Which blood tests should you ask for?
Answer a few questions about your symptoms, age and history. Get a personalized list of tests to bring to your doctor, with reference ranges and when in your cycle to book each one.
Answer a few questions
Your symptoms, age, what you have already tested.
Get your list
Tests grouped by priority, with timing and ranges.
Bring it to your doctor
Print it, or have it emailed to you as a PDF.
Built on the 2023 International Evidence-Based Guideline for PCOS. How this works
Which blood tests confirm PCOS?
No single blood test confirms PCOS. Diagnosis follows the Rotterdam criteria, which require at least two of three features: irregular or absent ovulation, clinical or biochemical signs of raised androgens, and polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound.
Blood work covers the androgen half of that, and rules out the conditions that look like PCOS but are treated completely differently. That is why a thorough workup has four parts: an androgen panel, reproductive hormones, a metabolic panel, and tests that rule out look-alikes such as thyroid disease, non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia and raised prolactin.
Why timing changes the result
This is the part most people are never told, and it is the most common reason a panel has to be repeated.
Testosterone peaks in the morning and falls through the day, so an afternoon draw can read normal when an early one would not. LH, FSH and 17-OH progesterone are interpreted against where you are in your cycle, which is why they belong on days 2 to 5, counting the first day of full flow as day one. Progesterone is the opposite — it only means something in the mid-luteal phase, about a week after ovulation, so it needs its own appointment.
Hormonal contraception suppresses your own hormone production. Androgen results taken while you are on it may not reflect your baseline, which is why clinicians often suggest a washout before testing. That is a conversation to have with your doctor, not a reason to stop anything on your own.
What the 2023 guideline changed
The International Evidence-Based Guideline was updated in 2023, and several things that are still repeated online are now out of date.
An OGTT is now the first choice for glucose screening in PCOS, because HbA1c can underestimate the problem. Fasting insulin is no longer recommended routinely, since labs are not standardized for it — though many PCOS specialists still find it useful. AMH may replace ultrasound in adults, one or the other rather than both. And the follicle threshold for polycystic ovarian morphology rose from 12 to 20 per ovary.
For anyone under 20, the picture is different again: diagnosis requires both irregular cycles and signs of raised androgens, and neither ultrasound nor AMH is recommended, because polycystic-appearing ovaries are common during puberty.
What you get
Your checklist is built from your own answers, not a generic list. It groups tests into what is essential for everyone, what is recommended because of what you told us, and what is worth considering. Each test comes with its reference range, what a raised result tends to mean, and when to book it.
It also includes a short script for the appointment itself, because knowing which tests to ask for and actually getting them ordered are two different problems.
Frequently asked questions
What blood tests should I ask for with PCOS?
A thorough PCOS workup usually covers androgens (total and free testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S), reproductive hormones (LH and FSH), metabolic markers (fasting glucose, HbA1c and a lipid panel), and tests that rule out conditions with similar symptoms (TSH, 17-OH progesterone and prolactin). Which additional tests make sense depends on your symptoms, age and history, which is what this free generator works out for you.
Is there one blood test that confirms PCOS?
No. PCOS is diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria, which require at least two of three features: irregular ovulation, clinical or biochemical signs of raised androgens, and polycystic ovarian morphology. Blood tests contribute to the androgen criterion and rule out other causes, but no single result confirms or excludes the condition on its own.
Should I have my insulin tested?
The 2023 international guideline does not recommend fasting insulin as a routine test, because results are not standardized between laboratories. Many PCOS specialists still order it. For screening glucose metabolism, the guideline's first choice is a 75g oral glucose tolerance test, which is more sensitive than fasting glucose or HbA1c in PCOS.
When in my cycle should I get PCOS blood tests?
Most hormone tests — testosterone, LH, FSH and 17-OH progesterone — should be drawn on days 2 to 5 of your cycle, counting the first day of full flow as day one, ideally between 7am and 10am after fasting 8 to 12 hours. Progesterone is the exception: it is tested in the mid-luteal phase, around day 21 of a 28-day cycle, which means a separate appointment.
Can I get PCOS blood tests while on birth control?
You can, but androgen results in particular may not reflect your baseline, because hormonal contraception suppresses your natural hormone production. Clinicians often suggest a washout period of around three months before androgen testing. Discuss timing with your doctor rather than stopping any medication on your own.
How much do PCOS blood tests cost?
It varies widely by country and coverage. In the US a comprehensive panel typically runs a few hundred dollars without insurance, though many plans cover medically necessary hormone testing. In the UK, core tests are generally available through the NHS. Grouping tests by priority, as this checklist does, helps you and your doctor decide what matters most if cost is a constraint.
What is the difference between PCOS and PMOS?
PMOS — Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome — is the new recommended name, adopted in May 2026 following the Lancet Commission. The condition and the diagnostic criteria are unchanged; only the name has been updated to better reflect its metabolic and endocrine nature. Both names are currently in use, and this tool uses PCOS as it remains the more widely recognized term.