Patient's question:
A 59-year-old woman has recently been feeling quite tired and has noticed that her body isn't feeling healthy. Could it be this disease? Please ask: How is polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosed?Doctor's answer:
This first step involves combining her medical history, menstrual irregularities. Menstrual irregularities refer to irregular periods, such as prolonged periods, unpredictable cycles, or even secondary amenorrhea (absence of menstruation for several months). We also consider her physical appearance, including excessive obesity, heavy body hair, and even acanthosis nigricans on her neck upon careful observation. Additionally, we can perform an ultrasound examination. The ultrasound may reveal enlarged ovaries with multiple small follicles developing simultaneously, which we refer to as "bead-like" or "necklace-like" patterns. The ultrasound confirms that the ovaries have more than twelve to fifteen small follicles. We then draw blood to check hormone levels.