PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome, now also called PMOS): symptoms, diagnosis and management

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone condition in women and girls. It can cause irregular periods, unwanted hair, acne, weight gain and difficulty getting pregnant. It also raises the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. There is no cure, but the symptoms can be treated.

In May 2026 a global group of experts and patient organisations published a consensus in The Lancet that gave the condition a new name: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The new name shows that the condition affects hormones and metabolism (how the body uses energy), not only the ovaries. The change to the new name will take several years, so you may see either name on medical reports. We use PCOS here because most people know that name.

What is PCOS?

In PCOS, the body makes higher than normal amounts of androgens. These are hormones, such as testosterone, that all women have in small amounts. Higher levels can stop the ovaries from releasing an egg normally (this release is called ovulation). That is why periods can become irregular.

Many women with PCOS also have insulin resistance. Insulin is the hormone that controls blood sugar. With insulin resistance, the body does not respond to insulin well. This raises the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Despite the name, you do not need cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS. The World Health Organization (WHO) says some women with PCOS do not have polycystic ovaries, and ovarian cysts are not needed for a diagnosis.

How common is it?

WHO’s PCOS fact sheet (viewed November 2026) estimates that PCOS affects 10 to 13% of women of reproductive age. WHO estimates that up to 70% of women with PCOS worldwide do not know they have it.
In Bangladesh, a nationwide survey of women and girls aged 10 to 45, carried out in 2024 using the 2023 international PCOS guideline, found PCOS in 6.9% (5.9% of teenage girls and 8.0% of adult women).
A paper published in 2025 on a nationwide survey of doctors in Bangladesh noted that many women here who have symptoms have not been diagnosed.

WHO says PCOS runs in families. Women with a family history of PCOS or type 2 diabetes have a higher risk. The exact cause is not known.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. Common signs include:

Irregular periods, or periods that come rarely
Difficulty getting pregnant, because ovulation does not happen regularly. WHO says PCOS is a leading cause of infertility.
Extra hair on the face or body (doctors call this hirsutism)
Oily skin or acne
Hair loss from the head
Weight gain, or finding it hard to lose weight
Anxiety, low mood or a poor body image

PCOS can start in the teenage years. Under the 2023 international guideline, ultrasound scans are not used to diagnose PCOS in teenage girls, and the AMH blood test (see below) is used only in adults.

Long-term health risks

WHO says PCOS is a long-term condition that continues after the childbearing years. WHO and the US National Institutes of Health (MedlinePlus) say women with PCOS have a higher risk of:

Type 2 diabetes, and diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy
High blood pressure and high cholesterol
Heart and blood vessel disease
Sleep apnoea (breathing stops and starts during sleep)
Thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) and womb cancer. WHO says irregular or infrequent periods may raise this risk.
Anxiety, depression and eating disorders. A nationwide study in Bangladesh (published 2022) found that a high proportion of women with PCOS had mental health problems.

How PCOS is diagnosed

There is no single test for PCOS. The 2023 international guideline uses the Rotterdam criteria. Adults are usually diagnosed when they have two of these three features and other causes have been ruled out:

Irregular or absent ovulation, usually shown by irregular periods
High androgens, seen either as signs such as extra hair, hair loss or acne, or as a high testosterone level on a blood test
Polycystic ovaries on an ultrasound scan, or, in adults, a raised level of a hormone called AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) on a blood test

Your doctor will usually:

Ask about your periods, symptoms and family history
Examine you
Order blood tests for hormones, and tests to rule out other conditions such as thyroid problems
Possibly arrange an ultrasound scan

The guideline says that if a woman has both irregular periods and high androgens, an AMH test is not needed for diagnosis. AMH should not be used as the only test to diagnose PCOS.

Because of the diabetes risk, the guideline says blood sugar should be checked at diagnosis in all adults and teenagers with PCOS, and checked again every 1 to 3 years depending on other risk factors.

Management and treatment

There is no cure for PCOS, but the symptoms can be treated. Treatment depends on what matters most to you: regular periods, skin and hair problems, getting pregnant, or long-term health. Your doctor will decide on the right plan with you.

Healthy lifestyle

NHS (UK health service) advice says that if you have PCOS and are overweight, losing weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet can make some symptoms better. An NHS hospital leaflet (January 2025) says losing as little as 5% of body weight can make periods more regular and help ovulation. Healthy food choices, exercise and weight loss are also the best ways to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Medical treatment

Depending on your symptoms, a doctor may suggest:

Hormone treatment to make periods regular and protect the womb lining
Medicines that help the body use insulin better
Treatments for acne and unwanted hair
Fertility treatment to help ovulation if you want to become pregnant. If fertility medicines do not work, a small operation on the ovaries (laparoscopic ovarian drilling) or IVF (in vitro fertilisation) may be options.

The NHS says that with treatment, most women with PCOS are able to get pregnant. PCOS medicines should only be used under a doctor’s care.

Warning signs: when to get urgent care

PCOS itself is rarely an emergency. But go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away if you have:

Very heavy bleeding, especially with dizziness, fainting, a racing heart or breathlessness
Sudden, severe pain in the lower tummy or pelvis, especially if you could be pregnant or are having fertility treatment
Severe bloating, vomiting or difficulty breathing while having fertility treatment
Thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
Signs of very high blood sugar, such as extreme thirst, passing a lot of urine, or drowsiness or confusion

See a doctor soon (within days, not months) if you notice:

No period for three months or more when you are not pregnant
Very fast new hair growth, a deepening voice or other quick changes in your body
Low mood that does not go away

You can get advice from a doctor at any time of day or night by calling the government health call centre, Shasthyo Batayon, on 16263.

Which doctor should you see?

Your situation	Type of doctor
Irregular periods, possible PCOS, first check-up	Gynaecologist (specialist in women’s reproductive health), or a general doctor who can refer you
Hormone problems, diabetes or weight concerns	Endocrinologist (hormone and diabetes specialist)
Trouble getting pregnant	Gynaecologist, or a fertility (reproductive medicine) specialist
Teenage girl with period or skin problems	Gynaecologist or paediatric endocrinologist (children’s hormone specialist)
Severe acne, unwanted hair or hair loss	Dermatologist (skin specialist)
Low mood or anxiety	Psychiatrist or clinical psychologist
Help with diet and weight	Dietitian or nutritionist

It is fine to start with a gynaecologist and be referred to other doctors as needed.

Living with PCOS

PCOS is common, and the symptoms can be treated. Regular blood sugar checks, as the international guideline recommends, help catch diabetes early. The exact cause of PCOS is not known, and it often runs in families. With the right care you can look after your health.

Find a doctor

Browse Gynecology doctors in Bangladesh on ratings.com.bd, with chambers and, where listed, visiting hours and phone numbers.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical advice. It was written by AI from the sources above. It did not pass the automatic check, and an administrator chose to publish it; no doctor or editor has reviewed it. For a diagnosis or treatment, see a registered doctor.