Originally Released April 5, 2022

PCOS impacts 1 in 10 women yet it is still underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Dr. Jerilynn Prior, of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR), is a Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of British Columbia, with 40 years experience in women’s health. She brings an interesting perspective to what might happen if we considered PCOS to primarily be a hormone imbalance rather than a disease.

In this episode, we cover the following:

• Difference between ovarian cysts and PCOS
• Why PCOS is not the best term to describe the condition
• What is the main cause of PCOS?
• What are the first signs of PCOS?
• What is the diagnostic criteria for PCOS?
• How having multiple criteria (e.g., Rotterdam and International) for diagnosing PCOS creates confusion leading to multiple cases of delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis
• Can PCOS tests be wrong?
• Can birth control make PCOS worse?
• Can birth control cause PCOS?
• Is PCOS genetically inherited?

Resources:

• Resources and episodes on PCOS

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