PCOS affects women in different ways, so not all women will have all these symptoms. Some women may have only mild symptoms, while others may have a wider range of more severe symptoms.

Symptoms can include:

• Irregular periods, or a complete lack of periods
• Irregular ovulation, or no ovulation at all
• Reduced fertility – difficulty becoming pregnant, recurrent miscarriage
• Unwanted facial or body hair (hirsutism)
• Oily skin, acne
• Thinning hair or hair loss from the scalp (alopecia)
• Weight problems – being overweight, rapid weight gain, difficulty losing weight
• Depression and mood changes.

Symptoms usually start in adolescence, although some women do not develop them until their early to mid twenties.  The condition has long-term health implications as women with PCOS may have an increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.