If you are experiencing the symptoms of PCOS, make sure that you see your health provider to be properly and thoroughly evaluated; if you have PCOS, they can help you identify which type you have.

At your appointment, they will start by asking you about your overall medical history, as well as the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. They will also typically perform a physical exam and a pelvic exam to evaluate the internal and external health of your reproductive organs.

Additional tests may include:

• Ultrasound— to enable the provider to visualize your ovaries and see if there are any cysts present.
• Blood Work— to allow your provider to evaluate the levels of androgens and other hormones in your body.
• The hormones that your provider may test for include:
• Follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• Estrogens
• Testosterone
• Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

Your provider may also check your blood glucose and cholesterol levels, if they suspect PCOS. Tests in this category may include:

• Lipid Profiles (triglycerides and cholesterol)
• Glucose Test
• Insulin

This is an excerpt from a post written by Food Period and originally published on October 10, 2019.