Category: PCOS

There are a lot of medical conditions out there that are pretty clear-cut. They have a single cause, predictable symptoms, and direct, effective treatments. If you’re dealing with something like this, getting a diagnosis and finding relief is simple. 

However, there are other conditions out there, like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), that are a lot more complex. In reality, they make every part of the process, from diagnostics to treatment, really complicated. 

Because PCOS is multifaceted and presents a wide range of symptoms, it’s often mistaken for other conditions. Getting the wrong diagnosis can be a big deal—you’re unlikely to find a good treatment plan if the root cause isn’t identified correctly. Therefore, it’s useful to look at other conditions that can look or feel like PCOS. That way, you can be certain you’re taking the right action to reverse your condition and live symptom-free. 

Here are conditions with symptoms that overlap with PCOS:

What Can Be Mistaken for PCOS: Conditions with Similar Symptoms

The reason so many conditions get mistaken for PCOS is simple: polycystic ovary syndrome affects so many body functions that it creates a long list of symptoms. Naturally, other conditions can have overlapping signs, which leads to confusion.

I’m going to walk you through several conditions commonly confused with PCOS so you can feel confident about your diagnosis. But first, it’s helpful to know the key symptoms of PCOS. With this list, you can hopefully spot the distinct signs of other conditions that may point to a different underlying issue.

Common Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) include:

• Irregular periods
• Absent periods
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Infertility
• Difficulty ovulating
• Pelvic pain
• Enlarged ovaries or polycystic ovaries
• Low libido
• Acne
• Darkened skin patches 
• Oily skin
• Skin tags
• Excess facial hair
• Excess body hair
• Scalp hair thinning
• Nail brittleness
• Weight gain
• Sugar cravings
• Bloating
• Swelling or water retention
• Mood changes
• Fatigue
• Headaches

Hormonal/Endocrine Disorders

Though we’re not sure what triggers PCOS, there’s always a hormonal component. Usually, women with PCOS have imbalances of stress, thyroid, and reproductive hormones. In turn, this causes symptoms like irregular periods, excess hair growth on the face and body, weight gain, infertility, and mood problems. (Just to name a few.) 

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland is underactive. That means it doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) to regulate your metabolism, energy levels, body temperature, and other essential functions. 

It can be mistaken for PCOS because thyroid hormones are often out of balance in both conditions. The key difference is that PCOS involves imbalances in multiple hormones, not just thyroid levels. 

So, if your thyroid symptoms are the most prominent, you may receive a hypothyroidism diagnosis before your condition is recognized as PCOS. But even after correcting thyroid hormone levels, other imbalances (like high androgens, elevated cortisol, and low progesterone) still need to be addressed.

Here’s more on PCOS and hypothyroidism. 

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Hypothyroidism:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Infertility 
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Fatigue
• Depression or mood swings
• Brain fog
• Thinning hair or hair loss
• Dry skin 
• Acne 

Distinct Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:

• Feeling unusually cold
• Constipation
• Hoarseness/deep voice
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Slow heart rate

Hyperprolactinemia

Hyperprolactinemia occurs when your body’s prolactin levels are too high. This is the hormone that helps with milk production after pregnancy. However, a pituitary gland tumor, thyroid issues, high stress, or even certain medications can elevate prolactin levels. This can happen even if you’re not nursing. 

Since PCOS affects the reproductive system, some symptoms can overlap, leading to a misdiagnosis. However, women with PCOS rarely have high prolactin levels. Their reproductive symptoms are instead due to high testosterone, low progesterone, and high estrogen. So, if you’re experiencing excessive milk production, you’re probably not dealing with PCOS. It’s more likely hyperprolactinemia. 

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Hyperprolactinemia:

• Irregular or absent periods
• Infertility
• Low libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Breast tenderness
• Fatigue
• Depression and mood swings

Distinct Symptoms of Hyperprolactinemia:

• Galactorrhea (milk production when not pregnant or breastfeeding)
• Vision changes 

Cushing’s Syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome occurs when your body has unusually high cortisol (stress hormone) levels over a long period. Certain medications that can trigger this, but it can also come from tumors on the adrenal or pituitary gland. 

It’s sometimes mistaken for PCOS because Cysters also have elevated cortisol levels. However, PCOS has other hormonal imbalances besides high cortisol levels. So, some symptoms will be overlapping, but you’ll likely have a longer list of symptoms with PCOS than you would with Cushing’s Syndrome. 

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Cushing’s Syndrome:

• Irregular or absent periods
• Infertility
• Weight gain
• Excess facial or body hair 
• Acne
• Depression and mood swings
• Fatigue

Distinct Symptoms of Cushing’s Syndrome:

• Thin arms and legs
• Purple stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, or breasts
• Easy bruising
• Muscle weakness
• Slow wound healing
• Increased susceptibility to infections

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a genetic disorder that affects the adrenal glands, leading to elevated androgen levels. Because PCOS involves high androgens, it’s easy to understand how the two conditions can become mixed up. However, since CAH is genetic, the symptoms show up at birth or early childhood. In contrast, PCOS doesn’t set in until puberty or early adulthood.

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: 

• Irregular or absent periods
• Infertility
• Excess facial or body hair 
• Acne
• Scalp hair thinning
• Weight gain

Distinct Symptoms of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: 

• Early signs of androgen excess in childhood (ambiguous genitalia or early pubic/axillary hair)
• Severe body odor 
• Rapid growth in childhood but short adult stature (due to early bone maturation)
• Salt-wasting 

Androgen-Secreting Tumors

These are rare, but sometimes tumors on the ovaries or adrenal glands can produce excess androgens. Since PCOS also involves high levels of androgens, these conditions can be confused. That said, PCOS hormonal imbalances are more gradual and chronic, whereas androgen-secreting tumors will suddenly spike those male hormones. So, if your symptoms are totally new and come about rapidly, it could be an androgen-secreting tumor rather than PCOS.

