Living With PMOS: Symptoms Women Wish They Were Told About Earlier
It may start with a period that doesn’t arrive when expected. Then you notice that your acne has become more persistent, or that your weight is changing even though you haven’t made any major changes to your lifestyle. Or it may be more subtle: fatigue, mood changes, or trying to conceive for longer than you expected.
Each symptom on its own may seem normal. That is exactly why polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can go unnoticed for a long time.
The problem is that conversations about PCOS are often reduced to one statement: “Your periods are irregular,” or they only begin when a woman starts thinking about pregnancy. In reality, the picture is much broader.
PCOS can affect your menstrual cycle, hormones, skin and hair, weight, fertility, and metabolic health. More importantly, its symptoms do not appear in the same way for every woman.
So, which symptoms deserve attention? Does having irregular periods necessarily mean you have PCOS? What is the connection between PCOS and weight, hair, and pregnancy? And when can a woman's blood test or female fertility test be a useful step?
That is what we will answer here, calmly and without exaggeration.
What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormonal condition that affects women during their reproductive years. It may be associated with irregular ovulation, higher levels of certain male hormones known as androgens, as well as metabolic changes such as insulin resistance in some women.
Despite the name, having ovarian “cysts” is not always necessary for the condition to be present.
This is an important point because some women rule out the possibility of PCOS simply because a previous examination did not show obvious cysts on the ovaries. Diagnosis does not depend on an ultrasound image alone. Instead, a doctor considers several factors, including medical history, menstrual cycle patterns, symptoms, laboratory tests, and, depending on the individual case, an ultrasound examination.
PCOS Symptoms in Women: It’s Not Just About Your Period
When we talk about PCOS symptoms in women, irregular periods are among the most widely recognized signs, but they are certainly not the only ones.
This may be one reason why the condition can take time to identify. A woman may visit a dermatologist because of acne, spend a long time trying to lose weight, or notice increased hair loss without realizing that these concerns could be different parts of the same picture.
1. Periods That Are Difficult to Predict
Periods may be very far apart, disappear for months, or arrive at unpredictable times. In other cases, bleeding may be heavy when a period finally occurs after a long absence.
One possible reason is that PCOS can affect regular ovulation.
However, it is important not to immediately assume that every irregular period means PCOS. Thyroid disorders, elevated prolactin levels, significant weight changes, severe stress, and other health conditions can also affect the menstrual cycle.
Symptoms can therefore provide useful clues for a doctor, but they are not enough on their own to make a diagnosis.
2. Excess Hair in Areas Where You Didn’t Have It Before
Noticeable coarse or dark hair growth in areas such as the chin, upper lip, chest, or abdomen may be associated with elevated androgen levels.
For some women, this can feel embarrassing, which is why it is sometimes treated only as a cosmetic concern.
However, when excess hair growth occurs alongside irregular periods, acne, or other symptoms, it can be helpful to discuss the full picture with a doctor rather than treating each symptom separately.
3. Acne That Didn’t Seem to End With Your Teenage Years
Getting a few spots from time to time is normal. However, persistent or severe acne, particularly around the jawline and chin, may be associated with hormonal changes in some women.
Again, acne alone does not mean you have PCOS. But when it occurs alongside other symptoms, evaluating your hormones and overall health becomes more important.
4. Hair Loss or Thinning
Something some women may not expect is that higher androgen levels can be associated with increased hair growth in certain areas of the body while also contributing to thinning scalp hair in some cases.
A woman may notice that her hair part is becoming wider or that her hair density is gradually decreasing.
Because hair loss can also be caused by iron deficiency, thyroid disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and other factors, it is important to investigate the underlying cause rather than assume that every case of hair loss is related to PCOS.
“I’m Eating the Same as Before, So Why Is Managing My Weight Getting Harder?”
This can be one of the most frustrating experiences for some women with PCOS.
In some cases, PCOS may be associated with insulin resistance, meaning the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin. As a result, the body needs to produce more insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. This may affect appetite, fat storage, and metabolic health, making weight management more complicated for some women. However, it would be a mistake to reduce PCOS to weight alone.
A woman can have PCOS without being overweight, just as weight gain does not automatically mean that she has PCOS. Body shape should therefore not be used to diagnose or rule out the condition.
What About Dark Patches Around the Neck?
One symptom that women may not immediately associate with PCOS is the appearance of relatively dark, thickened areas of skin, particularly around the neck or under the arms. This condition is known as acanthosis nigricans and may be associated with insulin resistance.
Its presence alone does not mean you have PCOS, but it may be a good reason to speak with a doctor and undergo appropriate testing, particularly if other signs are also present.
Are Fatigue and Mood Changes Symptoms of PCOS?
