Irregular periods, acne, excess hair, difficulty losing weight, trouble conceiving. PCOS is sometimes diagnosed only after years, or never. With me, it starts with a conversation and the right tests, and then we work out what can realistically be done about it.
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome; in the literature the new name is PMOS, polyglandular metabolic-ovarian syndrome*) is a hormonal disorder in which several things occur together: infrequent or absent ovulation, signs of excess androgens (acne, excess hair, hair loss) and a characteristic appearance of the ovaries on ultrasound. You do not need all three for a diagnosis, and no two patients have identical symptoms.
* A new name for this condition is appearing in the literature: PMOS, polyglandular metabolic-ovarian syndrome. Why the change? The old name drew attention to the ovaries alone, while the problem also covers, for instance, how the body handles sugar and fats - it is a metabolic condition, not only an ovarian or a gynaecological one. On this page I am staying with the name PCOS, because that is how it still appears in the available research, and it is the name you most likely know. In my clinic and on the blog I explain the subject in more detail.
I ask about your cycle from your first period onwards, your weight and how it has changed, your skin and hair, diabetes and heart disease in your family, and whether you are planning a pregnancy. Without that, no test makes sense.
Usually hormone blood tests taken on the right day of your cycle, tests of how your body handles sugar and fats, and a pelvic ultrasound scan. I also order tests to rule out other causes of similar symptoms, because not every irregular cycle is PCOS.
I explain what the results mean, what needs treating now and what we keep an eye on. We agree the order, because a plan that means changing everything at once usually does not work. Then we book a follow-up.
In many patients with PCOS the body's cells respond less well to insulin, so the pancreas produces more of it. Higher insulin drives androgen production in the ovaries and makes ovulation harder. It works the other way round too: in many women, improving insulin sensitivity makes cycles more regular and improves the skin. That is why, with me, the conversation about food and exercise is not tacked on at the end of the appointment - it is part of the treatment.
I do not hand out a diet sheet and I do not just say “lose some weight”. I hold a certificate from the Polish Society for the Treatment of Obesity (PTLO) and I am a qualified personal trainer and gym instructor, so we talk in practical terms: how much you can realistically train in a week, why strength training makes sense here, what to do about afternoon hunger, what obesity treatment involves, when it is indicated and what to expect from it. If you need a dietitian or a psychologist, I say so plainly.
Not every patient with PCOS is overweight, and not everyone needs to lose weight. For slim patients the plan is different: it focuses on regulating the cycle, protecting the lining of the womb (the endometrium) and on the symptoms that bother you most.
I am a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology (specialist since 2025), with 8 years' experience as a doctor. I hold a certificate from the Polish Society for the Treatment of Obesity (PTLO) and I am a qualified personal trainer and gym instructor. I use that combination mainly in two areas: PCOS and menopause. It does not replace a dietitian or a trainer, but it means I can talk about metabolism and exercise without sending you away empty-handed.
Yes, although for some patients it takes longer and needs treatment to support ovulation. If you are trying for a baby, tell me at the first appointment, because it changes the order of the tests and the choice of treatment.
It does not treat the cause. It regulates bleeding, protects the womb lining and in many patients clearly improves the skin. It can be a good choice if you are not planning a pregnancy right now, but it is not the only option and it is not compulsory. More about contraception →
The symptoms change with age and in many women cycles become more regular after forty. The metabolic side stays with you, so it is worth checking your blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure from time to time even when you feel well.
There is no single PCOS diet. The best evidence is for whatever improves insulin sensitivity and whatever you can actually keep up. A way of eating you cannot stand for a month is not a treatment.
No. The appearance of the ovaries on its own is not enough for a diagnosis, and in young women it can be perfectly normal. You need the whole picture: the symptoms, the tests and ruling out other causes.
Centrum Medyczne NZOZ Twoje Zdrowie
ul. Naftowa 13
Wednesdays 14:00-20:00
Sonicus Centrum Diagnostyczne
ul. Krasińskiego 8
Thursdays 14:00-20:00
Poradnia NFZ
pl. Wolności 23
Mondays and Tuesdays 14:00-20:00
Appointments in Sosnowiec and Zabrze are booked through ZnanyLekarz; in Ogrodzieniec (the Polish National Health Fund, NFZ) by phoning the clinic reception. Bring with you the test results you already have, even old ones.
This site is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation or a diagnosis.
