Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common, long-term hormonal condition that affects around 8–13% of people of reproductive age, depending on how it’s diagnosed.
PCOS can feel confusing — especially because it doesn’t look the same for everyone. Symptoms vary. Experiences differ. And for many people, the path to diagnosis isn’t always straightforward.
In this article, we’ll explain what PCOS is, how it affects the body, the signs to look out for, and how it’s diagnosed and managed. Our goal is to provide clear, evidence-based information so you can better understand your symptoms and know what support options are available.
What Is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition affecting people of reproductive age — and yes, it can start as early as the teenage years. It doesn’t just impact periods. PCOS can influence ovulation, fertility, skin, metabolism and long-term health.
At its core, PCOS is a complex hormonal and metabolic condition involving higher levels of androgens (male-type hormones), disrupted ovulation, and often insulin resistance. In simple terms? Hormones aren’t communicating as smoothly as they should.
And despite the name, you don’t actually need to have cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS. (We know. The naming committee could have done better.)
The good news: PCOS is highly manageable. With the right medical support, personalised lifestyle strategies, and, when appropriate, medication, most people can significantly improve symptoms and protect their long-term health.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of PCOS?
How to Tell If You Might Have PCOS
The signs and symptoms of PCOS vary from person to person, but they usually trace back to hormone imbalance and irregular ovulation. PCOS doesn’t just affect your periods — it can influence your skin, metabolism, fertility and overall wellbeing.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Irregular periods: Periods may be infrequent, very far apart, unpredictable, or absent altogether. Some people experience heavier or prolonged bleeding when they do occur.
- Difficulty falling pregnant: PCOS can interfere with regular ovulation, which can make conception more challenging (though not impossible).
- Higher androgen symptoms: Elevated androgens (male-type hormones) can show up as acne, often around the jawline or chin, increased facial or body hair (hirsutism), or thinning hair on the scalp.
- Weight changes or difficulty losing weight: Insulin resistance is common in PCOS and can make weight changes more likely and weight loss more challenging. Importantly, PCOS occurs across all body sizes — and weight is not the cause of the condition.
- Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound: Some people will have enlarged ovaries with multiple small follicles (often called “polycystic ovaries”). Not everyone with PCOS has these, again, despite what the name suggests.
Other associated symptoms of PCOS may include:
- Fatigue
- Mood changes or anxiety
- Darkened skin patches (often on the neck or underarms)
- Skin tags
- Increased risk of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
People with PCOS do have a higher long-term risk of certain health conditions, particularly when symptoms are not well managed. These can include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Higher cholesterol levels
- Cardiovascular disease
- Endometrial hyperplasia (thickening of the uterine lining)
It’s important to keep this in perspective. Not everyone with PCOS will develop these conditions, and risk varies widely depending on individual factors, overall health and treatment approach.
With early diagnosis, regular monitoring and a personalised management plan, most people can significantly reduce their long-term risks.
If you’re experiencing symptoms or have concerns, a GP or specialist, like one of our caring team at Hazel, can assess your menstrual history, hormone levels and, where needed, imaging to make an accurate diagnosis and guide next steps.
How Is PCOS Diagnosed?
Tests, Scans, and What to Expect
PCOS is most commonly diagnosed during a detailed chat with your doctor or general practitioner. A PCOS diagnosis is usually based on a combination of symptoms, medical history, blood tests, and, in certain cases, an ultrasound.
During your consultation, your doctor will aim to rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, such as hyperprolactinaemia, thyroid disorders, and non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
In Australia, doctors often use the Rotterdam criteria to diagnose PCOS. This scale requires two of the three criteria points to be met.
- Irregular or Absent Ovulation: This will be either irregular, infrequent, or consistently missed periods.
- Signs of Elevated Androgens: Otherwise known as male hormones, which can manifest in symptoms such as acne, excess facial/body hair, or hair thinning. Results can also be found in blood tests.
