Some women start seeing symptoms around the time of their first period. Others only discover they have PCOS after they have gained a lot of weight or they have had trouble getting pregnant.
The most common PCOS symptoms are:
Irregular periods. A lack of ovulation prevents the uterine lining from shedding every month. Some women with PCOS get fewer than eight periods a year or none at all.
Heavy bleeding. The uterine lining builds up for a longer period of time, so the periods you do get can be heavier than normal.
Hair growth. More than 70 percent of women with this condition grow hair on their face and body — including on their back, belly, and chest.
Acne. Male hormones can make the skin oilier than usual and cause breakouts on areas like the face, chest, and upper back.
Weight gain. Up to 80 percent of women with PCOS are overweight or have obesity.
Male pattern baldness. Hair on the scalp gets thinner and may fall out.
Darkening of the skin. Dark patches of skin can form in body creases like those on the neck, in the groin, and under the breasts.
Headaches. Hormone changes can trigger headache in some women.