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Androgen-Secreting Tumors:

• Irregular or absent periods
• Infertility
• Hirsutism
• Acne
• Scalp hair thinning 
• Weight gain 

Distinct Symptoms of Androgen-Secreting Tumors:

• Rapid onset of severe hirsutism
• Sudden male-pattern baldness
• Deepened voice
• Clitoral enlargement (virilization)
• Extremely high androgen levels in blood tests

Reproductive System Conditions

A sex hormone imbalance is a core feature of PCOS and often drives its symptoms. That means many side effects of PCOS impact reproduction and menstruation. So, it’s not surprising to hear that polycystic ovary syndrome is sometimes mistaken for reproductive conditions that have similar symptoms (though different root issues). 

Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic lining. This can result from factors like retrograde menstruation or immune system dysfunction, but the condition is primarily a physical problem. All symptoms of endometriosis stem from excess tissue in the wrong places.

As you can imagine, endometriosis can be quite painful and may cause reproductive issues. Because women with PCOS also experience menstrual irregularities and reproductive symptoms—and sometimes pelvic discomfort or even ovarian cysts—endometriosis can be confused for PCOS. 

However, PCOS is a hormonal condition, and hormonal imbalances usually cause its symptoms, not physical tissue growth like in endometriosis. In cases of endometriosis, doctors usually won’t find significant hormonal imbalances. Instead, diagnosis often relies on a laparoscopy, a pelvic exam, or imaging tests to reveal the excess tissue.

Here’s more on PCOS and endometriosis. 

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Endometriosis:

• Irregular or absent periods
• Severe menstrual cramps (less severe with PCOS)
• Infertility
• Fatigue
• Pelvic discomfort 

Distinct Symptoms of Endometriosis:

• Severe menstrual cramps 
• Pain during sex
• Severe pelvic pain
• Pain with bowel movements or urination 
• Scarring or adhesions

Uterine Fibroids

Polycystic ovary syndrome isn’t really named accurately—“polycystic ovaries” are just one symptom, and not every Cyster will have them. That said, ovarian cysts can be super annoying for some people. If pelvic pain, discomfort during sex, or bloating from cysts are your main symptoms, it can sometimes be mistaken for endometriosis or uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths within the uterine muscle, whereas ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries. The symptoms can be similar, but few women with PCOS experience only ovarian cysts. Usually, there’s a long list of other chronic symptoms. So if you have additional signs of hormonal imbalance beyond cysts, you’re more likely to have PCOS.

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Uterine Fibroids:

• Irregular or heavy periods
• Infertility
• Pelvic discomfort or bloating
• Fatigue 

Distinct Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids:

• Pelvic pressure or a sense of fullness
• Enlarged uterus/visible abdominal bulge
• Frequent urination or urinary urgency
• Constipation or rectal pressure
• Pain during sex

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

Sometimes a woman’s ovaries can stop working normally before the typical age of menopause—usually before 40. This is called premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and it’s often linked to autoimmune disorders, chemotherapy, or genetic factors. Because ovarian dysfunction affects reproduction, some symptoms can look a lot like PCOS.

The key difference? With PCOS, menstrual and reproductive issues usually start around puberty. If your reproductive symptoms appear later in your 30s, POI is more likely. POI also rarely affects male sex hormones, so signs of high androgens (like excess hair growth or acne) aren’t usually part of the picture.

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency:

• Irregular or absent periods
• Infertility
• Depression and mood swings
• Fatigue
• Scalp hair thinning 
• Sleep disturbances

Distinct Symptoms of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Low bone density
• Low libido

Metabolic and Lifestyle-Related Issues

We’ve talked a lot about how hormonal imbalances are a core issue of PCOS, causing symptoms that overlap with many conditions. But there’s another root problem: insulin resistance. Up to 80% of women with PCOS have this metabolic issue, so it’s super common among Cysters.

Insulin resistance occurs when your body doesn’t convert glucose into energy properly. Instead, glucose stays in the bloodstream and gets stored as fat. This can lead to substantial metabolic dysfunction, which is why PCOS can sometimes be confused with other metabolic conditions.

Metabolic Syndrome

This one is particularly confusing because you can have metabolic syndrome with PCOS. That said, you can also have metabolic syndrome without PCOS. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that affect your cardiovascular and metabolic systems. If a person has three of the following problems, they have metabolic syndrome: 

• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Insulin resistance
• Bad cholesterol.

All of those are indeed possible with PCOS as a result of insulin resistance. The important thing to note is that metabolic syndrome won’t involve significant hormonal symptoms. So, if you have metabolic side effects, but no hormonal ones, you may have metabolic syndrome and not PCOS. On the other hand, if you’re experiencing side effects of each together, you could be dealing with both conditions. 

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Metabolic Syndrome:

• Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
• Insulin resistance/high blood sugar
• Fatigue
• Irregular cholesterol levels (low HDL, high triglycerides)
• High blood pressure 

Obesity-Related Issues

Obesity can cause a lot of problems in the body—and a lot of those issues look like PCOS! It can actually trigger all three of PCOS’s root issues: hormonal imbalance, inflammation, and insulin resistance. 

