PCOS in adolescence: how soon is too soon to diagnose?

An Italian study

Hi there,

Adolescents with PCOS often get misdiagnosed or missed entirely. That’s partly because many of the signs we associate with PCOS in adults are also normal features of puberty: irregular periods, acne, and multifollicular ovaries.

My PCOS was missed till I was 20 and even then it wasn’t really labeled as PCOS. This article is helpful if 1) you are a mother with PCOS or 2) want to reflect on your adolescence PCOS symptoms and diagnoses.

How was your adolescence with PCOS? Comment below.

I came across a a study from Italy that takes a closer look at how we should approach PCOS diagnosis in adolescents and why the standard adult criteria might not work.

The study

Researchers from the University of Chieti-Pescara examined 65 adolescent girls (average age 16) who were referred for suspected PCOS. Each participant underwent:

• Clinical assessment: weight, BMI, hirsutism, acne

• Blood tests: total and free testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, SHBG, insulin

• An ultrasound: ovarian volume and follicle count

I genuinely hope that these pieces of content are helping you manage this condition better and learn this thing we need to live with. If you find it valuable, consider becoming a paid subscriber to have access to all the tools you need to manage your condition and learn in an evidence-based manner.