Shookra

Hormone assessment · Dubai

PCOS Assessment in Dubai

Polycystic ovary syndrome is common, often recognised late, and rarely only about the ovaries. Our physicians look at cycles, skin, hair, weight and metabolism together, test what is needed, and explain what the results mean for you now and later.

  • Androgens, cycle hormones, insulin and glucose in one assessment
  • Thyroid and body composition read alongside
  • A plan built around cycles, metabolism and skin
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A woman preparing a simple meal of greens and grains in a bright kitchen
01

What Is PCOS?

A PCOS assessment brings together your cycle history, signs of raised androgens and blood tests — testosterone, LH, FSH, AMH, insulin and thyroid — so a physician can judge whether polycystic ovary syndrome explains your symptoms and what else needs to be checked.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal conditions in women of reproductive age. It usually involves some combination of irregular or absent ovulation, higher levels of androgens such as testosterone, and ovaries with many small follicles on ultrasound.

There is no single test for PCOS. It is a clinical diagnosis, usually made when two of those three features are present and other conditions that look similar — such as thyroid disease or raised prolactin — have been considered. Blood tests are one part of that picture.

Insulin resistance is common in PCOS, including in women who are not overweight, and it can push the ovaries to make more androgen. That is why a PCOS assessment looks at metabolism as well as hormones, and why the condition matters beyond fertility and periods.

02

Signs of PCOS: Who Should Be Assessed

This assessment suits women with irregular cycles, persistent acne, unwanted hair growth or scalp thinning who want to know whether PCOS is behind them, and women already diagnosed who want a fuller picture of their hormones and metabolism.

It is also relevant for women with a family history of PCOS or type 2 diabetes, and for women who have come off hormonal contraception and found their cycle has not settled.

Very heavy bleeding with dizziness, severe pelvic pain, or rapidly developing hair growth with a deepening voice needs a prompt medical opinion rather than a scheduled assessment — please seek care straight away.

03

What We Test

  • Hormones

    Hormone Profile — Female

    Cycle, thyroid and adrenal hormones mapped across the systems they affect.

    Why it’s here The core of this assessment — cycle, androgen, thyroid and adrenal hormones read together.

  • Metabolic

    Diabetes Risk Assessment

    Insulin resistance markers that move years before glucose does.

    Why it’s here Insulin resistance markers, since insulin often sits behind PCOS symptoms.

    Includes: HOMA index · Adiponectin · HbA1c

  • Metabolic

    Obesity Risk Profile

    The metabolic and hormonal factors behind weight that will not shift.

    Why it’s here The metabolic and hormonal factors behind weight that is hard to shift.

  • Metabolic

    Thyroid Comprehensive Profile

    Full thyroid function, including the markers a standard TSH-only check misses.

    Why it’s here Thyroid conditions cause irregular cycles too, so they are checked alongside.

  • Genetic

    DNA Insulin Sensitivity Panel

    How your genetics shape insulin response and metabolic drift.

    Why it’s here An optional genetic read on how your body handles insulin.

  • In clinic

    AI Body Analysis

    Body composition — fat, lean mass and distribution — measured rather than estimated.

    Why it’s here Body composition measured on the day, so fat distribution sits beside the bloods.

Your physician confirms which panels you actually need at consultation. See every panel and current prices.

04

PCOS Markers Explained

A PCOS assessment can look at the markers below. Your physician confirms which are run for you, and on which day of your cycle, at the consultation.

Total and free testosterone
The main androgen measured. Raised levels support the picture, though normal levels do not exclude PCOS.
SHBG
The protein that binds testosterone. It is often low when insulin is high, leaving more testosterone active.
LH and FSH
Pituitary hormones that guide the cycle. Their balance is read in context, early in the cycle where possible.
AMH
Reflects the number of small follicles in the ovaries, and is often higher in PCOS.
DHEA-S
An androgen made mainly by the adrenal glands, read to understand where raised androgens come from.
Fasting insulin and HOMA
Measures of insulin resistance, which can be present even when blood sugar is normal.
HbA1c and lipids
Blood-sugar average and cholesterol, for a baseline on long-term metabolic health.
TSH and prolactin
Checked because thyroid change and raised prolactin can both disrupt the cycle.
05

PCOS Symptoms: Who Should Get Tested

The most common reason women are assessed for PCOS is an irregular cycle — periods that come far apart, unpredictably, or not at all. Signs of raised androgens often accompany it: acne along the jaw, coarse hair on the chin, chest or abdomen, and thinning at the crown.

Symptoms vary widely. Some women have regular periods and marked androgen signs; others have irregular cycles and no skin or hair changes at all. In the first few years after periods start, irregular cycles are common and are usually watched rather than labelled.

If you are on hormonal contraception, it can mask both the cycle and androgen levels. Tell us at booking — your physician will advise whether testing is meaningful now or better planned for later.

06

PCOS and Insulin Resistance

In many women with PCOS, the body needs more insulin than usual to keep blood sugar steady. Higher insulin encourages the ovaries to make androgen and lowers SHBG, which leaves more testosterone active. This is one reason weight, skin and cycle changes often appear together.

PCOS is associated with a higher long-term risk of type 2 diabetes and unfavourable cholesterol, so a baseline of fasting insulin, HbA1c and lipids is worth having whatever your weight. Changes to diet, activity and sleep are usually the first part of any plan.

Where insulin and body composition are the main concern, our metabolic health assessment goes into them in more depth.

07

PCOS Blood Tests: What They Show and What They Do Not

Blood tests support a PCOS diagnosis and help exclude conditions that look similar, but they do not make the diagnosis on their own. A normal testosterone result does not rule PCOS out if the cycle and clinical signs fit, and a raised AMH is not enough by itself.

