PCOS blood tests, at home

LH and FSH are best tested on day 2 or 3 of your period (early follicular phase). Testosterone, AMH, prolactin and thyroid hormones don't depend on cycle phase. Schedule your blood draw with the cycle if possible, but don't skip if your periods are irregular — most ratios remain interpretable.

No — diagnosis needs clinical signs (irregular periods + androgen excess) plus either ultrasound or labs. Blood tests confirm the hormonal pattern (high LH:FSH ratio, elevated testosterone, often elevated AMH and DHEA-S) but a doctor's evaluation is essential.

AMH is one of the best markers — it's typically very high in PCOS (above 4.5 ng/mL). But it's not a stand-alone diagnostic; it's strongest combined with the rest of the panel and clinical signs. AMH is also useful if you're planning pregnancy — it predicts ovarian reserve.

PCOS is a lifelong condition, but symptoms are highly responsive to lifestyle. Weight loss of even 5–10%, regular exercise, low-glycemic diet, and treating insulin resistance often normalise cycles and dramatically reduce hormonal symptoms. Medications (metformin, OCPs, inositol) help in many cases.

70%+ of PCOS patients have insulin resistance — the body needs more insulin to keep blood sugar in range. Fasting insulin (often > 12 mIU/L) and HbA1c reveal this, and treating insulin resistance (with metformin, inositol or lifestyle) directly improves PCOS symptoms.