30/03/2026
“Ma’am, my ultrasound says I have PCOS… is it true?”
This is one of the most common concerns I hear from young girls.
Let me clarify an important concept. An ultrasound may show PCOM (Polycystic Ovarian Morphology), which means the ovaries appear slightly bulky with multiple small follicles. This is not the same as PCOS.
In the first few years after the onset of periods, such findings can be completely normal, as the body is still adjusting hormonally. So seeing “cysts” on an ultrasound at a young age does not confirm a disease.
PCOS cannot be diagnosed by ultrasound alone.
We look at a combination of:
• Clinical symptoms like acne, excessive facial/body hair (hirsutism), sleep issues, mood changes
• Blood tests showing hormonal imbalance (testosterone, DHEA-S, insulin levels, LH/FSH ratio, HbA1c, AMH)
• Ultrasound findings
We follow Rotterdam criteria, where at least 2 out of these 3 need to be present to diagnose PCOS.
It is also important to understand that:
• You can have irregular periods and still not have PCOS
• You can have PCOS even with regular periods
In this case, the reports were normal and there were no clinical symptoms. So there is no need to label it as PCOS based only on ultrasound.
Don’t panic after reading your report.
Get the right evaluation, understand your body, and avoid unnecessary stress.