How Is PCOS Diagnosed?

Written by Madeline Laguaite
Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on July 10, 2025
5 min read

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormone disorder that can cause problems with your period, fertility, weight, and skin. It can also put you at risk for other conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. If you have it, the sooner you find out, the earlier you can start treatment.

There’s no single test that can confirm if you have PCOS. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, do a physical exam, and run blood tests to find out if you have this condition.

Your doctor will want to know about all your signs and symptoms. This is an important step to help figure out whether you have PCOS and to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms.

Your doctor may ask if your sister or mother had PCOS or trouble getting pregnant. This information is helpful since PCOS tends to run in families.

Be ready to discuss any period problems, weight changes, and other concerns.

Your doctor may diagnose PCOS if you have at least two of these symptoms:

  • Irregular periods
  • Higher levels of androgens (male hormones), seen in blood tests or through symptoms such as acne, male-pattern balding, or extra hair growth on your face, chin, or body
  • Cysts in your ovaries (seen on an ultrasound)

Your doctor may check your blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and waist size. They may also look at your skin to check for extra hair growth, acne, and discolored skin, which can all happen if you have PCOS.

Pelvic exam. This is similar to what happens during a regular checkup. Your doctor will look at and feel areas of your body, including the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and rectum, to check for anything unusual.

Pelvic ultrasound (sonogram). This creates an image of what your ovaries look like. For the ultrasound, you’ll lie down, and the doctor will briefly place an ultrasound device in your vagina. The doctor will check for cysts in your ovaries and how thick the lining is in your uterus. That lining may be thicker than normal if your periods aren’t happening when they’re supposed to.

Your ovaries may be one and a half to three times larger than normal when you have PCOS. An ultrasound can show these ovarian changes in about 9 out of 10 people with PCOS.

Blood and lab tests aren’t often needed. But they can help paint a clearer picture of what’s going on.

During a blood test, your doctor or other health care provider will take a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. Lab tests will measure the levels of these hormones:

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) affects your ability to get pregnant. Your level might be lower than usual or even normal if you have PCOS.
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH) encourages ovulation. It could be higher than usual.
  • Testosterone is a sex hormone that is higher in women with PCOS.
  • Estrogens are a group of hormones that allow women to get their periods. Your level may be normal or high if you have PCOS.
  • Your level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)may be lower than normal.
  • A sex hormone called androstenedione may be higher than normal.

Other tests include:

  • Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG):This hormone test can check if you’re pregnant.
  • Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH): This test can check how well your ovaries are working and help estimate how far off menopause may be. The levels would be higher with PCOS.

Your doctor may recommend a few more tests to rule out other conditions, such as thyroid problems, tumors, and hyperplasia (organ swelling due to too many cells), that have symptoms similar to those of PCOS.

If you have PCOS, you may get a blood glucose and cholesterol test. Doctors often do these tests to check your overall health and chances of having other conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The tests your doctor may order include:

  • Lipid profiles that check your cholesterol and triglycerides. PCOS can make you more likely to develop heart disease.
  • A glucose test, whichhelps to see if you have diabetes. Diabetes affects more than half of the people with PCOS.
  • Insulin testing, so your doctor can see how well your body responds to insulin, which helps control your blood sugar level. If your body doesn’t respond to the insulin it’s making, you may have insulin resistance. It’s common among people with PCOS and can lead to diabetes.

Your doctor will work with you to manage your PCOS symptoms and help you become as healthy as you can be.

There isn’t one single test to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome. Instead, doctors use a combination of tests, such as blood tests and pelvic exams, to find out if you have PCOS. Once you get a PCOS diagnosis, you and your doctor will make a treatment plan to manage your symptoms. If you have PCOS, you may be more likely to have other conditions, such as:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleep conditions, such as sleep apnea
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Endometrial hyperplasia (where the lining of your uterus is too thick)

Here are some frequently asked questions about how PCOS is diagnosed. 

Can someone with PCOS get pregnant?

Yes, people with PCOS can get pregnant. PCOS can make it more difficult to get pregnant, but you can talk with your doctor about your family planning goals, and they can help create a plan that works for you.

How do I check for PCOS at home?

Only a doctor can diagnose PCOS. But if you do have PCOS, you might notice symptoms such as:

  • Acne
  • Thinning hair
  • Skin tags
  • Extra hair on your face, chest, or arms
  • Patches of darkening skin (especially near your armpits, between your legs, under your breasts, or in the folds of your neck)

If you think you might have PCOS, make an appointment with your doctor to get checked.