Who to see about PCOS

A question we often get from women with PCOS is whether there is anyone additional they should be seeing for proper management of their condition. This is a difficult question as it depends of whom they are seeing and what their symptoms are.
The most important thing for the care of a woman with PCOS is that they see a doctor who understands both them and their condition. PCOS is a highly variable condition that changes with the same person throughout their life. Symptoms of the condition will become more of an issue as a woman enters various lifestages. For an obvious example, a woman who is hoping to start a family will be much more concerned about irregular periods than a teenager or an older woman. However the symptoms of PCOS can also change throughout your life, depending on hormonal changes and changes in lifestyle factors.
For this reason, it is important to be able to establish a relationship with a knowledgeable health care provider who can then refer you on to other medical specialists as the need arises. Ideally this health care provider would be a general practioner. Some patients however report difficulty in finding a GP who understands PCOS. For these patients, an endocrinologist or gynaecologist may serve the same purpose.