Screenings if you have PCOS (now called PMOS)

Blood sugar and diabetes

The guideline says people with PCOS have a higher risk of impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes at any age and weight. It says to: (International PCOS Guideline, 2023)

check blood sugar at diagnosis in all adults and adolescents with PCOS
check again every 1 to 3 years, based on other risk factors for diabetes
use the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as the most accurate test; fasting glucose or HbA1c could be considered if an OGTT cannot be done, with much lower accuracy

It says people with PCOS and their first-degree relatives should know about the higher diabetes risk and the need for regular checks. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) For adolescents, the guideline does not name a specific test, because no studies compared tests in that age group. (Adolescent recommendations, 2025) What results mean is on A1C and blood sugar test results.

Planning a pregnancy or pregnant

The guideline says an OGTT should be offered to everyone with PCOS without known diabetes when planning a pregnancy or seeking fertility treatment. If it was not done before pregnancy, it should be offered at the first prenatal visit and again at 24 to 28 weeks. Blood pressure should also be measured when planning a pregnancy. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) MedlinePlus lists miscarriage, high blood pressure and gestational diabetes as higher risks during pregnancy with PCOS. (MedlinePlus) See gestational diabetes glucose test results and pregnancy screenings by week.

Cholesterol, blood pressure and heart risk

The guideline says everyone with PCOS should be assessed for heart disease risk factors, noting that the overall risk of heart disease before menopause is low. It says: (International PCOS Guideline, 2023)

Cholesterol: a lipid profile (total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides) at diagnosis for everyone with PCOS, at any age and weight; how often after that depends on the result and other heart risk factors.
Blood pressure: measured once a year, and when planning a pregnancy or seeking fertility treatment.

It says differences in heart risk across ethnic groups and ages should be considered when deciding how often to assess risk. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) The NHS lists type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and womb cancer as possible complications, and says regular check-ups can help. (NHS) See cholesterol tests by age and blood pressure readings.

Sleep apnea

The guideline says obstructive sleep apnea is much more common in people with PCOS, regardless of weight. It says to ask about symptoms (snoring together with waking unrefreshed, daytime sleepiness or tiredness) and, if they are present, to screen with a validated questionnaire such as the Berlin questionnaire or refer for assessment. A formal sleep study is needed for diagnosis. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) See sleep apnea screening.

Depression, anxiety and eating disorders

The guideline says: (International PCOS Guideline, 2023)

Depression: screen all adults and adolescents with PCOS, using a validated screening tool.
Anxiety: screen all adults with PCOS, using a validated screening tool.
How often: the best interval is not known; a practical approach is screening at diagnosis, then again based on clinical judgement, risk factors, other conditions and life events, including around pregnancy and after birth.
Eating disorders: consider them in people with PCOS at any weight; if suspected, a qualified practitioner should assess with a full diagnostic interview.

The adolescent recommendations say depression was up to four times more common in adolescents with PCOS in the studies reviewed, while the small number of adolescent studies did not show the same rise in anxiety. (Adolescent recommendations, 2025) See depression screening, anxiety screening with the GAD-7 and postpartum depression screening.

Endometrial cancer: awareness, not routine screening

The guideline says people with PCOS before menopause have a markedly higher risk of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. They should be told about this risk, while knowing that the overall chance of endometrial cancer is low, so routine screening is not recommended. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) It names long-standing untreated absent periods, higher weight, type 2 diabetes and a persistently thickened womb lining as added risk factors. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) ACOG also says some people with PCOS develop endometrial hyperplasia, which increases the risk of endometrial cancer. (ACOG) See endometrial cancer screening.

Adolescents and later life

The adolescent recommendations call for a lifelong health plan that includes screening for depression and metabolic features and a planned move to adult care. Adolescents with only some features can be considered at risk of PCOS and should be reassessed, at or before 8 years after their first period. (Adolescent recommendations, 2025) (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) The guideline says PCOS could be considered lifelong, and that some features continue after menopause. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) See screenings after menopause.

When to contact a provider

MedlinePlus, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, when to contact a medical professional: (MedlinePlus)

Contact your provider if you have symptoms of this disorder.

The NHS says to see a GP if you think you might have PMOS, or if symptoms are affecting your everyday life, work and relationships. (NHS)

Where they differ:

When diabetes testing starts. The international guideline says to test at diagnosis at any age and weight, then every 1 to 3 years. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) The USPSTF recommends screening adults 35 to 70 with overweight or obesity, says clinicians should consider screening earlier in people with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome, and says every 3 years may be reasonable after a normal result. (USPSTF, 2021)
Which test. The international guideline prefers the OGTT for adults with PCOS, (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) while MedlinePlus lists fasting glucose, other glucose tolerance tests and HbA1c among possible blood tests. (MedlinePlus)
Anxiety in adolescents. The guideline screens for depression in adults and adolescents but recommends anxiety screening for adults only, because adolescent evidence is limited. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023) (Adolescent recommendations, 2025)
Schedules. ACOG lists diabetes, heart disease, endometrial hyperplasia, sleep apnea and depression as risks without giving test intervals, (ACOG) and the NHS advises regular check-ups without set intervals. (NHS)
The name. The 2023 guideline, ACOG and USPSTF use PCOS; MedlinePlus and the NHS now use PMOS. (MedlinePlus) (NHS)

Your doctor decides what your result means for you.

Questions people ask

How often should blood sugar be checked with PCOS?

The 2023 international guideline says to check blood sugar at diagnosis in all adults and adolescents with PCOS, then every 1 to 3 years depending on other risk factors for diabetes. It names the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test as the most accurate test, with fasting glucose or HbA1c as less accurate options. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023)

Is cholesterol checked with PCOS?

The guideline says everyone with PCOS, at any age and weight, should have a lipid profile at diagnosis, with later checks based on the result and other heart risk factors. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023)

How often is blood pressure checked with PCOS?

Once a year, and when planning a pregnancy or seeking fertility treatment, according to the 2023 international guideline. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023)

Should people with PCOS be screened for endometrial cancer?

No routine screening is recommended. The guideline says people with PCOS should be told their risk of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer is higher, while the overall chance of endometrial cancer stays low. (International PCOS Guideline, 2023)

Is PCOS now called PMOS?

Yes. MedlinePlus and the NHS now use the name polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), after a 2026 global consensus, to reflect that the condition affects many body systems, not only the ovaries. (MedlinePlus) (NHS)