Not all women with PCOS share the same symptoms, or experience every known symptom. Some women will experience only mild symptoms, while others will experience a wider range of more severe symptoms. Symptoms usually start in adolescence or as young as 11 years old, although some women do not develop them until their early to mid twenties. Frequently PCOS symptoms are mistaken for other medical problems and can be quite vague hence why it can take a long time to get a diagnosis. Symptoms may also change over a long period of time, for example. acne may become less of a problem in middle age, but hair growth may become more noticeable.