If you have PCOS, you may experience a variety of symptoms, such as irregular menstrual cycles or evidence of elevated androgen levels, such as acne and excessive hair development (hirsutism).
If you stop menstruating or your doctor suspects you have PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome, a series of tests may be conducted to see if PCOS is the cause or if another condition, such as an underactive thyroid gland, is to blame (hypothyroidism).
PCOS is diagnosed mostly by a process of elimination, unlike other medical diseases. Doctors perform the PCOS test. This condition cannot be diagnosed with a single blood test. Instead, the healthcare provider will use blood tests, imaging scans, and a pelvic exam to support the diagnosis of PCOS.
Blood Tests for Diagnoses
If you haven't had your period in a while or have stopped menstruation, your healthcare practitioner will most likely do a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy as a cause. If the result is negative, your doctor will order more blood tests.
Blood test for FSH and LH
The pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ at the base of your brain, produces luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH encourages the development of an egg follicle within the ovary, whereas LH causes the egg to be released during ovulation. An LH-to-FSH ratio greater than 3-to-1 was once used to diagnose PCOS (3:1). This is no longer the case, as many PCOS women have consistently increased LH levels throughout their whole cycle and otherwise normal hormone levels. Also, if your FSH is high, it could be a sign of a disorder called primary ovarian insufficiency, which is unrelated to FSH.
Test for 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (Hydroxyprogesterone)
This blood test, also known as 17-OHP, detects an adrenal gland hormone involved in the generation of the stress hormone cortisol. The test is performed to see if you have late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which is a medical disease that can cause symptoms similar to PCOS.
Test for DHEA and Testosterone
Androgens include hormones like dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone (a.k.a. male hormones). They induce acne, hirsutism, female-pattern baldness, and menstrual abnormalities, among other symptoms of PCOS. While an increase in testosterone is common in women with PCOS, it is possible to have a spontaneous flare of acne and hirsutism and yet be diagnosed with PCOS. As a result, androgen abnormalities serve as a guide for diagnosing PCOs, but they aren't a hard-and-fast rule.
Tests for Thyroid Function
This set of tests is used to rule out thyroid dysfunction as the reason for your menstrual irregularities. The pituitary gland also secretes Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which regulates the production of the two thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).
Basic metabolic function is regulated by these two hormones. Low levels of either could cause menstrual irregularities similar to those seen in PCOS people.
Test for Prolactin
The pituitary gland secretes prolactin, a hormone that promotes lactation in women. Hyperprolactinemia (excessive levels of this hormone) can result in irregular or absent menstruation (oligomenorrhea) (amenorrhea).
Your healthcare practitioner will check your thyroid function if your prolactin levels are high, as untreated hypothyroidism can also cause excess prolactin. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the pituitary gland will almost certainly be ordered to determine whether a tumor known as a prolactinoma is present.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Your response to sugar is measured via an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Insulin is a hormone that controls how blood sugar (glucose) is processed for energy. You'll be given a sweet, sugary solution to sip throughout the OGTT. Before the test, and one and two hours afterward, blood will be collected. It's also possible to take urine samples.
Blood sugar levels should return to normal after two hours in those who do not have diabetes. If it doesn't, the test could be a sign of diabetes or prediabetes.
Lipid Profile
Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and another form of lipid known as a triglyceride are all measured in a cholesterol test, commonly known as a lipid panel. High cholesterol is common in PCOS women, raising their risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Concluding Words
While it may appear that your doctor is taking a lot of blood tests to identify PCOS, this is totally normal and nothing to be concerned about. The more tests your healthcare professional runs to confirm the disorder, the more prepared they'll be to prescribe the right medication.
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