Making the Diagnosis
PCOS is a diagnosis that is made once other conditions causing similar signs
and symptoms have been investigated and ruled out by your doctor.
To rule out other conditions, your doctor performs a physical examination and
may order a series of laboratory tests, including:
- testosterone
- blood sugar
- cholesterol
- thyroid function
Your doctor may also ask you to have a pelvic ultrasound. This will allow your
doctor to visualize your ovaries and the diagnosis of PCOS may be confirmed.
If you have PCOS, the ultrasound may show 8 to 10 cysts smaller than 10 mm
in size on each ovary. These are often said to look like a string of pearls.
Interestingly, these lesions are not actually cysts but the remains of ovarian
follicles that did not successfully make or release an ovum (egg). However,
about 20% of all women will have ovarian cysts visible on the ultrasound, so
having the cysts does not necessarily mean you have PCOS.