The answer here is less straightforward. Some women with PCOS experience problems such as sleep disturbances or symptoms of anxiety and depression, and ongoing hormonal and metabolic changes and physical symptoms may affect quality of life. However, fatigue and mood changes are very general symptoms with many possible causes.
So, if you are experiencing persistent fatigue, it is better not to attribute everything to “hormones.” A doctor may need to assess other possible causes, such as anaemia, thyroid problems, or nutritional deficiencies, depending on your symptoms and medical history.
Does PCOS Affect Fertility?
Yes, it can, but it does not mean infertility.
This point is worth emphasizing because a PCOS diagnosis can be particularly worrying for a woman who is thinking about having children.
The main issue is that irregular or absent ovulation can make the timing of conception more difficult. This is why PCOS is one of the common causes of fertility problems related to ovulation.
However, many women with PCOS are able to conceive naturally, while others may need treatment to help regulate ovulation or address other factors affecting fertility.
If you are planning a pregnancy and have irregular periods, a female fertility test may be part of a broader assessment recommended by your doctor, rather than waiting and trying to interpret the symptoms on your own.
What Tests Can Detect PCOS?
There is no single blood test that simply says, “You have PCOS.” This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of the condition. A doctor may request a range of tests depending on your symptoms to assess hormones and metabolic health and rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. These may include tests for certain hormones, blood sugar levels, lipids, thyroid function, prolactin, and others depending on the individual case. For this reason, if you are looking for a women’s blood test in Riyadh because of irregular periods or changes in your weight, hair, or skin, it is better for the choice of tests to be based on a medical assessment rather than a random list of tests.
The goal is not to undergo as many tests as possible. It is to have the tests that answer the right question.
The Role of Female Fertility Testing
If your main concern is pregnancy, your doctor may recommend different tests to assess fertility. It is important to distinguish between two things: diagnosing PCOS and assessing fertility are not the same. Some tests may help evaluate hormones related to ovulation and ovarian function, but fertility depends on multiple factors and cannot be reduced to a single test result or number. Fertility test results should therefore always be interpreted in the wider context of age, menstrual cycle, medical history, how long you have been trying to conceive, and other relevant factors.
My Period Is Late… Is It PCOS or Pregnancy?
It is a very reasonable question, particularly if your periods are already irregular. A late period may happen because of PCOS, but it may also be the first sign of pregnancy. If pregnancy is possible, it makes sense to start with a pregnancy test rather than assuming that PCOS is causing the delay. You can take a home pregnancy test or a blood pregnancy test that measures the pregnancy hormone hCG and can confirm pregnancy. In Riyadh, different blood tests are available through healthcare centres and laboratories, and some services also offer at-home sample collection, which may be a more convenient option for women who do not want to add another trip to their day.
When Do Symptoms Warrant a Visit to the Doctor?
You do not need to wait until you experience all of the symptoms above. If your periods disappear for long periods or become noticeably irregular, if you suddenly develop excess hair growth or severe acne, or if you notice other persistent changes, it is best to seek a medical assessment. The same applies if you are trying to conceive and feel that irregular periods may be making it more difficult.
The reason is not simply to find out whether you have PCOS. Some PCOS symptoms overlap with other conditions, and identifying the actual cause is what allows the right treatment to be chosen.
What Happens After a PCOS Diagnosis?
There is no single plan that works for every woman. For one woman, the priority may be regulating her menstrual cycle, while another may be more concerned about treating acne or excess hair growth. For someone else, weight management and metabolic health may be the main goal, while pregnancy and regulating ovulation may be the priority for a woman planning to conceive. This is why treatment plans are usually based on each woman’s symptoms, goals, and overall health.
Treatment may include lifestyle changes, physical activity, and nutrition, alongside medications to regulate periods, manage certain symptoms, or support ovulation when needed and under medical supervision. Most importantly, PCOS is not something you simply have to “live with in silence.” Many of its symptoms can be managed effectively when you understand what is happening in your body and choose the appropriate approach.
Maybe Your Body Has Been Trying to Tell You Something for a While
Perhaps one of the most difficult things about PCOS is that its symptoms can initially seem unrelated.
A late period here.
Acne there.
More hair falling out than usual.
Weight is becoming harder to manage.
Or questions about fertility that you did not expect to be asking yet. But seeing the full picture can change how you approach it.
If you are in Riyadh and have noticed several of these symptoms, do not try to diagnose yourself based on symptoms alone. The first step can be simpler: speak with a healthcare professional, then have the tests that are actually appropriate for your situation. Because the test itself is not the goal. The goal is to understand what is happening in your body and take your next step based on clear information rather than guesswork.
Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Rayan Mohammed, General Practitioner at Valeo Health
Reviewed for medical accuracy, safety guidelines, and healthcare recommendations.