PCOS Specialist in Manchester
Polycystic ovary syndrome affects around one in ten women, and it is one of the most common reasons patients come to us with irregular periods, difficulty conceiving, or symptoms they have been told to simply live with. As a PCOS specialist in Manchester with a background in reproductive endocrinology, Dr Edmond Edi-Osagie offers a clear diagnosis, an honest explanation of what it means for you, and a treatment plan built around your own priorities, whether those are regular cycles, fertility, skin and hair symptoms or long-term health.
MB.BS, MRCOG, MD
Consultant gynaecologist and Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Medicine
Seen within days
Appointments are usually available within days, not months
Self-referral welcome
You do not need a GP letter to arrange an appointment with us
Manchester and Cheadle
City centre clinic and The Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire
You do not need a GP referral to see us. Consultations take place in Manchester city centre and at The Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, and blood tests and ultrasound are arranged promptly so that your first appointment produces answers rather than a waiting list.
What PCOS Actually Is
Despite the name, PCOS is not a disease of cysts. It is a hormonal and metabolic condition in which the ovaries produce higher than usual levels of androgens, the hormones such as testosterone that all women make in small amounts, and ovulation becomes irregular or stops. The “cysts” seen on a scan are in fact small immature follicles that have paused before releasing an egg.
Many women with PCOS have normal-looking ovaries on ultrasound, and many women with polycystic-looking ovaries do not have the syndrome. That distinction matters, because it is the reason a scan alone can neither confirm nor rule out the diagnosis.
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Symptoms We Commonly See
PCOS shows itself differently in every woman. The features that most often bring patients to us are:
- Irregular, infrequent or absent periods, or cycles that are impossible to predict.
- Difficulty conceiving, because ovulation is happening rarely or not at all.
- Excess hair growth on the face, chest or abdomen, or thinning of the hair on the scalp.
- Persistent acne beyond the teenage years.
- Weight that is harder to manage than effort alone would explain.
- Low mood, anxiety, fatigue or disrupted sleep.
Few people have all of these, and their severity varies enormously from one woman to the next. Symptoms often first appear in the late teens or twenties, yet PCOS is frequently only recognised years later when a woman starts trying for a baby. Heavy or erratic bleeding is assessed in its own right through our menstrual dysfunction service, since irregular cycles and heavy bleeding often overlap.
How PCOS Is Diagnosed
We diagnose PCOS using the internationally agreed Rotterdam criteria. Two of the following three features are needed, once other conditions that can mimic PCOS have been ruled out.
Irregular or absent ovulation
Usually seen as cycles longer than 35 days, fewer than eight periods a year, or no periods at all.
Signs of raised androgens
Either clinically, as excess hair growth, acne or scalp hair thinning, or on blood tests.
Polycystic ovarian appearance
On a transvaginal ultrasound scan, meaning an increased number of small follicles or an enlarged ovarian volume.
Blood tests form part of the assessment: testosterone and related androgens, thyroid function, prolactin, and tests to exclude other causes of irregular cycles. We also check markers of metabolic health, including glucose and lipids, because PCOS influences these over the long term.
In younger patients, where ultrasound appearances are unreliable, the diagnosis rests on the first two criteria alone. Everything is explained at the consultation, so you leave understanding what has been found and why.
Treatment Tailored to What Matters to You
There is no single treatment for PCOS, because the condition affects each woman differently and priorities change over time. We agree the goals with you first, then build the plan.
Regulating Your Cycle
Long gaps between periods allow the lining of the womb to build up, and over years that increases the risk of abnormal changes in the lining. Where periods are very infrequent we recommend treatment that produces a regular bleed.
Options include the combined pill, courses of progestogen tablets, or a hormonal coil, and the right choice depends on your symptoms, your plans and your medical history.
Fertility and Ovulation Induction
PCOS is one of the most treatable causes of difficulty conceiving, because the underlying problem is irregular ovulation rather than a lack of eggs. First-line treatment is ovulation induction with tablets, monitored with follicle-tracking ultrasound so that we know ovulation is occurring and can adjust the dose safely. Letrozole is now the recommended first choice, with clomifene as an alternative.
