Ajax Harwood Clinic
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
Last reviewed 2026-09-23
PCOS is a common hormone condition. About 1 in 8 women have it. It can cause irregular periods, extra hair growth or acne, and trouble with weight. It can also make it harder to get pregnant. Symptoms are different for each person, and many people have it without knowing.
What usually happens
There is no single test for PCOS. Your doctor puts it together from your periods, signs of extra male-type hormones, and sometimes an ultrasound or blood test.
Your doctor will also check for other conditions that look like PCOS, such as thyroid or other hormone problems.
Treatment depends on what matters most to you: regular periods, less hair growth or acne, weight and health, or getting pregnant.
Healthy eating and activity help everyone with PCOS, whatever your weight.
At your appointment
Questions about your periods, hair growth, acne, weight and family history.
Blood tests, which may include hormones, blood sugar and cholesterol.
Checks of your blood pressure, and questions about mood and sleep, because PCOS can affect these too.
Worth asking
- Do I have PCOS, or could it be something else?
- Which treatment fits my main concern?
- If I want to get pregnant later, what should I know now?
- How often should my blood sugar and cholesterol be checked?
Curious what your doctor is weighing up? The clinical tool we use for PCOS is open to anyone — it is detailed and written for clinicians, and you are welcome to read it.
Open the clinician reference →General health information for Ajax Harwood Clinic patients and the public — not medical advice, and not a substitute for seeing your own doctor. In an emergency call 911.