The Top 7 PCOS Symptoms to Watch For

Do any of these problems sound familiar?

Cramping around your bikini line or pelvis? Increasing pain and pressure in the area around your ovaries can be a common symptom of PCOS since the hormonal imbalance typically leads to overproduction of estrogen and creates the ideal environment for cyst formation.

Increased acne? If you've noticed more acne than would be considered normal, plus other skin issues like skin tags and darkening skin on the neck or face, this might be a symptom of PCOS.

Missed periods or irregular (sometimes late, sometimes early) cycles? These periods may also lead to unusually heavy bleeding during the period or even bleeding between periods.

Difficulty getting pregnant? If you've been trying for more than 6 months and you're still coming up with the BFN (big, fat negative) sign, then PCOS might be the culprit. Unfortunately, PCOS is the one of the most common causes of infertility. Also, If you've had other children and now find it difficult to conceive, this would be one of the major signs and symptoms of having polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Feeling depressed or experiencing mood swings? These mood swings come on seemingly out of the blue and are different than PMS, which is typically felt just before your period.

Difficulty Losing Weight? If you've noticed that exercise and dieting are just not as effective as they used to be, then it might be a sign that your body is storing too much insulin and it's not being used effectively. You may also experience low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia more and more frequently.

Unusual hair loss or hair growth? If you've noticed your hairline is thinning or you're losing more hair than usual from your scalp when showering then this might be a sign of PCOS. You might also notice increased growth of facial hair or hair on the chest, stomach and neck.

If you've noticed that any of the above symptoms, you may be experiencing the symptoms of PCOS and it's time to seek help...

The good news: PCOS is treatable!!

Let your provider know if you've been experiencing any of the above symptoms, and if they aren't willing to listen...find someone who will!

About Farrar

Farrar Duro DOM, FABORM practices reproductive acupuncture at Florida Complete Wellness in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and became a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine in 2008. After overcoming her own struggles with PCOS and endometriosis using a combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine and other natural methods, she has felt tremendous joy in sharing her methods with other women and founded The PCOS Revolution Academy™.

Farrar has since specialized in the treatment of PCOS, infertility and hormonal imbalances with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for over 15 years and has a passion for women's health and wellness. This path led her to pursue advanced pregnancy training in the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy™ and publication of her first book, The Smart Couple's Guide to Getting Pregnant, An Integrated Approach in 2015.

A board-certified acupuncture physician, Farrar graduated from the Florida College of Integrative Medicine and performed her post-graduate training at Shandong University of TCM in Shandong, China. She holds regular speaking engagements at local universities, hospitals and IVF centers to advocate for a better understanding of integrative women's health between patients, doctors and other complementary healthcare providers.

To learn more about PCOS and infertility, you can also listen to her weekly podcast, The PCOS Revolution, on iTunes and Stitcher Radio.

Disclaimer: The information in this site is intended for general audience only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace professional medical advice.