Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday · Episode Tool

The Rotterdam Criteria, decoded

A companion to "PCOS Is Now PMOS: New Name, Same Problem?" PCOS/PMOS is diagnosed by meeting 2 of these 3 criteria — after ruling out other conditions that mimic it. Tap the ones that apply to see where that leaves you.

Criterion 1

Irregular or absent ovulation

Periods that are irregular, infrequent, or absent — a sign the ovary isn't reliably releasing an egg each month.

Often shows up as cycles longer than 35 days, fewer than 8 periods a year, or unpredictable timing.

Criterion 2

Signs of excess androgens

Either clinical signs, or elevated androgens on a blood test.

Clinical: hirsutism (excess facial/body hair), persistent acne, or scalp hair thinning. Biochemical: elevated testosterone or free androgen index on labs.

Criterion 3

Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound

≥20 follicles in either ovary, and/or an ovarian volume ≥10 mL — on a transvaginal ultrasound.

As the episode explains, these "cysts" are actually small resting follicles, not true ovarian cysts. This criterion alone, without 1 or 2, is not enough for diagnosis.

Required for any diagnosis

Other causes have been ruled out

Thyroid disease, elevated prolactin, and non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia can all look like PCOS/PMOS and need to be excluded first — this is a diagnosis of exclusion.

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Not a diagnosis. This tool mirrors the official Rotterdam criteria for education only. Diagnosis requires a clinician to confirm your specific test results and rule out other conditions — self-checking boxes here doesn't replace that workup.

🎧 Listen: "PCOS Is Now PMOS: New Name, Same Problem?" →