Have you been wondering if you could possibly have PCOS? With an increase in PCOS awareness and education, more and more folks are recognizing symptoms like irregular periods, acne, hirsutism, and hair loss, asking their doctor to be screened for PCOS.It can be frustrating if you think you may have PCOS and your concerns are dismissed. On today’s episode of the podcast, Sam is discussing how PCOS is diagnosed so that you can have more information and a better understanding of the diagnostic process if you do pursue a diagnosis with your doctor. Sam begins the episode with a reminder that PCOS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that other medical conditions with symptoms that overlap with PCOS usually need to be ruled out first prior to being diagnosed with PCOS.Sam then goes on to share the three different pieces of diagnostic criteria and the specifics of each one. In this episode, Sam discusses:The formal criteria for diagnosing PCOSWhy you don’t necessarily need labs or an ultrasound for a diagnosisOther medical conditions that share PCOS symptomsTips for communicating with your doctor if you’d like to be screened for PCOSSam ends the episode by discussing two medical conditions that she sometimes see in practice that are misdiagnosed with PCOS. Enroll in Balanced Blood Sugar for PCOS! Tired of being told to cut out carbs or "just lose weight" to improve insulin resistance? Enrollment is officially open for the winter group of Balanced Blood Sugar for PCOS. This course will help you lower your A1c, improve fatigue, heal cravings, and feel better with PCOS. Enroll here! Enrollment closes on Thursday, January 25th. Follow Sam on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/