A pelvic ultrasound may be recommended where it would change the picture. Your physician will explain whether it is needed in your case and how it would be arranged.

The aim of the assessment is a clear answer to three questions: whether PCOS explains your symptoms, what else may be contributing, and what to watch over the years ahead.

08

Lean PCOS vs PCOS with Weight Gain

PCOS happens at every body size. This is a general guide to how the two presentations tend to differ, not a way to self-diagnose.

 Lean PCOSPCOS with weight gain
Body weightWithin the usual rangeAbove the usual range, often around the middle
Insulin resistanceCan still be presentMore commonly present
Common delayPCOS overlooked because weight is normalSymptoms put down to weight alone
Testing focusHormones, cycle and insulinHormones, cycle, insulin and body composition
PlanBuilt around cycle, skin and hairBuilt around metabolism, cycle, skin and hair
09

After Your Results

At the results review your physician explains whether the findings fit PCOS, what else has been checked, and what each result means for your cycle, skin, hair and metabolism. Where a diagnosis is not yet clear, you will know what further step is needed and why.

A plan usually starts with diet, activity and sleep, and can include treatment for specific symptoms such as acne, unwanted hair or scalp thinning, or a referral where fertility is the priority — always based on what was measured and what matters most to you.

10

What to Expect

  1. 01

    Consultation

    A physician takes a full history — cycle pattern, skin, hair, weight, contraception, pregnancy plans and family history.

  2. 02

    Tests

    A fasting blood draw, timed early in the cycle where possible, with body composition measured on the same visit where included.

  3. 03

    Results review

    A second appointment to explain whether the findings fit PCOS, what else was checked, and what each result means.

  4. 04

    Plan and follow-up

    A clear plan for your main symptoms and a re-test interval for insulin and other markers over time.

11

A Note From Your Physician

On pcos

Many women with PCOS tell me they were given a label and a prescription and little else. I want you to leave understanding why your cycle, skin and energy behave the way they do. That means reading hormones and insulin together, checking what else could explain the picture, and building a plan around what matters most to you.

Dr. Jenna BurtonDr. Jenna BurtonFunctional & Longevity Medicine · DHA-licensed
12

Why Choose Shookra

  • A physician consultation at Shookra
    01

    Physician-led

    Every protocol is planned and supervised by a DHA-licensed doctor.

  • A consultation room at Shookra, Dubai
    02

    Measured, then treated

    We read your skin before we treat it, so the plan fits you — not a template.

  • Reception at Shookra, Dubai
    03

    Managed over time

    Your care is tracked and adjusted as part of one practice, not one-off visits.

  • The waiting area at Shookra, Dubai
    04

    Medical-grade

    Clinical protocols and equipment, in a discreet Dubai clinic.

13

PCOS Testing Questions

01Is there a blood test for PCOS?
There is no single blood test that confirms PCOS. Blood tests measure androgens, insulin and other hormones, and help exclude conditions that look similar. The diagnosis is made by a physician from the cycle history, clinical signs and results together.
02What blood tests are done for PCOS?
Commonly testosterone, SHBG, LH, FSH, AMH, DHEA-S, fasting insulin, HbA1c and lipids, with TSH and prolactin to look at other causes of irregular cycles. Your physician decides the exact panel at consultation.
03Do I need to fast for PCOS blood tests?
Usually yes, for eight to twelve hours, because fasting insulin and glucose are part of the panel. Water is fine. The team will confirm timing when you book.
04What day of my cycle should I test for PCOS?
Early in the cycle, typically within the first few days of a period, is often preferred for LH and FSH. If your periods are infrequent or absent, your physician will advise on timing.
05Can you have PCOS without being overweight?
Yes. PCOS occurs at every body size, and insulin resistance can be present in women whose weight is in the usual range. This is sometimes called lean PCOS.
06Can I test for PCOS while on the pill?
Hormonal contraception changes both the cycle and androgen levels, so results can be hard to interpret. Insulin and metabolic markers are still useful. Your physician will advise whether to test now or plan for later.
07Does PCOS affect long-term health?
PCOS is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and changes in cholesterol over time, which is why a metabolic baseline is part of the assessment. Regular follow-up lets any change be noticed early.
08How long do PCOS results take?
Most results come back within a few working days. We book your results review once everything is in, so you go through them with a physician rather than reading numbers alone.
09How much does a PCOS test cost in Dubai?
At Shookra, current panel prices are listed on our Diagnostics & Screening page. The consultation decides which panels you actually need, and the team will confirm the total on WhatsApp before anything is booked.
14

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Where we run the pcos assessment

PCOS Assessment in Dubai

Dubai · Business Bay

ShookraRetail 3, 15, Northside, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE+971 50 320 4553

Open Mon–Sun · 10:00–22:00

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Dubai · Palm Jumeirah

ShookraAndaz Dubai The Palm, 3rd Floor, Palm Jumeirah Rd, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE+971 50 320 4553

Open Mon–Sun · 10:00–22:00

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Licensed & Regulated

DHA-licensed. MOHAP-approved.

Every treatment is delivered at Shookra, a DHA-licensed medical facility in Dubai. Every physician and clinician on our team is DHA-licensed and works to clinical protocol. Our health communications are independently reviewed and approved by the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention (MOHAP).

Shookra Polyclinic · DHA Facility Permit #3449309 · MOHAP Advertisement Licence T0UOE5NK-020526

UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention — DHA-licensed, MOHAP-approved

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Measure first, then decide.

Speak with our team on WhatsApp — we’ll arrange a physician consultation and talk you through the panels and pricing.

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