Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Causes & Risk Factors

The exact cause of PCOS is not fully understood, but it involves a combination of hormonal and metabolic factors:

•  Genetic predisposition — PCOS often runs in families, suggesting a hereditary component.

•  Insulin resistance — common in PCOS and contributes to both metabolic risk and hormonal imbalance.

•  Excess androgen (male hormone) production, whether from the ovaries or adrenal glands.

•  Obesity can worsen PCOS symptoms and metabolic risk, though PCOS also occurs in individuals who are not overweight.

Symptoms & When to Test

PCOS presents with a variable combination of features, which is why evaluation typically considers multiple symptom categories together.

•  Irregular or absent menstrual periods

•  Signs of excess androgen — acne, excess hair growth (hirsutism), or hair thinning

•  Difficulty conceiving

•  Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen

•  Skin changes, including darkened skin patches (acanthosis nigricans) associated with insulin resistance

When Should You Consider Testing?

Evaluation is generally appropriate for irregular menstrual cycles combined with signs of excess androgen, difficulty conceiving, or other suggestive features — ideally combined with a menstrual history and clinical examination, since laboratory testing alone cannot diagnose PCOS.

Why Tests Are Combined

Because PCOS is a diagnosis of exclusion and pattern recognition rather than a single-test diagnosis, testing serves two purposes: confirming features consistent with PCOS (androgen excess via testosterone/DHEA-S) and excluding alternative causes of similar symptoms (thyroid dysfunction via TSH, elevated prolactin, or non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia via 17-OH progesterone).

Metabolic testing (HbA1c/OGTT, lipid profile) is included because PCOS is strongly associated with insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular risk, making metabolic assessment an important part of a complete PCOS evaluation, not just an afterthought.

This combination reflects that a PCOS diagnosis requires ruling out other conditions with overlapping symptoms (like thyroid disease or hyperprolactinemia) before attributing symptoms to PCOS itself — the diagnosis is reached by combining clinical features, exclusion testing, and supportive hormonal findings together.

Tests Available at NPL

Preparation requirements vary by specific test — please follow the instructions provided by your doctor or NPL for the tests ordered.

Home Sample Collection

NPL offers convenient home sample collection for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) blood tests, so you don't need to visit a lab in person.

→ Book your test online, via the NPL app, or by calling +977 1 5970147 and select a convenient time slot for home sample collection.

→ A certified and experienced NPL phlebotomist visits your home at the scheduled time, following strict hygiene and safety protocols.

→ Your sample is transported under controlled, monitored conditions to NPL's ISO NABL ACCREDITED UNDER ISO15189:2022 laboratory for processing.

→ Your digital report is delivered securely to your phone or email, along with access to download and share it as needed.

When to See a Doctor

•  Irregular or absent menstrual periods

•  Signs of excess androgen — acne, excess hair growth, or hair thinning

•  Difficulty conceiving

•  Weight gain with menstrual irregularity

•  Known PCOS due for metabolic risk monitoring