Dr. Rinku Mehra hosts the Endo Kids Podcast with guest Dr. Jessica Ritch, an OB-GYN with minimally invasive gynecology training, to discuss why adolescent menstrual health is a vital sign and how common conditions like PCOS can begin in the teen years but often go ignored. They address misconceptions that painful, heavy, or irregular periods are “normal,” explain when patterns warrant evaluation (especially if symptoms disrupt school or activities), and describe PCOS using parent-friendly criteria: irregular periods, androgen excess (acne, abnormal hair growth or hair loss), and polycystic-appearing ovaries. Dr. Ritch reviews workup (history, tracking cycles, labs including A1C/CBC/iron, and selective ultrasound), treatment options (lifestyle changes, hormonal contraception, metformin, spironolactone, and some supplements), stigma-free counseling ...