How long a diagnosis takes, and what that costs
Evidence last assessed 2026-08-02.
In short
- What the research shows
- Of 1,385 women, a third waited more than two years for a diagnosis.
- What it doesn't show
- Those surveyed had already found help, so real delays are likely worse.
- PMOS
- Tests and appointments
See studies and method
What the evidence says
In a survey of 1,385 women across 32 countries, a third waited more than two years and nearly half saw three or more clinicians before being diagnosed. These figures are a floor, not an average.
33.6% waited over two years for a diagnosis. 47.1% saw three or more clinicians. 35.2% were satisfied with the diagnosis experience, and 15.6% were satisfied with the information they were given.
What this does not show
These figures are a floor, not an average. Everyone surveyed was recruited through support organisations (women who had already found help), and 53% were North American, 42.2% European and only 4.9% from everywhere else, so the sample is filtered for income and for already being connected. The real delays and the real dissatisfaction are very likely worse. It describes what happened to a group of women; it says nothing about how long your own diagnosis took or should take, and it must never be used to suggest either. It is self-reported and cross-sectional, recorded once after the fact with no comparison group. And Neta holds the finding, the authors, the journal and the year, not a verified page number or DOI.
Sources, as Neta holds them
Gibson-Helm M, Teede H, Dunaif A, Dokras A. Delayed diagnosis and a lack of information associated with dissatisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017;102(2):604-12. doi:10.1210/jc.2016-2963
People compared with each other · 1,385 participants