You should always have a choice in your medical treatment and never be forced to take medicine. With that being said, if you have any of the usual symptoms of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) such as irregular periods, acne, unwanted hair on your face or other parts of your body or dark patches for skin around your neck, and/or trouble managing your weight, you should make an appointment with your health care provider sooner rather than later. Your HCP will ask you a lot of questions about your period and examine you. If he/she thinks you could have PCOS, you will likely have a blood test to check your hormone and blood sugar levels and possibly have an ultrasound to check your ovaries. When your HCP has the results of your tests, he/she should talk to you about what the results mean and options for treatment (if you have PCOS or another medical condition). Be sure to ask a lot of questions so you can understand the options for treatment. Great first steps for girls with PCOS symptoms are a healthy diet and regular exercise. Then you can talk with your health care providers about the many medications available, your symptoms and your choices to be healthy.
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