Extra fat tissue reduces insulin sensitivity and prompts the body to produce more estrogen, resulting in both hormonal and metabolic symptoms. It can also contribute to chronic, low-grade inflammation, triggering digestive issues, body pain, skin problems, and brain fog. In comparison, all of these symptoms are also common with PCOS. 

Though obesity-related issues and PCOS can be similar, there are distinct hormonal issues with PCOS not present in obesity alone. Namely, androgen levels aren’t elevated with obesity, and ovaries are usually unaffected (no cysts). So, if you’re experiencing symptoms of high male sex hormones or polycystic ovaries, you could have PCOS that’s just exacerbated by obesity. 

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Obesity-Related Issues:

• Weight gain 
• Fatigue
• Depression and mood swings
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Sleep problems
• Acne
• Darkened skin patches
• Brain fog
• Digestive issues
• Joint or muscle aches

Distinct Symptoms of Premature Obesity-Related Issues:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatty liver disease
• Gallstones 
• Pressure sores
• Slow wound healing

Type 2 Diabetes

As I’ve said, insulin resistance is a big problem with PCOS. And you know the primary disorder associated with poor insulin processing, right? It’s type 2 diabetes. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body can’t use insulin effectively. This inevitably leads to high insulin resistance and all the symptoms that come with it. 

Like the other metabolic issues we’ve talked about, women with PCOS often have type 2 diabetes as well. In fact, they’re at 8 times greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to unchecked insulin resistance. 

However, there are times doctors may think you have type 2 diabetes when you’re actually dealing with PCOS—or both conditions together! Type 2 diabetes is not hormonal, so hormonal symptoms aren’t common with T2D alone. Additionally, thyroid and sex hormone levels remain normal—the problems all center on metabolism. 

Overlapping Symptoms of PCOS and Type 2 Diabetes:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Depression and mood swings
• Darkened skin patches
• Brain fog
• Sleep disturbances
• Digestive issues or bloating

Distinct Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Slow wound healing
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• Blurred vision

How Do Doctors Diagnose PCOS?

Step 1: Review your medical history.

First, your doctor will review your medical history, including family history, current symptoms, existing conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors.

Step 2: Conduct a physical exam.

Next, the doctor will do a physical exam to look for visual signs of PCOS. Physical signs of PCOS include excess body and facial hair, scalp hair loss, acne, high body weight, and dark skin patches, to name a few.

Step 3: Order extensive blood tests. 

To definitively diagnose PCOS, you need a blood test. However, ensure your doctor does a pretty thorough one. Not all of them are sensitive enough to detect insulin and hormone levels common with PCOS. I recommend this blood test from EquiLife if you decide to go private. 

Step 4: Perform an ultrasound.

Many Cysters have polycystic ovaries, even if they’re asymptomatic. Fortunately, though, pelvic ultrasound can identify ovarian cysts. As a result, this rules out a lot of other potential conditions, helping doctors be confident in their PCOS diagnosis.

Step 5: Apply the Rotterdam Criteria. 

The Rotterdam Criteria are a set of key features in PCOS. If you have at least 2 of the 3, you can be diagnosed with PCOS after other conditions have been ruled out. Here are the criteria:

1. Irregular or Absent Ovulation 
2. High Androgen Levels
3. Polycystic Ovaries 

Consider: Diagnosis May Not Be Clear

Understand that diagnosing PCOS can be really difficult. If you think you have PCOS, but the doctor is unsure, keep advocating for yourself, consider seeing a different provider, and get a head start on your healing. Download The Cysterhood app and read my essential guide to managing PCOS naturally to take your health into your own hands. 

Why Is It Important to Get the Correct Diagnosis for PCOS?

To find relief, you need to know what your core issues are. The wrong diagnosis can mean wasting lots of time, money, and effort on treatments that don’t improve quality of life. When you have the right diagnosis, you can be confident that every lifestyle change and medical action is one step closer to symptom relief and true healing! 

Many conditions can be mistaken for PCOS; be confident you have an accurate diagnosis.

PCOS comes with a bunch of symptoms, and a lot of them overlap with other conditions. Knowing what’s shared and what’s unique can help you get the right diagnosis. From there, you can focus on the root cause, skip treatments that don’t work, and actually manage your symptoms long-term. Staying informed and speaking up for yourself makes a huge difference!

For more, make sure you browse the PCOS Weight Loss blog and listen weekly to A Cyster and Her Mister Podcast. I can’t wait to be a part of your healing journey!

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects all aspects of a Cyster’s life, but one of the biggest and best known areas of struggle is fertility. The hormonal imbalances of PCOS can make conceiving difficult and periods irregular. However, focusing on lifestyle changes to improve PCOS hormonal side effects and tracking your ovulation can be a big help! 

Here’s more on that naturally reversing PCOS through lifestyle change thing, but today I’m dedicating this post to predicting ovulation! Ovulating is the only window of time in the menstrual cycle where a woman is can conceive, so figuring out when you’re ovulating can be the key to conceiving. 

Here’s how to predict ovulation with PCOS:

How to Predict Ovulation With PCOS

Step 1: Learn about your cycle. 

Before you start trying to predict when you ovulate, it’s a good idea to learn what a regular cycle actually looks like! And, I mean the entire cycle, not just your period. This is how a menstrual cycle works:

Menstruation

The first 3-7 days of your menstrual cycle is your period. This is when the thickened lining of the uterus sheds away through the vagina. 

