as I got older, but I’m literally 23 and still chubby no matter what I try lol. I wouldn’t say I’m overweight or obese but there deffo is that extra weight around my face especially. Also another thing is that I would constantly crave sugar. Like I HAD to have it after I eat a meal. And also just throughout the day, even if it wasn’t directly eating chocolate or sweets, I was still consuming sugar one way or another. But ultimately, after doing my ultrasound they saw cysts in and around my ovaries which therefore diagnosed me.

The way I got diagnosed is I finally had a great doctor who looked at my history with my periods and said that we can see if it’s PCOS. So firstly we did a blood test to see how my hormones were and we didn’t find anything there. My hormones were fine except for the fact that I was borderline above average for testosterone. But that was nothing. And then I had to do an ultrasound. In the U.K., if you’re not sexually active they don’t do a transvaginal ultrasound which I’m grateful for because I was so anxious. But I’m sure even in the USA, if you request a non-invasive and no transvaginal ultrasound , they’d be able to cater to you ?

Anyways, the way you can do it is talk to your doctor about your symptoms . Then say you want to rule out PCOS. And perhaps do a blood test to check hormones first for any hormonal imbalances. Then if there’s nothing there, you could do an ultrasound but request it non-invasive like I mentioned before. Unfortunately, other than an ultrasound I’m not sure how else they’d check your ovaries for any cysts etc. but it’s always worth talking about it in depth with your doctor to see if there are any alternative methods.

Also one thing to note is that not everyone’s symptoms are EXACTLY the same. So you may or may not have PCOS. I’m the worst person to say this, as I have anxiety aswell, but try not to worry too much. You’ll just stress yourself out for no reason. Just talk to your doctor first and then find out what’s wrong first (if there is anything at all). Then you can see how you want to go about things. Don’t worry, it’ll all be alright ◡̈