Where tablets do not achieve ovulation, the options include injectable hormones, laparoscopic ovarian drilling, a keyhole procedure performed through our advanced laparoscopic surgery service, or IVF. Full fertility investigation and treatment, including assessment of your partner, is available within the practice, so nothing is passed between clinics.
Skin and Hair Symptoms
Hormonal treatments lower androgen levels gradually, and improvement in hair growth and acne is usually seen over several months rather than weeks.
Anti-androgen medication can be added where appropriate, alongside practical cosmetic measures. We are candid about timescales so that expectations are realistic.
Long-Term Health
PCOS increases the likelihood of type 2 diabetes, raised blood pressure and sleep apnoea over a lifetime, and it can affect mood.
We arrange the appropriate screening, offer practical guidance that focuses on health rather than numbers on a scale, discuss medication such as metformin where it is likely to help, and coordinate with your GP so that follow-up continues after your care with us.
Why Patients Choose Dr Edi-Osagie for PCOS
Dr Edi-Osagie is a Senior Consultant Gynaecologist and Reproductive Medicine Specialist at Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester.
His expertise covers the whole spectrum of PCOS care, from diagnosis and cycle regulation through ovulation induction to keyhole surgery and assisted conception, which means the person who diagnoses you is the person who treats you. You can read more about his training and experience on our team page.
Practical Details
- You can refer yourself directly. No GP letter is required, although some insurers ask for one, so check your policy.
- Consultations are held in Manchester city centre and at The Alexandra Hospital, Mill Lane, Cheadle, with free parking and easy access from across Manchester and Cheshire.
- Blood tests and ultrasound are arranged around your first appointment, and results are discussed with you in plain language.
- If you are planning a pregnancy, we can combine PCOS care with pre-conception advice in the same consultation.
- Fees are published openly on our costs page, and we work with all of the major private medical insurers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have PCOS with regular periods?
Yes. Around a third of women with PCOS have reasonably regular cycles. If you have signs of raised androgens and a polycystic appearance on ultrasound, the criteria are met even with regular periods. Regular cycles do not always mean regular ovulation, which is why we sometimes check with blood tests.
Does PCOS mean I cannot get pregnant?
No. Most women with PCOS conceive, many without any treatment and most of the rest with ovulation induction. PCOS makes ovulation less predictable rather than impossible, and the egg supply is typically good. If you have been trying for a while, an early assessment shortens the road.
Do I need an ultrasound to be diagnosed?
Not always. If you have irregular ovulation and clear signs of raised androgens, the diagnosis can be made without a scan. Ultrasound is most useful where only one of those two features is present, and it also lets us assess the womb lining and rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Does PCOS go away?
PCOS is a lifelong condition, but its effects change with time and can be managed well. Symptoms often ease after the menopause, and in the meantime treatment can regulate cycles, restore ovulation and protect long-term health. Many women find that once they understand their PCOS, it stops running their lives.
Is PCOS the same as polycystic ovaries?
No. Polycystic ovaries describe an appearance on ultrasound, and around one in five women has it without any hormonal disturbance. PCOS is the syndrome: the appearance combined with irregular ovulation or raised androgens. Having polycystic ovaries alone does not need treatment.
Book a PCOS Consultation in Manchester
Whether you want an explanation for irregular periods, help to conceive, or a specialist to take your symptoms seriously at last, the next step is a conversation. Call 0161 244 8623, email enquiries@manchestergynaecologist.com, or book a consultation online. We provide care sensitively, confidentially and at a published, predictable cost.
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Contact Us
- Manchester ClinicThe Alexandra Hospital, Mill Lane, Cheadle, SK8 2PX
- Telephone0161 244 8623 or 0161 495 7704
- Emailenquiries@manchestergynaecologist.com
- ReferralsSelf-referral welcome, no GP letter required
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