What's driving your PCOS symptoms?
Answer 10 quick questions and find out your main PCOS driver, with 3 simple tips from a registered dietitian that you can start this week.
- ✓ Takes 2 minutes
- ✓ Personal result
- ✓ Written by an HCPC registered dietitian
Where should I send your result?
You'll see your result straight away, and I'll email you a copy with your tips.
The 4 main drivers of PCOS
PCOS looks different in every woman. Two women with the same diagnosis can have completely different symptoms, which is why one-size-fits-all advice so often doesn't work. Finding your main driver tells you where to focus first.
Insulin resistance
The most common driver. Your body needs more insulin to manage blood sugar, which can raise testosterone, make weight loss harder and cause sugar cravings and energy dips.
Inflammation
Low-grade inflammation can worsen hormone balance. It often shows up as fatigue, skin problems, bloating, joint aches or headaches.
Stress & cortisol
Long-term stress and poor sleep raise cortisol, which can affect your cycle, blood sugar and where you store weight, especially around the middle.
Hormonal imbalance
Higher androgens or changes after stopping the pill can lead to irregular periods, acne, hair loss or excess hair growth.
PCOS quiz: common questions
What type of PCOS do I have?
PCOS isn't officially split into types, but in clinic I see that most women have one main driver behind their symptoms: insulin resistance, inflammation, stress or a hormonal imbalance. Many women have more than one. This quiz helps you find the one most likely to be leading for you, so you know where to start.
Is this PCOS quiz a diagnosis?
No. The quiz gives general information to help you understand your symptoms. PCOS is diagnosed by a doctor, usually using the Rotterdam criteria: irregular or missing periods, signs of high androgens (on a blood test or symptoms like excess hair growth or acne) and polycystic ovaries on a scan. Two of the three are needed, once other causes have been ruled out.
Can I have PCOS with normal blood tests?
Yes. Many women are told their results are "normal" even though they still have symptoms. Standard tests often don't check fasting insulin, and results can sit inside the normal range but still be far from ideal. A full review of your results can show what to work on.
Can diet and lifestyle really help PCOS?
Yes. The international PCOS guideline recommends lifestyle changes as a first step for all women with PCOS. The right eating pattern, movement, sleep and stress support can improve insulin resistance, help regulate periods and make weight loss easier.
Who created this quiz?
The quiz was written by Eslem Kusaslan, an HCPC registered dietitian and BDA member based in London who has specialised in PCOS for 6 years and supported over 200 women with PCOS.