- Polycystic Ovaries on Ultrasound: Not all women with PCOS will have this, but your ovaries will appear enlarged with multiple small follicles.
In general, a PCOS assessment in Australia will involve:
- A detailed medical history breakdown usually encompasses your period cycle, symptoms, weight changes, and fertility concerns.
- A physical examination.
- Blood tests to check your hormone levels, blood sugar, thyroid function, and rule out other conditions that can look similar to PCOS.
- Pelvic ultrasounds, if your doctor says it’s required
How Is PCOS Treated?
Medical and Lifestyle Treatment Options
PCOS is usually managed with a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle support — and no two care plans look exactly the same.
Your approach should be tailored to your symptoms, your goals, and your stage of life. Whether you’re focused on regulating cycles, improving skin, protecting metabolic health, or trying to conceive, treatment is never one-size-fits-all.
Because PCOS is a long-term hormonal condition, management is less about a quick fix and more about steady, sustainable support. The aim is to improve day-to-day symptoms, protect long-term health, and help you feel more in control of your body — not constantly negotiating with it.
Medical Options for PCOS in Australia:
There are a variety of medical treatment options for PCOS in Australia. The specific medication that is prescribed by a doctor will directly relate to your specific symptoms.
These medical treatments can include:
Regulating Periods
What It Is Used For:
- Combined oral contraceptive pill to regulate cycles and reduce androgen symptoms.
- Cyclic progesterone to protect the uterine lining
Managing Insulin Resistance
What It Is Used For:
- Metformin is commonly prescribed to improve insulin sensitivity
- May assist with cycle regulation
Treating Excess Androgen Symptoms
What It Is Used For:
- Hormonal contraception
- Anti-androgen medications such as spironolactone
Fertility Support
What It Is Used For:
- Ovulation induction medications such as letrozole
- Referral to a fertility specialist if needed
Lifestyle Treatment Options for PCOS in Australia:
Nutrition
What’s Needed:
- A balanced, lower-GI diet to help stabilise blood sugar levels.
- Adequate protein and fibre
- Reducing highly processed carbohydrates
- Even modest weight loss (5-10%) can significantly improve ovulation and hormone balance in some women.
Exercise
What’s Needed:
- Regular strength training and aerobic activity
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Supports hormone regulation
Sleep & Stress Management
What’s Needed:
- Improving sleep quality
- Reducing chronic stress, which can influence hormones
Is There a Cure For PCOS?
There’s currently no cure for PCOS — but it is a highly manageable condition with the right support.
PCOS doesn’t simply “go away,” but many people live full, healthy lives with well-managed symptoms. With early diagnosis, personalised treatment and regular monitoring, long-term risks such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease can be significantly reduced.
Management focuses on supporting hormonal balance, protecting metabolic health and improving day-to-day symptoms over time.
Is it Hard to Live With PCOS?
It can be. But it doesn’t have to be.
PCOS doesn’t just affect your periods; it can influence energy, mood, metabolism, skin, fertility and self-confidence. That’s a lot for one condition to juggle. And because symptoms don’t always show up neatly or consistently, it can sometimes feel frustrating or unpredictable.
But here’s the important part: with the right care, most people are able to manage PCOS well.
For many, that means a combination of medical support, sustainable lifestyle strategies, and regular check-ins to monitor long-term health. It’s less about overhauling your entire life and more about making informed, steady adjustments that work for your body.
With appropriate support, people with PCOS can and do live full, healthy lives.
How We Treat PCOS at Hazel
At Hazel, we take a personalised, evidence-based approach to PCOS care. Because no two presentations are identical, your treatment plan should reflect your symptom pattern, health goals and life stage, not a generic checklist.
Our doctors look at the full picture: menstrual history, metabolic health, hormone patterns and long-term risk factors. From there, we work with you to build a plan that feels realistic and sustainable — whether that includes cycle regulation, metabolic support, fertility planning, or symptom control.
Learn more or book a consultation with the Hazel medical team here.
