PCOS? DD16 weight gain, hair, spots

[growinguptobreakingdown]

DD16 has gained weight over the last 2 years and struggles to lise it. There is a reason for this as she has a health condition and had to give up an activity which was very physical/ limits her activity daily.
However she eats the same as DD18 who is a healthy BMi if not a little low. She goes to the gym when well enough. She also has spots (not acne but small red spots over forehead and chin) .I noticed thick black nasal hair yesterday. She takes tranxemic acid due to really heavy, painful periods which were 3 weekly but regular.
Is there anyone here who can advise about PCOS and when symptoms start to show or if this could be down to being a teenager and hormonal shifts? What were your symptoms?No excessive hair anywhere else.She goes to the GP alone now but will accompany next time.

DD was diagnosed at 13 due to weight gain, acne and family history (I had PCOS too). She went on the pill to sort out her skin which worked really well. She tries to be low carb and avoids sugar as much as possible which helps her weight stay relatively stable. PCOS can be very different for the individual eg my skin was never a problem but I was the world's hairiest woman, whereas her skin was shocking but body hair was unremarkable. Speak to the GP and be clear you want investigation (if you do) or you may get fobbed off.

Thank you so much for replying.How do they diagnose? Is it a scan? She can't take the mini pill as very hypermobile and when she was put on progestogen for her periods it made her joints really loose. Perhaps the combined. I'll look into diet to manage it and book a GP appointment.

Both my DD diagnosed as teens. Usually you’d need a blood test and scan to confirm. We were given some conflicting nd confusing advice.
One of my DD was put on Metformin as a teen which helped with her symptoms but caused rapid weight loss and people thought she had an eating disorder.
Our youngest was given Depo ProVera due to heavy constant periods. This made her so ill. I blamed myself for not researching it. She was desperate for a solution. It was recorded as an adverse drug reaction by her Paediatrician.
Just read up on any treatment offered. The charity Verity has good advice.

PCOS is a difficult one on the NHS in my experience. It does sound like it, but I had to go private to be diagnosed and even after that am routinely dismissed by GPs as not having it before they look at my notes. I would go to the GP first but be prepared for a hard slog to be seen and taken seriously.

Thank you to all who have replied .We are used to struggling with the NHS after she was undiagnosed with coeliac for far too long . Makes me hesitant to go to the GP as I have been treated like a neurotic mother before.
I had an awful experience on depo provera in my early 20s @24Dogcuddler - this was in the 90s.Felt like I was losing my mind, terribly depressed, rapid weight gain and acne.I don't think it is uncommon and wonder how it is still prescribed. Anyway - DD has an appt with her GP. We will see what the outcome is

Historic PCOS sufferer here. It’s a collection of symptoms-a syndrome-rather than a very well defined condition. What I do know though, is it responds incredibly well to good diet. So lots of healthy vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and healthy fats (fish, nuts, avocado). No ultra processed food. I went from having periods every 7 to 9 months to regular as clockwork by making these dietary changes.

Don’t for goodness sake put her on the pill! She will simply get a false bleed, or not at all. The pill effectively puts you into a sort of a menopause.