Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a common hormonal condition in which the ovaries can develop many small follicles and the body produces excess androgens, affecting periods, fertility, and metabolism.
When to get help quickly: PCOS is not usually urgent, but heavy or prolonged bleeding, sudden severe pelvic pain, or symptoms suggesting an ovarian cyst complication need prompt review.
Common symptoms
Irregular or absent periods, acne, excess body hair, difficulty getting pregnant, weight gain that is hard to shift, and sometimes hair thinning on the scalp.
When imaging helps
Imaging supports — but does not by itself confirm — the diagnosis. PCOS is diagnosed clinically with blood tests, with imaging used to look at the ovaries and exclude other causes.
What radiology does
Pelvic ultrasound (transabdominal or transvaginal) can show the appearance of multiple small follicles around the periphery of the ovaries.
What usually happens next
Treatment combines lifestyle adjustment, medications to regulate periods or improve insulin sensitivity, and fertility care when needed.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.