It is true that there is no “cure” yet. However, there are many ways to manage the most common symptoms, which often include irregular periods, acne, unwanted hair, weight gain and high blood sugar levels. Current treatment includes medicine, a PCOS friendly diet and increasing physical activity. If you are overweight, slowly getting to a healthier weight such as losing 5% of extra weight can in some cases be enough to regulate your menstrual cycle. With regular cycles, PCOS symptoms tend to be less.
Having a diagnosis without an easy cure can be difficult. However, it’s important for girls with PCOS to know they are not alone. Finding a health care provider and dietitian who know a lot about PCOS and with whom you feel comfortable talking to is very important. Keeping a positive attitude and working on a healthy lifestyle even when results seem to take a long time is also key! Many girls with PCOS tell us that talking with a counselor about their concerns can be very helpful. Other girls recommend online chats. The Center for Young Women’s Health offers a free and confidential (monthly) online chat for girls and young women with PCOS.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.