Clear, evidence-based guides on PCOS, periods, skin, weight, mood and more. Written by our doctor, with every fact linked to its source.
Periods
Why PCOS makes periods late or stop, the exact cycle lengths that count as irregular, when a long gap becomes a risk, and what actually helps.
By Dr. Parikshit · 10 min read
Weight & metabolism
Why PCOS makes weight gather around the middle and resist dieting, what a 5-10% loss really does, the diabetes numbers, and a plan that fits Indian food.
By Dr. Parikshit · 10 min read
Mood, sleep & energy
Why anxiety, low mood and mood swings are so common in PCOS, the warning signs that need help today, and what actually helps.
By Dr. Parikshit · 9 min read
Weight & metabolism
Why PCOS disturbs sleep, how common sleep apnoea really is, the signs to watch for, and how better sleep helps insulin resistance.
By Dr. Parikshit · 8 min read
Periods
PCOS is linked to pain and bloating, but the cysts are rarely the cause - here is what to check, and when pain is an emergency.
By Dr. Parikshit · 9 min read
Skin & hair
That dark, velvety neck patch is a visible sign of high insulin - here is what it means, which tests to get, and how it fades.
By Dr. Parikshit · 9 min read
Weight & metabolism
Why PCOS leaves so many women exhausted, the five hidden causes worth testing for, and what actually brings your energy back.
By Dr. Parikshit · 9 min read
PCOS basics
An honest look at PCOS and brain fog: what studies show about memory and focus, what is still unknown, and the testable causes worth fixing first.
By Dr. Parikshit · 9 min read
Skin & hair
Why PCOS thins scalp hair, which other causes to rule out first, the tests to ask for, and which treatments actually regrow hair.
By Dr. Parikshit · 9 min read
Skin & hair
Why PCOS causes coarse facial and body hair, how it is scored for Indian women, which tests to get, and which treatments work over what timeline.
By Dr. Parikshit · 9 min read
Tests
Understand PCOS in Young Women: symptoms, teen diagnosis rules, key tests, and care options for 2026. Learn the next steps.
By Dr. Parikshit · 17 min read
Periods
Polycystic ovaries pregnancy explained: fertility, risks, and treatments. Learn how to confirm ovulation, use letrozole,
By Dr. Parikshit · 16 min read
Periods
Androgen hormones support bone, muscle, and fertility; excess can cause hirsutism, acne, and irregular periods. Learn ke
By Dr. Parikshit · 16 min read
Skin & hair
PCOS face hair (hirsutism) explained: why it happens and what truly helps-medical care plus removal. See options, timeli
By Dr. Parikshit · 20 min read
PCOS basics
Wondering what is a good AMH level to get pregnant? See the 1-4 ng/mL range, why age and ovulation matter most, and how
By Dr. Parikshit · 17 min read
Periods
Polycystic ovaries on a scan are not a diagnosis - and not a barrier to pregnancy.
By Dr. Parikshit · 10 min read
Periods
Adult hormonal acne settles on the lower face - and tracks your cycle.
By Dr. Riya · 6 min read
PCOS basics
Yes. And here is what that actually means for your body.
By Dr. Riya · 5 min read
PCOS basics
A normal weight is not a clearance. It is one of the most missed presentations.
By Dr. Parikshit · 6 min read
PCOS basics
PCOS is not one condition. It is at least four distinct presentations.
By Dr. Parikshit · 6 min read
Weight & metabolism
Your blood sugar can read normal for years while your insulin quietly climbs.
By Dr. Parikshit · 6 min read
PCOS basics
PCOS is rarely one loud symptom. It is usually several quiet ones.
By Dr. Parikshit · 5 min read
Skin & hair
What skin tags are, why they are linked with diabetes and insulin resistance, how they differ from dark neck patches, and when they are worth showing a doctor.
