Irregular periods. Stubborn acne. Hair in places you don’t want it, and thinning where you do.
On their own, any one of these can feel like a minor inconvenience, something to put up with rather than raise with a doctor.
Together, however, they can point to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting women, and one that’s still frequently missed or diagnosed late.
According to a landmark 2025 report by the UK Parliament’s cross-party group on PCOS, the condition affects around 1 in 8 women in the UK. This makes it one of the most common hormonal conditions women live with, and also one of the most poorly served.
The same report found that more than a third of women waited over four years for a formal diagnosis, and just 3% felt properly supported by their healthcare provider once they finally got one.
Naturally, if you’ve been searching for the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome, it’s likely because something doesn’t feel right and you want answers.
We’ll cover what PCOS is, the signs to look out for, how it’s diagnosed, and when you should think about booking in with a private GP.
What Is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects how the ovaries work. Despite being common, many women can go undiagnosed for years.
PCOS is associated with hormonal imbalances, which can include higher-than-usual levels of androgens (often described as “male” hormones, though all women produce them naturally).
As the NHS explains, this excess of androgens can interfere with normal follicle development and ovulation, which is why irregular periods and fertility difficulties are so closely linked to the condition.
The name comes from the small, fluid-filled follicles that can appear around the ovaries. Despite the name, these aren’t actually ovarian cysts. Not everyone with PCOS has them, and having polycystic ovaries alone doesn’t mean you have PCOS.
Beyond periods and fertility, PCOS is also linked to longer-term health considerations, such as insulin resistance, weight management, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
This is why getting a proper diagnosis and management plan matters, rather than treating each symptom separately.
What Are the Signs of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Symptoms vary from person to person, and you don’t need to have all of them for PCOS to be a possibility.
These are the five signs of polycystic ovary syndrome that most commonly prompt women to seek advice.
1. Irregular, infrequent, or absent periods
Cycles can become unpredictable, occur much less frequently than expected or stop altogether. It’s one of the three core signs doctors look for when diagnosing PCOS, per the latest international PCOS guidelines.
2. Excess hair growth (hirsutism)
Higher androgen levels can lead to noticeable hair growth on the face, chest, back, or abdomen, areas where women don’t typically grow much hair.
It’s a common one too: research suggests 70 to 80% of women with PCOS experience it, compared with only 4 to 11% of women overall.
3. Persistent acne or oily skin
Breakouts that persist well beyond the teenage years can be linked to the hormonal changes seen in PCOS.
Excess androgens push the skin’s oil glands into overdrive, and that overproduction is what triggers the breakouts.
4. Thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp
While excess hair can appear on the body, the opposite can happen on the head: thinning at the crown or a widening parting, similar to male-pattern hair loss.
It’s more closely tied to PCOS than a lot of women realise, with recent research finding it’s more common than previously thought.
5. Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Many women with PCOS notice weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, or find it harder than expected to lose weight.
Insulin resistance can play a role, and a study in Fertility and Sterility found it affects roughly 64% of women with PCOS.
How PCOS Is Diagnosed
There isn’t one single test that confirms PCOS. Diagnosis is based on a combination of your symptoms, medical history and, where appropriate, blood tests and/or imaging, while ruling out other possible causes.
Doctors will typically look for a combination of the following features:
- Irregular or absent ovulation (reflected in irregular or missing periods)
- Signs of excess androgens, either physical (such as excess hair growth or acne) or confirmed through a blood test
- Polycystic ovaries seen on an ultrasound scan
Your doctor will also want to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as thyroid disorders, so blood tests are usually part of the process.
This is where a thorough, unhurried appointment makes a real difference. A proper diagnosis relies on discussing your full history, not just the symptom that brought you in.
At The Lagom Clinic, our women’s health appointments give you time to talk through your symptoms and obtain a wider picture of your health.
This includes access to on-site blood testing, and a referral for a pelvic ultrasound at a local private hospital where needed, so you get clear answers without months of back and forth.
When To Book An Appointment
You don’t need to be certain it’s PCOS to book an appointment. You just need to feel that something is off. It’s worth booking in if you’re experiencing two or more of the signs above, especially if they’ve persisted for several months.
This includes:
- Periods that have become irregular, infrequent, or have stopped
- Ongoing acne, excess hair growth, or hair thinning that hasn’t responded to over-the-counter treatments
- Difficulty conceiving alongside irregular cycles
- Symptoms that are affecting your confidence, wellbeing, or daily life
More than 750,000 women across the UK are currently on a gynaecology waiting list, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which has specifically flagged PCOS as one of the conditions affected by these delays.
Going private means you can usually get an appointment within days rather than months, with blood tests and, where needed, a referral for a scan arranged from that same visit.
How Can We Help?
PCOS symptoms are often dismissed as “just how your body is,” particularly when they develop gradually, and even once they’re taken seriously, getting seen isn’t always fast.
That’s exactly the gap our women’s health appointments in Bristol are built to close.
At The Lagom Clinic, that means time to listen properly, investigate thoroughly, and build a plan around your life, whether that’s managing symptoms, planning for pregnancy, or simply understanding what’s going on in your body.
Book a women’s health appointment with one of our private doctors in Bristol, or get in touch to discuss which appointment is right for you.
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