Why Do You Need a PCOS Test?

September is an awareness month for PCOS. But do you know what it means? Well, if not, read the blog to understand what it is!

PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a female health condition most commonly associated with infertility. Sometimes, you’ll hear it as polycystic ovaries (PCO) or polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).

There’s no single PCOS test to confirm whether you are suffering from this health condition or not. As a part of their routine procedure, your doctor will first ask for your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and ask you to do specific blood tests.

Although the name sounds a bit distressing to women today, it is a common condition responsible for weight, menstruation, skin, and fertility issues.

What is PCOS?

Reproductive health specialists generalize PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, as a condition impacting your reproductive hormones.

This is characterized by irregularities in your periods, excessive growth of your hair on unwanted areas, or acne, eventually leading to infertility.

Characteristic Symptoms That May Be Indicative of PCOS

Here are some evident features in women suffering from PCOS:

Disturbance in the regular onset and closure of your monthly period cycles
Excessive production of male reproductive hormones
Excessive male-pattern growth of hair in unwanted regions
Enlarged ovaries detected in ultrasound PCOS test
Overweight or obesity

How Do Doctors Conclude That You Are Suffering From PCOS?

NIH (National Institutes of Health), defined PCOS diagnosis as a 3-step process:

Your body produces higher levels of male hormones or androgens
You struggle with the regularity of your monthly periods.
Exclusion of other entities that resemble the PCOS appearance.

Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM’s PCOS workshop of 2003 defines PCOS positive diagnosis if you satisfy two out of the three listed criteria:

Your body produces higher levels of androgens.
You have difficulties in your monthly period cycles.
Your ultrasound confirms positive for polycystic ovaries.
Exclusion of other entities that resemble the PCOS appearance

The ‘other entities’ that your doctor should exclude in your confirmatory PCOS diagnosis include:

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Androgen-secreting tumor
Hyperprolactinemia
Cushing’s Syndrome

Recommended PCOS Tests

A few of the tests that your doctor might ask you to undergo are:

FSH Test

FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormones, assess how well your ovaries are functioning. A lower-than-normal level of these hormones indicates you are likely to have PCOS.

Testosterone Test

Testosterone is a male sex hormone. A higher level of these hormones in females indicates PCOS positivity.

Luteinizing Hormone Test

Luteinizing hormone (LH) encourages your body to ovulate. In women with PCOS, these levels are usually high.

Estrogen Test

Estrogens are hormones that are essential for you to get your monthly cycles regularly. An abnormally higher level indicates that you are suffering from PCOS.

Blood Tests

Once you test positive for PCOS, your doctor will ask you to go for lipid profile tests and glucose tests to understand your overall health.

Lipid Profiles

These tests are recommended to keep a check on your triglycerides and cholesterol levels. PCOS might trigger heart complications.

Glucose Test

This test is indicative of your suffering from diabetes. Most women suffering from PCOS later turn diabetic.

Insulin

Your doctor will also check how your body is responding to insulin. Insulin is a hormone meant to keep an eye on your sugar levels.

If your body is not responding to your insulin, it indicates that you are turning resistant to it and women with PCOS generally suffer from insulin resistance.

Ultrasound PCOS test

Apart from the above-listed tests, your doctor may even ask you to go for an ultrasound test to check for your PCOS signs internally. This test indicates whether your ovaries have partly formed eggs, thickened uterus lining, or enlarged ovaries.

In case you are sexually active, your doctor may subject you to a transvaginal ultrasound. In this procedure, a probe is inserted into your vaginal opening. This gives your doctor a better understanding of your ovaries than an ultrasound performed via the abdomen.

Managing Your PCOS

PCOS tests only confirm whether you are diagnosed with the condition or not. It also provides you with a picture of your reproductive health.

Depending on your condition and its stage, your treatment options vary. The first and foremost thing to manage your PCOS is altering the course of your diet and lifestyle, followed by a thorough examination by a gynecologist.

A healthy lifestyle is one of the most essential approaches you should follow. A healthy lifestyle is a combination of enjoying a balanced diet, maintaining your optimum BMI, keeping yourself physically fit, and reducing all harmful habits.

Takeaway

PCOS tests help your doctor diagnose whether you are suffering from polycystic ovaries or not. Once your tests confirm positive results, your doctor will put you on a treatment regime. Along with the treatment, you will have to adapt your lifestyle and diet accordingly.

Early detection and proper management pave the way to a healthier, more balanced life. Are you or your loved one suffering from PCOS? Talk to your healthcare provider about getting a PCOS test today!