Can I Have PCOS if My Blood Tests Are Normal? (Other Signs of PCOS)

If you've been told your blood tests are "normal" but you're still breaking out, gaining weight, missing periods or feeling exhausted, you're not imagining it. Something is not right… even if the blood test didn’t catch it! Maybe whatever it is wasn’t even tested for?

Many women are told everything looks "fine" on paper, yet they still feel like their body is working against them. You're not alone. And you're not crazy. You may still have PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), even if your bloods don't reflect it. To help clear things up, as I know how confusing it can be, here's what most women are never told:

Blood Tests Aren't Always the Full Story

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a clinical diagnosis, which means it's often made based on your symptoms, not just your test results. The problem? Most doctors rely solely on testosterone or irregular periods to make the call.

Here’s why that can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses:

• Reference ranges are broad. Just because something is "normal" doesn’t mean it’s optimal for you. If it’s only a few points from being high is it still nothing to worry about?
• Hormones fluctuate daily. If your tests weren’t done at the right time in your cycle, they may not show what’s really going on.
• Other key hormones often aren't tested. Many GP panels skip over things like DHEA, fasting insulin, or androgen metabolites that are crucial to understanding PCOS and your symptoms.
• Ovulation isn't confirmed by periods alone. You can have regular cycles and still not be ovulating consistently, which means your hormones are still out of balance.

Signs of PCOS That Don’t Always Show Up in Bloodwork

PCOS is complex. It doesn't always present the way textbooks describe. It’s a syndrome, not a disease, which means that it can have many different causes and presentations. If any of these sound familiar, there may be more going on beneath the surface:

• Breakouts along the jawline or chin
• Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or "hangry" moods, even shortly after eating
• Hair thinning at the crown or temples
• Facial hair (especially chin, neck, breast, upper lip)
• Irregular ovulation (even with "regular" periods)
• Bloating, constipation or gut issues
• Unexplained weight gain around the belly
• Mood swings, PMS, or anxiety around your period

If you’re nodding along, my eBook The PCOS Guide might be a helpful next step. It explains what PCOS actually is, why symptoms vary so much, and explains the PCOS hormone cycle that needs to be broken in order to reverse PCOS and clear these symptoms.

So What Can You Do If You Suspect PCOS?

Even if your GP says things look fine, your body might be giving you clear signs that something's off. Don’t give up! Don’t settle for feeling bad in your body. You don’t have to stay stuck in confusion or frustration. You just need to know enough so that you can take control of your treatment plan.

Here are the next steps I recommend for you:

• Track your symptoms properly (not just your period) to identify patterns
• Consider more comprehensive testing to help identify the root causes of your symptoms
• Understand your hormones and how to keep them balanced
• Identify your PCOS type so you can personalise your treatment plan
• Use food, lifestyle and targeted strategies that can be easily continued long-term

This is what I help women with inside my Balance Your Hormones program. It’s a course teaching women how to be their own practitioners, find the answers to their symptoms and use sustainable diet and lifestyle strategies to keep their symptoms away. It’s designed for women who are tired of guessing and want to finally understand their body. And it’s the exact process and strategies I used personally to reverse my PCOS, regulate my cycles, and clear my severe cystic acne. More on my story here.

Ready to Feel Clear and Confident Again?

If you’ve been dismissed, confused, or told to "just go back on the Pill", this is your invitation to take your health into your own hands.

You can clear your symptoms. You can feel like yourself again.

And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Click here to learn more about the Balance Your Hormones program and get the clarity and support you've been looking for.

P.S. If you’re not quite ready for the full program but want to better understand your symptoms, The PCOS Guide is the perfect place to start!

Mads