Tag: PCOS diagnosis

Can GLP-1s like Ozempic or Mounjaro help with PCOS? Our experts explain how they work, safety rules before pregnancy, and what to know about long-term use. Thank you to everyone who joined our recent webinar, “GLP-1 RAs: The PCOS Game Changer?”with Dr. Helen O’Neill and Dr. Paul Hardiman. The overwhelming response (over 600 attendees) confirmed the critical need for transparent, evidence-based information regarding these new therapies and their role in managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. We know the session generated significant interest and, crucially, many complex questions about everything from long-term safety and fertility planning to navigating the NHS and finding effective alternatives. This document serves as our expert-synthesised FAQ, acting as a crucial next step in your journey. It consolidates the questions we received into a concise, actionable resource. This FAQ will help you understand: By providing these clinically-vetted answers, we aim to empower you to have confident, informed conversations with your own healthcare providers, ensuring your PCOS management pathway is truly personalised and effective. Understanding PCOS and How GLP-1 Medications Fit In What does an irregular period mean in PCOS? According to the 2023 International Evidence-Based Guidelines (Teede et al., 2023), for women 3 years post-menarche up to the perimenopause stage, irregular menstrual cycles are defined as: OR Does everyone with PCOS have insulin resistance, even if my test results (such as glucose) have always been negative? No, not everyone with PCOS has insulin resistance (IR), but it is a critical part of the syndrome’s pathogenesis, documented in approximately 75% of women with PCOS (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).It is important to know that in the early stages of IR, standard tests like fasting glucose or HbA1c may appear normal because the pancreas is compensating by overproducing insulin (hyperinsulinemia). Therefore, monitoring glucose levels alone will not reliably detect the onset of IR. If my BMI is within the normal range (lean PCOS), would GLP-1 RAs still help with my symptoms (like skin, mood, or central adiposity)? Yes, GLP-1 RAs primarily target insulin sensitivity, which is thought to be a core driver of the syndrome, not just weight loss. Preclinical studies indicate that GLP-1 RAs can directly improve reproductive endocrinopathy by reversing high Luteinising Hormone (LH) levels and reducing serum testosterone and the Free Androgen Index (FAI) (Bednarz et al., 2022). These hormonal improvements offer a potential treatment strategy to manage hyperandrogenism-related symptoms regardless of BMI. What are the non-pill treatment options for managing acne and irregular periods in women with lean PCOS? For women with a normal BMI who wish to avoid the contraceptive pill, management focuses on lifestyle and targeted therapies: Ensure you consult a doctor or sexual health specialist before taking any supplements, vitamins or starting new treatments.  . At Hertility, we provide diagnostic testing with clinical grade results into your hormonal health. Get actionable insights into your reproductive health and egg count, and screen for up to 18 conditions such as PCOS. Receive in-depth insights, a comprehensive Doctor-written report, a clinically recommended Care Plan, and a complimentary Clinical Result Review Call. My GP is reluctant to diagnose or treat me for PCOS; what steps can I take to get appropriate care? PCOS diagnosis in the UK is guided by International Evidence-based Guidelines, typically using the Rotterdam Criteria (2 out of 3 features: irregular periods, hyperandrogenism, or polycystic ovarian morphology) (NICE, 2025; Teede et al., 2023). If you are struggling to get a diagnosis, ensure you have documented evidence of your symptoms (irregular periods, clinical signs like acne or hirsutism, and any relevant blood test or ultrasound reports). The Hertility Advanced Hormone & Fertility Test is a diagnostic test with clinical grade results into your hormonal health. Get actionable insights into your reproductive health and egg count, and screen for up to 18 conditions such as PCOS. Receive in-depth insights, a comprehensive Doctor-written report, a clinically recommended Care Plan, and a complimentary Clinical Result Review Call. We also provide fast referrals to leading UK private fertility clinics and treatment centres for comprehensive onward care. GLP-1 for PCOS: Safety, Effectiveness and Long-Term Use If I achieve my weight and symptom goals on a GLP-1 RA, will I regain the weight and symptoms if I stop taking it? Is this medication necessary long-term? GLP-1 RAs should generally be viewed as a long-term management strategy for a chronic metabolic condition. Clinical data does indicate a considerable likelihood of weight regain upon cessation, with weight often returning toward the pre-treatment baseline within about a year (Budini et al., 2025). However, the outlook is not universally negative; some evidence suggests that more than half of patients are able to maintain the achieved weight loss one year after discontinuing the medication (Szczesnowicz et al., 2023). Are there any known long-term health risks associated with taking GLP-1 RAs? While GLP-1 RAs are generally well-tolerated, rare but serious adverse events can occur, including acute pancreatitis and gallbladder issues (Szczesnowicz et al., 2023). Furthermore, long-term safety, particularly regarding combination therapy (e.g. with Metformin) in women with PCOS is an area that requires further research. It is crucial to obtain these prescriptions only from a doctor and fill them at a pharmacy, as unapproved or compounded versions have not been reviewed for safety or quality. If hair loss or fatigue occurs while taking a GLP-1 RA, what steps or supplements can help manage these side effects? Hair thinning or increased shedding (telogen effluvium) reported while on GLP-1 RAs is typically considered temporary and is usually attributed to the physiological stress of rapid weight loss or significant dietary changes, rather than the drug itself (Healthline, 2025). Management involves consulting your healthcare provider to assess your overall health and ensuring adequate nutritional intake, as inadequate consumption of key vitamins and minerals can impede the hair growth cycle. Vitamin D, iron and zinc are common deficiencies that can cause hair loss, but ensure you contact your doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements.  Through targeted dietary and lifestyle advice, Hertility works alongside you to help manage your symptoms of PCOS or help you […]