By Dr. Parikshit · 8 min read
PCOS basics
How the international guideline describes polycystic ovaries, why the round shapes are follicles, how many follicles count, what a good scan report includes, and why a scan alone does not diagnose PCOS.
By Dr. Akash Mehra · 9 min read
Weight & metabolism
How much activity the international PCOS guideline advises, why no single type of exercise wins, how exercise links with insulin resistance, and why sitting less matters even when weight does not change.
By Dr. Akash Mehra · 9 min read
PCOS basics
The three features doctors look for, why two are enough, when an ultrasound or AMH test is needed, how the rules differ for teenagers, and what the new name PMOS changes.
By Dr. Parikshit · 10 min read
Periods
What counts as an irregular cycle, what to write down each month, how to describe heavy bleeding, how far to trust a period app, and what to take to your gynaecologist.
By Dr. Parikshit · 9 min read
These articles are general health education, written by our doctor. They are not a diagnosis. For advice about your own body, book a PCOS Assessment.
Quick answer
To track irregular periods, write down the day each period starts and ends, how heavy the bleeding is, any spotting in between and any symptoms such as pain or extra hair growth. Over a few months this record shows a doctor how long your cycles really are, which they compare with the guideline definitions of irregular cycles.
Tvarvi Key Takeaways
What to write down
- The date each period starts and ends.
- How heavy the bleeding is and how it affects your day.
- Spotting between periods, pain and skin or hair changes.
Why the record helps
- Doctors define irregular cycles by their length in days.
- Cycles that vary can be normal soon after periods start and near menopause.
- Take the record with you to your appointment.
About apps
- Apps can store your dates and symptoms in one place.
- Studies found many apps give inaccurate predictions.
- Use the app as a diary of your own dates.
In this article
Keep a simple record of the date each period starts, the date it stops and how heavy it is, in a notebook, a calendar or an app. Doctors judge whether cycles are irregular from their length, and the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for PCOS defines irregular cycles by the number of days between periods and the number of periods in a year.
A record matters because irregular or absent periods are one of the features doctors look at. The WHO fact sheet on PCOS lists irregular or absent menstrual periods as one of the signs used in diagnosis, alongside signs of high androgens and polycystic ovaries on an ultrasound.
For the wider picture, read our main guide to irregular periods and their treatment.
For adults, the 2023 guideline counts cycles as irregular when they are shorter than 21 days, longer than 35 days, or fewer than 8 a year, from three years after the first period until perimenopause.
The rules are different for the first years. The same guideline says cycles that vary are normal in the first year after the first period, that cycles under 21 days or over 45 days count as irregular between one and three years after it, and that any single cycle longer than 90 days is irregular once a year has passed since the first period.
Life stage matters at the other end too. The WHO notes that health workers take life stage into account because irregular periods can be normal at the beginning (menarche) or the end (perimenopause) of the reproductive years.
Periods that arrive on time do not always mean ovulation is happening. The 2023 guideline says problems with ovulation can still occur when cycles seem on time, and a doctor can measure progesterone in the blood if this needs to be confirmed. Read more in Can you have PCOS if your periods come on time?
Write down the start and end date of each period, how heavy the flow is, and anything unusual such as bleeding between periods or pain. These are the details a doctor asks about: NICE guidance on heavy menstrual bleeding (NG88) asks doctors to take a history that covers bleeding between periods, pelvic pain or pressure, and the impact on quality of life.
Table 1. A simple monthly period record
| What to note | Why it helps a doctor |
|---|---|
| The date bleeding starts and stops | Shows how long your cycles and periods are |
| How heavy the flow is | Helps judge whether bleeding is heavy |
| Spotting or bleeding between periods | A symptom doctors ask about |
| Pain or pressure in the lower tummy | A symptom doctors ask about |
| New acne or extra facial or body hair | Possible signs of high androgens |
| How your period affects work, study or sleep | Doctors consider the impact on daily life |
Source: Teede et al., 2023 International PCOS Guideline and NICE NG88 Recommendations.
