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Differentiating between PCOS and other endocrine disorders—
It really has to be a thorough evaluation,
because irregular periods could be for many reasons.
I mean: medications they're on, thyroid problems, genetics, and prolactin.
I mean, you can have numerous things that could be wrong.
So, we really have to—after the first visit of talking—then do an ultrasound.
We then do lab work.
Then I have them come back, and we sit down and go over everything
and look at— "Okay. What is this telling us and
what part is—oh, look. Yes, it looks a little PCOS,
but— wow, your thyroid is way off.
I think really your irregular periods are going to be your thyroid.
And that can cause you not ovulating.
That can cause some of these other symptoms"
But it's just through—I think—a very detailed history and workup.
To differentiate PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome from other disorders
falls on the shoulders of the provider
to be thorough enough with their evaluation.
And a lot of times it's not the box that you're trying to check,
it's a lot of the boxes that you're checking off
and what you have left.
PCOS falls into that category a lot of times
So, if I can say that a patient is not menstruating regularly for another reason,
then it may be more likely that it's insulin resistance or PCOS problem.
Again, ruling out other things
is sometimes what leads you down the road to diagnose PCOS more than anything else.