Follicular Phase

The second phase is about 10-14 days long and this is where your body prepares itself again for ovulation and the uterine wall that was just shed starts building up again. Also, in this phase, the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) prompts the ovaries to produce 5-20 follicles that are all immature eggs. Usually only one follicle will become an egg. Sometimes with PCOS, you have all the hormones to complete this phase, and you end up producing more than one follicle. But then, the body doesn’t have enough of the right hormones to get to ovulation so you end up with polycystic ovaries.

Ovulation

Here’s your fertility window! There’s about a 5 day window where you’ll be able to get pregnant as the mature egg moves down the fallopian tube to the uterus. Your cervical position rises and it becomes softer and moist to allow sperm to enter. Here, you either get pregnant or you move to the final phase. 

Luteal Phase

This phase is about 8-10 days long and here unfertilized eggs change into the corpus luteum. This is where you get a lot of hormone shifts as the follicle holding the egg produces progesterone and estrogen to support a pregnancy.

Since the egg is not fertilized, the body breaks down the corpus luteum, hormone levels drop, and the menstruation phase begins again! 

Step 2: Log what you can in cycle tracking apps. 

Being generally aware of this cycle is a good start, but I don’t actually expect you to have it memorized and count your cycle days all the time. To help you track ovulation and the rest of the cycle, use a period tracking app. 

However, these apps won’t be absolutely correct since predicting ovulation in women with PCOS is much harder! Irregular cycles make it hard for apps (and people) to track ovulation simple by counting days. But, this is a good start, and many of the apps get better at predicting your cycle the longer you use it. 

Step 3: Pay attention to your cervical mucus.

Everything I’ve mentioned so far is great for a woman with regular cycles, but as mentioned, many women with PCOS have anything but a normal, predictable cycle due to hormonal imbalance. So, some of the best ways to track ovulation is using physical signs of each phase. Cervical mucus is usually a pretty good indicator of where you are in the menstrual cycle! 

• After Menstruation: Tacky, usually white or yellow 
• Follicular Phase: Creamy and cloudy (like yogurt)
• Ovulation: Consistency of egg whites, wet and slippery
• Luteal Phase: Dry and sticky

It may sound a little gross, but observing your mucus when you go to the bathroom can be a really effective way of determining where you are in your menstrual cycle. 

Step 4: Take your basal body temperature. 

Your basal body temperature rises and lowers throughout your cycle. Using a piece of graph paper and a basal body thermometer, you can track your body temperature. You simply check your temperature right away in the morning at the same time each day, and look for variations. 

These variations will be very small! For example, if your temperature is normally 97 F, right before ovulation you will see your basal temperature drop by as little as 0.4 F, going to 96.6. After ovulation, it’ll rise by sometimes just as little, going from 96.6 past its usual 97 F to 97.4 F. However, it could rise or lower up to a degree. 

To do this successfully, you’ll have to take your temperature every day for a few months to establish your baseline and norms. After that, though, it can be pretty accurate! 

Step 5: Use ovulation prediction kits. 

When you can start to gauge approximately when you may be ovulating using the other indicators above, ovulation test kits are the perfect way to know for sure! They measure your luteinizing hormone (LH) to tell you definitively if you’re in your fertile window of ovulation. I’ll break down how to use those below:

How To Use Ovulation Kits With PCOS 

Step 1: Get your supplies. 

First, you’ll need to gather supplies. You’ll need ovulation test strips, a reusable specimen cup, and a test strip results logging app like Premom. 

Step 2: Track your cycle and ovulation signs. 

Next, pay attention to your body and try to track your ovulation using the methods above. When you think you might be ovulating, take a test. 

Step 3: Produce a urine sample. 

Go ahead and produce a urine sample in the reusable specimen cup. You can also use disposable mouthwash cups if you prefer. 

Step 4: Dip and hold your test strip in the urine below the max line. 

Take out one test strip, and dip it into the urine, but don’t go past the max fill line printed on the strip. Hold it there for the directed time on the box. 

Step 5: Wait and interpret line darkness. 

Lay out the test strip, and wait for the lines to appear. Two lines will almost always appear, but they get darker within your fertile days. The darker that line appears (and the better it matches that control line) the closer you are to peak ovulation. 

These test strips measure the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your body, so it darkens as you get closer to ovulation.

Step 6: Keep testing until you peak or there is no second line. 

Keep testing to figure out whether you’re heading toward ovulation or leaving it. As mentioned, once that second line is very dark, your chances of conceiving are the highest of your entire cycle!

Step 7: Log the information in a tracking app.

Log all of your test strip information in your app. That way, you can better understand and predict your cycle for the next go round. 

It is possible to predict ovulation with PCOS! 

Predicting ovulation with PCOS isn’t easy at all. We all know what PCOS periods are like, and they’re generally irregular, painful, and heavy. However, there are ways of getting it back on track! You can read more about it in the post How to Regulate Periods with PCOS and hear more about it in the episode of A Cyster and Her Mister called How to Master Your Cycle & Fertility. And, once your periods are managed, you can focus on improving ovulation and egg quality to finally put infertility behind you. 

Just check out what happened to this Cyster! She took our recommendations to go gluten- and dairy-free and take Inositol to her doctor, and she finally experienced normal ovulation and conceived totally naturally. WOW!

Conceiving is one of the most difficult things a woman with PCOS goes through, with 70%-80% of Cysters experiencing infertility. There is so much wrapped up in it both physically and emotional, and the longing to be a mother is real. We’re here to help! Find more information about naturally reversing your PCOS on the blog, and join our amazing community by downloading The Cysterhood app where thousands of women like you are taking charge of their health to reach all of their life goals. We got this!

Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are twice as likely to have a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke than a healthy person. Some of the factors responsible for increasing your chances of developing heart disease are high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 

You may know that women with PCOS have high blood pressure and are at risk of diabetes, but what about cholesterol? Do women with PCOS also have high cholesterol levels? This is the question I am answering today! 

This post will answer your questions about cholesterol and PCOS, including whether or not PCOS causes high cholesterol, what the different types of cholesterol are, and how you can naturally lower your cholesterol and find relief from your symptoms. Here’s the link between PCOS and cholesterol:

Can PCOS Cause High Cholesterol? 

Yes, PCOS can cause high cholesterol. Though cholesterol has its purpose in the body creating cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D, too much is never a good thing. Excess triglyceride cholesterol (bad cholesterol) can collect in your arteries restricting blood flow, and creating blocks that lead to strokes, heart attacks, and peripheral arterial disease. 

It goes without saying, but high cholesterol is definitely something a Cyster will want to monitor. You can determine your lipid profile, which is the amount of good, bad, and total cholesterol in your body using a PCOS blood test. If you do find you have high levels of bad cholesterol, here’s how your PCOS is may be causing these spikes:

Does PCOS Affect High Cholesterol?

Many women with PCOS are naturally insulin resistant. (This depends on your PCOS type, which you can figure out here.) When someone is insulin resistant, it’s difficult for their bodies to maintain healthy glucose levels. This may lead to a build up of insulin in the body, and, eventually, weight gain.

Without the proper management techniques, excess belly fat accumulates. This type of fat around the abdomen then can cause higher levels of bad cholesterol (triglycerides) and lower levels of good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein or HDL.) Then, the surplus of cholesterol has nowhere to go and can’t be broken down quickly enough, so it sticks to your arteries, restricting blood flow to your heart. 

How To Lower Cholesterol If You Have PCOS?

Those high triglycerides stem from higher levels of insulin. So, insulin resistance is the root cause that needs mending. A Cyster’s low insulin sensitivity doesn’t only lead to cholesterol issues, but also high blood pressure and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Further increasing a Cyster’s chances of developing cardiovascular disease.  

Luckily, there is a management plan that doesn’t involve a bunch of harsh medical procedures or medications. Here’s what you can do to naturally help drop pounds, lower triglyceride levels, and raise HDL numbers:

Exercise.

Regular physical activity has been shown to raise helpful HDL cholesterol while lowering damaging triglyceride cholesterol. However, if you’re a Cyster who’s tried to workout again and again and has seen NO results, you’re not alone. Hormonal issues related to PCOS can make losing weight feel impossible. 

Luckily, specific workouts that keep your heart rate low will produce better results. You can read more about that here. Beneficial workouts for Cysters looking to lower their cholesterol and lose weight include slow weighted workouts, yoga, pilates, light cardio, and walking.

Reduce alcohol consumption and quit smoking.

Most drinks are full of carbs—especially red wine and beer. Carbohydrates are sugars that break down quickly and raise your insulin levels. Additionally, alcohol can disrupt your sleep, and that also raises insulin levels. 

And, as for smoking, the chemicals in cigarette smoke damage your blood vessels and cause bad cholesterol to build up. Because of this, smokers are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease. Ditching the cigarettes can definitely help get those cholesterol levels where they need to be. 

Smoking and alcohol use have other negative effects on our PCOS bodies as well, so stopping or reducing your intake of these harmful substances should help lower your cholesterol and alleviate other PCOS symptoms too.

Eat the right foods.

Finally, eating the right foods can help lower bad cholesterol. The food we eat holds so much power, and the right diet can be the key to reversing the symptoms of PCOS. What we put in our stomachs affects everything in our bodies from our hormone levels to our insulin sensitivity. Below, I’ve summarized the best diet for high cholesterol and PCOS:

The Best Diet for High Cholesterol and PCOS

The foods we eat should be beneficial to us. Intentional food choices can help relieve SO many symptoms of PCOS including high cholesterol. The best foods for Cysters with PCOS and high cholesterol include: 

• Foods low in saturated fats and trans fats: Both of these types of fat cause your bad cholesterol levels to rise. Red meat, dairy products, and store-bought packaged snacks are usually high in saturated and / or trans fats and should be avoided. 
• Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids: Foods like salmon, chia seeds, kidney beans, and flaxseeds are high in omega-3s that help reduce triglycerides, keep arteries clear, regulate heart rate, and even lower blood pressure.
• Foods with soluble fiber: Soluble fiber helps break down and remove bad cholesterol from the body. You can find soluble fiber in lots of foods like legumes, fruits, and vegetables. 
• Foods free of dairy and gluten: Both dairy and gluten can contribute to insulin resistance and other negative PCOS symptoms. Going gluten and dairy free may be very beneficial for your cholesterol and overall PCOS management. 

If this feels overwhelming, I completely understand. Many Cysters feel like they don’t know where to start, but they know they need to do something. That’s why I created The Cysterhood. 

There, you can join others working towards the same goals as you, and you’ll get regular PCOS-friendly workouts and a delicious meal plan that can help you lower cholesterol and improve many of your debilitating PCOS symptoms. 

PCOS can cause high cholesterol, but lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk. 

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects so much in our bodies. Sometimes it can feel like you’re totally out of control, but hang tight. Though there is no cure for PCOS, you can heal and feel whole again. Check out my blog and podcast to get the info you need to naturally remedy your PCOS. You can do this! Just, don’t do it alone. Join our community, and let’s do this thing together.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that usually shows up in your teens or early twenties. The first signs are generally heavy, painful periods, acne, weight gain, hair loss, and ovarian cysts. If the symptoms go unaddressed once they’re identified, usually they worsen throughout your reproductive years. That said, the intensity of PCOS can vary a lot!

