Skip to:
Search Jean Hailes
-

PCOS: how to talk to your doctor

  • Reviewed

Overview

It can take up to 2 years for most women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to receive a diagnosis, often after seeing as many as 3 health professionals.

And this is only the beginning of their health journey. After the diagnosis comes the tricky work of managing a complicated condition and working with the doctor to improve symptoms and quality of life.

Overwhelmed? There’s no need to be. Here we’ll guide you on the strategies you might like to use to build your knowledge, confidence and communication with your doctor.

This page is part of our women’s health series, offering simple, practical tips to help you make the most of your medical appointments. This includes advice for:

Sections on this page

Talking about PCOS and its symptoms

PCOS symptoms can come with judgment from others. The stigma linked to symptoms can be intimidating, explains Dr. Anju Joham, an endocrinologist and Senior Research Fellow at the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation.

Some of these symptoms include:

  • acne
  • excess hair
  • a higher weight.

“Women with PCOS often don’t want to be labelled. PCOS can look very different from person to person. It can be mild or severe. But it’s important to remember that by seeking help, you can improve symptoms and stop them from deteriorating (getting worse).”

Whether it’s acne, excess hair or a higher weight, the stigma linked to these symptoms can be intimidating for women.”

What to know when visiting the doctor

When it comes to PCOS, no 2 women have the same experience. To make things more complicated, the condition can also change across different life stages, from adolescence to menopause.

The symptoms are wide-ranging:

  • irregular or no periods
  • excess hair growth on the face or body
  • loss of hair on the scalp
  • some women have a higher weight that can seem impossible to shift
  • delays in getting pregnant
  • feeling sad or anxious for long periods of time.

When you go to the doctor – Easy read

Easy Read fact sheets are about what happens when you go to the doctor, including tips on what you can do before, during and after your appointment.

Doctors appointments for menopause

You might want to know more about

Topic

Premature and early menopause  

Topic

Menopause

How to manage menopausal symptoms  • Looking after yourself around the time of menopause  • Medically induced menopause • Menopause information for partners  • Premature and early menopause   • Treatments for menopause 
Topic

Endometriosis

Join our community and get regular tips in your inbox about women’s health

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.