How do health care providers diagnose PCOS?

Because symptoms of PCOS can differ widely, researchers and health care providers focus on specific features to diagnose the condition.

There are currently different approaches to diagnosing PCOS, but most require two of the following features:

1. Absence of or irregular ovulation, resulting in menstrual irregularities such as light periods or skipped periods
2. High levels of androgens that do not result from other causes or conditions, or signs of high androgens, such as increased body or facial hair
3. Growths of a specific size in one or both of the ovaries, often clumps of ovarian follicles that have stopped developing, as detected by ultrasound

One diagnostic approach requires only features 1 and 2, while another looks for any two of the three for a PCOS diagnosis. The third approach requires feature 1, plus 2 or 3.

Please note that current diagnostic guidelines apply to adults. There are currently no diagnostic criteria for PCOS in adolescents.

Some adolescents may be deemed “at risk” for PCOS if they have some of its characteristic features, so the health care provider can reevaluate their symptoms and health later in life.^{1, 2} Researchers are also exploring whether people with PCOS have detectable markers of the condition in childhood and the teen years, to better pinpoint diagnosis and improve care.