Signs on the skin and hair are worth noting as well. The WHO lists acne or oily skin, excess hair on the face or body, and hair thinning among the possible symptoms of PCOS. The 2023 guideline asks doctors to take a full history and examination for signs of high androgens, including acne, hair loss and excess hair.
Bleeding counts as heavy when it gets in the way of your life. NICE defines heavy menstrual bleeding as excessive menstrual blood loss which interferes with a woman's physical, social, emotional or material quality of life.
That definition is about impact, so your notes can describe it in your own words: whether you plan your day around bleeding, miss work or college, or wake at night to change protection. NICE recommends that any intervention for heavy bleeding aims to improve quality of life rather than focusing only on blood loss.
Heavy periods can happen with PCOS too. The WHO lists heavy, long, intermittent, unpredictable or absent periods among the possible symptoms. Our page on heavy periods explains the common causes.
An app is a handy place to keep your dates and symptoms, but studies of app quality found many apps gave inaccurate predictions or information. A 2016 study in Obstetrics & Gynecology that checked free menstrual tracking apps found that only 20 of the 108 apps it reviewed met its accuracy criteria, and concluded that most free apps were inaccurate.
That study counted an app as accurate only if its predictions were based on the average length of at least three previous cycles, which is one thing worth looking for in an app.
A 2020 appraisal of 140 iPhone menstrual and fertility apps by gynaecologists at the University of Toronto found that 22.1% contained serious inaccuracies in content, tools or both.
So use the app as a diary. The dates you enter are the useful part: a doctor can compare your real cycle lengths with the guideline's definitions, whatever the app's forecast says.
Take your period record for the last few months, a list of symptoms, and any medicines you take. The NICE NG88 history also covers other conditions and any previous treatment, because these may affect treatment options.
If PCOS is being considered, a doctor first rules out other causes of similar signs. The 2023 guideline's diagnostic algorithm lists thyroid function (TSH), prolactin, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and FSH among the tests used to exclude other conditions. Our page on PCOS blood tests explains what each one looks for.
If a period is missed altogether, our page on missed periods when you are not pregnant covers the questions a doctor may ask.
See a doctor if your cycles fall outside the ranges in the 2023 guideline, if your bleeding affects your daily life, or if you notice new symptoms. The WHO notes that seeking health care early to manage symptoms of PCOS can help women protect their health during and beyond their reproductive years.
Long gaps between periods are worth raising. The 2023 guideline lists long-standing untreated amenorrhoea (no periods) as a risk factor, in addition to PCOS, for endometrial hyperplasia and cancer, while noting that the overall chance of developing endometrial cancer is low.
When heavy bleeding comes with persistent bleeding between periods, or pelvic pain or pressure, NICE NG88 recommends that the doctor offers a physical examination. Teenagers with these questions may find it helps to see a gynaecologist with a parent or guardian.
If your periods are irregular, a gynaecologist can look at your record with you and talk you through the tests that fit your situation.
Is a cycle of more than five weeks irregular? For adults, the 2023 International PCOS Guideline counts cycles longer than 35 days as irregular, from three years after the first period until perimenopause.
Is it normal for a teenager's periods to be irregular? In the first year after the first period, the 2023 guideline describes cycles that vary as a normal part of the pubertal transition. If you are a teenager with questions, it helps to see a gynaecologist with a parent or guardian.
Can you have PCOS without irregular periods? Yes. The WHO explains that PCOS is diagnosed when two of three features are present, and the 2023 guideline notes ovulation problems can occur even when periods come on time.
Do I need an ultrasound if my periods are irregular? Not always. The 2023 guideline says that when irregular cycles and high androgens are both present, an ultrasound is not needed to diagnose PCOS.
This article is general health information and does not replace a consultation about your own health. Medical decisions depend on your individual situation and should be made with a registered doctor. If you are struggling with your mood, Tele MANAS (14416) is free and open all day.
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