PCOS Quiz - Understand Your Symptoms and Find the Right Treatment

Taking a PCOS Type Quiz to Understand Your Symptoms

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone disorder affecting up to 10% of women of reproductive age. PCOS causes a variety of symptoms like irregular periods, infertility, excess hair growth, and acne.

There are actually a few different types of PCOS that cause slightly varied symptoms. Taking a PCOS type quiz can help you better understand your specific symptoms and get the right treatment.

What are the Different Types of PCOS?

While all PCOS stems from hormone imbalances, there are a few recognized subtypes of PCOS that present differently:

• Insulin Resistant PCOS - High insulin levels drive excess testosterone production, causing symptoms like acne, facial hair, and scalp hair loss. Weight gain and trouble losing weight are common.
• Inflammatory PCOS - Chronic inflammation causes elevated testosterone and ovarian cysts. Symptoms include painful periods, pelvic pain, fatigue, and acne.
• Adrenal PCOS - Excess adrenal androgens like DHEA-S drive PCOS symptoms like hair loss, infertility, and irregular cycles. Anxiety and exhaustion are common.
• Post-Pill PCOS - Stopping birth control pills suddenly unmasks underlying PCOS, leading to hair loss, acne, and absent periods.

Why Take a PCOS Type Quiz?

Taking an online PCOS subtype quiz can help you identify your likely PCOS type based on your predominant symptoms. This offers several benefits:

• Personalized treatment - Each PCOS type responds best to different treatments, like metformin for insulin resistance or anti-inflammatories for inflammatory PCOS.
• Ease uncertainty - Understanding your PCOS subtype can provide answers if you feel confused about your symptoms.
• Lifestyle tips - Quizzes give targeted diet and lifestyle changes to manage your specific PCOS type.

What to Look for in a PCOS Type Quiz

If you're considering taking an online PCOS type quiz, look for the following:

• Includes at least 10-20 targeted questions about your symptoms and health history.
• Covers all the major PCOS subtypes, like those listed above.
• Provides personalized quiz results explaining your likely PCOS phenotype and treatment options.
• Offers additional PCOS resources and next steps after the quiz.
• Is free and easy to take online without registration.

Legitimate organizations like fertility clinics, PCOS nonprofits, and functional medicine practices often offer insightful PCOS type quizzes.

PCOS Symptom Quiz: Do I Have PCOS?

Before diving into a specific PCOS type quiz, it helps to start with a general PCOS symptoms quiz to assess if you likely have PCOS in the first place. Some questions to consider:

Do you have irregular periods?

Irregular, absent, or heavy periods are the most common PCOS symptom. Periods over 35 days apart, fewer than eight periods a year, or a history of amenorrhea indicate possible PCOS.

Have you noticed increased body or facial hair growth?

Excess hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, or back occurs in up to 70% of women with PCOS. This male-pattern hair growth is called hirsutism.

Do you struggle with acne outbreaks?

Acne on the face, chest, or upper back affects around 15-25% of women with PCOS. Persistent acne that begins after age 25 is a red flag.

Are you experiencing scalp hair loss or thinning?

Thinning hair or increased shedding from the scalp affects roughly half of women with PCOS. It stems from high testosterone levels.

Is it difficult for you to lose weight?

Up to 80% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. Insulin resistance makes losing weight very difficult.

Have you been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes?

Insulin resistance and high testosterone associated with PCOS increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Get screened if at risk.

Do you deal with depression, anxiety, or mood swings?

Hormonal imbalances from PCOS can disrupt mood and worsen anxiety and depression. Up to 60% of women with PCOS experience mental health issues.

If you answered yes to two or more of these symptoms, you likely have PCOS and should consider seeing a doctor for testing. The more symptoms you have, the more severe your PCOS may be.

Taking a Detailed PCOS Subtype Quiz

Once you have established that you probably have PCOS, the next step is to take a more extensive PCOS type quiz. Here are examples of detailed questions that help identify your specific PCOS subtype:

Menstrual Symptoms

• How often do you get a period? More/less than every 35 days?
• How long do your periods typically last? Over 7 days?
• Are your periods very heavy, requiring a pad/tampon change hourly?
• Do you pass large blood clots or have bleeding between periods?

Androgen Excess Symptoms

• Do you have coarse, dark hair on your face, chest, or back? Does it require plucking/shaving?
• Do you experience male pattern baldness or thinning at the crown of your scalp?
• Do you frequently get acne outbreaks, especially along the jawline, chest, or back?

Metabolic Symptoms

• Is your BMI over 25 or have you been diagnosed as overweight/obese?
• Do you crave sugars and refined carbs or feel fatigued after eating them?
• Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or insulin resistance?
• Do you have dark patches of skin on the neck, groin, or armpits (acanthosis nigricans)?

Inflammation Symptoms

• Do you experience breast tenderness, pelvic pain, or joint pain around your period?
• Do you deal with chronic fatigue, low energy, brain fog, or sleep issues?
• Do you have other autoimmune disorders or inflammatory conditions?

Once you complete all the quiz questions, it calculates your score for each PCOS subtype to reveal which one aligns most closely with your symptoms. This provides insight into the best nutrition, lifestyle, and treatment approaches to manage your PCOS.

PCOS Treatment After Identifying Your Type

After identifying your PCOS subtype, work with your doctor to explore targeted treatment options. Treatment may include:

• Insulin resistant PCOS - Metformin, berberine, inositol, weight loss, low glycemic diet.
• Inflammatory PCOS - Anti-inflammatory diet, omega-3s, turmeric, magnesium, stress reduction.
• Adrenal PCOS - Adrenal support supplements, PCOS-friendly meal plan, exercise, meditation.
• Post-pill PCOS - Hormone balancing supplements, acupuncture, regulate sleep and meals, spearmint tea.

Most women with PCOS find they respond best to a personalized combination approach addressing their root PCOS drivers. Testing key hormones like testosterone, DHEAS, fasting insulin, and HBA1C can also help guide treatment options.

In Conclusion

Identifying your specific PCOS type is critical for getting to the root cause of your symptoms. While it can be confusing coping with PCOS, taking an insightful PCOS type quiz provides clarity and direction for proactive treatment.

Look for a quiz that assesses all the major PCOS subtypes and provides personalized results backed by expertise. Combining targeted lifestyle changes and natural therapies with your doctors input offers the best chance at managing PCOS successfully.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.