Annie Coleridge, CEO of Alva Health, shares her story of getting a PCOS and dermoid cyst diagnosis. Erratic periods I’ve always had a feeling something wasn’t quite right with my hormones. Nothing major, but something a little skew-whiff.  Since I was a teenager I’ve had erratic periods. They’re on the light side, making me one of the lucky ones, but sometimes they won’t come for months.  Once, just after my final exams at university, my period didn’t come for about 9 months. I’ve always been a normal weight and was eating ok (albeit a bit stressed about exams) but 9 months seemed excessive…  So did the endless doctor’s appointments checking that I wasn’t pregnant or having a flare of an autoimmune condition I had previously. That was my early 20s. My mid-twenties passed with little change to that pattern, to be honest. Months and months without a period, then they’d just restart again.  I tried to track my periods, but I didn’t have the monthly reminders to help me remember. So I just put up with a mild, low-level, background kind of anxiety about my reproductive health.  Weirdly, although I understand contraception pretty well, it made me reluctant to go on any hormonal birth control. I just didn’t want to mess with these hormones which seemed in such fine balance. And anyway, it didn’t bother me that much. Testing my hormones Then I started working at a health tech company, which really highlighted to me that knowledge is power when it comes to your body. Finally, it clicked – I really should check if my hormones are balanced.  I knew that wouldn’t hold all the answers to my period woes… but it seemed like a very interesting place to start.  When I got my first test back I had high testosterone and low oestrogen – which was not what I expected… I knew that raised testosterone suggested PCOS but I also knew I didn’t have the typical symptoms. Beyond the messed up periods and the raised testosterone, I just didn’t have much else that was typical for PCOS. Or at least I thought I didn’t.  What I knew about PCOS was that it usually causes heavy periods, excessive hair growth, insulin sensitivity and weight gain. I didn’t struggle with those. I had light, irregular periods and bad mood swings. But that was it.  So… I ignored my first few sets of results, for about a year. I’d had abnormally high cortisol results at the same time, so as ever I just sort of put it all down to stress. Maybe my periods were just super super super sensitive to stress. A sudden change Then my periods suddenly got incredibly heavy. I thought it might be a sign of something really serious so I went to a doctor. I don’t hate the doctors at all, but I do find the process often quite inconvenient. It just doesn’t fit in with my life. Despite having recent blood tests, the doctors made me take another test and told me I had PCOS. That was it. A single phone call. Just the test results and a simple conclusion. Nothing else on the matter,  no follow-up information.  Doctor Google and my mum (an actual doctor) helped me learn that there are loads of different types of PCOS. Turns out whilst some people get the more ‘classic’ PCOS symptoms it’s actually a hugely varied condition. PCOS diagnosis – what else? But this new diagnosis didn’t explain the sudden changes in my periods. Or at least I didn’t think it did. I was pretty confused to be honest. So I went back to my GP and they said I could have an ultrasound.  The process of finding out I had a dermoid cyst involved an initially inconclusive scan – where the sonographer simply told me that I had ‘some sort of mass.  Four weeks later, another scan followed. This time they told me that the mass was probably a ‘ benign cyst’. The probably in that sentence didn’t fill me with confidence. So I went to my GP to ask what next? What next was a very long wait to see an NHS gynaecologist.  Now, let me say that although I felt pretty horrific after my various appointments I am staunchly pro the NHS. They gave me a certain first diagnosis – PCOS – and a probable second one – a benign cyst.  I did feel a little lost though. Suddenly my fertility (not something I’d thought about being 28 years old at the time and in a very new relationship) felt uncertain. I’m not even sure I want kids but that feeling was very unsettling. Knowledge is power To get a quicker second diagnosis I went and got a private scan. I’m very lucky they could confirm it was a dermoid cyst that was not cancer.  They could also see the characteristic ‘string of pearls’ appearance around my ovaries that suggested PCOS. It was a relief to be able to see what was going on in my ovaries, although they didn’t look in the best shape I must say.  I feel so fortunate to have been able to quickly access answers but it took me years to take control of my reproductive health. Even though it’s not perfect – nothing ever is and it’s much better to know Written by Annie Coleridge, CEO Alva Health If like Annie, you’re experiencing irregular and erratic periods, it could be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. Our at-home hormone tests can help you get to the root of your period problems. Our team of experts include PCOS specialists that can help you to manage your PCOS symptoms.