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  Jean Hailes for Women's Health
  Health Consumer Organisation

  Founded in 1992, Jean Hailes for Women's Health reflects the enduring legacy that Dr Jean Hailes made to women’s health. Jean had a far-sighted vision ... View profile

  Symptoms may present in many different ways - some women have uncomfortable and sometimes quite distressing symptoms, whilst others have quite mild symptoms. Not everyone with PCOS will have all of the symptoms and very few women will have the same set of symptoms. Symptoms can also change and become more mild or severe, or can disappear and reappear.
  
  Symptoms can include:
  

  • Periods that are irregular, infrequent or heavy
    
  • Excess facial or body hair
    
  • Acne on both the face and the body
    
  • Hair loss
    
  • Difficulty in becoming pregnant
    
  • Depression, low self-esteem, mood changes, anxiety
    
  • Sleep apnoea
    

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  Nicole Senior (Dietitian, Nutritionist)
  Health Professional

  I'm an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist, consultant, author, speaker and food and health enthusiast. I love talking and writing about food and health. I ... View profile

  PCOS is a disorder where testosterone levels are too high and affects 5-10% of Australian women of child bearing age. The underlying cause is thought to be insulin resistance, where insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar, doesn’t work properly - similarly to type 2 diabetes.
  
  A diagnosis can be made if your doctor finds any 2 of the following:
  

  • High testosterone levels
    
  • Failure to ovulate (release eggs from the ovaries)
    
  • Polycystic ovaries (visible on ultrasound)
    

  
  However, the following symptoms are typical of PCOS, so if you have several of these, talk with your doctor:
  

  • obesity
    
  • excess hair growth on the face, chest and stomach
    
  • difficulty falling pregnant
    
  • acne
    
  • male-type baldness
    
  • irregular or absent periods
    

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