The short explanation
It varies. As menopause approaches, periods in women with PCOS sometimes become more regular for a while, before stopping. Androgen levels tend to fall slowly with age, but oestrogen falls more sharply around menopause. This change in balance can make androgen effects, like facial hair, more noticeable for some women, even if androgen levels are not higher. Metabolic risks, such as diabetes and heart disease, remain important after menopause. Regular checks of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol are worth continuing. Treatments for facial hair are still available, including hair removal methods and treatments a clinician may suggest.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Any new or rapidly increasing hair growth with other changes, such as voice deepening or scalp hair loss, should be checked, as rarely other hormone conditions can cause this.
- Perimenopause symptoms like hot flushes and sleep problems can be treated if troublesome.
- Bleeding after menopause should always be checked.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell how your PCOS will change. A doctor can review your symptoms and suggest tests if needed.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Why is my facial hair increasing now?
- Do I need hormone tests to rule out other causes?
- What treatments are available for facial hair at my age?
- Which health checks should I continue?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a couple of weeks if hair growth increases rapidly or comes with voice deepening.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine appointment to discuss changing symptoms and ongoing health checks.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) NHS
- Prediabetes Cleveland Clinic
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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