Do I have PCOS?

If you think you may have PCOS here is a list I have conducted (the symptoms/signs that I have personally, I have marked with an asterisk *):

• Dark, thick facial hairs on chin, jawline or throat *
• Long dark hairs below the belly button *
• Longish hairs growing breast or nipples *
• Oily face and/or scalp *
• Heavy bleeding each cycle, usually with many large clots*
• Excess weight that is nigh on impossible to shift especially around the belly*
• Irregular periods (mine can be anything from 5 weeks to 3 months but the average cycle is 5.5 weeks) *
• Anovulatory cycles where you can bleed for weeks or months without relief.  This means that your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs, the lining of your uterus (endometrium) continues to build and build until it reaches critical mass then it starts to shed on its own. 
• Cysts on one or both ovaries (you will need to have an ultrasound taken to have this confirmed) *
• Painful menses *
• Acne * (although I usually only get a breakout a day or two before my menses start)
• Thin/fine hair on your head *
• Hair loss from your head
• Difficulties falling pregnant *
• Miscarriage
• Recurrent miscarriage *
• Light menses (yes, you can have light OR heavy!)
• A higher than normal level of male hormones * (a blood test is required to determine this)
• Excess oestrogen * (again, you need a blood test to have this determined)
• Excess insulin (blood test required!)

This list is not exhaustive and I do not suffer from all of the symptoms/signs that I have mentioned.  You may experience one or two or several, or even none of them.

The internet is a useful resource and often you will learn more from it than you will from your doctor but it is always best to find a doctor who will take you seriously and is pro-active in getting you the help you need instead of letting "Dr Google" scare you.