Some women, for example, will experience severe PCOS symptoms that can really diminish their quality of life. At the same time, other women may remain unaware of their condition for years, with non-existent or mild side effects. 

Some even wonder if it’s possible to develop PCOS after using birth control, suffering a miscarriage, or having kids, because that’s when they first noticed symptoms. I’ve answered a couple of those questions in other posts, but today I want to discuss whether pregnancy and giving birth can cause PCOS. 

Here’s the truth:

Can You Get PCOS After Having Kids? What the Research Says

No. Having kids isn’t the catalyst for anyone’s polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). That said, if you’re just now feeling the symptoms of PCOS or were recently diagnosed postpartum, I don’t want to undermine what you’re experiencing. Here’s what likely happened…

Chances are, you’ve always had PCOS. But for whatever reason, you didn’t experience symptoms intense enough to make you take action. Maybe you’ve lived a generally healthy lifestyle—with balanced eating habits, regular movement, and good sleep. As a result, this could’ve kept the root issues of PCOS at bay. When those foundations are solid, symptoms often stay minimal or even unnoticeable.

It’s also possible you were dealing with a milder presentation of PCOS. The condition varies so much from person to person! Your hormonal imbalances or insulin resistance may have simply been more moderate before kids. In that case, symptoms can be subtle and easy to overlook.

In any case, I know your next question: So why am I feeling PCOS now? Well, pregnancy is hard on the body. So much changes—not only hormonally, but also in how your body manages stress, blood sugar, inflammation, and recovery. Those shifts can reveal underlying PCOS patterns that weren’t as obvious before pregnancy.

Plus, you’re probably not caring for yourself in the same way you were before kids. Increased stress, broken sleep, higher caffeine intake—basically the staples of the newborn stage—all worsen the core drivers of PCOS. So PCOS didn’t suddenly appear; the conditions in your body simply changed, giving it the opportunity to take the spotlight and intensify symptoms. 

I’ve talked about the link between pregnancy, PCOS, and the postpartum stage before. If you’re interested (for now or in the future), make sure to check out: “Effects of PCOS on pregnancy” and “PCOS pregnancy tips!”

How Can Pregnancy Make PCOS Symptoms Worse?

• Increased insulin resistance: Pregnancy naturally raises insulin resistance to support fetal growth. This can trigger high blood pressure and blood sugar.
• Higher androgen levels: Pregnancy can shift hormone production in ways that increase androgens (male sex hormones) for some women. Like lowering SHBG levels, fluctuating progesterone, and increasing cortisol. 
• Inflammation spikes: Pregnancy is a pro-inflammatory state, meaning your body is operating with higher baseline inflammation to support the massive changes happening inside you.
• Changes in cholesterol levels: Cholesterol and triglycerides naturally rise during pregnancy. For some women, this means higher LDL and triglycerides and lower HDL, which can worsen metabolic PCOS patterns.
• Greater cortisol output: All the physical stress, broken sleep, and recovery that comes with having a baby can send your cortisol levels sky-high, which can make insulin resistance and inflammation even worse.
• Thyroid fluctuations: During pregnancy and postpartum, shifts in estrogen, progesterone, and immune activity can temporarily disrupt thyroid hormone production.

What Happens When You Have PCOS After Having Kids?

If you’re unsure if what you’re seeing postpartum is PCOS, I want to help. It’s true that most women, regardless of health status, say their bodies are never the same after pregnancy. But, if you’re dealing with the following symptoms, it may be wise to get your hormone levels checked and talk with your doctor about PCOS.

Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Because of the increased androgens (male hormones), you may notice irregular periods and ovulation cycles. Not only is the timing irregular, but often the symptoms are intensified. Think heavier flow, worsened cramps, heightened pelvic pain, more fatigue, insatiable cravings… you get the idea. Here’s more on what periods are like with PCOS, for more signs to look out for.

Increased Fatigue

Of course, caring for a baby on its own will leave anyone feeling more tired. However, there are real physiological changes that can trigger extreme daytime sleepiness. Increased insulin resistance can cause blood sugar to swing up and down, leading to sudden energy crashes.

At the same time, elevated cortisol disrupts restorative sleep and overworks the adrenal system. And on top of that, thyroid shifts can slow down your metabolism, reducing the body’s ability to produce steady energy.

So yes, feeling a little more tired is normal—but you shouldn’t be falling asleep in the middle of conversations or nodding off at stoplights. That level of exhaustion is definitely cause for concern.

Stubborn Weight Gain

Of course, every woman gains weight during pregnancy. How much is considered normal depends on your body mass index (BMI), but most women gain somewhere between 15 and 35 pounds. And with the chaos of parenthood, those pounds aren’t going to melt off in a month or two. That said, you shouldn’t continue gaining a significant amount of weight after pregnancy.

If you notice the scale keeps climbing, and losing weight feels impossible despite your best efforts, you may be dealing with PCOS. High insulin levels, thyroid dysfunction, and chronic inflammation can all work against you. This not only affects your body image and overall health, but it also increases the risk of long-term complications like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It’s definitely not a symptom to brush off as a normal part of motherhood.

