Women with PCOS mainly face a hormonal imbalance and produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones. This affects the ovaries, and the imbalance causes their body to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to get pregnant.
Prolactin: Prolactin is a hormone produced in the brain that stimulates milk production in nursing mothers. Prolactin levels are usually normal (< 25 ng/mg
TSH & thyroid antibodies: These should be tested to rule out hypothyroidism, another condition that can trigger similar symptoms to PCOS.
LH and FSH:
Two hormones produced by the brain to help regulate the menstrual cycle. Typically, in PCOS, LH is 2-3x higher than FSH on day 3 of the cycle. FSH *should* be higher at this time.
Testosterone:
Normal total test = 6.0-86 ng/dl. Normal free test = 0.7-3.6 pg/ml. Women with PCOS often have an increased level of both.
SHBG:
A binding protein that helps regulate levels of free testosterone, DHT, and E2. Low levels of SHBG = higher levels of those 3 hormones, which = issues.
DHEAS:
DHEA-S is an androgen that is secreted by the adrenal gland. In PCOS, what’s often seen is levels greater than 200 ug/dl (HIGH).
Androstenedione:
A hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Sometimes high levels of this hormone can affect estrogen and testosterone levels. Normal levels are generally between 0.7 and 3.1 ng/ml.
Progesterone:
Produced by the corpus luteum after ovulation occurs. If tested 7 days after ovulation likely occurred, If the level is low the egg was probably not released (ovulation did not occur).
Estrogen:
The hormone that is secreted mainly by the ovaries and in small quantities by the adrenal glands. Many find that their estrogen levels fall within the normal range (about 25-75 pg/ml).
C-Reactive Protein (CRP):
The most commonly used marker to test for chronic inflammation. Typically, a score above 1 = an inflammatory state.
Insulin:
Often high in PCOS. Due to insulin resistance. Usually tested via fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance, or HbA1c tests.
