Pinkishe Foundation
31/10/2026
Dr. Shehla Jamal
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a common hormone condition in girls and women. The ovaries do not release an egg regularly, and the body often makes more androgens, hormones such as testosterone that everyone has in small amounts. PCOS is common, yet many girls and women live with it for years before anyone names it.
It is more than an ovary problem. PCOS can touch your periods, skin, hair, weight, mood, fertility and long-term health. This post looks at each of these, and at what you can do.
No one knows the exact cause. PCOS runs in families: if your mother or sister has it, your own chance is higher. Many people with PCOS also have insulin resistance, where the body does not respond well to insulin and makes more of it. High insulin can push the ovaries to make more androgens, which makes symptoms worse.
When an egg is not released, the usual monthly rhythm breaks. Periods may come late, rarely, or not at all. Some people have heavy bleeding when a period finally comes.
For adults, cycles are called irregular if they are often shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, or if you have fewer than eight periods a year. For teenagers, cycles are often uneven at first. Doctors look more closely if, from one to three years after the first period, cycles are often shorter than 21 days or longer than 45 days; if any cycle is longer than 90 days after the first year; or if periods have not started by 15.
Long gaps matter. A period sheds the lining of the womb. Without regular periods, the lining can build up, and over years this raises the risk of womb cancer. Treatment lowers this risk. If you go three months or more without a period, see a doctor.
Extra androgens can cause:
These are among the most common signs, and the hardest for many girls and women to live with. A doctor can treat them, so do not suffer quietly.
Insulin resistance can make weight gain, especially around the waist, more likely, and weight loss harder. Dark, velvety skin on the neck, armpits or groin is another sign of it. PCOS raises the risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, so regular blood sugar tests matter.
But many people with PCOS are not overweight. PCOS is not caused by weight, and a slim person can still have it.
Without regular ovulation, getting pregnant can take longer. Many people with PCOS still get pregnant, naturally or with treatment. Irregular periods do not mean you cannot get pregnant, so if you do not want a pregnancy, talk to a doctor about contraception.
In pregnancy, PCOS raises the risk of diabetes in pregnancy and high blood pressure. If you are planning a pregnancy, tell your doctor you have PCOS so you can be checked more closely.
High cholesterol and high blood pressure are more common with PCOS, which can affect heart health later in life. Some people also develop sleep apnoea, where breathing stops and starts during sleep. Loud snoring and feeling tired all day are signs to mention to a doctor.
Anxiety and depression are more common with PCOS. Changes in hair, skin and weight can hurt your confidence, and hearing remarks from others makes it worse. These feelings are real and treatable. Tell your doctor, and ask to see a counsellor if you need one.
If you ever feel hopeless or have thoughts of harming yourself, please talk to someone today. Call Tele-MANAS, the government's free mental health helpline, on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, at any hour. In an emergency, call 112.
Have a question about PCOS or your periods? Call our menstrual helpline on 85888 70999. It answers at any hour.
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Prefer to work out your dates now? Open the free ovulation calculatorA common hormone condition in which the ovaries do not release an egg regularly and the body often makes more androgens. It can affect periods, skin, hair, weight, fertility and long-term health.
No. It is linked to insulin resistance, and it raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and problems with the womb lining.
Yes. Many people with PCOS are not overweight. Weight does not cause PCOS, though weight gain can make symptoms worse.
Yes. If your mother or sister has PCOS, your own chance is higher. Tell your doctor about your family history.
Early care protects the womb lining, catches blood sugar problems sooner, treats skin and hair changes, and helps if you later want a pregnancy.
PCOS affects much more than periods. It can shape your skin, hair, weight, mood, fertility and long-term health. With a diagnosis, steady habits and regular check-ups, most girls and women with PCOS manage it well.
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