Hair Changes

PCOS affects sex hormones, as I’ve discussed. Androgens like testosterone are often elevated—and can spike even higher after pregnancy. Those excess male hormones stimulate hair follicles on your face and body. This can inevitably lead to excessive hair growth on the chest, upper lip, jawline, chin, stomach, and even the back.

Meanwhile, the same androgens shrink hair follicles on the scalp. This causes female-pattern hair thinning, which shows up as shedding around the crown, widening part lines, and overall hair loss. It’s not a fun combination. And while temporary hair changes can happen during pregnancy and shortly after birth, it’s uncommon for the issue to persist for months or years. When it does, PCOS is a much more likely explanation.

Acne Flare-Ups

Acne is another result of high androgen levels. These male hormones prompt the sebaceous glands to produce more oil while chronic inflammation makes pores more reactive. The combination leads to oily skin, clogged pores, and breakouts. So, if you’re feeling like a teenager again with hormonal acne after having kids, it may be a sign of PCOS. 

Persistent Mood Swings

Again, mood swings are pretty normal during and after pregnancy. However, the baby blues should resolve within 2–6 weeks postpartum. If you have underlying PCOS, those emotional ups and downs may continue long after your kids get older and pregnancy is behind you. There are a few reasons for this.

First, elevated androgens can interfere with neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which directly influence mood. High cortisol output also disrupts how the brain communicates with the rest of the body, increasing irritability and emotional dysregulation.

On top of that, thyroid changes can play a major role. If your thyroid slows down (hypothyroidism), the brain doesn’t get a steady energy supply. This leads to depression, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. If your thyroid speeds up (hyperthyroidism), the excess stimulation can leave you feeling overstimulated, anxious, and emotionally volatile. 

If any of this sounds familiar, you could be dealing with PCOS.

Frequent Headaches and Body Aches

I’ve talked a lot about how PCOS-related hormone levels can trigger symptoms. However, inflammation from PCOS can cause its own set of unpleasant side effects! Chronic inflammation increases pain sensitivity, while high cortisol tightens muscles, raises tension, disrupts sleep, and contributes to headaches. 

Blood sugar swings and thyroid fluctuations can also make headaches, joint stiffness, and muscle pain more common. All of this can be so hard to deal with when trying to raise a family! And I can’t emphasize this enough: any chronic pain after having kids is not normal. Whether it’s due to PCOS or something else, it’s definitely something you should look into.

Secondary Infertility

Here’s a big one. Maybe conceiving your first child wasn’t very difficult, but now you’re struggling to get pregnant again. If underlying PCOS has surfaced postpartum, you’re no longer working with the same reproductive conditions you had the first time around.

Insulin resistance and irregular hormone levels can make ovulation unpredictable—or stop it altogether. They can reduce egg quality, thicken the uterine lining (making implantation harder), and interfere with healthy embryo development. This is why so many women with PCOS struggle with conception and miscarriage.

Just because baby number one came easily doesn’t mean PCOS isn’t in the picture. With so many hormonal changes happening postpartum, it’s worth talking to your doctor about the possibility of PCOS if you’re dealing with secondary infertility alongside other symptoms on this list.

How to Manage PCOS After Having Kids

If you were relatively symptom-free with PCOS prior to pregnancy (so much so you didn’t even know you had it!), don’t get discouraged. You can totally get back to feeling like yourself again! There’s no quick cure for PCOS, but it’s not a life sentence. Once you address the underlying dysfunctions triggering your symptoms? You can reverse your PCOS patterns and regain your energy, confidence, and sense of normalcy.

Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a series of small, sustainable lifestyle changes that, when combined, can make a tremendous difference in your health. And yes—any change feels harder when you’re a mom. That’s why today I want to share ways to manage your PCOS with your whole family. These are simple steps you can all take together to build a healthier future—hopefully a future free of PCOS symptoms!

Here’s what you can do together:

Get the whole family on a PCOS-friendly diet.

One of the best ways to balance hormones, reduce inflammation, and lower insulin resistance is by eating well. I recommend a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet for the whole family. Chances are, you already care about helping your kids eat a healthy diet. That said, why not plan meals that support their growth and your PCOS healing at the same time?

And, no, this way of eating isn’t restrictive or “non-kid-friendly.” What kid wouldn’t love air fryer chicken nuggets, frozen yogurt bark, chocolate waffles, or sloppy joes? All of those recipes (and so many more!) are inside The Cysterhood app. Every meal and snack is built around nutrient-dense whole ingredients, plenty of fiber, high-quality protein, and healthy fats.

Not to mention, each recipe is full of flavors your family will actually enjoy. Plus, the app includes a built-in meal planner to make feeding a busy household so much easier.

To help your family shift toward a PCOS-friendly way of eating, try these tips:

• Start with simple, balanced meals with plenty of protein and other nutrients. 
• Keep kid-approved recipes on rotation so nothing feels restrictive. 
• Swap in gluten and dairy alternatives that still taste familiar and comforting.
• Stock up on PCOS-friendly snacks your whole family will love. 
• Batch-cook or meal–prep to avoid grabbing fast food or low-nutrient quick meals. 
• Let kids help in the kitchen to spark curiosity and buy-in around new foods. 
• Drink more water together and remove caffeine and sugary juices from the home. 
• Use The Cysterhood meal planner for easy planning and accountability.  

Create a personalized supplement plan for each person.

Supplements can be beneficial for almost anyone—kids included! Even if you follow The Cysterhood meal plans perfectly, it’s still unlikely you’ll meet every daily vitamin and mineral recommendation. It’s just too challenging with real-life schedules and picky eaters. That’s where supplements can help support your symptoms by promoting better hormone balance, reducing inflammation, and improving insulin sensitivity.

For you, I recommend following this PCOS supplement routine. This includes science-backed options like Inositol Complete 40:1, Berberine Advanced, a high-quality multivitamin, curcumin, omega-3s, and CoQ10. Ease into the routine instead of starting everything at once, and give your body time to respond and your symptoms time to improve.

For your kids, talk to their pediatrician about adding a multivitamin and omega-3 supplement. Both can support healthy growth, brain development, and overall wellness—while also helping them build good self-care habits early on. Also, I recommend avoiding gummy vitamins since they’re not very bioavailable! Liquid formulas and chewable tablets, however, are great kid-friendly alternatives.

Set up daily movement and playtime with the kids.

Exercise can help with all three root issues of PCOS. As physical activity increases your body’s demand for glucose, insulin resistance goes down. When insulin stabilizes, the ovaries produce less testosterone, creating a positive chain reaction for overall hormone balance. Your muscles also release myokines during exercise—compounds that actively reduce inflammation. All good things!

But with PCOS, you want to avoid high-intensity exercise that spikes cortisol and throws hormones even further out of whack. Skip workouts like HIIT, bootcamp-style classes, long-distance running, kickboxing, and CrossFit—who has time for those with kids anyway, right? Instead, try weaving PCOS-friendly movement into your day in a way that feels natural and sustainable.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Take family walks after meals to help lower blood sugar and support digestion.
• Have daily dance parties with your kids for gentle cardio that feels fun, not stressful.
• Stretch together before bedtime to calm the nervous system and model good movement habits.
• Turn playground time into movement time by walking laps, doing light strength exercises, or staying active instead of sitting on the sidelines.
• Choose weekend activities that get everyone moving, like hiking, biking, swimming, or exploring a local park.
• Do slow-weighted workouts when the kids are asleep (light dumbbells, resistance bands, or bodyweight training) to build muscle without spiking cortisol. You can find routines on The Cysterhood app! 

Prioritize healthy sleep routines for everyone.

Factors like hormone balance and metabolic health depend heavily on good-quality sleep. And trust me, I know that getting enough rest with kids can be a challenge! However, establishing healthy sleep habits is one of the best things you can do for your PCOS symptoms. When your family prioritizes sleep too, you may notice fewer tantrums, better focus at school, stronger immune systems, and overall calmer days.

These are some steps you can take as a family to improve sleep hygiene:

• Create consistent bedtimes and wake times for everyone, even on weekends.
• Establish a calming nighttime routine—bath, books, stretching, or quiet play.
• Limit screens for at least an hour before bed to prevent melatonin disruption.
• Dim the lights in the evening to signal to the brain that it’s time to wind down.
• Keep bedrooms cool, dark, and quiet to support deeper, higher-quality sleep.
• Model healthy sleep habits yourself and show that rest is a family priority.

Here’s more on how to sleep better with PCOS. 

Build stress-relieving activities into your daily routine.

Women with PCOS tend to have higher baseline cortisol levels to begin with—but after having kids? That number goes through the roof. And when cortisol stays elevated, it can worsen hormone imbalance, increase insulin resistance, and drive inflammation. Essentially, your body stays stuck in “emergency mode,” making it nearly impossible to heal or achieve consistent symptom relief.

Relieving stress is essential for PCOS healing. It may even be one of the biggest factors behind your symptom flare after having kids! So taking steps as a family to reduce chaos, manage stress, and process emotions in healthy ways can make a huge difference.

This is what I recommend for families:

• Create predictable routines for mornings, meals, and bedtime to reduce daily chaos.
• Build in quiet time each day—reading, coloring, puzzles, or simply resting together.
• Practice deep breathing or mindfulness as a family to calm the nervous system.
• Get outside daily for fresh air, sunlight, and grounding movement.
• Limit overstimulation by reducing noise, clutter, and excessive screen time.
• Cut down on the commitments—it’s not healthy to say yes to everything. 

Remove and replace endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the home.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals found in everyday products that interfere with your body’s hormones. They can mimic, block, or change the way your hormones work, making imbalances even worse. This is especially challenging for women with PCOS, who already struggle with hormone regulation. Nonetheless, these chemicals aren’t good for anyone else in your family either.

Research shows that endocrine disruptors can affect brain development, alter metabolism, disrupt puberty timing, weaken the immune system, and increase inflammation in kids. So for your health and your family’s long-term well-being, it’s worth replacing as many endocrine-disrupting products as possible.

I have a whole podcast episode on how to remove endocrine disruptors from your home! However, here are some things you can do right now:

• Swap plastic for glass or stainless steel when storing food or drinks.
• Choose fragrance-free or naturally scented products to avoid phthalates in artificial fragrances.
• Use cleaner cleaning products or DIY options like vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap.
• Open windows daily to reduce indoor air pollutants and improve ventilation.
• Vacuum and dust regularly—many endocrine disruptors collect in household dust.
• Filter your drinking water, especially if your area has PFAS or heavy metals in the supply.

You can’t get PCOS after kids, but you may uncover it!

Discovering you have PCOS can feel overwhelming, but it can also be empowering! Once you know why you’re having symptoms and can name the cause, you can finally take steps to get your life back. PCOS includes so many different symptoms and root causes, but with the right lifestyle shifts? You and your family can work together to balance your hormones, ease inflammation, and live symptom-free with PCOS

If you want more guidance, recipes, science-backed strategies, and step-by-step support, head to the PCOS Weight Loss blog. You’ll find everything you need to continue healing—one small habit at a time!